Our commitment to the charity sector

Legal advice for charities and not for profits is at the core of who we are. We help you to do what you do best: working to create a better society for all.

We are the leading charity law team in the UK and advise 25% more charities than any other law firm. We have charity lawyers on your wavelength right across the firm, many of them charity trustees themselves.

Many of our charity clients are NGOs operating across the globe in sectors ranging from international aid and development to human rights, faith, the environment, animal welfare, health and education. Our advisors are immersed in this sector and understand the challenges faced by charities working internationally.

We’re committed to supporting the wider sector. We’ve spearheaded legal reforms, from pioneering cases in the fields of charity investment and human rights, through to registering novel charitable purposes.

We helped rewrite the guidance on political campaigning. We even helped develop the 2016 Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act. All of this means we can offer legal advice for charities that is steeped in experience and insights.

Why choose Bates Wells?

We have lawyers across the firm who understand the charity sector and who are on your wavelength.  Our lawyers sit on the board of over 60 charities, so we also have the experience of seeing legal issues through the eyes of a trustee.

Legal advice for charities is at the core of who we are. Whatever your issue, we can help.

Meet our team
You May Also Be Interested In

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 15 September

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. Investigations and complaints The Charity Commission has concluded its investigation into four charities that were part of a statutory class inquiry into 105 charities found …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 8 September

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 Charity Commission CEO David Holdsworth has written a guest blog for New Philanthropy Capital about impact reporting for charities. The blog looks at how …
Read more

Understanding and unlocking restricted legacies

This September, Bates Wells is joining charities, professional advisers, and other organisations across the UK to mark Remember A Charity Week (7-13 September 2026). Gifts left to charities in Wills are an important source of income for many organisations, helping to fund charitable work and services. In fact, around £3 in every £10 donated to …
Read more

Event | Charity Legacy Conference | 6 October 2026

Maximising income is high on the agenda for many charities, whether to help navigate rocky financial waters or increase growth to reach your goals. Join us for an afternoon of legal updates to explore how charities are revitalising their legacy income streams in strategic ways. Our Charity Legacies team will be sharing legal insights and …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 25 August

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 Risk Assessment The Charity Commission has published its Charity Sector Risk Assessment for 2026 which provides an overview of potential risks facing the sector …
Read more