Charities and not-for-profit

Set up, incorporation and structure

We advise on all aspects of:

• setting up charitable organisations
• formation and administration of charitable trusts 

Regulation and governance

We advise charities on all aspects of charity law and regulation including:

• constitutional and governance issues
• trustee duties and powers  

Strategy, mergers and restructuring

We advise on:

• charity mergers, joint ventures and restructuring
• dissolution of charitable organisations 

Fundraising and legacy management

We advise charities on all aspects of generating and protecting charity income including:

• fundraising and investment 
• terms and conditions of grant giving 
• charitable pledges, donation agreements and legacy disputes

Trading and retail operations

Given our location - we are based out-of-town - we are able to provide charity retailers with cost competitive legal fees often on a fixed fee basis. We recognise that charity retailers do not want to spend money on solicitors' fees but they need to protect their organisation by doing things in the right way.

Our approach is to provide charity retailers with straightforward, commercial advice which helps them to focus on their core objective of raising funds whilst staying on the right side of the law.

We advise charities on all types of commercial activities including:

• ecommerce
• retail
• the use of trading subsidiaries 

Commercial activities

We advise charities on all types of commercial activities including:

• Events organisation and management (including ticketing).
• Partnering and sponsorship agreements.
• Outsourcing agreements, (on a broad spectrum including catering, web hosting, transport and logistics, HR consultancy, and IT services).
• Standard terms and consumer issues: Tough consumer protection legislation affects all organisations, including charities and not for profit organisations  that rely on consumer-engagement to deliver their services.
  We have significant experience in advising on contract terms (drafting standard terms, or reviewing and negotiating standard terms) whether for use with consumers or businesses. 
• advertising (including in relation to the language and imagery used in advertising so that it meets the requisite standards set by the Advertising Standards Authority).
• Ecommerce sites and regulatory compliance (including Website and app development agreements):
• retail
• venue hire terms (both for venues hiring out space, and for customer organisations wishing to hire venue space):
• waste management and waste collection;
• the use of trading subsidiaries 

Employees and volunteers

We advise charities on all aspects of managing their employees and the volunteers who work for them, understanding their role and responsibilities as an employer including:

• recruitment and retention of employees
• remuneration and contracts
• disciplinary and grievance procedures
• employment tribunals and advocacy
• the employment aspects of charity restructures and mergers
• data protection

Charity property

Charities can often how a wide and varied property portfolio including leasehold and freehold properties.  We advise charities on how to manage this property portfolio in the most efficient manner including:

• sale of charity land
• purchase of freehold or leasehold property
• lease renewals