Class Actions
England & Wales
19 August 2025
At Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, new department head Virginia Henley joined the practice in September 2024 from HCR Hewitsons. The ‘very approachable’ team advises local and national cause charities, and educational institutions (including a substantial number of Oxford and Cambridge Colleges); other notable clients include registered societies, social housing and trade associations, as well as religious institutions, family offices and community interest companies. The group is well placed to advise social enterprises, philanthropists and grant making charities. Hilary Aldred and Daff Richardson are among the other names to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘This team is very friendly and practical in their advice. An absolute pleasure to work with and I trust them. I have to mention Daff and Hilary, who are approachable and very practical.’
‘Significant sized team of people with considerable expertise in the area. Daff Richardson and Hilary Aldred. Both highly able lawyers with extensive expertise in the area.’
‘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.'
- ‘Expertise and practical application combine with excellent sector knowledge.’
‘Virginia Henley and Saffa Mir are among stand-out leaders on charity law and the team gives pragmatic advice, from the foundation of technical charity expertise and deep knowledge of the sector, and its regulation.’
‘We found them to be very resourceful and helpful, and we were genuinely pleased to come across colleagues who understand the challenges faced by Muslim charities and have a strong cultural understanding of our community.’
Key clients
- St Mary's Hospital Almshouses
- Parkinson’s UK
- Motor Neurone Disease Association
- Prostate Cancer UK
- Vivifi Biotech
- St Anne’s Oxford
- St Hilda’s College, Oxford
- Murray Edwards, University of Cambridge
- Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust
- The Roger & Jean Jefcoate Trust
- Soham United Charities
- The Company of Biologists
Work highlights
Advising Upshot Systems on the creation of the community interest company and on other matters, such as providing ongoing governance support.
Working closely with the Charity Commission, having been appointed as interim manager for Dalaid, following the opening of a statutory enquiry because of potential misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.
Advising Sri Sathya Sai Charitable Trust UK on its incorporation into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and providing ongoing advice, such as on the creation of a new trading subsidiary to run a community centre.
Practice head
Virginia Henley
Other key lawyers
Hilary Aldred; Daff Richardson; Saffa Mir