Nicola Morriss
Nicola is a Legal Director in our Charities Team. She works with charities of all sizes and advises on all aspects of charity law and practice.
Nicola began her career as an Intellectual Property Lawyer advising on international patent disputes for large pharmaceutical companies, before moving in-house to a professional regulator where she undertook advisory and advocacy work. She then moved into project management roles within the charity sector, working in both local and national charities. Nicola brings to her clients over 20-years’ experience, insights derived from her position at a professional regulator, and a deep understanding of the issues facing charities from having worked within the sector itself.
Nicola advises on a broad range of issues including setting up charities, charity incorporations and mergers, commercial arrangements (including collaborations and joint ventures), fundraising, charity insolvencies and charity closures. She has special expertise in advising on governance issues (including amending governing documents and membership matters) and complex regulatory matters, often involving the Charity Commission, including conflicts of interest and trustee benefits, restricted funds and special trusts, permanent endowment, cy-près applications and charity land.
Nicola has a special interest in working with Royal Charter charities and Higher Education institutions, especially those with complex governance structures.
Nicola qualified as a Solicitor in September 2000. She is based in our London office.
Nicola has written a number of articles in the sector press including for Charity Finance.
She is a member of the Charity Law Association and was involved in the CLA Working Party on the updated Charity Commission’s CC14 guidance (charity investment matters). She was a governor of a local Primary School for 8 years (including several years as Chair of Governors), a member of her Church PCC and is currently a trustee of the charity Connected Lives. Nicola is also an active member of All Saints’ Church, Woodford Wells.
Nicola is a qualified life coach and a facilitator of the Circle of Security parenting course; she regularly delivers both group and one-to-one courses.
In her spare time, Nicola enjoys walking her two Spaniels, baking, spending time with family and friends and has been known to indulge in the odd board game.
Nicola has been named as a “key lawyer” in the Legal 500 for Charities and Not-for Profits and is noted for her “exceptional drafting abilities, deep knowledge of charity law, ability to explain clearly to non-lawyers and excellent persuasive writing (eg Board papers)”. She “really cares about the client”.
