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Charities and not-for-profit

1
- DWF (Leeds)
- Wrigleys Solicitors LLP (Leeds, Sheffield)
2
- Addleshaw Goddard LLP (Leeds)
- McCormicks (Harrogate)
- Pinsent Masons LLP (Leeds)
- Rollits LLP (Hull)
3
- Bond Dickinson LLP (Leeds)
- Gosschalks (Hull)
- Irwin Mitchell (Leeds, Sheffield)
- Lupton Fawcett Denison Till (Leeds)
4
- Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP (Hull)
- Hempsons (Harrogate)
- Schofield Sweeney (Leeds, Bradford)
- Shulmans (Leeds)
- Taylor Bracewell (Doncaster)
- Ward Hadaway (Leeds)

Headed by the ‘efficient’ Catherine Rustomji, DWF is ‘at the top of its game’. Rustomji has been leading the team in assisting the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) with governance and regulatory issues following an investigation by the Charity Commission.

Wrigleys Solicitors LLP fields a multidisciplinary team that advises on governance issues, mergers and property matters. The group is led by Malcolm Lynch and includes the ‘highly pragmatic’ Sylvie Nunn. Clients include academy trusts, heritage and faith-based charities, and student unions. Duncan Milwain joined the firm as a consultant from Lupton Fawcett Denison Till in August 2016.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s team is headed by Pervinder Kaur, who specialises in funding issues and Charity Commission investigations. Yorke Eaton advises on charities-related governance issues, property transactions, commercial contracts and restructuring issues.

Headed by the ‘effective’ Peter McCormick, McCormicks ‘provides an excellent service’ to charities such as the Premier League Charitable Fund and Football Foundation.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘excellent’ group is led by Janet Hoskin, who ‘has a good level of technical expertise’, and includes senior associate Chris Thomas, who advises on governance and tax issues. Clients include universities, corporate foundations and local government charities.

Rollits LLP’s practice has experienced an increase in work relating to charity mergers. Practice head Gerry Morrison has been leading the team advising the York Railway Institute on becoming an incorporated charity.

Led by Newcastle-based Emma Moody, Bond Dickinson LLP has particular expertise in the education and healthcare sectors, with a strong focus on transactions and governance issues. The team includes Mark Honeywell.

Gosschalks’ multidisciplinary team is led by Nigel Beckwith, who specialises in academy conversions. Corporate partner Paul Plaxton advises on the registration of new charities, incorporation of existing trusts and governance issues.

At Irwin Mitchell, practice head Laurence Gavin leads on non-contentious regulatory matters, including academy conversions and governance issues. The team includes pensions partner Nigel Bolton and employment partner Kirsty Ayre.

Lupton Fawcett Denison Till’s team primarily advises educational and ecclesiastical organisations. Duncan Milwain joined Wrigleys Solicitors LLP in August 2016.

The ‘excellent’ team at Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is headed by corporate associate Daniel Hammond, who advises on compliance matters and the registration of new charities.

Hempsons’ group is led by Faisal Dhalla, who handles group structures, governance issues, re-organisations and mergers, as well as commercial contracts.

The team at Schofield Sweeney is headed by Andrew Hurst, who has particular expertise in the establishment of new charities, as well as advising on governance and tax issues. Luisa D’Allesandro is recommended.

Shulmans advises on all aspects of charity law, with a particular focus on corporate, employment, property and dispute resolution matters. It is headed by ‘excellent’ associate Jennifer Chambers.

Taylor Bracewell’s ‘excellent’ department handles employment, property and commercial matters in the charity sector, with a particular focus on academy conversions. The practice is led by Sharon Beck, who also heads the commercial team.

Ward Hadaway’s practice is led by Fiona Wharton, who advises on all aspects of charity law, including restructurings, mergers, compliance, governance and fundraising matters.

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