Our specialist Charities Team delivers practical, commercial advice to a broad range of charities, supported by a deep understanding of the sector.
Our charity lawyers advise a broad and full range of charities, including Royal Charter and household names on all aspects of charity law, including formation, restructuring, mergers and collaborative arrangements, trading and tax, governance, fundraising, commercial arrangements, investment powers, property transactions, legacy disputes, and regulatory matters.
Flexibility and collaboration are at the heart of our approach. We have a strong service ethos, based on close working relationships with our clients and their professional advisers. Our charity lawyers have detailed sector knowledge and expertise to advise on all aspects of your constitutional, governance and operational needs ensuring that you receive consistently sector-specific and value-for-money advice.
The team is large enough to include dedicated charity property specialists who deal with a wide range of matters in the complex area where charity law and property law overlap, including property transactional work, but also compliance with charity law, good decision-making practice and advice on permanent endowment, designated land and Charities Act compliance.
We also regularly advise charity trustees on their legal duties and responsibilities and assist and support our charity clients through disputes and other difficult circumstances where Serious Incident Reports might be required, or Charity Commission inquiries are received.
Our Experience
Listed below are a few examples of matters we have been involved in:
2023 – Present: National Children’s Bureau
Birketts’ Charities Team has advised the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) in securing the transfer of Research in Practice to NCB from another organisation. NCB works to champion the rights of children and young people in the UK. A leading children’s charity, NCB takes the voices of children to the heart of government, bringing people and organisations together to drive change in society and deliver better childhoods for every child.
Ongoing: High Performance
Birketts’ Charities Team has advised High Performance, a renowned platform borne from the award-winning High Performance podcast, to launch a new foundation. The foundation, named the High Performance Foundation, has been launched to help young people around the globe develop the skills and tools they need to build resilience today so they can thrive tomorrow.
Barnardo’s
Birketts Charities Team has advised Barnardo’s on securing a £1.6million grant to run a pilot project delivering an innovative new intervention in the UK. We advised on both the Grant Agreement and the subcontract, the first draft of which was prepared by a US subcontractor and required significant negotiation. Barnardo’s support vulnerable children and young people through front line services addressing their health, wellbeing and safety needs.
Working with Commercial Partners: A Strategic Guide for Charities
Partnering with commercial organisations can unlock significant fundraising potential for your charity. Beyond generating substantial income, these partnerships help diversify revenue streams, reducing reliance on a single source and mitigating financial risk.
From a compliance perspective, working with companies is often simpler than engaging individuals. However, charities must comply with statutory requirements when entering arrangements with a professional fundraiser or commercial participator. These obligations are critical to ensure transparency and legal compliance.
This free Birketts guide provides practical steps and insights to help you navigate these opportunities confidently. If you need further clarification or tailored advice as you work through the guide, please reach out to us for additional support.
Contact: Liz Brownsell
To access to the guide, please supply your name and email address
By supplying your name and email address you are subscribing to receive information relating to any further changes in this area of law and updates from our Charities, Not for Profit and Ecclesiastical team. Thank you for subscribing and good luck with your fundraising.
The team is a well-valued part of the relationship. They provide the legal position and how we as a charity might practically implement what is needed.
Legal 500 [UK 2026]
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