Chris Priestley > Withers LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Withers LLP‘s higher education team provides strong advice on matters related to charity law and also displays strong multinational expertise, with its team of lawyers across the US and UK regularly assisting clients with cross-border educational partnerships and arrangements. The London team is led by charity experts Philip Reed, Alison Paines, and Chris Priestley, who have advised on the establishment of multijurisdictional educational charities, joint ventures, and strategically important governance matters. Advice on research initiatives is a further area of expertise for the team, which has provided commercial and IP support to clients in connection with large-scale research projects.

Withers LLP maintains an in-depth charity law and crisis management offering, which it frequently leverages to advise educational trusts, charities, and foundations on a range of strategic and governance matters. The team is also capable of advising on contentious employment and student issues and regularly acts in school disciplinary proceedings and investigations. Practice head Philip Reed and key contact Chris Priestley both maintain close relationships with a number of independent schools and academy trusts, who instruct the team to advise on governance and fundraising statutes. Emma Flower is also recommended and frequently acts in matters related to student admissions and exclusions.

Clients of Withers LLP remark that ‘the partners in the practice are among the leading lights of charity law’ and notably single out Alison Paines and practice head Chris Priestley for praise. The ‘extremely professional and knowledgeable’ team acts for a significant proportion of the top 50 charities in the UK, and a key strength of the first-rate practice is its expertise in strategy and governance matters, as well as its regulatory engagement at a senior level with the Charity Commission. In addition, given the firm’s international reach, the practice is regularly instructed on charity matters that span different jurisdictions. Paul Hewitt heads up the firm’s work for charities on legacy income and trustee disputes, while Philip Reed advises charities, not-for-profit organisations and philanthropists on a wide range of issues. The senior associates in the department also receive a lot of plaudits; Roger Waite acts for some of the UK’s largest charities and has considerable experience of advising many of the most substantial NHS charities, Emma Flower garners praise for her wide-ranging experience in areas as diverse as mergers, constitutional matters and fundraising law, and Amy Carter advises charities, philanthropists and businesses on a broad range of matters.