Charities and not-for-profit
Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP ‘delivers to consistently high standards’, and has outstanding experience in dealing with the Charity Commission. The team ‘takes its involvement in the sector very seriously’, and includes ‘brilliant’ practice head Stephen Lloyd; Rosamund McCarthy, who ‘has an uncanny ability to articulate incredibly complex legal matters in truly accessible language’; Julian Blake, who is ‘deeply committed to promoting and helping charities and not-for-profit organisations’; the ‘diligent’ Philip Kirkpatrick; and Lawrence Simanowitz, who regularly advises charity clients on IP and privacy law. Lindsay Driscoll, who recently joined the team, is a ‘real loss to the Charity Commission’. Clients include the Independent Schools Council, the National Childbirth Trust, and Samaritans.
Farrer & Co’s Anne-Marie Piper is a founder of the Charity Law Association, and enjoys an enviable profile in the market; her ‘client care and resources are second to none’. The team includes Julian Smith, who is ‘articulate and knowledgeable’; Sam Macdonald, ‘whose expertise shines through when dealing with a knotty problem’; and Joanne Coleman (now a partner). The group has recently assisted with some high-profile and complex charity mergers. Clients include Science Museum, Nuffield Foundation, and Jewish Care.
Stone King Sewell LLP is noted as having ‘all-round top-class practitioners’ by top-ranking competitors. Jonathan Burchfield has a ‘deep understanding of the charitable sector’, and ‘his enthusiasm for the sector means that the advice given is not only of a high quality, but also tailored to the client’. Stephen Ravenscroft ‘provides a robust service’, and associate Martha Burnige is recommended for her ability to ‘guide clients through the Charity Commission maze’. New clients include Camelot Foundation, Cheltenham Ladies College, and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Michael King heads the practice. The firm has offices in Bath and Cambridge as well as London.
Withers LLP’s team is ‘immensely professional, timely, knowledgeable and offers excellent value for money’. Practice head Alison Paines is regarded as a ‘leader in the field’, while Chris Priestley is ‘valuable not only for his technical merits, but also because he is shrewd about the broader commercial, policy and personal context for his clients’, and Clive Cutbill is also recommended. Recent client wins include the Imperial War Museum.
Charles Russell LLP’s charity team is led by Michael Scott, and includes Stephen Pallister. The practice benefits from the firm’s private client group and advises clients across a variety of sectors, including the Alzheimer’s Society, the Association of British Neurologists, London Philharmonic Orchestra Limited, and the Dogs Trust. The group has continued to assist with the development of the new Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Hempsons is well known and has a first-class reputation for acting for charities associated with healthcare such as Royal Colleges, professional bodies, medical research charities, and NHS charities. Recent examples include a governance review for the Arthritis Research Campaign. Clients across other sectors include the Salvation Army Trust, the NSPCC, Childline, and Battersea Dogs & Cats home. Ian Hempseed is recommended.
Leading competitors praise Russell-Cooke LLP for its ‘spectrum cover of charity matters’. Practice head James Sinclair Taylor and Andrew Studd are ‘indispensable’, and ‘offer clients solid support’. The team recently advised Action for Blind People on its collaboration with the RNIB. Other clients include Barnardo’s, Refuge, and UNICEF UK. Mary Cheves, who was recently promoted to partner, is recommended.
Wilsons is described as ‘uniformly excellent’, with a wealth of talent including Moira Protani, who joined the firm’s London office from Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP in 2008, and contentious expert Peter Steer, who offers ‘strong powers of analysis’. The ‘unique’ team recently assisted the RSPCA, the RNLI and Cancer Research.
Romaine Thompson leads Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP’s highly regarded Birmingham-based charities practice. The group handles the gamut of charities advice, including merger work; recent highlights include advising three national charities in relation to mergers.
At Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, practice head Penny Chapman offers 'expert knowledge' and 'good client communications', and 'always meets timescales'. Clients include the Arts Council England, The Law Society, Relate and University College London, and the group has taken on No Smoking Day and the Royal Horticultural Society as new clients. Simon Weil is recommended, and Benjamin James was promoted to partner in 2008.
Bristows’ ‘first-class’ charities practice is led by John Lace, who has ‘an unrivalled understanding of client needs’, and Miranda Cass, who is ‘proactive, commercial and pragmatic’. The team recently advised on several charity mergers, and assists a number of charities clients in the engineering sector.
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP assists a spectrum of clients ranging from health regulatory bodies, NHS charitable trusts, Royal Charter bodies, and housing trusts. Practice head Graeme Nuttall is ‘very knowledgeable in the field, subtle in his approach, and avoids antagonisms, very often securing the desired outcome’.
Harbottle & Lewis LLP is noted as ‘one to watch’ since the arrival of Alison Maclennan from Radcliffe Chambers in 2008. The practice is well known for assisting entertainment industry clients including Comic Relief, and has recently taken on a number of new clients including Timebank and The Kevin Spacey Foundation. Colin Howes is ‘fantastically knowledgeable, straightforward and responsive’.
Led by Alan Banes, Howard Kennedy has an enviable client portfolio that includes The Old Vic Theatre Trust and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Consultant Iain Harris assists Alexandra Palace Charitable Trust, and Martin Davies is a trustee of the Yorkshire Foundation.
LG’s ‘exemplary’ charities practice is led by the ‘indispensable’ Joanna Bussell, who is valued for her ‘comprehensive knowledge and positive manner’. The group regularly assists on partnerships between public sector and charity sector clients, corporate governance-related matters, and philanthropic giving. The team is ‘excellent, knowledgeable, helpful and responsive’.
Macfarlanes LLP’s practice, which benefits from being part of the firm’s strong wider private client group, is headed by Owen Clutton, who is ‘professional, knowledgeable and good at communicating complex issues in a way that is easy to understand’. Recent highlights include advising a US environmental protection charity on proposed arrangements designed to promote co-operation and joint ventures. Edward Reed is recommended.
Speechly Bircham LLP demonstrates ‘in-depth knowledge of the sector’, and offers ‘good response times’. John Ward and William Hancock ‘both show clear understanding of the issues facing charities’. Clients include The Andrew Lloyd Webber Art Foundation, the RSPB, and a number of schools and music-industry clients. The practice was broadened by the firm’s merger with Campbell Hooper in June 2009.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP’s ‘excellent’ charities practice is led by Ian Davis. It recently advised the RNIB in relation to the construction of its new Vision School and Children’s Home. Rosemary Hart is ‘excellent when “big guns” are needed in negotiations and when looking for creative solutions’.
Winckworth Sherwood has a leading position advising ecclesiastical clients. Recent highlights include assisting with the establishment of the national Christian-Muslim Forum. Aiden Hargreaves-Smith is ‘bright, thorough, dogged and wholly reliable’. Owen Carew-Jones leads the practice.
Martin Paisner is the key contact at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. The group, which includes associate Neasa Coen, has recently assisted with grant agreements and healthcare related charities work, and recently advised on a £20m grant to fund the west wing of the National Maritime Museum.
Sue Laing leads Boodle Hatfield’s practice, which acts for charities and advises individuals and businesses on their philanthropy programmes.
Richard Monkcom is the partner contact at Druces LLP, where clients include the Dogs Trust.
Forsters LLP’s growing charities practice assists clients such as The Cricket Foundation and The Goldsmith’s Company.
Herbert Smith LLP handles contentious and non-contentious charities work under the stewardship of Rupert Ticehurst, for an enviable client list.
Paul Almy is practice head at Hunters, where charity clients includes the Royal Life Saving Society and the London Law Trust.
Lee Bolton Monier-Williams is highly rated for its exceptional ecclesiastical practice.
At Linklaters LLP practice head Nigel Reid is recommended as a ‘first-class lawyer’.
Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP - Allen & Overy LLP’s private client spin-off - is recommended for financial advice to charities.
Payne Hicks Beach recently assisted The Salvation Army, as well as a number of ecclesiastical and private grant-making charitable trusts.
Gerald Kidd heads Pothecary Witham Weld’s church and charities practice.
Guy Greenhous leads RadcliffesLeBrasseur’s charities practice; clients include the Children’s Society.
Vizards Tweedie handles the creation and merger of charities, disputes, and property matters.