Charities and not-for-profit
Our highly experienced group advises charities and other non-profit-making organisations on all legal and regulatory aspects applicable to them.
Overview
Our Charity and not-for-profit (NFP) team is made up of a specialist team of multi-disciplinary lawyers and has an established track record of advising clients in the NFP sector across a variety of organisations; from charities to sports clubs, tenants associations, parish councils and schools. Our clients include both UK and international NFPs and we cover a wide range of legal areas such as incorporation and mergers, structuring, governance and constitution, and pension and property matters. We also advise on the practical day to day requirements associated with managing an NFP including data protection, tax, employment, litigation (including contested legacies), advertising, and contracts.
We are able to offer our clients a more holistic legal service than many of our contemporaries outside of London because, as well as appreciating the need to employ a different approach when advising in the NFP sector, we also cover a far wider category of legal specialisms. This means that we do not have to seek external advice or assistance in order to provide a comprehensive, well-rounded set of recommendations while retaining exceptional value for money.
Many of our charity team members are actively involved with local NFPs, some taking on director or trustee positions, or even getting involved with clients on a more personal basis by assuming voluntary roles. This personal experience makes our team particularly well attuned to the needs of NFPs and the complex practical issues they face on a daily basis.
Featured experience
The group advises on business purchases and sales by charities. Recent examples include the sale of a nursing home run by a charity client and the purchase of an educational training business by an online education supplier.
The group has also assisted on many charity incorporations including a pre-school, a tennis club and an almshouse charity. We have also acted for charities wishing to wind up and deregister as a charity.
Podcasts
"The solicitors have been exceptional in all aspects, from understanding the needs of our charity, guiding us through the process, as well as responding to the multiple questions that we had along the way. They also worked at our speed of need, which was really important for us"
"The company has a policy of responding efficiently to communications. The partners were always responsive during the week, within 48 hours of receiving an email (at the most). More importantly, the individuals tried to understand our needs and what our charity does. Finally, it was really good value for money."
"The team that we have dealt with have been extremely helpful and personable. Providing explanations where required and directing us to relevant podcasts they have produced. Pricing has been clear and transparent in advance of work being started."
"The team responds promptly to requests. They have good experience in dealing with associations and quickly get to grips with the specific circumstances. I feel they make an effort to understand the business objectives and also pick up on wider implications of any actions."
"Everyone we deal with at FSP understands our business and that as a charity we need to keep a close eye on costs."
Mandy Williams, CEO, Child Autism UK
Mandy Williams, CEO, Child Autism UK
"FSP have supported me over the last three years in creating and developing of a number of sports charities. In this time, the environment for volunteer led sports organisations has changed radically under austerity. Those that survive and prosper have had to look at their legal status, their methods of operating and how they involve stakeholders. The team at FSP understand these pressures and have helped considerably to manage the necessary changes. Understanding the legal process is one thing, having empathy, tolerance and understanding of the significance of change for a volunteer organisations is another. They are very good at it."
J Bolan, Falkland Cricket Club
J Bolan, Falkland Cricket Club
"Purley Park Trust have worked with Field Seymour Parkes LLP for many years and we’ve always found them to be helpful and efficient. This is why we approached them in relation to assisting us with a merger with another charity that needed to be completed to an exceptionally tight timescale.The initial response from FSP was immediately reassuring – and communication throughout the process was excellent, I cannot think of any way the process could have worked better for us."
L Grady, Purley Park Trust
L Grady, Purley Park Trust
"Always responds quickly" and "applies original thinking to help the client break new ground."
"Established, reputable, reliable and local."
"Professional, capable, personable and responsive to enquiries. Particularly supportive of our charity during its creation and subsequent growth."
"The specialised focus on legal requirements for charities attracted me to Field Seymour Parkes."
