Solicitors
Contact Details
James Evans
Partner & Solicitors, Head of Charities
Broadwalk House
Southernhay West
Exeter EX1 1UA
T: 011392 207896
M: 07974215018
E: j.evans@tozers.co.uk
W: www.tozers.co.uk
Region/s Covered:
Primarily South-West England, England & Wales
About Tozers LLP
Tozers LLP is a full-service law firm with offices in Exeter and south Devon, serving clients across the South West and throughout the UK.
Our charities team headed by James Evans (ranked as a leader in his field in both the Legal 500 and Chambers legal directories) has significant specialist expertise in providing legal support over many years to a wide range of charitable organisations including many almshouse charities.
We can provide almshouses with legal support on:
Start-ups and charity registration
Incorporations, including transitioning to CIO status
Governance and constitutional issues
Charity law and other regulatory compliance
Dealings with the Charity Commission
Property transactions and developments
Housing management issues
Employment/HR matters
Litigation and dispute resolution
Legacy administration and contested probate
Commercial contracts
Intellectual property
Data protection
Fundraising, trading and finance
Mergers, collaborations and closures
Tozers is highly ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers legal directories and is the only south west law firm ranked for charities work which has received the Legal 500 Client Satisfaction accolade. Our other accreditations include the LawNet ISO9001:2015 quality assurance standard, and the Law Society’s Lexcel legal practice quality mark.
Solicitors
Main Contact
Ruth Meyer
Partner
Abbots House
Abbey Street Reading RG1 3BD
T: 0800 124 4845
E: rmeyer@boyesturner.com
W: www.boyesturner.com
Regions covered: England and Wales
About Boyes Turner LLP
I am an experienced solicitor of over 35 years with a specialism in mental capacity and in particular deputyship through the Court of Protection for those unable to manage their financial affairs. This area also includes a knowledge of conveyancing, wills and probate as well as employment law.
I hold additional qualifications through STEP (Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners) as well as a full member of Lifetime Lawyers which is a is a community of specialist legal professionals that supports vulnerable and older people.
I am a panel member of Mencap, helping those with learning disabilities and in particular signposting them and their families in respect to the right type of Will or lifetime planning.
In the past I have also worked for a period of time in a pro bono clinic in the USA where I also became a dual qualified attorney with the New York Bar.
I’m approachable, down-to-earth and enjoy helping people find solutions to their legal issues.
Law firm
Contact details
Samantha Pritchard
Partner, Charities team
Time Central, 32 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4BF
T: 0191 211 7905
E: samantha.pritchard@muckle-llp.com
W: www.muckle-llp.com
Regions covered: Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria, Teesside, North Yorkshire
Profile summary: Muckle LLP is a full-service law firm based in Newcastle upon Tyne and Penrith, guided by our values as a certified B-Corp.
Our specialist Charities team understands that almshouse charities are complex organisations – often with historic governing documents, property and investment portfolios, and assets held as permanent endowment or restricted funds – navigating regulations while supporting their older and often vulnerable residents.
We provide a range of legal services to almshouse charities including:
- Governance advice and trustees’ duties
- Conversions to become a CIO
- Mergers and collaborations
- Expending or borrowing from permanent endowment
- Amending governing documents
- Applying to the Charity Commission for cy-pres schemes and orders
- Liaison with the Charity Commission and reporting serious incidents
- Sale and purchase of property and investments
- Disputes and anti-social behaviour
- Construction projects
- Banking and grant funding arrangements
- Social housing regulation
Almshouse charities previously worked with
Tyne Mariners’ Benevolent Institution, Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association, Hospitaller Order of Saint John, Hospital of King James in Gateshead.
Legal Services
Main Contact
Nathalie Jacoby-Danesh
Partner
Mowbray House, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham NG2 1BJ
T: 03300452833
E: nathalie.jacoby-danesh@brownejacobson.com
W: www.brownejacobson.com
Regions covered: Nationwide
About Browne Jacobson LLP
Almshouses are complex charities, often combining ancient governing documents with permanent endowments and restricted funds, real estate portfolios and other investments and operating in a regulated field with responsibilities towards often vulnerable residents.
The Browne Jacobson charities team offers a full range of legal services to its clients. Guided by our core values, we try to keep the complex simple and provide strategic as well as pragmatic advice, on time and on budget. We advise on small and large matters of charity law, compliance with Charity Commission guidance, serious incidents, inquiries, governance audits, policy reviews, trustee training, amendments to governing documents, incorporations, conflicts of interests, health and safety, commercial contracts for the provision of goods and services, sale and purchase of real estate, commercial and agricultural properties, defamation, data protection, banking arrangements, tax matters and claims.
Law Firm
Contact Details
Charlotte Cook
Partner
Arbor, 255 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 9AX
T: 020 7593 5107
M: 07949 841 414
E: ccook@wslaw.co.uk
W: www.wslaw.co.uk
Region/s covered: UK wide
About Winckworth Sherwood LLP
We work extensively on the provision of care and supported housing, from both the development and provider perspectives as well as on the management and support of those schemes. We work for many clients including RPs, almshouses, local authorities, charities, lenders, private providers and agencies and management bodies.
We offer the advantage of a full service law firm with a deep knowledge of the care sector, with expertise in care and support, commercial, constitutional and governance matters, asset management, property dispute resolution and litigation, employment and HR, construction, energy and property finance.
Our clients span the public and private sectors including key partners for you such as developers, local authorities and landowners. This means we understand the cultural and legal drivers for these organisations, allowing us to help you develop constructive relationships in negotiations, whilst remaining focussed on your objectives and protecting your interests.
Law firm
Contact Details
Archie Sherbrooke
Partner and Head of Commercial Property
1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT
T: 0207 222 5381 M: 07749 706 410
E: archie.sherbrooke@lbmw.com
W: www.lbmw.com
Regions Covered: England and Wales
About Lee Bolton Monier-Williams LLP
LBMW work with a variety of charities from small enterprises, religious and educational institutions through to national charities and large grant making organisations.
We have particular expertise in acting for charities with substantial property portfolios and advise on the implications of the Charities Act on property assets. We are regularly asked by our charity clients to provide strategic property advice and work closely with our Charity team to ensure that our clients understand and work within the confines of their trusts/governing documents.
Solicitors
Contact details
Marina Leigh
Senior Associate
Senate Court, Southernhay Gardens, Exeter, EX1 1NT
T: 01392 685371.
E: marina.leigh@footanstey.com
W: www.footanstey.com
Regions covered: UK-wide
About Foot Anstey LLP
Foot Anstey LLP write: Foot Anstey LLP’s Charity Property Practice is nationally renowned and respected. We have charity specialists who can manage portfolios, complete property transactions and advise on the full range of disputes and issues arising in relation to residential, commercial and rural land and buildings.
We provide strategic problem-solving advice and assist with dispute resolution if required. Our expertise covers the full range of property and charity property law.
Awards and accreditations
- Top 100 Law Firm
- UK wide Legal Adviser League Table Top 20 *Experian
- Multiple innovation award winners
- Highly Commended, National Law Firm of the Year 2019
*The Lawyer
- Top 10 fastest growing law firms for organic growth *The Lawyer
- Partner Firm of Institute of Legacy Management
Member Firm of Charity Property Association and Charity Retail Association
Solicitors
Contact details
William Scott
Partner, Real Estate Dispute
40 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1N 2PZ
T: 0207 400 8770
M: 07385 385919
E: will.scott@irwinmitchell.com
www.irwinmitchell.com
Region/s Covered: All England & Wales
About Irwin Mitchell –
William Scott writes:
I have acted for many almshouses over the years advising on all manner of property related disputes including noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour issues, hoarding and termination of appointments and rights of occupation.
I have a background in advising charity trustees in relation to their fiduciary duties and their obligations under the Charities Act when dealing with property, having specialised in advising charities in relation to their property for the last 15 years.
I work with my colleagues in the public and regulatory teams to provide holistic advice to ensure compliance by the trustees and managers with the occupiers’ rights under the Care Act and Equality Act.
I also provide advice on property strategy and how to manage the almshouses in a cost-effective manner, taking into account the charities objectives and the organisations ESG agenda.
Solicitors
Contact details
Dominik Opalinski
Head of Charities and Safeguarding
9 New Square, London WC2A 3QN
T: 020 7412 0050
E: Dominik.Opalinski@hunterslaw.com
www.hunterslaw.com
Areas covered: England and Wales
About Hunters Law
Hunters is a full-service law firm with a well established background in advising charities. We deliver pragmatic advice to a broad range of charities, providing comprehensive guidance for all the business activities and transactions they undertake.
The team at Hunters includes experts in charity law and regulation, investment governance, safeguarding and property matters. We have a good working relationship with the Charity Commission and extensive experience of advising almshouse trustees on a range of legal and regulatory matters, including:
- the rights of residents;
- governance and the duties of trustees;
- safeguarding;
- permanent endowment and restricted funds
- restructuring, incorporation and mergers;
- modernisations and construction projects; and
- property sales, leases and purchases.
Member of the Law Society
Legal Services
Contact Details
James Millis
Partner
Somerfield House, 59 London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8JH
T: 01622 776 457
E: jamesmillis@brachers.co.uk
W: www.brachers.co.uk
Regions covered: South East
About Brachers LLP
Brachers is an award winning law firm, providing valuable legal support to individuals, businesses and charities. We offer a full range of legal, regulatory and governance advise on areas such as:
- Property/construction related matters including planning
- Charity mergers and acquisitions
- Day to day governance and compliance issues
- Employment matters.
- Litigation and disputes
We have worked with the almshouse community for over 5 years. Our successful and often long-standing relationships with clients are borne out in the excellent feedback we receive and our high rankings in in the Chambers UK Guide, Chambers HNW Guide and The Legal 500.
As members of ‘Solicitors for the Elderly’ we can provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people and would be happy to support almshouse residents.