Charities | UK Bar

Maitland Chambers' members include some of the most renowned barristers in the market, who are regularly involved in seminal cases. Tackling advisory work as well as disputes, the team acts for a variety of clients, including charities and their directors, religious organisations and local authorities. Barristers here are also regularly instructed by the Charity Commission. Matters undertaken include appeals against the regulator's decisions, ratings relief disputes and cases concerning charities' constitutional issues. In the recent past the set has been involved in leading matters such as Keeping Kids Company, a very high-profile disqualification case concerning the conduct of directors of a charitable company, in which the judge considered the duties of the directors. Other cases of interest include an appeal against the Charity Commission's decision to disqualify Naomi Campbell from being a charity trustee in Naomi Campbell v Charity Commission. The set has also been involved in the high-profile Mermaids v Charity Commission and LGB Alliance, challenging the commission's registration of a gender-critical organisation and how it relates to the statutory criteria for charities. Sources comment: "There is a long tradition of charity law expertise within the set and it has an unusual strength in depth, which inspires confidence."

John Wiggs is a senior clerk.

Radcliffe Chambers is the pre-eminent set in the market and houses an impressive bench of standout practitioners. Its members routinely appear in the most significant charities matters and are regularly involved in cases that reach the Supreme Court, acting both for charities as well as for the Charity Commission and the Attorney General. Its wide client base includes multinational charities, clubs, housing associations, educational institutions and local authorities. Highlights include Jaffer v Jaffer, which concerned disputes related to a leading Islamic charity, and Attorney General v Zedra Fiduciary Services, a case looking at the validity of a charitable trust. The set has amongst its ranks a former Deputy Charity Commissioner, a former junior counsel to HM Attorney General in charity matters, and a former standing counsel to the Charity Commission. Radcliffe barristers demonstrate prowess in all manner of disputes, including those concerning trustee issues, ratings and legacies. One solicitor praises the set, saying Radcliffe Chambers is "top of its field in charity law."

John Clark is the head of clerking.

Serle Court has an established reputation in the charities market and houses members who have been present in many of the most prominent cases of recent years. Individuals here represent charities in rate relief cases, trustee disputes and appeals against Charity Commission decisions. They are also sought after for advice and representation by both the Attorney General and the Charity Commission. Other areas of interest include tax and trust law matters and judicial reviews. Recent cases handled include Free Grammar School of John Lyon within the Town of Harrow-on-the-Hill v HM Attorney General, an unusual case involving a claim by a major public school to amend its charitable purposes and being the first case on the relevant powers in the Public Schools Act 1868.

Nicholas Hockney is a practice director at Serle Court.

Wilberforce Chambers is a highly distinguished chancery set whose charities specialists frequently advise foundations, charities themselves and the Charity Commission on a diverse range of issues including those concerning commercial and tax questions as they impact charitable bodies. Individuals are active on behalf of these clients in contentious matters and also represent trustees and HMRC in cases concerning the meaning of a 'charity'. Clients further benefit from the set's well-renowned high-quality offshore expertise. A solicitor comments they have "well-rounded barristers who think outside of the box."

Nicholas Luckman is a practice director at Wilberforce Chambers.