Charity Law Solicitors

Our trusted and experienced Charity Team is drawn from across the Firm and includes members of our Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Property, Employment, Private Client and Dispute Resolution Teams.

Our Partners have personal appointments to the charities and in many instances, we have professional relationships dating back over several decades with clients including Independent Schools, Educational Trusts and large Charities tackling poverty in the North West.

Whilst charities operate under specific rules to ensure they retain their charitable status, they often face the same challenges as profit making businesses.

We provide pragmatic and commercially focused legal support to our charities’ senior management team and trustees. This is to ensure that their organisations run as efficiently as possible and that they can deliver the best outcome for their beneficiaries.

If you would like to arrange an appointment to discuss the needs of your charity, whether that be by video, telephone or in person, please get in touch with any member of our Team. Alternatively, complete our Enquiry form and we will call you back as soon as possible.

How can we help you?

Establishment and Corporate structure

If you are considering establishing a charitable foundation or trust, or are thinking of refining your current structure, our team can help identify and put in place the most tax efficient structure for your charity. We can advise on transferring from a simple trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, best practice, and governance issues including adopting various policies covering items such as conflicts, investments and safeguarding.

Trustee and Governance support

We will adopt an advisory role to Trustees and can assist in the day to day management decisions of the Charity. We will take on the responsibility for preparing guidance notes to Trustees, including agenda and meeting packs, together with minutes, and actioning decisions of the Trustees. We are also able to liaise with Property Managers and Investment Managers as well as deal with the filings at the Charity Commission.

Regulation and Compliance

It is important to ensure that the charitable objectives of the organisation are met and that the Trustees do not open themselves up to personal liability. We offer advice and assistance in relation to the constitutional documents of a Charity, as well as dealing with distribution of monies and even, in certain circumstances, the winding up of a Charity to ensure that the correct Beneficiaries receive their entitlement.

Mergers or Winding up

The decision on whether to merge or wind up a charity will be determined by the outcome sought. Our team will take time to understand your objective and advise you on all possible options. We will ensure that any decision made is within the charitable objects. We will take a holistic view of the charity’s situation and advise on all structural and practical issues, including constitution of the board, membership, internal organisations, assets and liabilities.

Property and land

Our Commercial Property Team can advise on all property matters as well as any additional charity law compliance associated with property transactions. We are able to assist with buying, selling or leasing property or land, development, and land management. In the unfortunate event that a dispute arises, our Property Dispute Team will provide bespoke, commercial advice and guidance.

People

Charities have legal obligations to both their employees and to those who volunteer their time. Our Employment Law Team can advise on all aspects of employment law and HR.

What our clients say about our Charities Service