Charities

Charities and social enterprises play an important role in the UK’s economy, providing essential services and underpinning much of the education, care, social housing and faith sectors. They must, however, confront an evolving range of demands - from greater regulation, widespread public scrutiny and funding pressures to competition from other charities.

The charity law solicitors at Penningtons Manches Cooper support charities, not for profit and social enterprise clients on a broad spectrum of issues. We work for organisations of all shapes and sizes, including many of the country’s largest national charities. Our specialists are able to guide them through every phase of development and activity from start-up through to the amalgamation of national charities. We carry out charity compliance, mergers, joint ventures, restructuring, governance, and charity disputes work.

We are known in particular for our high quality technical knowledge and expertise in charity legacies, compliance and charity litigation. Our team offers a prompt, straightforward and common-sense approach combined with a deep understanding of our clients’ charitable motivation and priorities. Working closely with lawyers in a variety of practice areas across the firm, including our employment, litigation, real estate, pensions, defamation, data protection and intellectual property teams, we provide a fully integrated service.

Our solicitors are passionate about the sector and many of them are charity trustees. As a group, we are experienced in guiding organisations through the practical and legal challenges which arise on a regular basis. We also appreciate how clients must achieve a balance between maximizing resources, delivering the very best charitable activities and managing their public reputation.

Several members of our team are acknowledged as specialists in their field by Chambers UK and The Legal 500, including the head of our charities practice, who is recognised as one of the leading lawyers nationally for her work in the charities sector.