Charity

We care about our clients’ causes.  We give charities of all types and sizes the practical and commercial advice they need to grow, fundraise and reach their goals.

We’re the largest group of dedicated charity lawyers in the UK. And we mean dedicated. Many of us are personally involved with good causes. We’re fundraisers, we’re trustees, we’re campaigners.

Together, we know the laws and regulations affecting charities like no one else.

Working with you

Our charity solicitors give practical advice on the full spectrum of charity and commercial law – from drafting commercial contracts, to advising on grants, to handling the most complex, high profile and sensitive cases.

But we do a lot more than advise on the usual charity issues. We offer extensive support to boards looking to improve their governance or make tough decisions. We can help charities with difficult questions around regulation and compliance.  When it comes to collaborative working and mergers, our charity lawyers understand the process, legal issues and potential obstacles to consider.

Whatever your need, we’ve helped countless charities in similar situations before. Get in touch to find out how we can help you.

Explore

Keys with conditions: What you need to know about service occupancies

Service occupancies are a common but often misunderstood arrangement, especially for organisations like charities, schools, care providers and religious institutions that offer housing to employees as part of their job. While convenient in many ways, service occupancies carry significant legal complexity, particularly if the employment relationship ends or changes over time. What is a service …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 18 June

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 Updated guidance on raising concerns The Charity Commission has updated its guidance on raising a concern with the Commission (CC47). The press release …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 11 June

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 We reported a few weeks ago that the Charity Commission’s guidance CC30, Finding and appointing new trustees, has been updated. We’ve reviewed the …
Read more

Using the law to create change – a new guide for charities and campaigning groups

In partnership with NEON, this new guide explains how your organisation can use the law to create meaningful change. Legal action is rarely enough to drive systemic change on its own, but the law can be a powerful tool for purpose-driven organisations, especially when combined with other tactics within a broader campaign strategy. The guide …
Read more

Webinar | Understanding the practical implications of the For Women Scotland Supreme Court judgment | 23 June at 3pm

With an enormous amount of public discourse and media coverage following the recent Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd -v- The Scottish Ministers, organisations are trying to discern what practical actions they may need to take as a result.   In this session, our Dispute Resolution, Employment and Charity teams will cover: Register …
Read more

“Bates Wells have managed some complex negotiations with care and sensitivity whilst always having the charity’s needs front and centre.”

Charity, Chambers 2025

“The Bates Wells team has a strong legal knowledge tempered with an empathetic approach to the claimants involved.”

Charity, Chambers 2025

“Bates Wells has extensive charity law knowledge, good expertise on governance matters and competitive pricing.”

Charity, Chambers 2025

“Bates Wells have a strong team of people who are not only highly qualified and experienced but also approachable and work pragmatically to find a way forward.”

Charity, Chambers 2024

“Bates Wells break issues down, simplify, and explain complex matters. The advice is sound, professional, and solid.”

Charity, Chambers 2024

“The team are all marked by their excellent communication skills and confident knowledge of the law. You get real quality advice from friendly and understanding members of the team.”

Charity, Chambers 2024

‘Bates Wells has unrivalled knowledge of the charity sector and is the go to firm in the space of social investment and blended finance.’

Charity, Legal 500 2024

‘This team is not only excellent at understanding charities and not-for-profits, they are at the forefront of the fast evolving field of social investment and purposeful business.’

Charity, Legal 500 2024
Meet our team