[ { "id": "423", "title": "Expertise", "parent": -1, "url": "https://www.girlings.com/expertise", "children": [ { "id": "429", "title": "Business Law", "parent": "423", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law", "children": [ { "id": "430", "title": "Commercial Property", "parent": "429", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-property", "children": [ { "id": "431", "title": "Buying & Selling", "parent": "430", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-property/buying-selling" } , { "id": "3349", "title": "Commercial Leases", "parent": "430", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-property/leases" } , { "id": "3350", "title": "Secured Lending", "parent": "430", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-property/secured-lending" } , { "id": "3351", "title": "Agricultural Land & Buildings", "parent": "430", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-property/agricultural-land" } ] } , { "id": "3352", "title": "Corporate, Banking & Finance", "parent": "429", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/corporate-law", "children": [ { "id": "3353", "title": "Banking & Finance", "parent": "3352", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/corporate-law/banking-finance" } , { "id": "3354", "title": "Mergers, Acquisitions & Disposals", "parent": "3352", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/corporate-law/mergers-acquisitions-disposals" } , { "id": "3355", "title": "Restructuring & Insolvency", "parent": "3352", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/corporate-law/restructuring-insolvency" } , { "id": "3356", "title": "Governance", "parent": "3352", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/corporate-law/governance" } ] } , { "id": "3357", "title": "Commercial Law", "parent": "429", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-law", "children": [ { "id": "3358", "title": "Terms & Conditions", "parent": "3357", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-law/terms-conditions" } , { "id": "3359", "title": "Commercial Agreements", "parent": "3357", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-law/agreements" } , { "id": "3360", "title": "Intellectual Property, Social Media & Marketing", "parent": "3357", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/commercial-law/ip-social-media-marketing" } ] } , { "id": "3361", "title": "Employment Law for Businesses", "parent": "429", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law", "children": [ { "id": "3362", "title": "HR Advice & Training", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/hr-advice-training" } , { "id": "3363", "title": "Employment Litigation & Prevention", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/litigation-prevention" } , { "id": "3364", "title": "Business Protection & Enforcing Restrictive Covenants", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/protection-restrictive-covenants" } , { "id": "3365", "title": "Redundancies & Restructuring", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/redundancies-restructuring" } , { "id": "3366", "title": "Drafting Contracts, Bonus Plans & Policies", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/contracts-bonuses-policies" } , { "id": "3367", "title": "Employee Terminations & Severance Negotiations", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/terminations-severance" } , { "id": "3368", "title": "Support with Investigations", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/investigations" } , { "id": "3369", "title": "Transactional Support Including TUPE", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/transactional-support" } , { "id": "3370", "title": "Data Protection", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/data-protection" } , { "id": "3371", "title": "Business Immigration", "parent": "3361", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/employment-law/immigration" } ] } , { "id": "3372", "title": "Debt Recovery", "parent": "429", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/debt-recovery", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3373", "title": "Dispute Resolution for Businesses", "parent": "429", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/dispute-resolution", "children": [ { "id": "3374", "title": "Contract", "parent": "3373", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/dispute-resolution/contracts" } , { "id": "3375", "title": "Construction", "parent": "3373", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/dispute-resolution/construction" } , { "id": "3377", "title": "Commercial Landlord & Tenant", "parent": "3373", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/dispute-resolution/landlord-tenant" } , { "id": "3378", "title": "Company Shareholder/Partnership", "parent": "3373", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/dispute-resolution/company-shareholder-partnership" } , { "id": "3379", "title": "Insolvency/Winding Up", "parent": "3373", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/dispute-resolution/insolvency-winding-up" } , { "id": "3380", "title": "Professional Negligence", "parent": "3373", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/business-law/dispute-resolution/professional-negligence" } ] } ] } , { "id": "3381", "title": "Personal Law", "parent": "423", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law", "children": [ { "id": "3382", "title": "Residential Property", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/residential-property", "children": [ { "id": "3383", "title": "Buying & Selling Property", "parent": "3382", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/residential-property/buying-selling" } , { "id": "3384", "title": "Complex & High Value Transactions", "parent": "3382", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/residential-property/complex-high-value" } , { "id": "3385", "title": "Mortgages & Equity Release", "parent": "3382", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/residential-property/mortgages-equity-release" } , { "id": "3386", "title": "Investment Properties", "parent": "3382", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/residential-property/investment-properties" } , { "id": "3387", "title": "First Time Buyers", "parent": "3382", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/residential-property/first-time-buyers" } , { "id": "3388", "title": "Lease Extensions", "parent": "3382", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/residential-property/lease-extensions" } ] } , { "id": "3389", "title": "Family Law", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law", "children": [ { "id": "3390", "title": "Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships", "parent": "3389", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law/divorce-civil-partnerships" } , { "id": "3391", "title": "Unmarried Couples", "parent": "3389", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law/unmarried-couples" } , { "id": "3392", "title": "Children", "parent": "3389", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law/children" } , { "id": "3393", "title": "Finances", "parent": "3389", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law/finances" } , { "id": "3394", "title": "Mediation, Collaborative Law & Arbitration", "parent": "3389", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law/mediation-arbitration-collaborative-law" } , { "id": "3395", "title": "Domestic Abuse", "parent": "3389", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law/domestic-abuse" } , { "id": "3396", "title": "Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements", "parent": "3389", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/family-law/pre-post-nuptial-agreements" } ] } , { "id": "3397", "title": "Wills, Tax & Estate Administration", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/wills-tax-estates", "children": [ { "id": "3398", "title": "Wills & Succession Planning", "parent": "3397", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/wills-tax-estates/wills-succession-planning" } , { "id": "3399", "title": "Estate Administration", "parent": "3397", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/wills-tax-estates/estate-administration" } , { "id": "3400", "title": "Trusts", "parent": "3397", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/wills-tax-estates/trusts" } , { "id": "3401", "title": "Lasting & Enduring Powers of Attorney", "parent": "3397", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/wills-tax-estates/powers-attorney" } , { "id": "3402", "title": "Tax", "parent": "3397", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/wills-tax-estates/tax" } , { "id": "3404", "title": "Contested Wills & Estates", "parent": "3397", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/dispute-resolution/contested-wills-estates" } ] } , { "id": "3405", "title": "Court of Protection", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/court-protection", "children": [ { "id": "3406", "title": "Deputyship", "parent": "3405", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/court-protection/deputyship" } , { "id": "3407", "title": "Care for Elderly & Vulnerable People", "parent": "3405", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/court-protection/elderly-vulnerable-care" } ] } , { "id": "3408", "title": "Employment Law for Individuals", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law", "children": [ { "id": "3409", "title": "Restrictive Covenant & Team Move Disputes", "parent": "3408", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law/restrictive-covenants-team-move" } , { "id": "3410", "title": "Settlement Agreements & Negotiating Exits", "parent": "3408", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law/settlement-agreements-exits" } , { "id": "3411", "title": "Redundancy & Unfair Dismissal", "parent": "3408", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law/redundancy-unfair-dismissal" } , { "id": "3412", "title": "Shareholder & Directorship Disputes", "parent": "3408", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law/shareholder-director-disputes" } , { "id": "3413", "title": "Grievances & Disciplinaries", "parent": "3408", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law/grievances-disciplinaries" } , { "id": "3414", "title": "Contracts, Bonuses & Incentive Plans", "parent": "3408", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law/contracts-bonuses-incentives" } , { "id": "3415", "title": "Discrimination & Whistleblowing", "parent": "3408", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/employment-law/discrimination-whistleblowing" } ] } , { "id": "3416", "title": "Dispute Resolution for Individuals", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/dispute-resolution", "children": [ { "id": "3417", "title": "Contested Wills & Estates", "parent": "3416", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/dispute-resolution/contested-wills-estates" } , { "id": "3420", "title": "Landlord & Tenant", "parent": "3416", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/dispute-resolution/landlord-tenant-2" } ] } , { "id": "47638", "title": "Girlings Personal Injury Claims", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/gpic", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "47640", "title": "Notary", "parent": "3381", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/personal-law/notary", "children": [ ] } ] } , { "id": "3424", "title": "Charity & Not-for-Profit", "parent": "423", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/charity-not-for-profit", "children": [ { "id": "3425", "title": "Governance & Commercial Advice", "parent": "3424", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/charity-not-for-profit/governance-commercial-advice", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3426", "title": "Property for Charities", "parent": "3424", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/charity-not-for-profit/property-charities", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3427", "title": "Solving Disputes & Regulatory Inquiries", "parent": "3424", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/charity-not-for-profit/disputes-regulatory-inquiries", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3428", "title": "Employees, Volunteers & Trustees", "parent": "3424", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/charity-not-for-profit/employees-volunteers-trustees", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3429", "title": "Legacies", "parent": "3424", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/charity-not-for-profit/legacies", "children": [ ] } ] } , { "id": "3403", "title": "Independent Financial Planning", "parent": "423", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/independent-financial-planning", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "47639", "title": "Girlings Europe", "parent": "423", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/girlings-europe", "children": [ ] } ] } , { "id": "3435", "title": "About", "parent": -1, "url": "https://www.girlings.com/about", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3434", "title": "People", "parent": -1, "url": "https://www.girlings.com/people", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3436", "title": "Latest", "parent": -1, "url": "https://www.girlings.com/latest", "children": [ { "id": "97381", "title": "News", "parent": "3436", "url": "https://www.girlings.com/latest", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "97379", "title": "Videos", "parent": "3436", "url": "/latest/videos", "children": [ ] } ] } , { "id": "3437", "title": "Careers", "parent": -1, "url": "https://www.girlings.com/careers", "children": [ ] } , { "id": "3438", "title": "Contact", "parent": -1, "url": "https://www.girlings.com/contact", "children": [ ] } ]

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Governance & Commercial Advice

Charity & Not-for-Profit

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Governance & Commercial Advice

Governance & Commercial Advice

Charity & Not-for-Profit

Nearly 1m people work within the charity sector, and it is supported by countless volunteers. It meets the needs of many of the most vulnerable in society.

One of the reasons it is so successful is because of the passion of its supporters and those who work within it. But running a Charity or social business is complex. And it is always going to be subject to public scrutiny. Our aim as a Charities and Not-For-Profit Team is to help you negotiate those complexities.

Setting up a charity or social enterprise

We can help you with:

Finding and adopting the best legal structure to achieve your goals - such as an unincorporated charity, a charitable trust, a CIO, CIC or a company limited by guarantee
Drafting your Constitution, including charitable objects and Articles of Association
Applying to the Charity Commission for Registration
Answering Charity Commission enquiries or objections

Restructuring & incorporation

From time to time organisations realise that they have changed substantially from when they were formed, and that their structures are no longer the most appropriate for the current legal and regulatory environment. We can help you identify if this is the case.

If you need

Conversion from a Trust to a CIO or incorporated charity
Transfer of Properties into a new structure (freehold and leasehold)
Trusts, governance, and relationships between trustees, management, funders/donors and other stakeholders
Distribution of charitable assets and winding up of Trusts and other charitable organisations

Mergers & collaborations

The Charity Commission actively encourages partnership working so you are likely to engage with other charities in delivering your services. And from time to time the best way forward for a charity or other non-profit can be merger with another organisation that shares its aims and objectives. We help you to negotiate the legal structures in a way that helps preserve all that is best from the cultures of the two organisations. And to jump the legal and regulatory hurdles:

Partnership and Collaboration Agreements
Merger Agreements
Asset Transfer Agreements
Board and Members Approval
Application for approval from the Charity Commission if needed
TUPE and Employment issues

Operational contracts

As an organisation you will enter into legal contracts with other organisations and individuals. We can help you with these and advise on trading activities and appropriate structures to allow the organisation to trade without prejudicing its charitable status.

Grant and funding agreements
Fundraising legally and ethically
Service Level Agreements
Framework Agreements
Service and Supply Agreements

Governance reviews

In 2012 a research study conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Charity Commission showed that Charities are amongst the most trusted groups in society. Maintaining that level of trust in a complex world is not easy, and one way Boards and Trustees can ensure that their organisations maintain this trust is to keep up with the latest changes in the law and best practice and ensure your structures reflect changes in your organisations size or areas of operation.

For charities who need to ensure they act in line with their ethical standards Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues are of prime importance. A governance review is a structured opportunity to look at your governance arrangements. Our Governance Reviews will be conducted against appropriate Charity Commission or other regulatory codes and will give you a structured implementation plan to act on.

For further advice, please contact Chris Brightling, Caroline Armitage or a member of our Charities and Not-for-Profit team based in Canterbury, Ashford and Herne Bay.

Our Experts

Caroline Armitage

Consultant Solicitor

Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Caroline Armitage

Consultant Solicitor

Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Caroline has a wealth of experience in corporate and commercial law as a Solicitor and also as a specialist adviser to charities. She works as governance specialist and legal adviser to charities, SMEs, OMBs, and entrepreneurs.

Head of Department

Commercial Property

Jeremy Burke

Head of Department

Commercial Property

Jeremy has extensive and varied experience as a Commercial Property Solicitor working with companies, charities, educational institutions, banks, developers and individuals based in the UK and abroad.

Partner

Employment law

David Morgan

Partner

Employment law

David has a background in science and the pharmaceutical industry and before training as a solicitor he spent more than 10 years as a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry; working for the world’s largest pharmaceutical company Pfizer, in their Bioprocess Development Group at Sandwich, Kent.

Managing Partner

Wills, Tax & Estate Administration

Lesley Rushton

Managing Partner

Wills, Tax & Estate Administration

Lesley is Managing Partner and a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer. She is attached to the Wills, Tax & Estate Administration Team at the Canterbury office, and has specialised in matters relating to Wills and inheritance for over 30 years.

Head of Department

Wills, Tax & Estate Administration

Charlotte Nock

Head of Department

Wills, Tax & Estate Administration

Charlotte is a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer and Head of the Wills, Tax & Estate Administration Department. She is based in our Herne Bay office. A French speaker, Charlotte has extensive experience in dealing with complex multi-jurisdictional estates.

Head of Department

Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Chris Brightling

Head of Department

Corporate, Banking & Finance; Commercial Law

Chris is a corporate partner and head of the Corporate, Banking & Finance and Commercial Law team at Girlings. He has significant experience advising on corporate acquisitions, disposals and investments as well as general corporate law matters.