‘The advice to date has been incredibly thorough, considering a number of external factors that have been instrumental in our strategy for our business. They have been clear and open on billing and offered a range of ways to deliver what we’ve needed’.

‘Thea Longley has provided excellent advice to my organisation on a range of charity/public law related matters over many years. It is helpful to have this degree of consistency and one “go to” person who knows our organisation well, so they can always respond quickly and effectively’.

‘The team has deep expertise not just in charity law but also in the application of charity law and commercial law in all areas in which a charity commonly conducts activities. The lawyers at Bates Wells really care about the charities they work with and have been willing to support my team with two part time secondees at a time when I really needed the additional resource and expertise’.

‘Stephanie Biden has proved a valuable ally. She and her team provide excellent support’.

‘Oliver Hunt is a rock for our organisation. We have a long-standing relationship with him and he knows and understands our organisation intricately. He is solidly reliable on timing and attention, and gives us well-considered, practical and legally sound advice. He communicates openly with us and is available to support us whenever we are in need’.

‘Luke Fletcher is a technically skilled and forward-thinking leader in the charity law team at Bates Wells and charity law and impact investing sector more widely. He supports the development and dissemination of legal thinking in charity law and social investment’.

‘Bates Wells has a reputation for working extensively in the charity sector. The advice it provides reflects its knowledge of this sector and a familiarity with the issues we are facing. Laura Soley and Hannah Lyons are approachable and responsive. Advice is considered and pragmatic in finding solutions’.

‘High level of expertise, very accessible and responsive. In terms of being innovative and client-focused, the senior partner held a discussion with me to get my reflections on their service as part of the firm’s own reflection on its performance. Very easy to engage with. Stand-out partners I have worked with recently are Laura Soley and Lawrie Simanowitz ‘.

‘Anne-Marie Piper – high availability for clients, despite being senior partner. Deep and lengthy knowledge of the sector, personable, responsive, measured and accessible’.

‘The individuals that we have worked with know the organisation, its history and led a large project for us over 10 years ago. Because of this they are well versed in the areas that we need advice on. They are also well connected with other firms overseas where we needed specialist advice regarding an overseas subsidiary’.

‘The team at Farrer is incredibly engaged and willing to help, whilst also keeping a very tight rein over hours. Since we started working with them we have never been let down, and my Board and I have never had cause to question their advice or recommendations or indeed the quality and thought which has gone into it; with other firms it felt sometimes as if the response was often “hedged” which wasn’t useful at all’.

‘James Maloney is genuinely interested in our work, what we do as a Trust and how to support us by ensuring we have the correct frameworks in place, and the best advice. Not only that he is very fair and transparent on costs, he treats the whole team here with respect and has shown understanding of sensitive situations’.

‘The lawyers are very responsive to requests for advice at short notice. They are creative in finding solutions and good at articulating the legal position and what options we may have. They are also good at presenting information to members of the board of trustees who need the reassurance of legal advice but are often coming to situations cold’.

‘Farrers has an exceptionally strong team of experienced Charity lawyers and we believe that they give us excellent advice. The partners we have dealt with have strong “people” skills. They are very easy to work with, take trouble to understand clients and their wishes and communicate well. The firm is also strong in other areas relevant to the trust such as property and employment’.

‘Excellent balance of strategic and practical advice, deep understanding of our organisation and key risks we are facing in the context of wider developments in the sector. Excellent judgment, listening skills, patience – sense of shared endeavour –  Esp. Peter Wienand’.

‘Hannah Whyatt ably supported and supervised by Julian Smith as partner recently provided critical advice and drafting for a complex and high value endowment fund and grant contract variation. They were involved in negotiations with project partners and provided a view on risk and general practice in an area where my own experience was more limited’.

‘Real specialists able to communicate complex issues and who work together. Chris Priestley is exceptional. Very calm approach and brings in specialists to make a seamless delivery team. Leads, takes responsibility and listens’.

‘The Withers team has a breadth of experience that they apply in a pragmatic manner which really helps when they have given us advice in really complex situations. They understand the sector very well and what impacts it and us as a charity. Chris Priestley is incredibly approachable and knowledgeable about the sector. I value his insight and advice’.

‘The Charities and not-for-profit team in Withers has provided exceptional advice to our company for years. The lawyers have a vast knowledge of the sector and no problem or issue was ever too much for them to answer. The team is very capable and once contacted will get back with answers / recommendations in a very short time period. If the requests were urgent, this was a never a problem for Withers’.

‘Our main point of contact in Withers has been Chris Priestley and he and his team have provided excellent service over the years. Chris and his team (Emma Flower) guided us and ensured that all angles were covered from a legal, taxation and regulatory perspective. I believe that Withers is and has always been value for money compared to competitors’.

‘Emma Flower and Chris Priestly are both extremely helpful, clear, highly knowledgeable and efficient. I would never hesitate to ask for their opinion / assistance. They answer what they can immediately and do further research if required’.

‘Withers is without doubt one of the most trusted of all our legal partners and in reality, probably the best. What makes it unique is the lawyers’ accessibility, always up to date knowledge and the whole solutions-focussed ethos of the firm. A credit to the legal profession’.

‘Alison Paines and Paul Hewitt are leading practitioners in their field and are stand-out performers, capable of dealing with the most complex cases.’

‘Alison Paines has a profound knowledge of charity law and the sector, and is marvellous at finding solutions to problems. Chris Priestley is also exceptionally knowledgeable and impeccably thorough. Roger Waite is a rising superstar among the associates, very hardworking and great with clients’.

‘I’ve always worked directly with Jonathan Brinsden, who always ensures the service we receive is of the highest possible standards. He makes a point of checking in with me just to see how things are going on and during the two years of the pandemic, made a point of arranging virtual meetings to see if there was anything he could do to assist. I feel that Jonathan really cares about how the charity is doing’.

‘High quality advice on complex not for profit organisation matters. Sarah Williams provides high quality and prompt advice on complex not for profit organisation matters’.

‘The charity team is very strong with key charity law individuals such as Penny Chapman and Harriet Ainsworth’.

‘Penny Chapman is an excellent lawyer – very thorough and diligent and a heavy hitter who brings real presence to a meeting and has vast knowledge of the charity sector. Harriet Ainsworth is an excellent lawyer with an eye for detail who can think around difficult legal issues and find a practical application of the law making a strategic call on tactics to use for the client’s best advantage’.

‘Jonathan Brinsden is the partner we deal with and he is a calm, knowledgeable and reliable legal advisor for us’.

‘Jonathan is smart, responsive, witty – and all round a great person to work with. In fact it doesn’t feel like work at all most of the time. He is my go to man on all charity related issues and finds ways through whatever the issue. He is ably assisted by Harriet Ainsworth and whenever instructed I know that I will receive sensible, clear, articulate, and commercial advice in a timely manner. They are a pleasure to deal with’.

‘Penny Chapman is an outstanding charity lawyer and has a proven track record of guiding charitable trustees successfully through existential crises.’

‘Jonathan Brinsden is an outstanding solicitor, with outstanding professional sector knowledge and with a willingness to go the extra mile’.

‘I can obtain very high quality charity law advice quickly and without fuss’.

‘I instruct Penelope Byatt in the Charities team. I always find that she responds quickly, thinks clearly and provides me with timely advice on whatever charity law issues I throw at her. Her ability to think through issues, and look at it from all sides when she advises is one which I value. She has a huge amount of sector specific knowledge and experience’.

‘They are brilliant for non-contentious probate and especially Inheritance Tax issues. Richard Honey is brilliant at explaining extremely complex issues in a very straightforward way’.

‘We deal with one Senior Associate – Penelope Byatt – who also acts as the Secretary of our Foundation. Penelope is unfailingly available for all our needs and it is hard to believe that she acts for any other clients. She is really “one of the team”’.

‘Sarah Rowley stands out as knowledgeable and as having a pragmatic understanding of all sides to a debate and as giving a clear opinion’.

‘The team is approachable and will always attend to matters in a timely manner, being mindful of the need to keep the costs within the estimate provided and advise accordingly if a further costs estimate is required’.

‘The individuals I have worked with have all acted with professionalism whilst retaining an approachable demeanour’.

‘Colin Howes -his advice and support is consistently excellent and effective. I have always been able to rely on his input – being timely, insightful and effective. Colin’s deep expertise in the not-for-profit sector means that he has helped shape and optimise the big strategic calls that we need to make’.

‘Katerina Capras, associate – I’ve worked with Katerina on one project, that is ongoing. She is incredibly responsive – turning around queries, resolving issues and completing activities’.

‘A very experienced team (and we have had some unusual issues to sort out). So easy to deal with, in a genuinely collaborative way (and which is almost fun!). May Delaney – an up and coming star. Good to deal with; experienced operator David Scott – an experienced operator who provides sage guidance’.

‘Professional knowledge and competence allied to first-rate efficiency and open and warm client relationships. They are efficient and always willing to take time to explain often complex legal information. There is never a sense of being rushed or of not having time even though they are very busy’.

‘My experience of my contacts at H and L has always been reassuring and helpful. There is an attitude of support and empathy and the ability to take into account the lack of knowledge and expertise in myself as a client. Given that my work is predominantly philanthropy and pro-social in its nature H and L has also been helpful in explaining and limiting costs’.

‘We have always had a good service from the Harbottle & Lewis team. They are helpful, knowledgeable and able to work in a realistic timeframe. Katerina Capras and Colin Howes who are our main contacts at Harbottle & Lewis are both excellent and extremely easy to work with’.

‘The team at Harbottle and Lewis has an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of charity law. They are able to respond quickly on a number of varied issues and understand the complex structures of our individual charity and associated entities. The team also has got to know the various personalities that comprise the trustees and help frame the different legislation in ways that are meaningful to them’.

‘The lawyers are well organised, with accurate, on time monthly invoices. They also do their best to keep the costs down. Colin Howes is fantastic to work with. His responses to emails are punctual, considered and he draws on a huge amount of institutional knowledge of the charity and associated entities as well as up to date charity law’.

‘Ceris Gardner is a mine of information delivered in a very practical, friendly and authoritative way. Her experience and knowledge of charity law surpasses anyone else in the market that I have dealt with, and her team provides seamless support’.

‘Excellent all-round knowledge and service with first-rate individuals, who are on top of the law and how best to use it to achieve the clients’ aims’.

‘Jennifer Emms: very bright, hardworking with a real eye for detail and an excellent manner with clients’.

‘Extremely high expertise and experienced. Very good boutique law firm. Emma-Jane Weider – a top-notch lawyer and leading in her field; thinks out of the box. Jennifer Emms – a pleasure to work with‘.

‘MTG has a superb understanding of charity law in the UK and stands out as one of the very best firms that can provide holistic advice at a consistently superior level’.

‘Ceris Gardner is a standout in her field. A superb private client advisor, she also specialises in charity and philanthropy and can provide sophisticated advice for the needs of UHNWs and charities’.

‘Jennifer Chambers -calm, logical, collaborative and a pleasure to work with. Emma-Jane Weider – quick, clever, can deal with complex issues’.

‘The charities and not-for-profit team is ridiculously strong. They give their lustrous client list a service of exceptional quality, staying well ahead of the curve, without any of the arrogance often associated with excellence.’

‘Great support and knowledge. Rapid engagement and strategic advice. Great people people. Very approachable, supportive and advice has been great’.

‘Gareth Roy. Provided us with excellent charity law advice but also commercial advice. He understands the needs of the client, is pragmatic, keeps an eye on costs, and inspires confidence from our senior management team’.

‘Russell-Cooke provided practical, commercial advice. They were attentive, available and flexible and understood the specific needs of our organisation. The team made the process incredibly clear and easy to follow and ensured that all the necessary pieces were handled’.

‘We really valued Andrew Studd for his down to earth nature and ability to explain complex charity law issues to a range of non-experts’.

‘Each team member we have worked with has shown to have a friendly and approachable manner, which is of great importance when dealing with legal sensitivities, particularly to work in a manner that allows laymen to understand some complexities behind the legal ask. This provides a sense of trust that we are receiving the best advice’.

‘Professional, quick to respond, excellent advice and support’.

‘Having used Russell-Cooke for a number of years, we can comment on the following strengths-wide range of legal services, well-suited to our global business; resourcefulness, international law and ability of the team to advise on the local code of practice abroad; high-quality advice’.

‘The team members are very experienced in and advised us on various challenges related to the charity law. The team takes a very detailed and structured approach to the issues we have undergone and communicates extremely well about expected timelines, follow-up meetings and any legal documents (outcomes). Cannot recommend enough!’.

‘The team has provided a great service; bringing discernment and wisdom which have assisted the wider remit of legal advice. The lawyers have provided prompt responses to enquiries and helpful assistance and guidance, and sought to cascade knowledge and good practice as part of the shared provision and aim of deepening learning and understanding’.

‘Lee Coley has continued to provide a great service, supported by a responsive and helpful team, and has made a positive contribution to the life of our work’.

‘In my view Stone King is renowned across the whole charity and social enterprise sector including all phases of education from pre-school to colleges and universities for the high quality of its people, national support through teams in London and the regions, excellence in client care and full range of outstanding specialist solicitors to support clients’.

‘Julian Blake is one of the top charity and social enterprise solicitors in Britain today, renowned for his first-class legal brain, deep personal commitment to the sector and outstanding care for clients’.

‘I believe Julian Blake is an outstanding public benefit lawyer. He has effectively encouraged flexibility in how the procurement regulations are interpreted and pioneered the use of the innovation partnership procedure for social purposes and the development of social value imperatives Other partners such as Hannah Kubbie complement Julian’s skills’.

‘Knowledgeable and courteous. Always willing to tackle a thorny issue with great poise. They are very candid and honest and don’t tell us what we want to hear (rather what we need to hear) to protect our Charity’s legal risk. Hannah Kubie is exceptional’.

‘All of the partners at Stone King are personable and expert in their field. Of particular note is Reema Mathur who has provided expert advice on setting up a charity from scratch and continued to advise on ongoing matters as our income is now into seven-figures.’

‘Advice always provided promptly, well presented, concise and easy to follow. Good team working, so if you are referred to another team member on a particular matter, because it is their field of expertise, they are fully apprised of the issue in hand and your organisation when you speak to them’.

‘Field leaders in ecclesiastical law. I don’t trust any other firm to know the complexities of it the way I trust WS to know it’.

‘I principally work with Darren Oliver, who has a wealth of knowledge and applies it well. He is willing to look at the practical realities of situations as well as the black letter law’.

‘Joanna Bussell is the lead partner and is undoubtedly the leader in the charity and not-for-profit field. She is able to call on, and organise, her colleagues in other practice areas, such as HR, property, finance etc to great effect, to give a great all-round service’.

‘Joanna Bussell is knowledgeable, helpful, precise and swift in all the work that she does for us, and has a unique commercial insight that she brings to the field. She also has a thorough understanding of other related fields, such as local government and other related sectors. We consider Joanna to be a vital member of our team, and she has been essential to help our organisation deal with all the issues we face’. 

‘The practice specialises in supporting charities and is particularly adept at supporting community-led housing organisations like ourselves. They have a broad spectrum of knowledge encompassing charity, corporate governance and property law’.

‘Laura Moss was quick to respond, succinct and very understanding of what we required. It was clear she had an in-depth knowledge of organisations like ours, built up from years of experience and plenty of time spent doing the spade work at conventions and other events where the sector meets. This, we were able to get what we wanted on budget and within time’.

‘As far as we are concerned , Wrigleys gives an excellent service and is a very good Charity law firm which is what we require. We feel the lawyers are interested and care about their clients, at least that is our experience. They are generally young, hardworking and efficient’.

‘The individuals we have worked show a caring attitude and really take an interest in the charity, always providing good legal advice. They are also approachable, friendly and easy to work with. We have done a lot of work on fairly big projects with Elizabeth Wilson and found her approach very thorough with obviously a good up to date knowledge of Charity Law’.

‘Responsive, sensitive, timely, knowledgeable. Partner and associate engaged well on a modest piece of work that was important to us as a small charity’.

‘The depth of their knowledge and expertise in charities is second to none. They also pay attention to detail which I need them to be good at as I am bad at it! They have picked up inconsistencies which we had never seen and shown us how to correct them. Magnificent service’.

‘Kirsteen Hook has been fantastically helpful, clear and has detailed knowledge and experience. Other firms have generalists who dabble; Kirsteen is an acknowledged specialist and extremely good at it’.

‘The team knows us well and consequently is able to provide good, targeted advice’.

‘Ben Brice and his team were very helpful, and thorough in their work for us’.

‘Hunters has a decades long history of involvement in charity and not-for-profit entities. Dominik Opalinski is the go-to person in this firm for such work. He is an immensely hardworking, tenacious and innovative lawyer. No set backs put him off. He persists to the end of the processes he has devised, deploying his personal charm and ability to persist in explaining the advantages inherent in the advice he has provided to his clients’.

‘A large company able to deal with the vast array of services we require across our business, education, charity, investment and property departments. Our very long involvement with Hunters indicates the very good service we have received over many, many years. The service we receive across all sectors is excellent and they maintain our interests at all times’.

‘They have a thorough understanding of the Charity sector and in particular our specific Charity and history. We deal with Paul Almy as senior partner, who has worked with us for many years’.

‘The team has clear experts in their chosen field. Sound, practical advice is given and responses are always prompt and easy to understand. Paul Ridout is a joy to work with. He is approachable and his responses are always practical whilst demonstrating his deep knowledge of his subject area’.

‘This is a niche firm with good experience in charities, trades unions and kindred organisations’. 

‘Paul Almy, senior partner, is a confident lawyer with high diplomatic skills’.

‘Dominik Opalinski, partner, is enthusiastic and willing to go the extra mile for his clients’.

‘Competence. Good use of ZOOM and other technologies, friendliness. The concern they have for our problems and the good advice. Dominik Opalinski stands out for us’.

‘Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP has particular expertise in working with Charities and not for profit organisations. They have an in-depth knowledge of this area of practice and helped my Charity with a complex merger with another Charity’.

‘Responsive, knowledgeable and excellent communication skills across their team. They have been supportive and reassuring throughout their work easing through a complex merger in straightforward and uncomplicated language. Jo Coleman and Joseph Harris were exemplary in their help and support. I valued their extensive knowledge and understanding of the issues and the helpful explanations and communications throughout the process. Also the humour’.

‘Takes time up front to understand the organisation’s strategy and values. Very responsive’.

‘Jo Coleman has been a superb business partner as we have set up the charity’.

‘The team at WBD has a superb knowledge of charity law and regulation and almost as important, can suggest pragmatic and workable solutions to the many issues facing charities’.

‘Jo Coleman has an unrivalled knowledge of the charity sector and what makes good governance. She is adept at explaining matters to trustees and dealing with complex issues’.

‘The team has a wide range of high-quality charity work (including matters with an international element)’.

‘Richard Monkcom has exceptional depth of knowledge and experience’.

‘Caroline Cropley has excellent instincts and knowledge. Both are easy and pleasant to deal with’.

‘One of the things I value most with our relationship is that I can ask all the daft questions without being made to feel daft. We also receive a very responsive service’.

‘We have worked with a number of individuals but my main contact is Emma Burrows, I can’t tell you how highly I value this relationship. Emma is supportive, pragmatic and kind in all of my dealings with her’.

‘As workloads change and new depts of T&H have been worked with, it is apparent that the standard of service is extremely high across all teams. The company’s ethos and values are modern and partnership working is valued. Challenging work areas are welcomed with a solution the objective. Would never hesitate to recommend this company who really stand out amongst the competition’.

‘More professional and knowledgeable about their specialist area. Willing to help resolve challenging situations and give a comprehensive, easy to understand work plan in terms of solving a problem. Friendly, accessible and nothing is ever too much bother’.

‘Helen Briant brings a litigator’s outlook to what can often be a sleepily conducted area of disputes. She is also able to take on contentious appointments. Helen Briant is a cut above the competition and is unafraid to get contentious’.

‘The team is long established with senior partners that have been with the firm a long time and have developed credible personal brands through their own work. They are able to offer great input at various price ranges that are not in anyway sub-par’.

‘Emma Burrows is a standout leader in her field. I have worked with her through various roles in my career and look forward to doing so in the future. She is a trusted ally of boards and CEOs for her ability to deliver clear, concise advice in context of the sector and its long term impact’.

‘They are very clever, very good lawyers, very approachable and very good value for money’.

‘Barny Croft and Kerry Morgan-Gould are both exceptional, Barny in particular is a very good contentious probate specialist’.

‘Ashfords understands and supports the charity sector, rather than simply feeding off it. The service is accurately tailored to each client’s needs’.

‘Kerry Morgan-Gould is the consummate contentious charities trusts and estates performer. She can cope with the biggest cases, and the most intense disputes’.

‘Barney Croft has built an excellent reputation in the sector, and the team can rely on the encyclopaedic knowledge of John Toth, too. Everything is covered’.

‘They have excellent interpersonal relationships, maintaining good connections and rapport even years after our work with them’.

‘Edwin Coe is a very professional, progressive and yet friendly practice which has always provided me with a positive and effective service’.

‘The individuals are high quality, knowledgeable and accessible to clients’.

‘The team delivered on time and on budget and wrote a comprehensive and excellent report that showed a clear understanding of our business purpose’.

‘Stephen O’Reilly was extremely knowledgeable about the areas in which advice was sought and was happy to go the extra mile to translate the legal requirements of our project into practical advice that could be understood by non-lawyers’.

‘Stephen O’Reilly is a very practical lawyer. He provides sound and useful advice, and has extensive experience to call upon. He is always available when needed’.

‘For a charity, the approach from Eversheds Sutherland is hard to beat. They possess in-depth knowledge of charity law and best practice, and a working knowledge of the governance arrangements for a wide range of different charities. In addition they are also able to call upon specialists in other areas, eg property, when necessary’.

‘They have the wisdom to know when they do not have the required expertise, and therefore cannot advise. Counterintuitively, this makes me more likely to use them in future, knowing I will only get the best advice’.

‘Stephen O’Reilly is my main point of contact. He is extremely knowledgeable, but also an easy person to deal with. He is prepared to stand up for the Charity he represents to ensure that decisions are always taken in the best interests of the charity’.

‘Stephen Cole was very attentive and helpful’.

‘Very professional, interested in our charitable aims and objectives, always responsive, efficient and totally reliable. Very good client care; excellent value for money’.

‘Virginia Henley is a real expert in the field of charity law. I have total confidence in Virginia’s ability to guide us through complex legal matters’.

‘Saffa Mir is very capable, personable and a pleasure to work with’.

‘Approachability, honesty and their uncomplicated plain English advice’.

‘Virginia Henley & Saffa Mir are outstanding and an absolute pleasure to work with’.

‘Detailed and pragmatic knowledge’.

‘Neil Burton, Simon Pedley – responsive and reassuring, with a wealth of experience’.

‘The team has a particular strength in education and University work in general. They are fantastically organised and hardworking’.

‘Hillary Aldred is an outstanding lawyer and tactician, knows the law back to front and has an impressive following’.