Private client
Bates Wells advises a diverse client base across the sports sector, with a particularly strong presence in the governance and charitable arms of national governing bodies and grassroots clubs. The firm continues to act for sports organisations of all standards, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, on charity formation, restructuring, and governance framework. Thea Longley is a vastly experienced charity lawyer and often counsels sport clients on their matters. Associate Ben Thomas also specialises in the area, and is described as ‘a very good technical lawyer’ by clients.
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Profile
Work Department
Charity & Social Enterprise
Position
Thea is a Partner and Head of the Charity and Social Enterprise team, and advises charities, membership organisations, sports clubs and sport’s governing bodies.
Her work for charities and not-for-profits includes formation, registration of new charities, constitutional advice (including restructuring, mergers and spin-outs), as well as advice on funding, grant and fundraising agreements.
Additionally, Thea’s work for sports clubs and sport’s governing bodies includes advice on charitable status and Inland Revenue CASC status – registration, restructuring, constitutional issues, contract work and funding.
Career
Head of Charity and Social Enterprise, 2021
Partner, Bates Wells, 2008
Seconded to the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit working as the only lawyer on the team that wrote 'Private Action, Public Benefit', the review that led to the Charities Act 2006 and the introduction of community interest companies
Admitted as a solicitor, 2001
Trainee, Bates Wells, 1999
Publications of note: Consultant editor for the charity section of the leading legal text book Halsbury's Laws of England, co-wrote 'Keeping it Legal: Legal Forms for Social Enterprise' with Social Enterprise Coalition and edition 1 of 'Charities - The New Law 2006: A Practical Guide to the Charities Act' (Jordans).
Memberships
Member of the Charity Law Association and a former executive committee member
Charity Commission approved practitioner for interim manager services
Member of Sports and Recreation Alliance
Education
College of Law, London, 1999
University of St Andrews, MA English and Modern History, 1996
Bruton School for Girls
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Ben Thomas was the lead on our account and he immediately understood what our needs were.'
‘We have worked with Bates Wells for over 3 years now on many different legal matters re ownership, takeovers and other things. We have found them fantastic to deal with.’
‘We have worked with 4 different lawyers at different times and found them all fantastic and easy to work with and at our service when needed.’
Key clients
- Letchworth Rugby Football Club Rugby Football Union Football For Future CIC Peterborough United Football Club Limited The Football Foundation The Sharks Foundation NPC Fair Game CIC Everybody Health & Leisure England and Wales Cricket Board England and Wales Cricket Trust Royal Yachting Association Girls United Football Association National League Trust Letchworth Rugby Football Club Rugby Football Union Football For Future CIC Peterborough United Football Club Limited The Football Foundation The Sharks Foundation NPC Fair Game CIC Everybody Health & Leisure England and Wales Cricket Board England and Wales Cricket Trust Royal Yachting Association Girls United Football Association National League Trust
Work highlights
Advised the England and Wales Cricket Trust to prepare template contracts with regional county boards for distribution of grassroots cricket funding.