Experienced charity governance lawyers
Those running charities (charity trustees) have considerable responsibilities and potential liabilities. Good governance is vital for the effective operation of the charity, for the maintenance of its reputation and to comply in the eyes of the Charity Commission with the law and good practice.
As charity lawyers, with experience of may different kinds of charities from health and social welfare to disability to environmental to wildlife charities, we can advise you on:
- Charity constitutions and good governance under the charity governance code – charity trustees need to be aware of and follow carefully the legal requirements and procedures set out in their constitution. The wish to further the intentions of the organisation can lead to non-compliance with the detail of the constitution and the framework of the general law including the charity governance code’s 7 principles of good governance from integrity to accountability and diversity.
- Mergers – our charity lawyers can provide advice on the legal and practical aspects of takeovers, mergers and forms of joint working arrangements.
- Trustees' liabilities – trustees are rightly concerned to be aware of the extent of the liabilities of the organisation and of themselves as individual trustees and the degree of protection available to them.
- Trading – advice on issues arising out of trading and subsidiary trading structures and the exploitation of rights and assets including property for development purposes.
- Employment law – charity trustees and their organisations need proper advice and training on employment law, to avoid problems arising and to handle them when they do, with the minimum damage to the organisation and its reputation.
- Equality and diversity – the public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 as applied to a charities objects and legacies intended to benefit certain beneficiaries to the exclusion of those with protected characteristics.
For further information please contact one of the team:
