The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > London > Charities and not-for-profit

‘Bates Wells has tremendous strength in depth. They are thought leaders’

‘Philip Kirkpatrick goes to the heart of the matter. He is a pleasure to deal with. He avoids inessentials, and is as close as you can get to the ideal charity legal adviser‘

‘It provides a seamless service in supporting in-house legal practices to achieve their intended outcomes, and adopts a can-do approach to help resolve problems and overcome hurdles to that end. The advice and approach is always strategic, pragmatic, accessible, engaged and insightful – and advice is delivered promptly’

‘A top-flight charity team, with the ability to navigate the fast-changing regulatory environment. Advice is always a sensible mix of practical and technical. The individuals with whom I work are able to take complex issues and explain them in practical ways to lawyers and non-lawyers alike‘

‘Rosamund McCarthy and Simon Steeden are professional, knowledgeable, proactive and approachable. They are leaders in the charity law field’

‘It has a massive team that has charity work is in its DNA. Luke Fletcher does a superb job on social investment work. Abbie Rumbold is highly professional, direct and honest, and has a thorough comprehension of charitable law‘

‘Thea Longley has an ability to make difficult things as straightforward as possible. Authoritative, pragmatic, reassuring, approachable and diplomatic – even fun!‘

‘Laura Soley is truly exceptional and an absolute delight to work with. A real credit to the firm. Impressive technical knowledge; constructive, pragmatic and strategic in approach; always accessible and responsive; and always instils confidence in clients with her professional competence and measured and personable approach‘

‘Lawrence Simanowitz is imaginative and brilliant’

‘Pippa Garland is thorough, clear, timely and helpful‘

‘Anne-Marie Piper provides clear and unambiguous advice and is able to make the important connections necessary to resolve the sometimes complex and difficult issues that arise’

‘Anne-Marie Piper is supported by an able team of knowledgeable practitioners and specialists in complementary disciplines‘

‘Julian Smith provides clear, straightforward advice on complex issues in a way that is easy to understand and to apply’

‘Julian Smith is responsive and available at short notice, and I value his counsel. His knowledge of Charity Commission procedures (and the thinking behind them) has been invaluable‘

‘Julian Smith is an absolute pleasure to work with  – a delight‘

‘Farrer & Co consistently provides exceptionally high levels of service and account management at all times’

‘All members of the team that we work with are knowledgeable, efficient and provide consistently high-quality work. The firm also provides opportunities to hear about the latest developments in the sector through high-quality events and bulletins‘

‘Elizabeth Jones is an exceptional lawyer and account manager. She provides consistently high levels of service, is knowledgeable and up to date with all matters, responds quickly and is a pleasure to work with‘

‘Very personable team. Quick responses. Goes above and beyond to ensure deadlines are met‘

‘Penny Chapman is very helpful, with a quick turnaround of response and clear communications. She understands issues, shows professional empathy and adapts to client’s needs‘

‘Breadth of professional experience and how it is practically applied. Accessibility of the team members. Speed of reply and turnaround of complex work‘

‘Professionalism and lateral thinking. Matching values of individual team members. A willingness to work outside of normal working hours‘

‘BDB Pitmans LLP has a wide and deep knowledge of the charity and not-for-profit sector and acts for a large number of such organisations‘

‘Jonathan Brinsden is very knowledgeable and approachable, and a delight to deal with‘

‘The lawyers at BDP Pitmans have always made themselves readily available to us at very short notice. Their personal touch and the continuity of the team  has made working with them a real joy‘

‘The team continues to serve us brilliantly with all the appropriate advice, as well as always offering additional pointers beyond what we would have necessarily factored in. Penny Chapman has been the constant partner throughout our relationship and her experience and advice has been invaluable‘

‘The CRS charities and not-for-profit team has considerable breadth and depth of expertise, and the lawyers can call upon many other areas of expertise within the firm as a whole. Sarah Rowley has been the main point of contact for nearly a decade now. We have developed a close working relationship and appreciate her sympathetic understanding at all times, her eye for detail and critical awareness of all the issues involved‘

‘The key standout feature for CRS would be the staff; the lawyers are all obviously incredibly knowledgeable and capable, but also pair this with a very approachable style and friendly manner. They also react quickly and are always on hand to give things a sense check or a no obligation quote‘

‘The team is proactive in finding out how it can help and support us as a charity‘

‘Penny Byatt is my go-to person when any charity governance issues come up. She immediately picks up the issues and provides alternative solutions, with the pros and cons of each, with a recommendation‘

‘The depth of knowledge of charity law and how it works in practice makes Charles Russell Speechlys stand out’

‘Hempsons has an established charity and social enterprise practice and a strong reputation, with a dedicated national team across the firm‘

‘Ian Hempseed provides pragmatic and proactive advice. He has highly impressive specialist knowledge of the charity sector‘

‘Hempsons has an outstanding team of lawyers with expertise in all aspects of charity law, governance, conveyancing, property management, contractual issues, HR and employment law, and much more. We have found Hempsons to be far and away the most experienced team, with a can-do attitude. The lawyers always go the extra mile and even respond over weekends and holiday periods when it comes to urgent and pressing advice required‘

‘Ian Hempseed is extremely competent in charity law, mergers, governance, social enterprises, commercial matters and a whole range of other issues, including trustee support, governance, etc‘

‘The practice is very good at taking the time to think through the specific and unique aspects of my business. Our operating practices are not necessarily standard but staff at Hempsons put in the additional time and effort to understand this, and display great patience in dealing with our staff on issues. There is a pragmatism to the approach which is very much appreciated‘

‘The individuals I have worked with stand out through their pragmatic and patient approach. Calmness and professionalism are clear attributes. Work is promptly delivered and advice is always sound and helpful‘

‘Very well informed about the UK charity sector and the compliance needs associated with both the Charity Commission and Companies House‘

‘Ian Hempseed is excellent – hardworking and engaged, and popular with clients‘

‘The firm offers a remarkable range and depth of expertise which is at the very forefront of professional attainment and development in the sector. Ceris Gardner is one of the finest solicitors in a very competitive sector, providing outstanding service to her charity clients‘

‘The firm is dedicated to the world of trusts and charities, and I do not know of many, if any, other firms with this degree of concentration. Not surprisingly, it has gathered together specialists right at the top of their game‘

‘MTG has a stellar reputation as a boutique firm that can expertly handle all private client needs – from the straightforward questions to very complex, cross-jurisdictional, inter-generational issues‘

‘Ceris Gardner is the ultimate go-to expert for all philanthropy issues for international families’

‘The partners and staff are very responsive, listening to clients and addressing the issues presented to them. There is great follow up. They are up to date and the landscape of their advisory practice is constantly adjusting to meet emerging client needs’

‘Ceris Gardner is always there for her clients, empathetically responding to their needs. One always feels comfortable discussing issues with her – she is what a trusted adviser should be, an exemplar‘

‘Jennifer Chambers and Emma-Jane Weider are simply outstanding professionals‘

‘Excellent, knowledgeable individuals with excellent client care’

‘Jennifer Emms is very astute and hardworking‘

‘Andrew Studd has a reassuring manner and through his corporate background has a very good understanding of the commercial realities on any given matter’

‘Chris Rowse has excellent availability and is very familiar with the sector. He acts as a business partner for us with very good turnaround on work product‘

‘Prompt, pragmatic and creative advice. A full-service firm with an excellent specialisation in charity law. Wide-ranging knowledge of the sector helps them anticipate issues and give proactive advice.’

‘Chris Rowse showed a real interest in our charity and I greatly valued his support and pragmatic advice.’

‘Andrew Studd provides excellent, timely and practical advice. He always meets our timelines.’

‘They are responsive, diligent and honest. We get their frank assessments, even if they have criticisms of us. They are also very open to feedback and to improving our collaboration. It is a good partnership.’

‘Excellent knowledge of the charity sector. Thorough and detailed responses, include raising awareness of linked issues that may be relevant. Range of specialisms provided. Awareness of cost constraints for charities when dealing with us. Provision of free seminars.’

‘Very responsive and working within good timeframes. They listen and take the time to understand our requirements and to translate legislation into useable working policies or documents relevant to our organisation.’

‘The team is able to give clients its immense expertise with a personal touch, collaborating together with the client in a collegial fashion so that you feel you are part of the Withers team yourself’

‘Chris Priestley is a standout lawyer. He is an expert in the field and is able to put clients at ease with his warmth and enthusiasm for the law and the sector’

‘Chris Priestley has great empathy with clients and relishes solving the problems and challenges faced by the sector‘

‘Alison Paines is simply the best charity lawyer I have had the good fortune to work with. She is simply excellent and completely unflappable in a crisis‘

‘The lawyers at Withers are charity law experts, with a good understanding of the practical implications of charity law. Chris Priestly is responsive, pleasant to deal with, and gives top-quality, sensible advice. He can see the bigger picture‘

‘Alison Paines is a class act and the firm is a thoroughly good outfit‘

‘Withers is unique in its global reach and vast bench strength of experts across such a wide range of practices‘

‘Alana Petraske stands out as a global leader in private client philanthropy, helping families establish the most effective philanthropic vehicles/structures and providing nuanced, considered advice. She is an expert in transatlantic philanthropy’

‘Sylvie Nunn is very knowledgeable, very committed to the sector and very calm’

‘The team makes every effort to offer its services almost as an extension of our in-house legal team. The advice is focused, integrated and delivered in a prompt fashion. The team shares our core values‘

‘The lawyers go beyond what is asked of them to provide an integrated and efficient service. Esther Campsall stands out for her patient, thorough and good-humoured approach‘

‘The ACS team has expertise and knowledge spanning across a wider range of areas‘

‘If you are dealing with one person, others with specialist knowledge can be brought into discussions quickly, so that an issue can be thoroughly analysed and holistic advice given’

‘The ACS lawyers are genuinely nice people and easy to work with. They are accessible and will have initial discussions over the telephone and then respond quickly confirming their advice‘

‘I have a lot of personal dealings with Edwina Turner, who specialises in charity and trust law, and she is excellent‘

‘The team is made up of knowledgeable and client-focused lawyers, providing excellent services across all matters affecting charities and not-for-profit organisations such as ours‘

‘Dominic Curran is bright, knowledgeable, astute and approachable‘

‘The Blake Morgan team provides a very personable service while always demonstrating a high degree of professionalism. Sector knowledge is excellent and queries are dealt with very promptly‘

‘Everyone my organisation has worked with at Blake Morgan displays a very grounded approach. They make even the most complex issues as easy as possible to understand if needed‘

‘Diligent and very client focused, empathetic to the client’s desired outcomes‘

‘The team is impressively responsive with replies to emails and calls being provided expeditiously‘

‘The team is completely aware of our own processes and requirements. This means a really smooth transaction process from beginning to end‘

‘Great experience of dealing with charity retail clients and has the knowledge to point out the nuances of particular transactions as relevant to us, so that any requirements/issues can be considered and dealt with ahead of time‘

‘Ben Brice always kept a cool head in the face of challenging behaviours and timescales from the other party, was very supportive and worked late in the evenings and over weekends to meet the imposed timescales where pushing back had not worked. Quality of input and drafting was always very high. I would not hesitate to recommend him’

‘I found Ben Brice to be very thorough and personable. He was able to help us define the precise nature of the legal analysis we needed in order to resolve our issue‘

‘Excellent knowledge base. Caring attitude to clients as individuals. Commitment to getting the best outcome. Truly professional‘

‘The continued commitment and passion from all involved at Fieldfisher to the partnership with our charity is testament to the whole team there. The time, resources and support the lawyers give, along with the ability to evolve and innovate, makes them stand out‘

‘The lawyers have a wide range of expertise to call on so every issue was dealt with professionally‘

‘Penny Wotton has been great – hardworking, efficient, very clear communication and customer focused‘

‘A forward-thinking firm producing consistently excellent work in the area of international safeguarding, justice and redress schemes, and consistently seeking to provide clients with the best advice built on technical excellence and an awareness of policy and its direction‘

‘Dominik Opaliński is consistently alert, careful and resourceful. He responds to the client’s concerns, circling back to ensure that all tasks are performed’

‘Dominik Opaliński is culturally aware, conducting himself effectively and appropriately when meeting with victims, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corp. Dominik really understands diversity. A consummate civil society warrior‘

‘This firm earns considerable loyalty from its clients. Though small in size it punches above its weight. Paul Almy is very effective with clients – he is sensitive, with sound instincts and good contacts’

‘Dominik Opaliński is highly enthusiastic and hardworking, always willing to go the extra mile for his clients’

‘Dominik Opaliński has enormous energy, enthusiasm and calm client-handling skills. Wilfrid Vernor-Miles is another member of this firm whose knowledge of and connections within the charity sector are second to none’

‘Paul Almy stands out as especially well versed and experienced in all aspects of charity property, as well as the trust arrangements which may be relevant to  these transactions‘

‘There is a remarkable sense of joint commitment and determination to give a Rolls-Royce service. The whole team is impressive‘

‘Mark Hawes is outstanding in his grasp of both broad strategy and attention to fine detail. His excellent pro bono work is a great asset to society‘

‘Druces has a strong team of partners dealing with charities. Whether a large or small charity you will get a caring and personal service’

‘Roy Campbell is as safe a pair of hands as you could hope for in any charitable matter – he is emotionally sound and his judgement can be relied on’

‘Richard Monkton is the technician who knows charity law inside out and is often used as a reference point for difficult legal or technical matters‘

‘Richard Monkcom is highly respected and immensely conscientious in advising and generally looking after his clients, even where this involves giving them unwelcome news. He is very diplomatic and persuasive‘

‘Attention to detail and personal investment in finding solutions. Pragmatic as well as legally accurate advice‘

‘The lawyers are incredibly efficient, knowledgeable in their area, capable, understanding and very personable‘

‘Helen Freely is an excellent solicitor: she is efficient, easy to approach and work with, and highly skilled‘

‘In my experience the team is knowledgeable about charity law, dedicated and practical, with a wide and varied client base. I have worked regularly with Richard Monkcom, who has a wealth of knowledge and experience, good instincts and a practical mindset‘

‘Caroline Cropley and Helen Freely are practical and sensible’

‘The lawyers are at the top of their game. They understand the client and its requirements, they are always there when you need them and they deliver results every single time. You want Emma Burrows on your side‘

‘I noticed above all the professionalism and the sincerity which the lawyers had in abundance. An excellent company‘

‘An efficient, caring, well-qualified team. The lawyers are able to deal with all aspects of our charity. I recommend them highly, particularly Emma Moody‘

‘The team is extremely knowledgeable about the charity sector and offers practical and pragmatic advice‘

‘Jo Coleman is a fountain of knowledge and practical advice‘

‘Ashfords has an almost unparalleled understanding of the needs of charity clients. By getting to learn the culture of their client, the lawyers can gear their legal advice accordingly. Their flexibility and transparency on fees is highly commendable‘

‘Robert Horsey is an ebullient and highly personable partner, extremely experienced in the ways of the legal world, and with tremendous commercial nous‘

‘Kerry Morgan-Gould is exceptional, knowledgeable, efficient and very responsive to clients’ needs‘

‘Kerry Morgan-Gould stands out as providing pragmatic, cool-headed and effective solutions for charities where legacies are contested. She always listens carefully to her clients‘

‘Kerry Morgan-Gould exudes a calm wisdom and an imperturbable manner‘

‘Barny Croft is approachable, sensible and responsive and always gives excellent advice. I always feel comfortable passing cases to Barney, in the full knowledge that he and his team will consider matters sensibly and expeditiously‘

‘Barny Croft is the nicest lawyer I have ever worked with, as well as being extremely effective‘

‘They stand out for the strength in depth of both the contentious and non-contentious teams. Barney Croft has many years experience in the charity legacy sector and is well known and respected for his expertise‘

‘Excellent technical knowledge and able to provide innovative solutions. Practical and always helpful. Eleanor Sepanski stands out’

‘The team spends time getting to know our business and is able to quickly understand and represent us in the necessary conversations‘

‘Eversheds offers strength across the full breadth of our organisation’s needs. We use other firms for specific areas and it is refreshing not to be relentlessly cross sold into those areas. Instead, Glynne Stansfield provides a hassle-free route into a wide range of specialists who work with my colleagues to support their work. The ability to tap into Eversheds’ international expertise has also been useful during the year.’

‘Glynne Stansfield is an exceptional client partner referring us promptly to colleagues we can feel comfortable working with – a facilitator not a hurdle.’

‘The team is always professional, friendly and extremely helpful‘

‘The lawyers are experts in their field and they provide comprehensive advice.  They have good communication skills and quick response times along with availability‘

‘Its commitment to customer service and the need for timely and sometimes robust advice is highly valued‘

‘We find the team to be extremely knowledgeable in the area of charity work’

‘Jane Grenfell has recent experience in the Charity Commission so is able to give particularly clear and nuanced advice‘

‘We are highly appreciative of and admire the work of Khalid Sofi and his team as they give very practical advice‘

‘We work closely with Khalid Sofi, who provides commercial and practical advice about operating and setting up charities‘

‘Howard Deller has been constantly available and directly accessible to me, providing timely and appropriate advice. Jane Grenfell has unparalleled knowledge of the sector and the Charity Commission‘

‘The lawyers act like they’re part of our organisation rather than an external adviser. The service is personal and understanding of the situation. They have an excellent appreciation of Charity Commission expectations‘

‘Neil Burton is extremely personable and willing to help no matter what the time or circumstances. He quickly understands issues and provides advice based not just on the specific circumstances but in the context of understanding the organisation as a whole‘