Molly Carew-Jones

Experience

After training here at Bates Wells, I qualified as a solicitor in the Charity & Social Enterprise team. I advise charities, not for profit organisations and businesses with a social purpose across a range of issues. The work I do includes advising on charity formation and registration, contract drafting and contractual reviews, governance, intellectual property advise, regulatory compliance as well as general charity law.

I often advise on fundraising law including arrangements with commercial participators, professional fundraising, corporate sponsorship and society lottery regulation. I enjoy providing both in person and webinar training in all of these areas and often present in the Bates Wells Breakfast Serial seminar series.

Before starting life as a lawyer, I studied drama and worked in applied theatre. I therefore have a particular interest in the creative and cultural industries and am a member of the Culture + Creative group at Bates Wells. I also have a keen interest in organisations that work in the health and social care field and I currently volunteer with SaneLine as a helpline operator.

Advised a charity client on their template fundraising documents.

Created a new suite of template documents that included provisions that complied with the requirements under the Charities Act 2016 and the Code of Fundraising Practice. Prepared accompanying guidance notes to assist the fundraising team in using the new documents and to assist with future negotiations.
Advised a charity client on a regulatory investigation by the Charity Commission.

This included responding to requests for information and questions about the charity’s governance structure. The work also involved challenging certain decisions made by the Commission and updating a number of the charity’s policies and procedures.
Advised a client who wanted to start running a society lottery.

I advised on the appropriate vehicle for the lottery licence, the application with the Gambling Commission, society lottery compliance and the contract with the External Lottery Manager.

Delivered training seminars on an Introduction to Copyright and Monetising Intellectual Property in collaboration with Creative Industries Federation.
Advising on constitutional and operational issues for charities and social enterprises, including advising on conflicts of interest, procedure and other governance matters
Advising on grant funding agreements and conditions
Advising on society lottery regulation, including contracts with External Lottery Managers, delivering of bespoke training and responding to regulatory investigations
Acting on mergers between charities and not-for-profit organisations
Acting on transfers of services, out of larger charities and local authorities
Acting on incorporations of existing charities, including establishing a corporate entity, undertaking due diligence, drafting the relevant agreements and dealing with the unincorporated charity post-transfer
Advising on constitutional reviews and alterations, including liaising with the Charity Commission for Charity Commission consent where necessary.
Advising charities on their engagement with various regulators including the Charity Commission, the Fundraising Regulator and the Gambling Commission