Con Alexander > VWV > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile
VWV Offices
NARROW QUAY HOUSE, NARROW QUAY
BRISTOL
BS1 4QA
England
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Con Alexander
Work Department
Charities and not for profit
Position
Partner
Career
Con has advised charities of all kinds for more than 15 years and specialises in helping clients with the governance and the strategic challenges that they face. His aim is always to provide clients with the right advice at the right time, while always acknowledging that our quality of service depends not only on our understanding of the law and regulation, but also on our commerciality and ability to think creatively and pragmatically.
Meeting Your Needs
Con acts for clients across the charity sector, from small social enterprises to universities and charities operating nationally and internationally.
He trained and practised as a tax lawyer with Linklaters before deciding that he wanted to advise charities; but his early experience in advising on tax taught him to analyse issues for clients in a way which helps to give them the information they need in order to assess risk and make other decisions.
Con is particularly interested in the way in which organisations change over time, the importance of the relationship between trustees and senior management and collaboration between organisations.
Con is recommended within the Citywealth Leaders List which recognises the best advisors for private wealth management, charity and private client work.
What Others Say
“His particular skill is demystifying complex legal wording and focusing on what matters”
“Con Alexander maintains a stellar reputation within the charities sector, particularly in the area of complex governance matters. Clients are confident that he possesses the energy, enthusiasm and deep understanding, to provide helpful advice across a range of charity issues”. One source enthuses: “He has underpinned our charitable growth for many years and I can’t speak more highly of him” – Chambers & Partners
“deeply knowledgeable, technically perceptive, commercially aware and willing to go the extra mile” – Chambers & Partners
Memberships
Con was previously a partner with charity law firm, Bates Wells and Braithwaite. He is a member of the Charity Law Association and has sat on a number of CLA working parties. Con is also the author of ‘Charity Governance‘ (published by Jordans) and leads on our contribution to Jordans’ Charity Administration Service.
He is a trustee of Wildscreen and a governor of the Cabot Learning Federation (a multi academy trust which operates a group of academies in the South West).
Lawyer Rankings
West Midlands > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
VWV is co-led by Bristol-based Con Alexander and Birmingham-based Shivaji Shiva . Shiva is well-regarded for his advice on a wide range of issues from the creation of charities to their dissolution. Shiva has developed a reputation for his work with various major faith charities on a variety of complex governance disputes. In addition, Shiva is well-regarded for his support to national charities that promote physical activity. Jaime Hobday is a charity governance lawyer who is experienced in advising on issues such as DfE policy, collaborative working and on the establishment, growth and operation of academy trusts.
South West > Public sector > Education
VWV ’s ‘market-leading’ Bristol team acts for academies, multi-academy trusts, independent schools and universities on a range of strategic and operational matters, including work in anticipation of large-scale political and legislative shifts. The unit is also well-known in the market for schools transactions, spanning sales, purchases, and charity mergers. Barney Northover and Chloe Brunton head up the team from the firm’s Bristol office. Simon Bevan
is well versed in employment and discrimination law matters, while Tabitha Cave leads on safeguarding for the firm. Chloe Brunton, Con Alexander and Naseem Nabi are additionally noted for their capabilities.
South West > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
(Leading individuals)VWV routinely advises healthcare organisations, arts and educational charities, as well as public sector bodies, on a range of issues. Utilising its broad capabilities, the team is particularly well-versed in issues concerning governance, procurement, state aid, and advice on employees, among other matters. Con Alexander – who leads the team – has spent the majority of his career working with a range of charities on all aspects of charity, company, and trust law. Laura Chesham is noted for her experience in advising faith organisations, while Rachel Tonkin specialises in education sector work, advising universities, schools, and educational charities.
London > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
(Leading individuals)Paul Voller, Chris Knight and Con Alexander lead a large national team of sector specialist lawyers at VWV across its four offices. The group advises more than 100 charities of all types and sizes, and is particularly well regarded for its advice to charities in the healthcare, arts and educational sectors. It advises a significant number of universities that are constituted as charities, and is skilled at advising faith charities on all aspects of their operations. Shivaji Shiva is also recommended.
South East > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
VWV advises charities on an array of safeguarding issues, and is a key port of call clients in the arts, educational and healthcare sectors facing trusteeship issues. Chris Knight co-leads the team from Watford, and his key strengths lie in mergers and strategic reviews. Also co-lead of the team, Con Alexander in Bristol advises a range of charities with governance matters.
Lawyer Rankings
- Charities and not-for-profit South West > Private client
- Education South West > Public sector
- Leading individuals South West > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Public sector > Education