Public Charities and Private Foundations

Our approach is simple - we get to know your organization first and give experience-based advice that helps you fulfill your mission.

Our lawyers provide an integrated approach, which ensures that, no matter what legal issues you have, we can give you access to a team of experienced lawyers in the areas of tax, corporate, finance, real estate, intellectual property and private wealth. You will benefit from the strength and depth of a large law firm, and still retain a personal, friendly and accessible relationship with our team. We recognize the importance to charities of receiving value for money and we always strive to ensure our clients are given the best legal advice in a cost-effective manner.

Our lawyers represent various types of non-profit organizations, including: 

• Private grantmaking foundations
• Private and public operating charities
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Scientific research organizations
• Grant-making organizations and supporting organizations.

Our genuine interest in the sector combined with the wide range of organizations we serve gives us a great awareness and appreciation of the issues you may face so that we can provide relevant first-class advice tailored to the context in which you operate.

What we do

• We provide a full range of services to our charity and not-for-profit clients, including:
• Application of equalities legislation to charitable trusts
• Charity Commission investigations and compliance
• Charity creation and registration
• Collaboration and merger
• Commercial contracts
• Constitutional reviews
• Data protection and privacy
• Dispute resolution
• Finance (including bank facilities and other third-party debt)
• Fundraising and arrangements with corporate supporters
• Governance matters
• Grant-making best practice
• Insolvency
• Internal membership disputes
• Investment
• Legacy disputes
• Pensions matters
• Property acquisition disposal and development
• Regulatory compliance
• Reputation management
• Restructuring and reorganization
• Safeguarding
• Social investment and finance
• Special trusts, restricted funds and endowments
• Sponsorship
• Tax advice
• Trading
• Trustee training
• Trustees' duties and responsibilities.

We have particular experience in the following areas:

• Charity mergers, hive-offs, partnerships/collaborations
• Compliance with regulatory requirements
• Trustee training
• Fundraising and legacy management
• Negotiations with the Charity Commission
• Public benefit auditing
• Charity creation and registration
• Investment and tax advice.

We have experience across a range of sectors, including:

• Commercial
• Corporate
• Dispute resolution and litigation
• Education
• Employment and pensions
• Financial institutions
• Gaming
• IP, technology and data
• Private wealth 
• Public services and third sector
• Real estate.

• We advised a large national charity on its ground-breaking third-party financing initiative in order to manage better the cyclical nature of its cash flows and to ensure that it could maximize the returns on its investment portfolio. We advised on all aspects of this transaction including the powers of the organization, obtaining regulatory consent, as well as negotiating and implementing the details of the financing arrangements with the bank 
• A large endowed care charity asked our advice on arrangements with its trading subsidiary to ensure that the non-charitable aspects of a new care-village development were properly structured
• Our team advised a British association on amendments to its constitution to introduce modern and effective governance and to revive its approach to the election of trustees from amongst its membership. A priority for the client was to maintain the links to the membership and their engagement with the association
• A large disability charity sought our help on the wholesale review of its constitutional arrangements and sitting on the all (interested) parties' working group overseeing the implementation of changes to its constitution. This process involved a complete overhaul of the make-up of the governing body and the methods of appointment, the introduction of a nominations committee and the introduction of transitional arrangements for 18 months post-implementation. We also streamlined the membership structure, reducing the number of members and introducing an assembly forum
• We worked with a religious charity being investigated by the Charity Commission following the significant loss from a property investment overseas. We advised the trustee board on the proper management of conflicts of interest; appointing new trustees to consider the best interests of the charity; advising the trustees on the steps that could be taken in the US to recover their investment; advising the current trustees on the likelihood of a claim for restitution against the former trustees; and representing the charity to the Charity Commission. Our advice was given in a robust but sensitive manner to ensure that following completion of the Charity Commission's enquiry, the charity will be able to go forward successfully
• We advised a university on its joint venture with a delivery partner, whereby a new center for educational excellence would be created, together with the building of a new accommodation block to be used for mixed student and commercial use. We provided initial advice on the legal structures/vehicles which could be used to develop/construct and/or operate the center and the accommodation, and ensure the protection of the university’s commercial and financial interests in the arrangements. As the project progressed we also advised on the tax issues associated with the project, funding matters, procurement and state aid. The team also latterly provided construction and property advice.