Recommendations
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Good to work with and clearly knows what she's doing
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'Expert in public services'
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[Abbie is] "Down to earth, sensible and pragmatic"
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Commentators mark her ability to tackle "highly technical work"
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'[Abbie is] genuinely brilliant'
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Leading individual
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"[Abbie is] very friendly, helpful and clear"
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Leading individual.
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"She brings a pragmatic and sensible approach, whilst never losing sight of fighting for clients interests."
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Clients describe her as "very responsive, tolerant and always willing to explain in a way we understand."
Experience
With extensive experience as a non-executive and trustee, I understand the challenges and opportunities faced by organisations balancing commercial considerations and social impact and I aim to provide straight forward, practical advice. My clients range from household names to small entrepreneurial start ups.
Having been one of the originators of the Community Interest Company, I worked on the legislation and drafted the model constitutions. There are now 15,0000 registered CICs and I have particular expertise in the delivery of public services, providing strategic and legal advice to public bodies on when, whether and how to use alternative delivery models. I lead our public services team.
A champion for women leaders, I was a trustee of the Fawcett Society, was listed in the first “Power Part Timers” and worked closely with WISE 100, featuring in this short film celebrating women leaders in social enterprise. I am passionate about education and, having been a school governor, am now a trustee of the Creative Education Trust delivering education to over 17,000 students. I was elected to the Bates Wells Management Board in 2018.
Highlights
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Brighton and Hove Council – the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust
We are advising on this high profile transfer of a portfolio of museums and heritage assets, including the sea-front Royal Pavilion to a charity.
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Action on Hearing Loss
I lead our work with this charity, advising on a range of complex commercial matters and regulatory matters as well as working with them on a detailed governance review.
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Comic Relief
I lead our work with Comic Relief and Sports Relief, advising on a wide variety of issues as and when they arise, often at short notice. Matters include social finance, grant making and high profile fundraising initiatives.
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Stephen Hawking Foundation
We have advised the Stephen Hawking Foundation on a range of governance and commercial issues.
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Achieving for Children
I advised on the spin out of the children’s services departments of Richmond and Kingston councils (£115m services) to a community interest company wholly owned by the two councils. It has gone from strength to strength with the DfE recently citing it as an example of best practice.
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Thomas Cook Group Plc
I advised on the establishment of the Safer Tourism Foundation follow the very sad deaths of two children on a Thomas Cook holiday. Thomas Cook worked with the children’s mother and others to set up this foundation.
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National Deaf Children Society
I advise the National Deaf Children Society on a variety of both UK and international matters.
- I worked with DfE on national Social Work Practices pilot advising various local authorities on the establishment of social enterprises for children’s services
- I advised West Sussex County Council on the transfer of adult and community learning services
- I advised Morgan Stanley on a £10 million grant to Great Ormond Street Hospital
- I advised Social Enterprise UK on governance and other advice
- I assisted the Electoral Reform Society with a governance review
- I also assisted Habitat for Humanity on their governance review
- I advised the National Deaf children society on a variety of both UK and international matters
- I advised Action on hearing Loss on governance and other matters
- I advised Plan International UK on grant making, fundraising and international governance
Areas of expertise:
Qualifications and career
- University of Cambridge, MA Economics, 1998
- College of Law, 1999
- Joined Bates Wells, 1999
- Admitted as a solicitor, 2001
- Seconded to the Department of Trade and Industry and to the Home Office working on community interest companies and the Charities Act 2006
- Partner, 2007
- Joined Bates Wells Management Board 2018
Pro bono, memberships, and appointments
- Former member of Office of the Third Sector Advisory Board
- Former Trustee of the Fawcett Society
- Provided pro bono advice to numerous organisations
- Former Chair of PayPal Giving Fund UK
- Provided pro bono advice to numerous small organisations including Sasbah and Birth Companions as well as to Social Enterprise UK on their recent governance review.
Insights
