Nicola Morriss

Nicola joined Birketts in January 2024 and is a Legal Director in the charities team  based in our London office.

Nicola trained at international City law firm Simmons & Simmons before moving on qualification to Bird & Bird to work as an international IP lawyer. She then worked at the General Medical Council before holding various project manager positions within the charity sector when her three children were young.  Nicola moved back to private practice as a charities lawyer in 2018. 

Nicola works with charities of all sizes and structures and has a particular interest in Royal Charter corporations, learned societies and large membership organisations.  She advises on a broad range of charity matters, including structuring, establishing charities, governance reviews, regulatory issues (such as amending charitable objects and releasing restrictions, and seeking Charity Commission orders) and trustee duties, and often provides her clients with bespoke trustee training. She works closely with our Ecclesiastical team and with colleagues from other departments to provide her clients with appropriate legal and advisory support, especially in relation to contracts, partnerships, data protection, serious incidents and safeguarding matters.

Nicola’s breadth of experience allows her to bring a commercial and pragmatic approach to her advice, acting as a strategic partner to support her clients to deliver their charitable purposes as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Nicola is a regular contributor to the sector press, including writing articles for Charity Finance. She is a qualified coach and facilitates parenting courses for local families. She is a charity trustee and has volunteered in the charity sector for most of her life. Nicola is a long-term member of All Saints’ Church, Woodford Wells.

Experience and education

2024 Joined Birketts

2020 Joined Taylor Vinters (merged with Mishcon de Reya in 2023)

2018 Joined Edward Connor Solicitors

2017 Qualified as a facilitator for “Circle of Security” parenting courses

2009 Qualified as a life coach

2008 – 2018 Various project management positions within the charity sector

2003 In-house legal advisor at the General Medical Council

2000 Joined Bird & Bird

2000 Qualified as a Solicitor

1998 Trainee at Simmons & Simmons