Charles Russell Speechlys LLP has a first-rate team, which continues to represent high-profile national and international charities, as well as historic educational institutions, ecclesiastical bodies, and military charities. Sarah Rowley heads the offering, which covers a wide spectrum of issues affecting charities. The group continues to be busy advising on matters such as fundraising, data protection, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, it regularly assists the firm’s high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and corporate clients with their charitable giving. Through its Guildford office, it fields an excellent and dedicated legacy management team. Simon Weil plays a pivotal role in the department, and Liz Gifford is another key figure who has advised some of the UK’s well-known charities on their governance matters, fundraising activities, contracts, and collaborations with other entities.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Key strengths are understanding of the sector and the organisations and people within the sector. Sarah Rowley is clear and straightforward with a strong understanding.’
‘The CRS charity practice is a pleasure to work with; responsive, highly capable, technically excellent and client focused. I cannot recommend them highly enough.’
‘Lead partner Sarah Rowley is a first-class charity lawyer whom I always recommend to peers. She combines a deep knowledge of charity law technically and pragmatically with an incredibly positive, can-do approach.'
‘CRS offer a personal service and they are always keen to understand and help with whatever problem we may encounter. They have a breadth of experience across the organisation and also specialists if we need them.'
'Their understanding of charities is deep and that helps us enormously with our complex organisation. I trust them implicitly to solve our problems.’
‘They understand our business, they listen to our issues and they help us deal with situations. As a charity we must remain agile and they assist us to do that. Their advice and personal service is invaluable.’
‘Exceptional attention to detail coupled with absolute professionalism and a real sense of partnership make CRS unique in my opinion.’
‘Sarah Rowley is outstanding and leads the team superbly. From her example, a culture of trust and 'can-do' has developed such that I have moved all of our business to CRS.’
Key clients
- Dementia UK
- City & Guilds of London Institute
- Royal Air Force Museum
- The Royal Free Charity
- National Museum of the Royal Navy
- British Computer Society
- Philanthropy Impact
- Merchant Taylors’ Company
- The Grocers Company
- Westminster Abbey
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Practice head
Sarah Rowley
Other key lawyers
Simon Weil; Liz Gifford