Our broad expertise in advising charities, social enterprises and other not for profit organisations enables us to provide pragmatic and proactive advice to the sector as a whole.
Our clients range from household names to start-ups and from national and regional organisations to local groups. We also act for corporates that are looking to set up or support charities.
We are committed to developing our services to meet the changing needs of the sector.
Our team has worked with those operating within this sector for many years and advises on all aspects from choosing a legal structure, to expansion, reorganisation and collaborations.
Our aim is always to assist clients to maximise their impact and become more efficient.
Stephen O'Reilly
Partner and Head of Charities and Social Enterprise
s.oreilly@hempsons.co.uk
Our Charities and Social Enterprise team is experienced in advising on all elements of law and regulation that impact on the sector.
Areas of expertise
- Choosing a legal structure
- Registrations of charities and social enterprises
- Amending objects and name changes
- Incorporation and conversion of existing charities
- Mergers and restructuring
- Collaborations
- Commercial participator arrangements
- Governance reviews and training
- Fundraising and income generation
- Charity trading and subsidiaries
- Grant making
- Donations and legacies
- Contracts
We have charity experts across all our teams, including:
- Procurement and commissioning
- Employment and equality and diversity
- Intellectual property and technology
- Disputes
- Real estate
- Projects and construction
- Information governance
Training
Our annual webinar programme, bespoke in-house training, as well as more generic training sessions on a wide range of topical issues are well attended and valued by our clients and contacts.
The team also regularly speak at external conferences and events.
Know-how
We regularly publish articles on legal developments relevant to the sector via our website and social media pages. We also circulate a specific Charities and Social Enterprise Legal Update to our clients and contacts twice per year.
Partnerships
We are active members of ACEVO, Social Enterprise UK and the Charity Law Association. We are also members of Social Club, set up by Social Minds, and regularly partner with them to support their members.
Hempsons are always on hand to provide clarity and guidance on the myriad of scenarios that we encounter. Whether the situation is completely novel, or an emerging pattern to be addressed via policy, Hempsons are able to offer suitable and practical solutions in a timely manner. They have been integral to resolving several sensitive issues on topics such as data protection, duty of candour, and the nuances of a charity operating in the healthcare sector.
Steve Bolland
Head of Legal Services, Change Grow Live
