The charities and social economy team at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP is led by Leeds-based partner Malcolm Lynch. The team of specialists advises on matters such as the establishment of charities, incorporation, mergers, trustee training (particularly safeguarding) and funding arrangements. In addition, the firm assists corporate foundations with donor relationships and is known for maintaining a broad spectrum of clients covering heritage, healthcare, faith, community housing and education. The 'exemplary' Elizabeth Wilson, 'exceptional' Natasha Johnson and 'excellent up and coming lawyer' Nick Dunn are other key contacts.
Charities and not-for-profit in Yorkshire And The Humber
Wrigleys Solicitors LLP
Practice head(s):
Malcolm Lynch
Other key lawyers:
Elizabeth Wilson; Nat Johnson; Nick Dunn
Testimonials
‘We have found their knowledge of charity law invaluable.’
‘What makes them stand out is their commitment to give the best advice and their accessibility whenever we need to call on them. We feel they are prepared to go the extra mile to support us and our charity’
‘Wrigleys is an extremely well-organised practice that carries with it not only the expert level of knowledge you’d expect, but also a sincere degree of empathy in the way they operate.
‘Working with Wrigleys is a delight as they naturally create a welcoming environment that guarantees a strong customer experience. The support and guidance provided is always to an impeccably high standard and I would recommend Wrigleys to other charities in the region. ’
‘Nat Johnson is an exceptional charity law partner. Those qualities of thoroughness and upholding the client’s interests are exemplified in her work. I had occasion to engage Nat on a piece of particularly complicated legal work. This involved unravelling a complicated legal history with different trusts having been intertwined with each other. She understood the high priority nature of the work and pulled out all the stops to unravel the problem, understand it and find the appropriate solution. She is a first-class lawyer in whom I repose considerable confidence.’
‘Nick Dunn is an excellent up and coming lawyer – he has a strong emphasis on meeting the client’s need and will pull out all the stops for time sensitive and critical work. His work is thorough and built upon a clear understanding of the client’s needs‘.
‘I would commend Elizabeth Wilson as exemplary. Over the period we have worked with Wrigleys she has overseen the big picture of each workstream. She is able to view matters from the client’s perspective and is able to provide a clear sense of direction and purpose to the work needed, putting together the right combination of skills and expertise for each particular project we are engaged upon. ’
Key clients
Power to Change Trust
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Hope for Justice
Youth Futures Foundation
Cambridge University Students’ Union and Cambridge Graduate Union
Virgin Money Foundation
Overdale Trustee Limited
Allia Social Impact Investments Limited
Autism Research Trust
Age Concern Buckinghamshire
Work highlights
- Reviewed, negotiated and finalised the main funding and property arrangements required to enable Eureka!, the national children’s museum, to develop a sister museum on the Wirral.
- Advised Hope for Justice in relation to the support it could provide to Retrak to address specific challenges felt at the time.
- Drafted agreements between Youth Futures Foundation and the BBCs grant giving programme Children in Need to enable the delivery of a jointly funded, Covid-19 response, grant programme to tackle youth unemployment with each party contributing £3.5 million.
Addleshaw Goddard
The 'outstanding' Pervinder Kaur leads the team at Addleshaw Goddard. Drawing on the wider firm's expertise in areas such as real estate, litigation, pensions and insolvency, the team has a strong track record advising clients who also operate as businesses and employers. In addition, the department has a history of advising on Charity Commission investigations and regularly supports banking interests with significant transactions (particularly those regarding lending and the taking of security over land and assets). Notably, the firm also assists institutional trust corporations with the charitable aspects of their portfolio. Trusts specialist Yorke Eaton is another key contact.
Practice head(s):
Pervinder Kaur
Other key lawyers:
Yorke Eaton
Testimonials
‘Very strong, large private client and charity team led by Pervinder Kaur who is recognised as an outstanding trusts, tax planning and charity lawyer.’
Key clients
Bedingfield’s Trust
Leeds Beckett University
Work highlights
- Acted for the trustees of Bedingfield’s Trust for almost 20 years, supporting the trustees in the administration of the charity and to provide advice as and when required.
- Reappointed to the panel of Leeds Beckett University, providing advice in connection with all aspects of charity law in conjunction with the wider client team which is drawn from specialists across the firm.
Hemingways Solicitors Limited
Sheffield firm Hemingways Solicitors Limited secured a notable hire in September in 2020 with the recruitment of Laurence Gavin from Irwin Mitchell. He is well regarded for his 'calm and confident manner', and has a strong track record of work for charity, education and third sector clients. His work encompasses mergers, corporate governance, public procurement, commercial matters and state aid issues, and he has brought a significant number of clients with him to his new firm.
Practice head(s):
Laurence Gavin
Testimonials
‘Laurence Gavin provides clear, no nonsense advice, and delivers. He is pragmatic and offers common sense advice.’
‘Laurence Gavin has provided calm and steady assurance; focusing on the things that matter and giving clear, helpful and timely advice.’
‘Laurence Gavin has been excellent throughout this project. It has been long and complex, bring two charities together and forming a new trust and has involved working with three boards, Sheffield Council and various national funders and the Charity Commission. He is dedicated and committed, always available and has managed the process and expectations all the way along to a successful conclusion.’
My experience of Laurence Gavin is that his style and approach is professional, calm and extremely easy to work with. Expert advice that we have all had great confidence in and specialist knowledge of the charity sector as we required.’
‘Laurence Gavin is an extremely knowledgeable, professional and personable lawyer. He is very responsive to a client’s needs. On more than one occasion I have needed him to provide urgent advice and he has done so very late in the evening ahead of a trustee meeting the next day. His advice is always spot on.’
‘Laurence Gavin is excellent. Very commercial and balanced and extremely experienced in a wider variety of charity matters. Was able to offer sound advice into a very challenging situation which without his input could have resulted in an outcome that wasn’t beneficial for the charity or the community it served.’
‘Laurence Gavin is a stand-out partner who has considerable expertise in advising schools and other educational institutions. His experience means that he is able to cut through complex legal issues and provide clear and practical advice to clients in a thorough and holistic way. Laurence is a pleasure to work with and I refer clients to him with confidence.’
‘Laurence Gavin is an experienced charities and social economy lawyer with a wealth of experience and a calm and pleasant manner. Clients seem to warm to him and value his commercial and practical advice.’
Key clients
7 Hills Leisure Trust
Builders Merchants Federation
Boston College
Grantham College
Key Fund Investments Limited
Sheffcare Limited
Sheffield City Trust
Sheffield Futures
Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust
Thyrbergh Academy & Sports College
Work highlights
- Advised Thrybergh Academy on its merger with Wickersley Partnership Trust.
- Advised Sheffield City Trust on compliance with securities regulations relating to its bond issue.
- Advised The David Hunt Foundation on its incorporation and registration with the Charity Commission.
Hempsons
Hempsons' team acts for a number of Royal Charter corporations and is notably strong in the social care space. Led by the 'especially knowledgeable' Ian Hempseed, who is based in London, and Harrogate associate Helen Hirst, the practice is capable of handling a broad range of matters. Recent work highlights have covered mergers, international collaboration (it has recently worked with the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) and the structure of charity boards.
Practice head(s):
Ian Hempseed; Helen Hirst
Testimonials
‘What makes the team so wonderful is that from the time of our first enquiry we were efficiently handed over to the best person to assist us. That person really took the time to understand our unique circumstances and what we needed, and gave exceptional advice. We were given the opportunity to ask all the questions we wanted to and felt like we were given more than sufficient time in answering those questions and providing support that was tailored to our needs.’
‘I found Hempsons to be helpful and pragmatic. Their knowledge of charity regulation and governance helped me to steer through a new project with confidence. Their pragmatic and straightforward approach did not seek to create more work and cost for our charity so quickly built a trusting relationship.’
‘Ian Hempseed is especially knowledgeable but able to communicate well. He is approachable and prepared to discuss ways to optimise the process in our interest.’
‘Helen Hirst isapproachable and helped us through the nuts and bolts of a new charity application.’
‘Hempsons are an amazing support – they are a fabulous partner to have.’
‘Hempsons have offered us the most comprehensive and professional service. They have gone way beyond any reasonable level of added value and supported our organisation through the most difficult of times.’
Lupton Fawcett
The ecclesiastical and charities department at Lupton Fawcett is led by Peter Foskett and Mark Honeywell. Strong in the faith and educational spaces, it provides specialist legal services to clients such as the Province of York (covering the Church of England Dioceses) and Gateshead College Foundation. Notably, the team also has a high level of technical expertise in trust issues and has helped establish a number of innovative players in the space (it recently worked with 'Nature’s SAFE', a conservation interest that established a genetic tissue bio-bank to assist with endangered species breeding programmes). Associate Katie Dawson is an additional name to note.
Practice head(s):
Peter Foskett; Mark Honeywell
Other key lawyers:
Katie Dawson
Testimonials
‘The team have a friendly personal approach. They have a practical approach in communicating with trustees and have dealt with everything promptly.’
‘Katie Dawson has dealt with everything promptly and in a very helpful way. Both Katie and her colleague in the property department put themselves out to meet deadlines over the Christmas period when they would not normally have been working.’
‘Specific knowledge of ecclesiastical matters and the unique interface between that and wider charity governance. ’
‘Peter Foskett is brilliant – a wealth of knowledge and always available. He is pragmatic and solution focused whilst also seeking to ensure all charity and ecclesiastical law requirements are successfully navigated.’
‘As a not-for-profit company, we wanted to update our articles of association and Mark Honeywell is an expert in this field’
Key clients
Province and Diocese of York
Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance
The Horse Trust
The Grammar School at Leeds
Scarborough College
St Leonard’s Hospice York
Gateshead College Foundation
NRCPD
Communication Matters
Nature’s SAFE
Gambling with Lives
Sheffield Soroptimist Housing Limited
Charles Edward Sugden’s Almshouses
AO UK & IRELAND
Work highlights
- Advising the Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance on a full range of legal issues, particularly in relation to ecclesiastical, charities and property.
- Acted on the establishment of Nature’s SAFE, an innovative conservation charity established, amongst other things, to provide a genetic tissue bio-bank to assist zoos and wildlife parks in their endangered species breeding programmes. Also advised the charity on governance matters, intellectual property and commercial contracts.
- Acted on the establishment of a group structure for a social housing provider including the establishment of an a group holding company, a property holding subsidiary company, a community interest company and the registration of a charitable foundation as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
McCormicks
The charities offering at McCormicks is led by name partner Peter McCormick (a noted trustee of the Football Foundation). The team advises clients in respect of regulatory guidance and counts The Royal Horticultural Society and The War Memorials Trust within its diverse portfolio. Notably, the firm has longstanding advisory relationships with Harrogate International Festivals and the Premier League Charitable Fund.
Practice head(s):
Peter McCormick
Testimonials
‘The team are all approachable, friendly and supportive. They have a breadth of knowledge and the ability to convert legalese to plain English’.
Key clients
Harrogate International Festivals
John Strutt Centre for Parrot Conservation, John Strutt Memorial Foundation, JSCF & John Strutt Charity
The Premier League Charitable Fund
War Memorials Trust
The Football Foundation
The Helen Feather Memorial Trust
The Harrogate Operatic Players
The Royal Horticultural Society
The Outward Bound Trust
Yorkshire Agricultural Society
Work highlights
- Continue to advise on the complex estate of the late John Herbert Strutt and the associated Trusts and Charities with regards, in particular, the proposed future development and/or sale of various properties within the residuary estate.
- Advise the War Memorials Trust on a wide range of matters including the drafting of new governing documentation and advice regarding the Charity’s relocation of premises in London. Peter McCormick is Chairman of this charity.
- Provide a full service to the The Premier League Charitable Fund with regards all commercial and charitable arrangements between the Charity, its funding partners and specialist service providers.
Mills & Reeve LLP
The substantial charities offering at Mills & Reeve LLP is jointly led by Neil Burton and Mark Ashton. Handling matters for clients such as the Royal Society of Chemistry and English Heritage, the team has played a significant role in diversification where it has helped raise funds via bonds, crowdfunding and alternative investment models. The firm assists with key issues such as registration, estates and regulation and has significant experience acting for faith, healthcare, sport and philanthropic interests. Notably, the practice also supports organisations that ensure charities have ready access to key information regarding changes in law and best practice.
Practice head(s):
Neil Burton; Mark Ashton
Rollits LLP
At Rollits LLP, the charities team is led by Hull-based partner Gerry Morrison. Handling incorporations, governance and regulatory compliance, the offering has recently increased its number of almshouse clients and continues to advise grassroots community associations as well as amateur sports clubs. In addition, the firm regularly acts for providers of community transport and is recognised for its work with healthcare services, museums, grant providers, and independent schools. Notably, it is a long-term adviser to Charity Bank Limited in respect of its security arrangements.
Practice head(s):
Gerry Morrison
Key clients
Charity Bank
Family Fund Trust
Goodwin Development Trust
Pickering & Ferens Homes
Yorkshire Builders Federation
St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Academy Trust
The Consortium Academy Trust
Swanland Education Trust
Institute for Strategic Dialogue
The North York Moors Historical Railway Trust
Leeds City College
University of Hull Students’ Union
University of Leeds Students’ Union
Scarborough Museums Trust
The Friends of York Minster
The Chapter of York Minster
Scarborough and District Mencap
Theatre@41 Limited
West Somerset Steam Railway Trust
Work highlights
- Advised White Rose Academies Trust on the conversion of Mill Field Primary School and it becoming an Academy operated by White Rose Academies Trust. Liaised with the client to advise on the full academy conversion process including funding agreements, commercial transfer agreement and lease and liaised with DfE and White Rose Academies Trust in respect of due diligence.
- Advised University of Hull Students’ Union in respect of its relationship with its non-charitable trading company and providing support and assistance to students during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Advised Pickering & Ferens Homes in respect of a merger with Mrs Richardson’s Almshouse Charity and the comprehensive updating of Pickering & Ferens Homes’ Scheme of Delegation. Liaised with The Charity Commission in respect of the merger between the two charities.
Stone King LLP
At Stone King LLP, the 'excellent' offering is jointly led by Tim Rutherford in Bath and Tom Murdoch in Leeds. Handling 'purpose-aligned' partnerships between charities and public authorities, the team is particularly well known for its work on behalf of military interests, heritage clients, educational establishments and benevolent funds. In particular, the firm's client portfolio recently expanded with the acquisition of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Public Interest News Foundation and City Hearts.
Practice head(s):
Tim Rutherford; Tom Murdoch
Testimonials
‘I instructed Tom Murdoch in my then-capacity as a trustee of a local charity when the charity needed assistance with contract renewal negotiations that were getting tricky. Tom and others at Stone King really helped. They got to the nub of the issue, provided solid commercial advice, quickly provided and at a good price. The trustees were very pleased with their advice and support’
‘They have been our go to on charitable advice matters for some years and the advice is always of the highest quality and unambiguous.
‘I consult Tom Murdoch on a fairly regular basis. I find him very responsive, practical and and he has a deep knowledge and understanding of our charitable and professional body governing documents. Where anything outside his area comes up he involves colleagues to put together a holistic piece of advice. He is always friendly, thoughtful and great value.
‘Diligent work team, who seek to listen advise and support client’s wishes. They have adapted appropriately with technology throughout the pandemic, ensuring high quality of service. The breadth of the work of the firm has meant has meant we have been signposted and received expert advice no matter the issue at hand.’
‘Tom Murdoch is one of the most thoughtful and creative practitioners in the field of charity law. He is able to draw on a deep knowledge of case law and regulation to craft a compelling case. He is genuinely engaged with the charity sector, and is passionate about enabling charities to deliver public benefit. He has provided us with invaluable guidance for many years.’
‘Great all round service – developed an excellent understanding of what we are trying to achieve (in a relatively new area of the law concerning charities and social investment), and provided clarity about securely achieving our goals and responsiveness in dealing with queries. Excellent to work with.’
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP
The charities unit at Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is jointly led by Hull-based partners Daniel Hammond and Kevin Webster. Acting for a significant number of local and regional interests as well as not-for-profit organisations, the team counts The Alcohol & Drug Service and Hull IVF Trust as two longstanding clients. The firm has particularly strength in advising clients on obtaining charitable status where it was initially refused, and has significant experience with the complexities of demonstrating public interest. The practice is also said to maintain a 'deeply embedded commitment to client service'.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Hammond; Kevin Webster
Testimonials
‘Personal, first name terms, amazing response rate and never fail to deliver with accurate advice, despite the pandemic.’
‘The practice has a deeply embedded commitment to client service and communicate well. They ensure that services are provided by solicitors with in-depth practical experience in the area of law required. They communicate well and always seek satisfactory outcomes for the client. They make full use of current technology to enhance their personal service.’
‘I have found Daniel Hammond very good to work with as he has a detailed knowledge of working with the Charity Commission, is a good communicator and has good judgement in understanding the key issues and how to approach them. ’
Key clients
The Alcohol & Drug Service
European Missionary Fellowship
Forum: North Bank Forum for Voluntary Organisations
Hull IVF Trust
Humbercare Limited
St Paul’s Amateur Boxing Academy
The Viola Trust
Tigers Sport and Education Trust
Trade Right International
United Kingdom Association of Fish Producer Organisations
Work highlights
- Advised The Freeman 1st Foundation on the application for registration of the charity as a charitable incorporated organisation.
- Advised The Alcohol and Drug Service on the taking of a lease of premises in Doncaster.
- Advised National Bank on the securing of a multimillion-pound Corona Virus Business Interruption Loan to a registered charity.
Schofield Sweeney
Education specialist Chris Schofield leads the team at Schofield Sweeney. Advising clients on the appropriateness of charitable status for not-for-profit organisations, the team also handles matters surrounding formation, incorporation, registration and legal compliance. In addition, the firm has significantly experience of trustee benefit matters and regularly supports academy conversions, private colleges and schools converting from private to publicly funded status.
Practice head(s):
Chris Schofield
Testimonials
‘Expert guidance on our Charity Commission application. Speedy responses to all our questions. ’
‘Very professional at all times. Patient with our questions, and always helpful. A pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
Bradford Culture Company Limited
Doncaster Culture Leisure Trust
SLP College
Bradford Live
Oasis
Girlington Muslim Welfare Association
Carlton Academy Trust
BMAT Education
Wellspring Academy Trust
Heckmondwike Grammar School Academy Trust
Work highlights
- Advised Bradford Culture Company Limited on the appropriateness of charitable status, amendments to the organisation’s Articles of Association to satisfy charity law requirements and the effect of those amendments, and acted on the organisation’s application to the Charity Commission to incorporate as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
- Acted for Bradford Live, a party that won a public procured tender to re-develop the Bradford Odeon Cinema.
- Advised Doncaster Culture & Leisure Trust on the joint development with the Local Authority, of a cycleway/track to be used in the World Cycling Racing championship 2020.