Charities and not-for-profit

The charities and not-for-profit sector has undergone enormous change in recent years and it is evident that this will not abate in the foreseeable future.

Whether you are a fundraiser or service provider, a large institutional charity with trading activities or a small charitable trust, you need to be up-to-date with the changing environment in which you operate. Many of these recent developments result from changes in the law but in order to fully understand the effect on you and your organisation, you need advisers who can offer advice on all aspects of charitable activities, from commercial trading to tax efficient philanthropy.

Penningtons' charities and not-for-profit group has been created to do just that. Our lawyers come from a diverse range of disciplines including corporate and commercial, dispute resolution, property, employment, private client and tax. They work together as a close-knit unit and share both a common interest in the voluntary sector and a client list of dynamic organisations and individuals.

Our clients come from a broad area of the charities and not-for-profit sector including education, social housing, healthcare, regulatory bodies and development agencies. We also advise individuals, both in the UK and overseas, on tax efficient philanthropy as part of their tax and estate planning.

Charities and not-for-profit expertise at a glance:

  • administration of charitable trusts
  • advising on the structure and establishment of charitable organisations
  • Charity Commission registrations and compliance
  • charity governance and trustee's responsibilities
  • commercial law requirements, including intellectual property, IT, data protection, health and safety, licensing, outsourcing, franchising and fundraising
  • HR and employment issues
  • management of conflicts, dispute resolution and disputed charitable gifts and bequests
  • property issues, including leases, retail outlets, development, construction, project finance and planning
  • restructuring and merger of charities, and their constitutional amendments
  • reviewing a charity's objects and the public benefit test
  • taxation
  • trading through a subsidiary
  • trustee appointments, retirements, removals and remuneration