Next Generation Partners

Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Charities and not-for-profit

Lisa Watson-Cook leads the team at Lester Aldridge LLP, specialising in advising charities on registration, governance, regulatory work and charitable status.

Charities and not-for-profit in South East

Cripps

Cripps provides ‘clear, practical advice’ to educational institutions, corporate foundations, religious organisations, social housing providers and high-net-worth individuals establishing philanthropic initiatives. Drawing on broad sector expertise, the team handles a variety of matters, ranging from governance and regulatory compliance to property and employment issues. Kate Arnold, particularly recommended for her strategic governance advice, jointly leads the practice alongside Dominic Ribet, who regularly acts for grant-making charities established by high-net-worth individuals, active philanthropic charities and commercial charities advancing education. Joanna Ford focuses on trustee duties and insolvency matters, while Harriet Page advises on the establishment of new charities and the conversion of unincorporated charities.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kate Arnold; Dominic Ribet


Autres avocats clés:

Joanna Ford; Harriet Page


Les références

‘Excellent knowledge and understanding of charity law and how it affects a charitable foundation of our size. Excellent practical advice and guidance that has been invaluable in helping establish our charity.’

‘Clear, practical advice communicated promptly and in a very approachable manner.’

Principaux clients

John Lyon’s Foundation


John Lyon’s Charity


URC Thames North Trust


RSPCA Assured Limited


The London Diocesan Fund


University of Kent


Canterbury Christ Church University


Goodenough College


EKC Group


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising John Lyon’s Foundation on all legal matters in relation to Harrow School, including this year a Court Application for a royal charter corporation on amendments to its objects and statutes.
  • Advise URC Thames North Trust about the ongoing management of the portfolio, including advice on purchases, sales and leases of the properties.
  • Advised Goodenough College on several key restructuring processes involving the operations team and the hotel team, and advised about how to manage under-performing employees.

Moore Barlow

Moore Barlow advises a wide range of charities, from national faith-based organisations to educational and housing charities, providing strategic, governance, regulatory and operational support, along with expertise in guiding clients through restructures, mergers, staffing challenges and reputational issues. The practice is co-led by Gordon Reid, who focuses on reputation management as well as governance and transactional work, and Joanna Lada-Walicki, who supports charities in crisis situations, particularly with trustee disputes and the dismissal of senior charity employees. Paul Ridout is a ‘trusted guide’ for faith-based organisations, as well as charities operating in the cultural, medical and conservation fields.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gordon Reid; Joanna Lada-Walicki


Autres avocats clés:

Paul Ridout


Les références

‘The team’s specialist knowledge of the process for registering a new charity was invaluable as we needed to move at speed. From the initial call, it was clear that we were in safe hands with Moore Barlow’s charities and not-for-profit practice.’

‘Paul Ridout was responsive, pragmatic and considered in all his dealings with us. A trusted guide through a somewhat niche area of law.’

Principaux clients

Young Minds Trust


Titus Trust


The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women


National Rifle Association


Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance


Boys’ Brigade


Shooting Star Children’s Hospices


Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth


Diocese of Guildford


Institute of Biomedical Science


Compassion UK


24-7 Prayer


Watford Mosque


Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice


The Richmond Charities


Croydon Almshouse Charities


Waverley Abbey Trust


Woking and Sam Beare Hospices


Co-Mission Churches Trust


Help Musicians


CARE (Christian Action, Research, and Education)


Christian Medical Fellowship


Emmaus Road Community Church


Speech and Language UK


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised a faith charity on the direct impact of the Makin Review and on allegations made against one of its trustees.
  • Advised the Live Trust on its registration as a charity and persuaded the Charity Commission that it met their concept of “artistic merit”.
  • Advised the Boys Brigade on the sale of its headquarters to Witherslack Group for £5.25m.

Blandy & Blandy LLP

With a notable presence in the educational sector, Blandy & Blandy LLP offers a comprehensive range of services across governance, mergers, charity restructuring, regulatory matters and strategic advice. Praised for his ‘extremely sound judgement’, practice head Nick Burrows advises national charities, independent schools and third sector organisations on incorporation or conversion, as well as constitutional and governance matters. Angela Bowman handles the full spectrum of wills, probate and trusts claims on behalf of charities, while Jennifer Scott provides guidance on charity law and regulatory matters, including governance, Charity Commission compliance and charity formation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nick Burrows


Autres avocats clés:

Angela Bowman; Jennifer Scott


Les références

‘Flexible, pragmatic and solution-focused.’

‘Friendly and flexible.’

‘Blandy & Blandy deserves its reputation for excellence in the charities and not-for-profit sector. It has strength and depth in its team.’

Principaux clients

University of Oxford


University of Reading


Ben – Motor & Allied Trades Benevolent Fund


The Hartley Trust


Thames Valley Air Ambulance


Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance


The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)


The Almshouse Association


CXK


Career Connect


Adviza


The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF)


Pangbourne College


Prior’s Court Foundation


The Abbey School


St Joseph’s College


Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue


Freely Fruity


Brachers (Part of Lawfront)

With a cross-disciplinary team, Brachers (Part of Lawfront) is well equipped to deliver comprehensive support to charities and not-for-profit organisations across governance, compliance, employment, as well as property and funding matters. The practice is led by a trio of lawyers: Sarah Gaines, who takes the lead on property-related matters; Christopher Eriksson-Lee, who advises on a broad range of issues, including governance, structural reorganisations and setting up and converting charities; and Catherine Daw, whose specialisms lie in employment mandates, particularly advising healthcare providers and charities on trade union matters, collective issues and employment tribunal litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Sarah Gaines; Christopher Eriksson-Lee; Catherine Daw


Autres avocats clés:

Helen Stonham; Mary Rimmer


Les références

‘Brachers provide accurate advice in a straightforward way that the charity trustees can understand and rely on. Their terms of engagement are very clear and fair.’

‘Senior associate Helen Stonham is conscientious, well-informed, clear, friendly and trustworthy. She has noticed a specific and important detail in the legal documents pertaining to the property we are purchasing, which I think previous solicitors must have overlooked. I feel fully involved in the process, and Helen really understands the needs and concerns of the charity.’

‘Brachers has strong roots in the community and a well-earned reputation for trust, making it one of the first names that comes to mind when people think about legal advice.’

Principaux clients

William Barrows Charity


Charities Aid Foundation Bank


Blackthorn Trust


Kent County Agricultural Society


Brachers Charitable Trust


Tunstall Village Hall


The Sir Percival Griffiths’ Tea Planter Trust


Kent Farmers Benevolent Fund


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised CAF Bank Limited on multi-million-pound combined loans to various charities.
  • Advising Margate Creative Land Trust on the acquisition for a mixed-use redevelopment in support of the objectives of the Thanet Local Plan.

Debenhams Ottaway

Debenhams Ottaway’s multi-practice charities group advises a range of national and regional charities on governance, property, trusts, legacy management and regulatory matters, delivering an integrated service across commercial, employment and litigation issues. Practice head Andrew Yates advises charities on corporate and commercial mandates, including incorporations, M&A, disposals, as well as trustee duties, while Neil Mercer is particularly noted for his expertise in commercial property matters, with specialist knowledge of complex development agreements for landowning charity clients. Co-heading the firm’s trust practice, Claire Sharp advises on the formation of charitable trusts, structural changes, trustee appointments and Charity Commission schemes.

Responsables de la pratique:

Andrew Yates


Autres avocats clés:

Neil Mercer, Andrew Spearman, Claire Sharp


Les références

‘I have worked with Neil Mercer on a range of property matters, from simple tenancies to more complex option agreements. He handles all with the same care and attention. Neil is good at taking a practical approach to matters, also, which is often key in unlocking difficult deals.’

‘Showed a good understanding of what we thought was an unusual situation – they clearly had wide experience of differing situations that they were able to bring to bear, all of which gave us reassurance that their advice would be well-founded and practical.’

‘Andrew Yates listened well, was empathetic, didn’t try and talk down to us and was clearly wanting to help us solve our problems.’

Principaux clients

The Church Lands Trust


The St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance


Youth Talk


Crohn’s & Colitis UK


The Counselling Foundation


Abbeyfield


InspireAll Limited


Hubbard Will Trust


Richard III Society


Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised the Richard III Society on director appointments and assisted with changes to its rules and articles of association.
  • Advised The Hertfordshire & Middlesex Wildlife Trust on a compensation payment from the government’s HS2 railway project, assisting with the deed of receipt and working with HS2’s lawyers to achieve a proportionate solution for the charity’s non-standard property interest.
  • Continue to act for the Hubbard Will Trust, advising trustees on the scope of its endowment fund and scholarship opportunities.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Particularly renowned for its work in the education sector, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP advises universities, national charities and social enterprises on governance, regulatory compliance and employment issues, offering tailored advice on matters ranging from trustee responsibilities to grant-making and legacy management. Daff Richardson and Virginia Henley co-lead the department; Richardson focuses on employment matters, frequently advising on restructures, redundancies and grievances, alongside trustee duties in conflict situations, while Henley handles a broad spectrum of regulatory and governance work such as charity registrations and incorporations. Chris Shelley is noted for supporting research institutes and universities with funding and IP licensing.

Responsables de la pratique:

Daff Richardson; Virginia Henley


Autres avocats clés:

Chris Shelley


Les références

‘Penningtons’ charities team has great skills and experience, led by the very able Virginia Henley.’

‘Virginia Henley has fantastic experience; she is very capable and instils great confidence in her clients.’

‘Virginia was incredibly approachable, explained things in basic terms and gave us the reassurance and guidance we needed.’

Principaux clients

Churchill College, Cambridge


Keble College, Oxford


Christ Church, Oxford


Pembroke College, Oxford


Green Templeton College, Oxford


New College, Oxford


Magdalen College, Oxford


Wellington College


The Institute of Leadership and Management


The Pirbright Institute


The Institute for Fiscal Studies


The Licensed Trade Charity


International Headache Society


National Oceanography Centre


Reeds Foundation


CABI


Hearing Dogs for Deaf People


City & Guilds


SLG Charitable Trust


The Charity Commission for England and Wales


Bedford Greenacre Independent School


Principaux dossiers


  • Working with the Charity Commission, as interim manager for Dalaid, we have advised on multiple aspects regarding the opening of a statutory enquiry because of potential misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.
  • Advising several Cambridge and Oxford colleges on employment matters raised by academic staff, alongside governance, charity law and reputation management advice.

Blake Morgan LLP

Blake Morgan LLP fields ‘broad coverage and expertise’ across charity governance, risk management and strategic operations, as well as grant making and charity formation. The practice is jointly led by Laura Sherratt, who advises on a range of commercial and governance issues, including registration, incorporation, mergers and joint ventures, and Rachel Sales, who is particularly experienced in commercial property matters and has been notably active in advising clients in the education sector on their property interests. Ben Brice departed the firm in July 2024.

Responsables de la pratique:

Laura Sherratt; Rachel Sales


Les références

‘Blake Morgan provides a good legal service to our charities. Their strength lies in the broad coverage and expertise that they cover in a number of legal areas such as contract reviews and set up, employment issues, property, and IP.’

‘Excellent customer service and always on hand to provide the expertise in their specific domain when required.’

‘The team has a good breadth of specialisms. We needed advice as a charity for taking out a complicated lease, and the firm had both centres of expertise.’

Principaux clients

Abingdon Learning Trust


Activate Learning


Association for Project Management


Cranstoun


The Gallery Trust


Global Witness


Hayling Health Society


Heart of Mercia


Langley House Trust


London Borough of Waltham Forest


The Methodist Church


Pilgrim’s Friend Society


Portsmouth Grammar School


The Sinodun Players Amateur Dramatic Society


Solent Mind


University of Chichester Multi-Academy Trust


YMCA


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Cardiff YMCA Charity on its proposed merger with Cardiff YMCA Housing Association.
  • Advising The Gallery Trust on the opening of a free school site in north Oxfordshire, providing ongoing support for a second free school in the area, and assisting with expansion plans for another academy site.
  • Advising Pilgrim’s Friend Society on the consolidation of its group structure, including advice on amendment of objects, release of permanent endowment and transfers of assets and liabilities from several smaller group entities into others.

Thomson Snell & Passmore

With ‘a broad range of expertise’, Thomson Snell & Passmore advises charities on an array of issues and has been particularly active in supporting educational clients. Nick Hobden leads the practice, advising on employment-related matters, including representation in tribunal claims, while Douglas Skilton brings strong dispute resolution expertise, with experience in both High Court litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Chris Whittington is another key contact, supporting charity clients with new building and construction projects.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nick Hobden


Autres avocats clés:

Douglas Hilton; Chris Whittington


Les références

‘The team has a broad range of expertise that is relevant to a charity that I manage, and was able to assist the charity with a number of legal issues in relation to a major redevelopment including a complex property redevelopment and the establishment of a new charity to run the redeveloped property with a widened charity remit.’

‘Chris Whittington gave excellent construction law advice.’

Principaux clients

Avante Care & Support Ltd


Town & Country Housing


Rivermead Inclusive Trust incorporating Academy of Woodlands


Beyond Schools Trust


St Edmund’s School Canterbury


The Incorporated Rochester Diocesan Board of Education and the Governing Body of the Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School


Birtley House (Kent) Limited


Kent Archaeological Society


Illuminate Minds Trust


Siri Guru Nanak Darbar (Sikh Temple)


North East Surrey College of Technology


Trethowans LLP

With a dedicated charities team that ‘always works to a very high standard’, Trethowans LLP is well equipped to advise on a broad range of matters, including governance and regulatory issues, incorporation and trustee duties. Sarah Humphrey leads the charities sector group, bringing particular expertise in charitable property matters, while Kirsteen Hook heads the specialised governance team, focused on supporting clients across the full spectrum of governance-related issues. Hook has additional expertise in advising educational bodies as well as managing academic conversions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kirsteen Hook; Sarah Humphrey


Autres avocats clés:

Sarah Wheado


Les références

‘I only worked with one individual at the firm and was impressed with their work. I was also included quickly in the BD programme and invited to forums and events.’

‘I worked with Partner, Kirsteen Hook, who was responsive, friendly and knowledgeable.’

‘Trethowans now host one of the only specialist charity teams on the South Coast. In most other practices, it is an adjunct, but they have created a repository of excellence in their people, and it shows. Without a doubt, they have repeatedly provided excellent service, identified issues and found ways to tackle issues that require a deep knowledge and understanding of charity law and best practice. ’

Principaux clients

The Girls’ Day School Trust


Army Air Corps Charity


RSPCA


The Wetwheels Foundation


Rowans Hospice


Jane Austen’s House Museum


De La Rue Charitable Trust


The Army Museums Ogilby Trust


Stewardship Services (UKET) Limited


Royal Navy Winter Sports Association


Home Start Portsmouth


The F. Glenister Woodger Trust


Paint Pots Nurseries and Pre-Schools


MyTime Young Carers


Hawk Conservancy Trust


The Wilverley Association


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Paint Pots Pre-School and Nursery on their restructuring, conversion to a not-for-profit organisation and registration as a charity.
  • Advised the RSPCA in a complex regulatory case involving veterinary and DNA experts, leading to a suspended 52-week prison sentence and a 20-year animal disqualification order.
  • Providing Rowans Hospice with a full service and legal support for all of the charity’s legal needs, from the heart of the charity governance requirements through to their wider legal needs, including property, employment and regulatory.