Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP covers all governance, transactional, and regulatory matters for clients in the charity sector, with experience negotiating with the Charity Commission on all associated mandates. The faith and educational sectors are key areas of strength for the department. Emma Moody leads the group; Moody handles constitutional, regulatory, and governance issues in the charity sector. Mark Honeywell is a key name for faith and education charities, and Katie Dawson contributes expertise in corporate recovery.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is very professional and knowledgeable and is everything I think you could expect from a legal firm.’

  • ‘I like Katie Dawson who is very 'user' friendly and is professional but also approachable and works hard to achieve proper results.’

  • ‘The team at WBD took on our work and got to grips with it very quickly and explained their results clearly and were able to put forward suggestions that would benefit us.’

  • ‘They are unique for their knowledge and attention to detail, as well as the confidence they give to us that they understand our needs and can work with us on finding a suitable solution.’

  • 'WBD are extremely flexible in their approach, responding quickly to matters that arise.'

  • 'The team we work with at WBD know our organisation, have taken time to build relationships with key individuals, and tailor their service accordingly.'

  • 'WBD for us were an excellent choice.'

  • 'Mark Honeywell was excellent. He had superb experience and understood our organisation.'

  • 'Their level of understanding and knowledge about the sector is a particular strength. This was key in us commissioning them, ensured that their recommendations were robust.'

  • 'Emma Moody - brilliant communicator, who can distil a complex issue and present it in a way that is easily understandable and accessible. Emma is very efficient and delivers on time.'

Key clients

  • York Diocesan Board of Finance
  • BBC Children in Need
  • York Museums and Gallery Trust
  • York Minster
  • Pocklington School
  • Humankind Charity (now trading as Waythrough)
  • Everyturn
  • Mental Health Matters
  • Connection Support
  • Aysgarth School
  • St Mary Magdalene and Holy Jesus Trust
  • NCFE
  • Lincoln Diocesan Board of Education
  • The Universities and Colleges Employers' Association

Work highlights

Advising Humankind (now trading as Waythrough), a national charity in the mental health and addiction sector, on its merger with The Richmond Fellowship.
Advising the York Diocesan Board of Finance Limited and the York Diocesan Board of Education on the full range of legal services including charity governance and regulation, education, property including matters relating to parsonage and glebe land agriculture and property litigation.
Supporting the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) in its acquisition of the employer pensions role previously undertaken by Universities UK in relation to the Universities Superannuation Scheme.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Mark Honeywell

Practice head

Emma Moody

Other key lawyers

Mark Honeywell; Katie Dawson