Charities and not-for-profit in London

‘Bates Wells is unique in its comprehensive expertise and offerings in charity law. As well as providing a huge range of advice, the lawyers keep consistently up to date with developments in charity law and the Charity Commission’s activities and share those learnings with in-house legal teams through newsletters, articles and free or reasonably priced training sessions. We have relied on their knowledge in areas such as safeguarding, social investment, governance, data protection, and various other areas. Their advice is always coloured by a deep understanding of the charity context. Charity law is not a tack-on at Bates Wells; it is integral to the firm’s ethos and existence‘.

‘The Firm has a reputation for working with the charitable sector which means it is familiar with the issues we are facing‘.

‘Bates Wells is very thorough, prompt in responding and always ensures it fully understands our requirements. The lawyers have got to know our charity governance very well which means that we can get informed advice from them quickly’.

‘Bates Wells provides personal advice, very much Partner led. One feels that the lawyers seek to gain an understanding of the culture of the organisation and provide pragmatic advice accordingly. The advice is easy to understand and not bound up in legal technicalities. Laura Soley is highly approachable and has an understanding of both the legal matters and the cultural environment of the Charity, with advice delivered that is appropriate to us. Hannah Lyons has provided good practical advice on fundraising and data issues, offering solutions rather than merely advice‘.

‘The team has been responsive. Luke Fletcher has been incredibly helpful sharing his expertise to navigate through challenging circumstances‘.

‘The team is very responsive to clients and goes out of its way to help.  The team was particularly helpful even during Covid, which shows its ability to be flexible during challenging times.  Suhan Rajkumar has been very helpful to us‘.

‘The team allowed us, as clients, to manage our expectations, the lawyers clearly set out, pricing, delivery timings and information updates, as well as warnings of any potential delays. The team provided consistent and timely updates through the process. Oliver Scutt has been a pleasure to work with. He is very clear in setting out the plan of work and always gave a timely turnaround with agreed dates. He also has the great strength of explaining legal areas to us non legal people‘.

‘Attention to detail. Reliable and thoughtful advice. Sensible solutions to what appear to be complex issues‘.

‘Legally rock-solid – good at balancing with practicalities / realities. Anne-Marie Piper – personable, pragmatic and responsive‘.

‘It is a strong and well respected practice with a range of specialisms and a particular understanding of charity law. Julian Smith has built up a detailed understanding of our organisation over the years specifically on its powers‘.

‘Julian Smith  – Exceptional depth of subject knowledge with the ability to apply this pragmatically‘.

‘Specialists in Charity and in particular Museum and IP work. Expert, willing to advise rather than just set out the legal parameters, fast and efficient. Only dealt with two individuals in the last year, both excellent: Julian Smith and Benjamin Pass‘.

‘The team at Farrer & Co consistently delivers to a very high standard and goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction. Its knowledge and expertise across all areas of charity law is excellent. All of the team is a pleasure to work with. All billing is made in a clear and timely manner.  Elizabeth Jones is excellent. She has provided us with a consistently high service and is extremely professional and knowledgeable‘.

‘Excellent, thoughtful, high quality service given at all times, with a really human touch. Lizzie Jones is excellent – intelligent, experienced and both supportive and challenging in equal measure. She is responsive and able to provide high quality advice on a wide range of charity issues. Her calm and thoughtful approach is particularly helpful with other senior stakeholders within my organisation‘.

‘The charities team at Farrer is the best in the field as far as I can tell.  The advice has always been very helpful and most importantly relevant. Elizabeth Jones heads up the team that we work with, they are all very approachable and extremely knowledgeable‘.

‘Farrer continues to be consistent with utmost professionalism, and reliable advice. I work now with many teams across the firm and the service has been consistent throughout.  Laeticia’s professionalism and consistency never wavers. I would like to specifically highlight the work we did together on Covid which took up a lot of time and thinking, during an extremely stressful moment for all of us, and her strategic as well as legal inputs were extremely valuable’.

‘Excellent knowledge of charity law and modern approaches to governance. Responsive and able to tune the approach to the knowledge level of the client, which can be highly variable, without sounding arrogant or condescending‘.

‘Head and shoulders above other firms in technical analysis, quick grasp on issues and working with clients not just for them. Chris Priestley (partner) is well above his peers.  He brings his associates in and never loses track of where his client is.  Chris quickly takes on new briefs and has a great way of taking his clients forward.  His case management is superb (exceptional) and he works brilliantly with other professionals.  He is approachable, considered and has a brilliant mind. Amy Carter (associate) is superb to work with.  Outstanding grasp of complex briefs, including a number that have been challenging and outside of her comfort zone.  A real pleasure to work with – reliable, appropriately challenging and a brilliant manner with clients‘.

‘Withers stands out for the measured and judicious way it reflects on briefs, legislative change and emerging practice to provide proportionate and dependable advice that brings immediate benefit. Amy Carter in the Charities and Philanthropy team has helped a charity I work with make changes to its constitution in a calm and comprehensive manner, through paying careful attention to the brief and a careful consideration of the institution’s nature and history. Meriel Schindlerhas provided strong assistance while suggesting pragmatic ways to reduce costs through use of an excellent independent consultant‘.

‘The dual qualified structure which Withers operates works seamlessly for us.  We have a UK Foundation limited by shares (not by guarantee) which is wholly owned by a US Foundation.  Withers is able to resolve issues seamlessly across the jurisdictions, explaining in writing or by phone, spending a little bit more time explaining on the phone so that our team is better apprised of the legal positions.  Roger Waite stands out for being accessible and comprehensible. Roger and the team are also very personable and able to deliver bad news very effectively.  They always explain in such a way that, even when disappointed or irritated,  you know the options of the right things to do and how best to fix the problem(s)‘.

‘It has a deep and up to date knowledge of the complexities of charity law, and has been well able to advise on some complex proposals I have worked with Chris Priestley and Roger Waite.  I have found them both exceptionally helpful and responsive.  Roger particularly is outstandingly responsive and practical in his outlook, and has also been very helpful in referring me to the right people elsewhere in Withers when needed‘.

‘The team knows everything there is to know about charity law and the charity sector. Partner Chris Priestley is very good and also just a lovely guy to work with.  Amy Carter, associate, is also very able and helpful’.

‘The lawyers have always provided fast, personable and professional information, expertise and services to our charity. Over the last 18 months, during Covid-19 pandemic, we have needed expert legal services, contracts and advice with a fast response and turnaround; the Withers team has been able to provide that every time with exceptional professionalism. A huge thank you for your help, advice and support to our charity which means that we have been able to offer increased services to our beneficiaries throughout these turbulent times. The level of personal care and dedication from each member of the team is hugely valued. We would particularly like to thank Alison Paines, Roger Waite and Chris Priestley‘.

‘It has a great deal of experience in charity and trust law and are able to call on experts across other practice areas. The lawyers consider issues thoroughly and provide excellent advice, taking into account any particular client sensitivities or commercial considerations. Alison Paines is excellent at coordinating input from a variety of fee earners and ensuring that advice is joined up. She isn’t afraid to test colleagues if she is not certain that the advice they are giving takes into account all relevant considerations. Alison is able to cut through a great amount of detail and get to the material points on key issues. She is able to summarise complex factual backgrounds succinctly and ask the pertinent questions. Amy Carter is very thorough and has provided thought through and unique solutions to some of the issues we have put to Withers‘.

‘Penny Chapman  – very courteous and supportive in helping me to understand the issues and to provide solutions‘.

‘Absolute confidence in its knowledge and application of law relating to NHS charities. Good client management both from personal contact and relationship management by the client partner, but also access to learning and other resources.  It is not a ‘profit at all costs’ sort of firm. It is making meaningful attempts at addressing diversity issues in its recruitment and retention. Jonathan Brinsden – highly expert, personable, commercial. Also a helpful Client Partner adding value in calls with other teams outside of Charities and NFPs.  I know I can have a sensible conversation with Jonathan, whether it be about a technical legal point, strategy around a legal issue or on fees and we will reach a position which positively progresses the matter for our charity‘.

‘We have a complicated international charity structure with a significant income earning component, a financial link to another charity in the United States and few local staff. BDB Pitmans provides an exceptional service in managing these complexities. Sarah Williams is a stand-out person. She is expert legally, organised, highly efficient and wonderfully diplomatic‘.

‘The Charity relies upon the expert team in this practice to provide sound, commercial advice at a good price and with an ability to respond quickly where needed. The specific knowledge of the Charity itself is invaluable, and we see it as a top member of our panel of solicitors who we will often contact first when advice is required. The entire team that works with us is personable, easy to reach and have become valuable advisors to the Charity. Key member of the team that stands out is Jonathan Brinsden‘.

‘Jonathan Brinsden is very well connected in the charity and not for profit sector. He has a breadth of knowledge and experience which makes his advice valuable. It is always a great pleasure to deal with him‘.

‘Excellent team and speedily answers. Harriet Ainsworth‘.

‘The team headed by Jonathan Brinsden is highly knowledgeable about charity law in particular governance. For example it provided excellent advice on how to prepare a modern yet robust Articles of Association and accompanying Regulations. The team is very collaborative and highly responsive. It has been a pleasure to work with it as it makes governance law understandable to the lay person. However, we have also used other members of the firm for commercial advice, property advice and HR advice. They cover a wide range of areas of expertise which means that we only need to deal with one law firm which is very beneficial to an organisation of our size. Jonathan Brinsden and Alice Unwin are both very collaborative and highly responsive.  Friendly and approachable – I would highly recommend them both‘.

‘Sarah Williams has been a huge support to our organisation on multiple occasions, and consistently provides clear, helpful and timely guidance. She has helped us successfully navigate a couple of challenging situations and can be relied upon to provide sensible and professional recommendations in a calm and friendly manner. She has been hugely responsive throughout the course of our working relationship and is always proactive in following up‘.

‘The Charities Team has taken the time to fully understand the nature of our charities and the complex environment in which we work. The team is excellent at drawing in different expertise as appropriate whilst still focusing on the underlying needs of our organisation and balancing the financial resources we have to spend on external advice. The team is always willing to pick up the phone when we need it and will often provide instant high level advice when we need it. The flexible approach to the way advice is provided across the whole of CRS and the way it is delivered to us as a client is why we value the team at CRS so much‘.

‘We have worked with Sarah Rowley over a number of years and her detailed knowledge of our organisation together with the incredibly practical and clear  advice she provides has made her an invaluable adviser to our charities‘.

‘The team is knowledgeable and efficient. Sarah Rowley is extremely knowledgeable, but also has an excellent, patient and understanding manner when supporting with Trustee Boards who have a variable range of knowledge and understanding‘.

‘Charles Russell is a well respected firm but my dealings are with one individual Penny Byatt and her supporting departments. The trust is reasonably large and gives out grants to animal charities. It is a complicated Charity. It needs skill and an intimate knowledge of Charity law and numerous other disciplines from agricultural property to data protection law. Penny manages these disciplines within the firm so the trustees obtain seamless advice‘.

‘Willingness to engage and provide excellent value inhouse training for our trustees. Sarah Rowley and Lyn Povey –  both are extremely approachable and responsive. They quickly understand our needs as a client and provide pragmatic and clear advice‘.

‘In sync with the client, empathetic and knowledgeable. Good collaborators – work principally with Penny Byatt and occasionally Mike Scott. Penny works hard to understand the business and what makes us unique. Valued the ability to receive quick, well-thought through advice. It has been a tough year for us and CRS has supported us through that‘.

‘CRS has an excellent charity practice. I always find it very quick to respond to queries and deliver work. The lawyers very swiftly feel like part of the “home team”. Sarah Rowley who leads the team is a first-class lawyer’.

‘Approachable and knowledgeable team in place dealing with a wide range of different issues relating to charities of varying sizes. Sarah Rowley is always approachable and helpful, taking the time to answer questions‘.

‘MTG is the go-to place for complex private client advice. Ceris Gardner is one of the world’s leading experts in providing advice to multi-jurisdictional, multi-generational families who need nuanced and complex advice‘.

‘The best of the best. A stellar practice with an equally stellar roll-call of clients. a particular expertise in cross-border and international philanthropy. Ceris Gardner is a titan in the sector, respected by all for her achievements and loved by all for her approachability and kindness. Emma-Jane Wieder stands out at the overlap of tax and philanthropy, with Jennifer Chambers another outstanding expert in this field. Associate Sophie Wettern is a future star, who marries complete thoroughness with first-rate intellectual analysis‘.

‘Proper knowledge of charity issues, and good working relationship with charities commission. Emma-Jane Weider and Hannah Blakey -available, clear communications, prompt responses‘.

‘The team of MTG is a pleasure to work with,  it has a deep knowledge of the industry and key developments. In our collaboration they came up with ideas/solutions other UK law firms did not think of. Emma-Jane Weider: she is a top-notch private client and tax lawyer, combined with her knowledge for charities. Jennifer Emms: She is always spot-on, very responsive, understands the facts and advice one is looking for at the time‘.

‘Smart on both commercial and charitable matters. Emma-Jane Weider, Jennifer Emms‘.

‘RC provides service beyond normal legal advice – coordination for complex projects involving multiple advisors and useful strategic insights. Chris Rowse and Andrew Studd have provided excellent service and advice‘.

‘Good understanding of charity law – cheaper than some of the leading firms. Good understanding of our medical charity. Responsive and collaborative with in-house teams. Good availability to work on matters. Chris Rowse – knowledgeable in charity law, responsive, works to tight timeframes, has experience of different charitable structures. Carla Whalen – good on data protection aspects and innovative in how to make complex data projects work‘.

‘R-C covers all facets of our complex regulatory landscape. The lawyers support us at the key reactive phases when there is a crisis, but primarily they support creatively in ensuring compliance and with the evolution of best practice. All members of the team inspire confidence, and act in a timely and agile manner. We engage with many members of the team. All offer a high level of customer service‘.

‘The practice has very good charity sector knowledge which it applies in a pragmatic way that balances with the needs of charity. I would recommend them. The individuals we work with have a good knowledge of our organisation and apply that knowledge to our work. They are always supportive and helpful and look at creative solutions to issues‘.

‘Very approachable and good knowledge and practical advice. Very good rates and value for money. Understands client needs very well. Good experience of dealing with the regulator. Chris Rowse is always very helpful and a pleasure to deal with‘.

‘As a charity with property holdings, a membership and a Royal Charter, there are considerable complexities on which R-C LLP has been able to advise. The lawyers have been quick and responsive during a challenging (COVID) year, and have assisted particularly with a governance review and follow-up. Our key contacts in the last year have been James Sinclair-Taylor (governance) and Andrew Small (property) who know our charity well and can instantly bring background knowledge and understanding to support a new situation’.

‘As I have said before, incredibly capable and excellent quality of work and output. Have got me out of a difficult situation. Andrew Studd – very easy to deal with, formidable, incredibly experienced and capable, very good approach to clients and knows how to handle a variety of types, showing necessary strength when needed‘.

‘Highly experienced, recognised the pressures on unpaid trustees and provided a range of flexible options to help manage that. Clear, comprehensive, pragmatic advice and assistance. Andrew Studd – expert, approachable, friendly, very responsive‘.

‘The team is always available, and carefully listens to the problems to be resolved, and provides practical and deliverable solutions. Stephen Ravenscroft considers issues in a sensitive and client facing manner, and brings a wealth of experience. Additionally, I have found the work and contribution of Clive Vergnaud exceptionally thoughtful and based on sound knowledge‘.

‘Stone King has a national reputation as a centre of excellence across the charity and social enterprise sector founded on exceptional expert teams based in London and the regions backed up by top quality specialists in relevant fields, including education, data protection, disputes, employment and property law‘.

‘Julian Blake – Partner – Charity & Social Enterprise Team – Julian has exceptional expertise in law, governance and procurement combined with a widely respected deep values-led commitment to the charity and social enterprise sector and his clients. In addition he is known nationwide for developing innovative collaborative partnerships for public bodies and social enterprises achieving high social value for communities and high impact public benefit services‘.

‘We have used Julian Blake for many years as our adviser on renewable energy co-operatives and his advice has been excellent. We now use other partners in Stone King for additional work. Not many firms have expertise in this area, the combination of co-operatives (an unusual entity) and renewable energy, a fairly new technology. Understanding of our rather unusual business, willingness to take on unusual problems and questions, and responsiveness‘.

‘Particular expertise in charity law in the context of educational trusts. Practical and pragmatic approach to solving problems‘.

‘Stone King is charity-focused which means that all the advice takes into account issues relating to the charitable status of its clients. Ann Philipps has  been unfailingly supportive -she has always been able to react promptly in a crisis giving practical and focused advice‘.

‘The team is very experienced in education governance. Customer service is strong and the lawyers will go above and beyond to reassure clients and build strong relationships. The team is experienced in all charity and education law and regulations. We have a yearly review of services and the team is open to feedback. The lawyers review how we have utilised their services and offer revised cost solutions. The lawyers are open to new ideas and out of the box thinking. They work with their clients to find the right solution which can be creative and unique when required. I very much value their time to talk through matters and bounce ideas‘.

‘Julian Blake is our principal partner – he is one of, if not the leading public benefit lawyers in the country.  He’s not only intellectually brilliant but pragmatic and purposeful in his advice’.

‘Significant expertise and experience supporting charities and not for profit. Deep understanding of law affecting charities and the way that charities need to balance risk and reward. Alison Talbot provides clear, concise advice with the client in mind‘.

‘Alison Talbot and Philip Collins are outstanding lawyers and two very safe pairs of hands‘.

‘I regard Winckworth Sherwood as the pre-eminent firm for ecclesiastical law. The advice I need is often niche, and I know I can rely on first-rate advice from the firm. I principally work with Darren Oliver, whose technical knowledge is excellent. He is both thorough and practical’.

‘Good pragmatic tailored advice. Thoroughly personable and Darren Oliver is ready to go the extra mile in finding sensible solutions‘.

‘Wrigleys’ strength is its focus on charities, it is one of the leading firms and has strength in depth. I would highlight: Clare Lawrence – a proactive charity law partner whose clients are obviously loyal and reliant on her advice‘.

‘Understanding the client. Speed in understanding the client’.

‘Excellent support for charity and community led housing, particularly on structures and different models. Always works flexibly with us and has a can-do attitude to sometimes difficult challenges‘.

‘We believe the strength of this firm is its knowledge of Charity law and its dedication to us as a client. We feel the lawyers are a group of people who really look out for our interests and are very willing to go the extra mile for us. We feel that we will always get good advice and there is a real relationship of trust and mutual understanding of the ethos of our Charity’.

‘We have worked mainly with Elizabeth Wilson and Nat Johnson and have found them easy to work with and very competent and professional. We feel our Charity is very safe under their guidance. Our relationship with Elizabeth and Natalie is friendly but very professional and we feel they always have our best interests at heart. I would be very happy to recommend this firm to anyone who was seeking a good Charity law firm‘.

‘They give a damn. They make the effort to understand the organisation. They bill sensibly. Fiona Wharton and Elizabeth Wilson and Ian Potter feel more like colleagues than suppliers‘.

‘Wrigleys provides an excellent service and does not overcharge for the services it provides‘.

‘The team we deal with is really helpful, and pleasant to deal with. They talk in plain English rather than legalese. The main individual we deal with is Dominic Curran. He is helpful, friendly and efficient’.

‘The key strength of the team is its breadth of understanding of the charity sector and consistent approach to offering specialist advice regardless of the size of the charity. This reflects the firm’s commitment to being a social purpose firm. The lawyers are driven by being a factor in changing lives, not commercial gain. This doesn’t in any way detract from the quality of the advice given. Sarah Tomlinson – delivers robust advice and is prepared to challenge and get the detail right to deliver the best outcome. Esther Campsall – consistently hardworking and conscientious approach. She really gets us and delivers excellent and timely advice‘.

‘Anthony Collins is the only one I know that measures its social impact, which is important to charity clients. I feel confident using the firm as it has in-depth knowledge of social care, housing and other charity issues. The lawyers have been proactive and flexible in suggesting a virtual secondment. John Wearing – responds super-fast and has a great knowledge of social care‘.

‘A talented team offering full-service advice and assistance on all aspects of charities/not-for-profit law and procedure‘.

‘A good sized provincial firm offering quality advice for the Charity sector. Ben Brice was really good to deal with.   Very approachable.  Responded quickly’.

‘Very easy to talk to, billing was regular and kept us regularly up to date with fees and did not exceed the agreed fee without contacting us‘.

‘The team is impressively responsive with replies to emails and calls being provided expeditiously. As a consequence we are able to be agile and responsive in commercial matters, which invariably means obtaining the best results quickly. Very approachable team. We have no issues with picking up the telephone to discuss a matter. Always friendly and helpful and able to update you immediately with current state of play on a particular matter, notwithstanding the number of other matters they are dealing with. Great link up between estates and property litigation teams. You can rest assured that your matter is in safe hands from beginning to end, across the two contentious and non-contentious fields. In depth knowledge of landlord and tenant law and always up to speed with new developments relevant to our business‘.

‘In regard to the application of relevant Charity Law it demonstrated in depth understanding. The company had been recommended to us by a friend/contact of ours who also is a qualified solicitor. Kirsteen Hook was our main solicitor, until maternity leave, and she always responded promptly and helpfully‘.

‘The team is technically knowledgeable and understands the HE sector‘.

‘The lawyers are very professional but also extremely friendly and easy to work with. They have all worked extremely hard to communicate effectively with our deaf clients and represent them to the highest standard. We are always working together to improve our partnership‘.

‘Unique combination of skills/expertise across professional regulation, public sector restructuring, tax and charity law. Neil Palmer – very calm and can do, and responsive to fast-paced change in our project; Sarah Ellson – hugely knowledgeable about our business and governance requirements so able to translate advice so it fits our needs exactly‘.

‘Everyone we have dealt with has been responsive, knowledgeable and superlative in their support‘.

‘It has deep expertise in not-for-profit activity – we have worked with H&L on a range of issues (charity re-structuring and objects, managing relationships with the Charity Commission, major donor/commercial agreements, trademarking, HR advice and strategy support), in both formal and informal capacities. The service and relationship that we have received is high-quality, timely and effective – the team at H&L is always available and supportive – in many cases we present a problem to them and they are quickly able to identify solution options with supporting expertise. We also value the philanthropic contribution that H&L offers to our charity, which spans a number of areas‘.

‘Our primary interface is Colin Howes – who is a key, trusted stakeholder for our organisation. His advice and support is highly-valued by our charity’s leadership team and our trustees.  Colin’s approach starts and ends with the relationship, and how best he can serve our charity’s objectives, from which the legal strategy and work then flows. I always feel that he takes into consideration the entirety of our situation, never focusing on specific legal points. The other quality that I value in Colin, having worked with him for several years, is his consistent and positive development of junior staff’.

‘May Delaney helpful and proactive. Colin Howes – intellectually extremely able and a joy to work with‘.

‘Very customer focused, the lawyers go the extra mile to support clients. The expertise provided on amending our Articles of Association was invaluable. Katerina Capras guided us through the entire process step by step- we could not have managed this without her advice and excellent support!‘.

‘A very responsive team with creative solutions to client problems. The team works hard to support clients at every stage of the process and is transparent on fees. May Delaney has always been an excellent resource for clients. Her enthusiasm, attention to detail and forward thinking approach has solved many a tricky problem for clients‘.

‘Very good and capable. Has helped to save the day on one case which was difficult and we had to deal with challenging third parties. I am profoundly impressed and grateful for the support and professionalism. A great team to work with. May Delaney – associate. I really value her experience and quality of work. Hardworking, sees the bigger picture. Commercial. Committed‘.

‘Outstanding, open, honest and direct. Fully up to date technically and digitally. Engaged and committed. Every one is an outstanding communicator‘.

‘ Harbottle & Lewis for its expertise in the Charity sector and because of  the excellent existing relationship with the firm ( Media ). H&L is always keen to show willing in accommodating the client‘.

‘The Charities and Not-for-Profit team at Hunters is extremely experienced having represented a large number of charities and religious organisations for decades. The team covers the whole spectrum of advice that charities need, from tax issues all the way through to handling the litigation and dispute resolution problems that such institutions face in the present day and age. This is a bespoke team of lawyers for a specialist service and those that I have dealt with have great client-handling skills‘.

‘James Vernor-Miles has a wealth of experience in providing advice across the whole spectrum of charity law and is a skilled adviser who has sound judgment. Dominik Opalinski is in constant demand in relation to issues pertaining to safeguarding issues and has a substantial case-load dealing with child welfare matters. This involvement extends to claims brought against charitable institutions both in this jurisdiction and abroad’. 

‘Dominik Opanlinski is currently involved in setting up a very important alternative dispute resolution scheme in East Africa to enable claims of misconduct by a charitable organisation to be adjudicated there. This has necessitated delicate approaches involving the Chief Justice of one of the East African countries where misconduct by a representative of a charity has allegedly taken place. Devising and establishing this scheme has required a considerable amount of inventive planning and the production on a structure within which the Adjudicators will operate. All this Dominik Opalinski has achieved with great diplomatic skill and energy. The scheme he has devised may well prove to be a standard for other countries in Africa where religious institutions have been operating and which wish to continue their mission in Africa‘.

‘Good charity knowledge. Good relationship with partner Paul Almy‘.

‘Hunters is a friendly, niche firm which takes care to look after its clients’ interests. It has a traditional approach but refreshingly modern ways of working. Dominik Opalinski is an enthusiast for the law, the Catholic faith, charities and his clients and a strong feeling against injustice. He is never cynical or bored’.

‘Extensive industry knowledge and practical solutions to issues. Pragmatic and solutions focused. Incredibly friendly team who are very approachable, I mainly deal with Jo Coleman and find her very easy to work with and also very friendly too, which makes a real difference when needing to contact her. When she has provided training to our Board members, they often feedback on how interesting she can make the topic of charity governance law!’.

‘WBD has been flexible, cost effective and consistently delivered high quality advice to our team. The lawyers have managed cost well due to limited charity resources but the quality of the advice has improved our regulatory relationships, contract management, employment practices and financing. Emma Moody has given us balanced and pragmatic support on all areas of charity law and regulation, while acting as client liaison for the wider firm. She has ensured a prompt response on all matters, managed cost and spent time building both relationships and a deep understanding of our business. She is a trusted adviser and her opinion and advice are highly valued by both the management team and the Board‘.

‘We are a registered Charity and therefore require specialist charity law advice. This specialism is very strong in the firm. We work mainly with Jo Coleman who is a charity specialist. She is very clear, very articulate and knowledgeable and we have complete confidence that she will protect our best interests. Her advice maintains complete integrity with the law and is very thorough. Her communication style is simple and very direct. She has worked hard to gain a lot of insight into our organisation‘.

‘The practise’s professionalism and accessibility has always ensured that the team has been available to provide current and up to date advice and support across a range of issues involving several areas of their practise. It has been useful to have a partner as our point of contact and to coordinate the collaboration across the various practise areas.  Jo Coleman’s professionalism and accessibility have been impressive, as has been her capacity to understand our needs and practically support these‘.

‘The team is very experienced and provides quick, practical advice on all aspects of charity law. We have very high regard for Jo Coleman for her ability to provide quick and practical advice on all aspects of charity law‘.

‘Jo Coleman is an outstanding professional who has our full trust. She is our go-to person when we need legal advice as her experience and knowledge of the charity sector are unmatched. She has provided support for us over many years. She is also a highly engaging speaker who takes great pains to present the reports she provides to board meetings and induction for our trustees in a clear, informative style which is very accessible for non-experts, but at the same time combining this accessibility with the full authority of legal representative as the situation demands. Her expertise has guided us safely through many different concerns over the years‘.

‘The team has great experience over a wide range of areas within charity and not-for-profit law. The lawyers work within the UK and internationally. Richard Monkcom has huge experience and is practical and sensible in his advice. He is also friendly and helpful.’

‘Caroline Cropley is knowledgeable, efficient, sensible and easy to deal with.’

‘Excellent team. Very professional advice. Great availability and promptness in response. Helen Freely an excellent, competent and efficient’.

‘The team has a comprehensive knowledge of the charity and not for profit organisations and therefore is able to support decision making with appropriate and relevant advice and guidance. During the pandemic the team has introduced regular webinars on key topics that have been helpful, informative and collaborative. Members of the team take time to understand our challenges, whether that be resources, governance or the sector specific operating environment‘.

‘Emma Burrows and her team are like an extended part of the Leadership team here. The lawyers are trusted advisors and do not sit on the fence when giving advice. Their advice is clear, pragmatic and they will always seek to establish what outcome we are seeking and provide such advice in a timely trusted way. They are our go to advisors for all complex ER matters. Emma Burrows – she fully understands our business, she is a trusted advisor and most importantly to me she provides legal advice which I understand‘.

‘The advice is detailed, comprehensive and specific to the questions asked for the situation. Even if a number of people end up being involved there is handover between them and consistency of advice. The advice is helpful and gives useful recommendations. The lawyers are professional and always act appropriately in a trusted manner. They respond in a timely way with detailed and comprehensive advice that meets the needs, making useful recommendations. Everyone we have dealt with has been knowledgeable and trustworthy. We have had support from Emma Burrows‘.

‘A well-rounded, full-service law firm. Kerry Morgan-Gould is a highly effective and pragmatic lawyer who gets straight to the heart of the issue and maintains a cool head at all times.  She has helped us to defend several probate claims successfully and has also managed to steer lay Executors back on track when estate administrations are taking far too long or are encountering difficulties.  We really value her calm and professional approach, and we know that we can trust her completely to communicate appropriately with lay Executors, striking the perfect balance between a supportive, collaborative approach and being robust enough to obtain real results.  Kerry will always flex her communication style to suit the type of Executor or Claimant involved, and we can relax knowing that we don’t need to ask her to adjust the tone of her letters – she gets it spot‘.

‘The Ashfords team has an intuitive understanding of the practical needs of a charity in these circumstances, providing billing solutions and collaboration that make my life easy when I instruct the team on a matter. The knowledge and again the intuitive understanding of my needs when instructing as a charity are second to none. Barny Croft in highly valued, he is generous with his time and assistance in ensuring the charity gets not only the best result but understands why fully. Robert Horsey and Kerry Morgan-Gould make themselves available instantly if you have any queries so there is always someone to support you‘.

‘The team is very experienced and well respected in this area of law. Kerry Morgan-Gould is very approachable, efficient and easy to deal with and explains the situation in layman’s terms‘.

‘Very client friendly, exceptionally knowledgeable, and really nice people to work with. I work with Barny Croft, Robert Horsey and Kerry Morgan-Gould. I cannot rate them highly enough, they are great lawyers and really friendly‘.

‘I have been extremely impressed with Ashfords’ team. Both commercially minded but also caring for clients in distressing circumstances. It offers a great holistic product. Barny Croft is a superb lawyer, approachable, conscientious and deeply caring, whilst delivering tactically astute and high quality legal expertise’.

‘Able to cover all the ‘usual’ commercial issues that face an organisation, combined with specific expertise and experience in the arts sector. Makes the team great, full-service support for anyone working in arts & culture‘.

‘Expertise coupled with deep sector experience. Highly personalised service but drawn from a large pool of lawyers. Partner involvement in client care and identifying the correct lawyer for the job. Close collaboration between offices‘.

‘Recently I have taken advice from Stephen O’Reilly’s team in Cambridge re complicated applications to the Charity Commission. I was greatly impressed by the quality of service‘.

‘Excellent customer support, clear and timely advice, responsive to queries. Stephen O’Reilly has been exceptional in helping us get our charity up and running – he was recommended to me and I would highly recommend him to others‘.

‘As a charity we value its tremendous expertise on charity law and engagement with our regulator, the Charity Commission. The team is able to bring other skills into the mix when required, – property, commercial, lotteries, etc. Stephen O’Reilly is our main point of contact. His knowledge of charity law is really extensive, and his approach is always detailed, and thorough‘.

‘I find Virginia so approachable and pragmatic, it never ever feels ‘about the fee’, nothing is ever too much trouble and crucially the advice is always in plain English! Approachable, good humoured and easy to get hold of. I find the approach to charging sensitive and sensible, that’s why I continue to make further referrals!’.

‘The team will work with you hand in hand to deliver the outcomes you are looking for, always taking into account the charitable nature of your organisation. The individuals we worked with were professional and knowledgeable but what made them stand out was their flexibility to work around the needs and time commitments of our trustees‘.

‘The team clearly had a deep and sympathetic understanding of the charity sector which was/is important to us. The lawyers also understand the way the Charity Commission works and has advised us helpfully on procedures and system. Saffa Mir has reacted promptly to all queries and also explained to us in clear and simple terms what is happening, expected timescales and options that are available to us. She has reacted positively to requests for clarification. She is also “friendly” whilst maintaining a professional relationship which to us is important. She has also given us confidence that what we are seeking to do is possible and will “hold our hands” through the complicated process‘.

‘Our initial contact with Hewitsons was with one of the partners, Virginia Henley.  Virginia spent a long time seeking to understand our issues and when appropriate handed the work over to Saffa. We have the confidence that she is maintaining a watching brief whilst rightly allowing Saffa to work with us independently. She has always made herself available to us if needed‘.

‘In the relatively short time I have worked with Hewitsons, I have found the lawyers knowledgeable, willing and helpful across a range of topic areas.  Their understanding of the governance of registered societies has been particularly helpful to me. I have found everyone I have dealt with at Hewitsons to be ready to help and keen to understand the issue from our perspective in order to ensure that they provide the advice or service that we need‘.

‘Virginia’s expertise of charity law is very impressive. She is also very pragmatic, and client focused, and particularly sensitive to the issue of fees, which is always a concern for charities.  Saffa has been very, very impressive.  Saffa is very responsive, highly organised, and has a very impressive knowledge of charity law, especially given that she is relatively newly qualified. Virginia Henley: an absolutely outstanding lawyer,  very responsive, impressively knowledgeable,  as well as client focused and pragmatic‘.

‘Saffa Mir: I have no doubt that Saffa should be recognised as a potential future leader in the field of charity law.  It is evident that Saffa is very committed to  charity law, and that really shows in the way  in which she works with clients.  Saffa is very approachable, and I have full confidence that she really does know what she is doing, which is particularly impressive for a relatively newly qualified solicitor.  I look forward to seeing Saffa’s career develop, I have no doubt she has huge potential to be a leader in her field‘.

‘Very helpful and willing staff, knowledgeable and competent.  Very fair with pricing. Virginia Henley and her assistant Saffa Mir were very efficient and helpful despite a heavy workload.  Went the extra mile to help us with intricate detail‘.

‘The team has a strong understanding of our organisation and this enables it to provide strategic, valuable and timely input on a range of issues. Billing is centrally coordinated with helpful management information provided on a regular basis‘.

‘Extremely responsive and Neil Burton is very commercial but also appreciative of how technicalities etc may play out and ensures complete advice is given. Neil Burton is extremely approachable and supportive, taking the time to really understand the issues associated with any particular instruction or matter. Mark Ashton is also very good and provides good technical advice, as well as bringing the benefit of his experience dealing with the Commission‘.

‘Appreciated (1) breadth of experience in specialist sector (charities), (2) sensitivity to costs, (3) willingness to adjust billing cycle to client’s convenience, (4) exceptional availability/responsiveness, (5) timeliness and speed of service delivery. Nathalie Jacoby-Danesh, Principal Associate, was exceptionally good to work with, for listening and responding to client’s perspective and needs.  Head of Charities, Neil Burton, was always available for supplementary help, as needed, but permitted work to go forward through Ms Jacoby-Danesh‘.