Neasa Coen > Forsters LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Forsters LLP
22 Baker Street
LONDON
W1U 3BW
England

Work Department

Charities

Position

Counsel

Career

Neasa is Counsel in our Charities and Philanthropy team, which is part of the firm’s wider Private Wealth group. She focuses her practice on the charitable and social economy sectors and advises grant makers, operational charities, public sector bodies, social enterprises, commercial clients and philanthropists on governance, regulatory and commercial issues. She is particularly interested in helping clients navigate an often uncertain and complex regulatory environment.

Neasa provides tailored advice on governance and regulation, including on directors’ duties and liabilities, board policies, board remuneration, investment-related matters, and engagement with both stakeholders and regulators. She advises regularly in connection with sustainable finance (including impact investment and venture philanthropy). She also advises on not-for-profit mergers and project structuring, including on matters with a real estate and tax backdrop. She assists corporates and corporate foundations on charity law and practice, with particular focus on fundraising and sponsorship matters.

Neasa is recognised by the main legal directories, including Chambers UK Guide, The Legal 500 and Private Client Global Elite. She speaks regularly at conferences and other events. Recent topics include sustainable finance and social investment, distributed ledger technology, governance-related developments, cross-border giving, and the use of donor advised funds.

She monitors new legal developments and their interaction with her areas of practice, including developments in the ESG arena and in the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain.

Neasa sits as a part-time Employment Tribunal judge.

Memberships

Charity Law Association

Charity Tax Group

Law Society

Lawyer Rankings

London > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit

Forsters LLP fields an experienced team, which receives a steady stream of instructions from grant makers, operating charities and organisations in the public sector; other key clients include commercial clients and philanthropists. It has specialist US/UK law expertise to assist individuals and companies with structuring charities and bequests. The group is also known for its work with wealthy individuals advising on the establishment of charities and making donations. Neasa Coen has a solid reputation in the market for her work on social impact investments. Fiona Smith is also recommended.