Sustainability focussed charities and NGOs

We protect the people protecting the planet.

Conservation. Animal welfare. Community and renewable energy. These are just a few of the areas where our clients make a huge difference. We support them all the way.

We champion local and international charities and campaign groups. We back grassroots groups and act for the Green Party. We lobby for positive change. Thanks to our work, the Charity Commission recognises sustainable development as a charitable purpose.

Our multidisciplinary team has a deep knowledge of charity and campaigning law, as we act for more top charities than any other firm in the country. We advise regulators and government organisations too – giving us the inside track on our client’s issues.

How we can help

Strategic litigation

Our litigation and public & regulatory teams are focused on helping clients on their journey to create a widespread positive impact for people and the planet. We are actively working to address business critical issues through litigation and policy action. Read more.

Impact real estate

Our real estate team help with all legal issues related to the building and development of sustainable projects, including advising on the mitigation of risk to ensure long-term positive impact throughout our clients’ portfolios. We offer advice on green leases, green loans and sustainable financing options while providing first-hand knowledge on developments via our Impact Real Estate group, a forum for organisations that want to explore and better understand how to utilise their premises to enhance their positive impact on the environment and society.

Impact investment and financing

If you’re thinking of investing for positive social and/or environmental impact, or if you’re a civil society organisation or mission-driven business raising finance, we can help. We can support you in structuring and documenting the whole spectrum of social finance and impact investing transactions and activities. This includes investments in the form of loans (secured and unsecured, senior or subordinated, syndicated and convertible), bonds, equity, quasi-equity (including revenue participation and royalties), investment funds, crowdfunding, blended finance and others.

Explore

Webinar | Extending the Charity Commission’s powers: what charities need to know | 5 November 2026

The Government is consulting on proposals to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers to tackle extremism and other abuse in charities, with a particular focus on its ability to disqualify individuals from acting as trustees and senior managers. When similar proposals were first trailed earlier this year, a group of charities warned that they might lead …
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Charity Legacy Conference 2026: maximising and protecting legacy income

With charity income under increasing pressure, legacy income is a consistently reliable source, helping charities maintain stability through these challenging times. We recently hosted our annual Charity Legacy Conference for legacy professionals, this year focusing on how to maximise and protect legacy income. Here are some of the key legal and practical takeaways from the …
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Spotlight 2026: the annual Bates Wells charity conference | 3 November 2026

Our annual charity sector conference brings together representatives from across civil society to discuss big picture questions and make connections. This year we will be exploring the theme of ‘Charities and Change’. Check out the full agenda below, our speaker line-up and how to sign up. Gain insights from sector leaders In the face of …
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Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 6 October

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 its 2025-2026 report on whistleblowing disclosures. The Commission has seen an increase in whistleblowing disclosures. It has also found …
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Tax Review for Charities

Get clarity on your tax position – and confidence in your approach. For many charities, management of tax can be a significant area of both risk and opportunity. While the sector benefits from valuable reliefs and exemptions, the rules are complex and constantly evolving. At the same time, new income streams, working practices and fresh …
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Meet our team

Strategic litigation: We want to help you tackle the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis

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