Charities | UK

Brodies LLP provides charities with a full-service offering, acting on a wide range of legal issues, including corporate and tax law advice. The team advises clients on the regulatory and governance aspects of charity law and assists with investigations by the Charity Commission. The firm also supports clients with commercial issues, including M&A, property and employment law issues. Brodies has a wide-ranging client base includes grant-giving foundations and youth organisations, as well as animal welfare and healthcare charities.

In November 2023, Morton Fraser and MacRoberts merged and the combined firm is called Morton Fraser MacRoberts. Morton Fraser MacRoberts assists charities and public bodies as well as social enterprise organisations with all aspects of charity law and regulation. The team possesses further expertise in fund-raising, tax, employment law and data protection issues affecting third sector organisations. The firm's clients include those in regulated sectors, such as health and social care charities.

Burness Paull has an impressive practice offering top-notch advice on legal structures, particularly SCIO models. The firm assists with property and employment issues faced by clients, many of which are social care organisations and regional development charities as well as trusts and grant-giving foundations. The team is particularly adept at advising on optimising legal structure and governance models, as well as charity mergers and asset transfers. Burness Paull additionally houses a strong regulatory and compliance practice.

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP acts for educational and health charities as well as professional associations on modernisation, governance and regulatory matters. The team offers cross-disciplinary assistance on sponsorship, donations and fund-raising, tax issues and pension matters. The firm is noted for the strength of its advice on commercial transactions and asset transfers.

BTO Solicitors LLP has a large client following among housing associations, health and social care charities and cultural charities. The firm also assists clients operating in the education sector as well as trusts and grant-giving charities. The team advises on governance, charity formations, litigation and financing issues. It is notably adept at handling employment and property-related mandates.

Harper Macleod LLP has a proficient charity law team with experience across a broad spectrum of issues facing the sector, including data protection law, employment law and corporate issues. The team possesses noteworthy expertise in relation to assisting charitable registered social landlords with regulatory investigations, mergers and governance mandates. The firm also represents third sector organisations in the faith, disability and sports arenas.