Experience

I have a broad practice covering general charity law and governance matters. I have a particular focus on dealing with technical charity law issues and structures.

Highlights
  • Merger and incorporations I am currently advising on the merger of three charities connected to a livery company, following advice on structuring options.
  • Governance I regularly advise on governance issues including updating governing documents, compliance with the Charity Governance Code and reviewing policies as well as internal disputes. A recent example includes assisting a charity to comply with a governance action plan agreed with the Charity Commission.
  • Royal Charter bodies I have been working with a number of charities established by royal charter to amend their charters and byelaws to bring them up to date. I recently assisted a royal charter body with winding up and surrendering its charter, including assisting with engaging with the Privy Council and stakeholders on the detailed steps and process and assisting with transfer of remaining assets to a number of different charities prior to winding up.
  • Establishing endowment funds. I have helped a number of charities to set up permanent and expendable endowment funds including as a fund-raising vehicle to raise funds for the long-term future of the charity.
  • Unlocking restricted funds and endowments I have been helping a school charity to review and update/merge and de-restrict a large number of restricted and endowment funds which have been held for many years and can no longer be used for the purposes for which they were given.
  • Charity governed by Act of Parliament. I work with a number of charities governed by Act of Parliament. For example, I am currently assisting an open space charity governed by Act of Parliament with amending its statutes by way of Charity Commission s73 scheme.
  • Major gifts I regularly advise on major gifts. I recently advised the trustees of a charitable trust on a gift of a collection to a major national museum, which included assisting with seeking Charity Commission consent to changes to the charity’s governing document to facilitate the gift as well as advising on gift documentation.
  • Legacies I support many charities in relation to legacies, from legacy fundraising and administration issues through to dealing with difficult legacies and helping to change the terms of restricted legacies. A recent interesting matter related to the validity of a legacy left to an animal charity for a capital project which completed more than 40 years ago.
  • Charities Act 2022 I was a member of the Charity Law Association’s working party on the Law Commission’s paper on “Technical Issues in Charity Law” and led on Bates Wells’ own submission to the Law Commission as well as appearing before the House of Lords’ committee considering the draft Charities Bill. I have led on the firm’s training and updates on the Charities Act 2022, including providing training for clients and, more recently advising on the new ex gratia powers which came in in November 2025.
  • Charity Law Association As a member of the Executive Committee of the Charity Law Association, I have chaired and participated in a number of working parties, including on fundraising and acceptance and refusal of donations.
  • I contributed to The Charities Acts Handbook: A Practical Guide on trusts and endowment.