The East Anglia offices of Mills & Reeve LLP are the key hubs for the firm-wide charities and social enterprise offering. Significant local and national clients look to the practice for the full range of work in the area, from establishment and regulation, to fundraising and estate development. Neil Burton leads the firm’s national charities practice and is an accomplished advisor to some of the country’s major charities. Among the other key figures in the multidisciplinary team are employment expert Nicola Brown; James Fry and Stephanie Caird, who both act for charity clients in the life sciences space; and trusts and probate disputes lawyer David Catchpole.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team provide clear, practical advice. They focus on what is important.’
‘Neil Burton is a clear and pragmatic thinker.'
‘Global perspective and team which was critical for our organisation to ensure understanding of not only the US HQ context but also global operational context. Excellent technical knowledge combined with very pragmatic advice/recommendations. Team had a calm, professional demeanour which built trust which was essential in context of a Board Effectiveness Review.’
‘Neil Burton - very experienced and knowledgeable, calm and pragmatic, able to push back politely but also flexible, able to work at speed, able to cope with ‘large’ board personalities and differing viewpoints.’
'Mills & Reeve have an excellent all round charity team, providing commercial, IP, HR and property law advice in a coordinated and cost effective fashion to the charity sector.'
Key clients
- Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
- Francis Crick Institute
- Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Society of Operations Engineers
- The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (UK)
- Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
- The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
- Royal Literary Fund
- Birdlife International
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Work highlights
Undertook a governance and board effectiveness review for £10bn non-profit Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet.
Advised on the incorporation of £1bn charity, The Henry Smith Charity.
Acted for the John Innes Centre in connection with the c.£317m John Innes Centre Next Generation Infrastructure Project, funded by UKRI.
Lawyers
Leading partners
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Practice head
Neil Burton
Other key lawyers
Nicola Brown; James Fry; Caroline Dean; David Catchpole; Stephanie Caird; Alastair Cotton; Paul Hilder