Michelmores LLP

non‑profit and charity

Legal director

I am an experienced non‑profit and charity lawyer, with over 10 years’ experience advising charities, social ventures and mission‑led organisations.

I support clients to pursue their impact and deliver their strategic objectives by providing integrated legal, regulatory and commercial advice. I bring a strong understanding of both charity law and complex commercial arrangements, enabling boards and executive teams to navigate governance, risk and growth with confidence.

I have specialised in charity law and associated regulatory and governance work since 2013. My experience includes advising on charity formation, registration and incorporation, joint ventures, mergers and collaborations, grant‑making, fundraising, sponsorship, commercial participation agreements and corporate group restructurings. I regularly advise on trustee duties and decision‑making, regulatory engagement with the Charity Commission, and the governance implications of novel or evolving operating models.

I have advised a wide range of charities and social ventures, including spin‑outs from world‑leading universities, learned societies and international think tanks. I am particularly experienced in developing innovative and impactful legal models for social ventures, and in helping clients manage the implications of those models for internal governance, commercial scale‑up and fundraising. My work often involves complex commercial and strategic arrangements, including licensing and intellectual property structures, branding and shared‑asset arrangements, research collaboration agreements and corporate partnerships. I also advise on fundraising strategies across both philanthropic and social investment .

I am a member of the Charity Law Association and have contributed to working parties on legal and regulatory developments affecting the sector. I am the Chair of Social Enterprise East of England, the leading sector body for social enterprises across East Anglia, and a trustee of domestic abuse charity, The Angels Foundation UK.

Areas of expertise

• Charity Law

• Commercial

• Entrepreneurs

• Impact Investing

• Technology & Innovation

Emma Millar - Legal Director - Corporate | Michelmores