Recommendations
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She is vastly knowledgeable, approachable and committed. She enters wholeheartedly into her client's world and is a great advocate.
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A leading practitioner with experience in a wide range of charity law issues. She has notable expertise advising clients on regulatory matters and inquiries as well as assisting with corporate structuring and governance issues.
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Best Lawyer - Charities
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Professional, knowledgeable, proactive and approachable.
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She is extremely able, very hard-working and willing to work collaboratively to meet our needs
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Notable practitioner
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Recognised as a Leading Individual with a high-profile in the charity sector
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Recognised as a Best Lawyer for Charities Law
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Rosaumund is "hard-working, politically astute and likeable"
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An expert in her field
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Provides clear and sensible advice
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“Recognised as a Best Lawyer”
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"She is the most knowledgeable person I know for this work"
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Leading individual
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Rosamund has ‘a deep understanding of the charities sector’
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She provides an 'excellent service, and is willing to test the breadth and scope of organisational thinking'
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Rosamund is an 'absolute star'.
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"She is obviously completely expert in what she does, very pragmatic and understands our charity very well."
Experience
I am constantly inspired by the not-for -profits I advise. For more than 25 years, I have utilised the law to create, merge or restructure not-for-profits, set up efficient funding arrangements and work alongside as well as challenge the excesses of multiple regulators.
I invariably have long term governance and tricky technical questions on my plate, but also advise charities in the eye of the storm, helping them to navigate through a regulatory, governance and media maze. I have a track record in defending the rights of charities to speak out and advise political and campaign bodies on the intricacies of electoral law.
I particularly value the long term and collegiate relationships I have with many of my clients and enjoy working at the interface of law, governance and public policy. A joy of my legal life is immersion in numerous sectors ranging from international development to the arts, education, environment, children and young people, animals, health and faith. It is an enormous privilege to be a small part in the journey of so many amazing causes and visionary charities. The stimulation of working with talented colleagues, sharing knowledge and learning from each other, is also a big plus in my professional life.
As has been the in-depth experiences I have gained as a charity trustee, often understanding at first hand the pressures that charities and trustees face. All in all, I am delighted to continue advising charities and look forward to the challenges ahead.
I am Joint Head of Bates Well’s Politics, Elections and Campaigning group, and am also recommended for advice on election law, included within Bates Well’s Legal 500 Tier 1 Electoral Law ranking.
I am recommended as a leading Charity Lawyer by Chambers (2018, band 1) and Legal 500 (2018, band 1) and am recommended as a Best Lawyer.
I am described by Chambers and Partners (2017) as giving ‘much lauded assistance to several household-name charities with governance, risk and issues with public policy implications‘ and by Legal 500 (2017) as ‘an absolute star‘.
My clients include start-ups, household name charities, international foundations, campaigning bodies, membership bodies, royal charter bodies and corporate foundations.
Highlights
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I advise on Charity Commission investigations, reviews and regulatory compliance
Including advising Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust on a judicial review against the Charity Commission, as well as advising Oxfam GB in relation to the recently concluded 16 month statutory inquiry, the most complex statutory inquiry ever undertaken by the Charity Commission. I have worked on numerous other confidential investigations and regulatory compliance cases.
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My work involves advice on campaigning, political and electoral activities
Particularly in relation to the 2017 General Election, London Mayoral elections and the EU Referendum, including advising Britain Stronger in Europe, designated as the lead campaign group on the Remain side of the EU Referendum debate
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I advise on governance and membership for a wide range of charitable, professional and campaigning bodies
Including advising on comprehensive governance changes to the governance of Amnesty International (UK Section), the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and the National Union of Students
- I work on innovative charity applications, including wide ranging public benefit issues
- I advise international organisations including many high profile US Foundations on their operations, including a dual-qualified US-UK charitable foundation
- I advised on a parliamentary scheme for PDSA to amend its Act of Parliament
- I assist with philanthropy, corporate social responsibility and international funding for corporate foundations
- I advise on sponsorship and brand issues for literary prizes and other arts organisations, including acting as long standing counsel for the Booker Prize Foundation
- I advise on international grant-giving and compliance for overseas charities and donor advised funds, to include HMRC and Charity Commission guidance
Areas of expertise:
Sectors
Advertising & Marketing
Qualifications and career
- University of Bristol, BSC (Hons)
- Joined Bates Wells as a trainee in 1992
- Appointed as a Partner in 1999
- Period of consultancy for Bates Wells from 2002-2006, before being reappointed as a Partner
Pro bono, memberships, and appointments
- Founder and first chair of Poet in the City
- Chair of the Bates Wells Foundation
- Trustee of Citizens UK
- Director of the Samuel Johnson Non-Fiction Prize Ltd (now responsible for the Baillie Gifford Prize, the most prestigious non-fiction prize in the UK)
- Lecturer and governance trainer for Onboard and Bates Wells
- Member of the Charity Law Association and various working parties
Publications & Lectures
- Contributing author to “The Fundraisers Guide to the Law” (Directory of Social Change)
- Regular commentator in the media
Insights
