Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has a firm-wide charities practice in which the Cambridge office plays a key role. Practice head Hilary Aldred, who handles employment, education and charity law matters, is ‘an outstanding lawyer and tactician’. Aldred, commercial and IP partner Rachel Bradley and managing associate Sophie Whitbread are the core of a team that handles contentious matters before the Charity Commission, as well as administrative and governance advice, trustee issues, data protection guidance and more. Virginia Henley joined the practice in September 2024.
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Testimonials
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‘Hillary Aldred (partner) is an outstanding lawyer and tactician, who knows the law back to front, and has an impressive client following. The team has a particular strength in education and University work in general. They are very well organised, across the detail of their cases, and hardworking.’
‘The team understands the uniqueness of our business and tailors the advice to us, very collaborative and answer all questions.’
‘Sophie Whitbread is excellent at responding to my concerns and questions and even lets me know when she is going to be working on a project away from the office for a while, leaving me with another colleague to contact.’
- ‘Virginia Henley whom I deal with mostly is calm, and explains things in a easy to understand way.’
- ‘Virginia Henley's knowledge is first-rate. She is supportive, easily approachable and a pleasure to work with. We feel we are in very good hands.’
Key clients
- Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust
- The Campden Charities
- Churchill College, Cambridge
- International Headache Society
- National Oceanography Centre
- Reeds Foundation
- The Institute of Leadership and Management
- The Company of Biologists
- Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
- The Licensed Trade Charity
Lawyers
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Practice head
Hilary Aldred
Other key lawyers
Sophie Whitbread; Rachel Bradley; Virginia Henley