Charity & Not For Profit

Shared values and deep expertise.

Like any organisation, not-for-profits need to achieve their purposes and be financially sustainable. It’s just that their purposes and motivations are very different.

We’ve been at the heart of the sector for decades and understand the complex structures, governance, management and commercial issues and challenges you face.

We apply our commercial skills, legal expertise and specialist sector know-how to help you set up new initiatives. To support you into, and out of, commercial deals. To help avoid disputes and guide you through them when they arise, through the thickets of regulation. To help you campaign for the outcomes you seek. We’ll also help to manage your reputation.

Working with you

Our employment lawyers have helped to define the legal position of volunteers. Our real estate lawyers are as adept with trusts for ancient buildings as they are with modern office leases. Our finance team leads on social investment. Our public law team will fight your corner in a judicial review or campaign for change.

We understand the sensitivities and pressures of reputation management when you’re under scrutiny. Our dispute resolution team can help resolve and avoid your issues sensitively. And if it comes to a complicated regulatory investigation, we have the experience to steer you through.

As a B Corporation, we believe there’s more to doing business than just making a profit. Our values and our own purpose inform our decisions as a business and they help to shape the advice we give to purpose-driven organisations like yours.

Explore

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 9 June

Our weekly round up of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission New Grant-Making Guidance The Charity Commission has published new guidance for charities making grants to charities and other organisations. This replaces and expands …
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Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 3 June

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission The Charity Commission has published a blog and guidance promoting the role of charity trustee. Return to top. Sector general The government has published new research mapping …
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Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 27 May

Our weekly round-up of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission Podcast The Charity Commission’s CEO, David Holdsworth, has spoken on the Civil Society Podcast (available on Spotify and other streaming platforms) discussing a range …
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Mediation in legacy disputes: top tips for charities

We recently hosted a mediation masterclass at the ILM Annual Conference 2026. The session drew on legal and in-house charity perspectives to explore when mediation is appropriate, and practical ways that legacy teams can manage mediation with confidence. We heard useful insights from guest speakers, Megan Paul (Cancer Research UK) and Kate Vowden (British Heart …
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Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 19 May

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission Updated CC28 Guidance The Charity Commission says it has updated its guidance Sales, leases, transfers or mortgages: what trustees need to know about disposing …
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“Bates Wells have a strong team of people who are not only highly qualified and experienced but also approachable and work pragmatically to find a way forward.”

Charity, Chambers 2024

“Bates Wells break issues down, simplify, and explain complex matters. The advice is sound, professional, and solid.”

Charity, Chambers 2024

“The team are all marked by their excellent communication skills and confident knowledge of the law. You get real quality advice from friendly and understanding members of the team.”

Charity, Chambers 2024

‘Bates Wells has unrivalled knowledge of the charity sector and is the go to firm in the space of social investment and blended finance.’

Charity, Legal 500 2024

‘This team is not only excellent at understanding charities and not-for-profits, they are at the forefront of the fast evolving field of social investment and purposeful business.’

Charity, Legal 500 2024
Meet our team

Our charity solicitors give practical advice on the full spectrum of charity and commercial law – from drafting commercial contracts, to advising on grants, to handling the most complex, high profile and sensitive cases.

View our charity services

Visit our Spotlight hub to watch our panels on demand, and explore our resources.

Spotlight – the annual Bates Wells charity conference