Solicitors
Contact Details
Christine Lowes BA
Solicitor
Spaceworks, Benton Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7LX
T: 0191 246 4000
E: clowes@oneill-law.com
W: www.oneill-law.com
Regions covered: UK wide
About O’Neill Richmonds Law Firm
Christine Lowes has been a solicitor for 34 years. Throughout her professional career she has been Solicitor to the largest Almshouse Association in the country which owns in excess of 1700 Almshouses in the North East of England.
On recommendation, she has also provided advice and assistance to a number of smaller Almshouses Associations. She has extensive experience in the areas of constitutional change, trustee liability and property matters including the Setting Aside of Appointments and recovery of Almshouses.
Legal Services
Contact Details
Gerry Morrison
Partner, Head of Charities Team
Citadel House, 58 High Street, Hull, East Yorks HU1 1QE
T: 01482 337339
E: gerry.morrison@rollits.com
W: www.rollits.com
Regions covered: UK wide (Yorkshire based)
About Rollits LLP
Assisting Almshouse charities with updating an amendment of their governing documents and constitutions.
- Liaising with The Charity Commission in respect of regulated alterations to constitutions and governing documents.
- Liaising with Almshouses and The Charity Commission in respect of disposal of permanent endowment.
- Liaising with Almshouse charities in respect of charity law queries and governance matters.
- Advising trustees on their legal duties and responsibilities.
- Advising Almshouses in respect of the application and appointment process including Letter of Appointment.
- Liaising with Almshouses in respect of setting aside appointments.
- Working with Almshouses to resolve disputes in respect of residents and in respect of repair and maintenance issues.
- Liaising with Almshouses in respect of planning permission and construction projects.
Solicitors
Contact Details
Simon Steeden
Partner
10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE
T: 0207 551 7624
E: s.steeden@bateswells.co.uk
W: www.bateswells.co.uk
Regions covered: England and Wales
About Bates Wells
We’re Bates Wells, a law firm with a difference.
A full service law firm, we believe in making a positive impact and we’re not afraid to challenge the status quo. We’re the firm of choice for thousands of charities and social enterprises. As a value driven firm we show commitment to our clients, our people, the environment and to society. We’re the first law firm to achieve B Corp certification.
Legal Services
Contact Details
Ms Alison Maclennan
Solicitor
240 Shinfield Road, Reading, Berks RG2 8EX
T: 0345 5577919
E: a.maclennan@thirdsectorlaw.co.uk
W: http://www.thirdsectorlaw.co.uk/
Solicitors
Contact Details
Philip Grylls
Chair
16 Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6XT
T: 01622 689735
E: p.grylls@gullands.com
W: www.gullands.com
Region covered: UK wide
About Gullands Solicitors
The Gullands team works with a number of charities of different sizes and structures to deliver excellent results.
We can advise and assist on a full range of business law issues and charity specific matters such as:
- The formation, establishment and dissolution of unincorporated charities, companies limited by guarantee and trusts.
- Incorporating as a CIO
- Charity Mergers
- Day to day governance and compliance issues including advising trustees on their statutory and fiduciary duties.
- Schemes and orders including amending schemes e.g. widening Objects and spending Restricted Funds.
- Public benefit requirements.
- Internal disputes or disagreements between trustees.
- Court Work including dealing with possession cases involving difficult residents.
- Building new or modernising existing almshouses
- LSelling ot buying land
Blair Gulland won an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Kent Law Society Awards 2017 and was a finalist for Solicitor of the Year, Private Practice, part of the Law Society’s national Excellence Awards 2017. Blair is also a finalist in the IOD South East Awards 2018, all for his work with charities. Blair is now a Consultant with Gullands and is also a trustee of two almshouse charities in Kent. Gullands were involved in the case of Watts v. Stewart and Other (2016) which was an important Court of Appeal case confirming the status of an almshouse resident as a licensee or beneficiary and not as a protected tenant and not subject to the Human Rights Act 1998.
Solicitors
Contact Details
Aaron Spencer
Partner & Head of Private Clients
39 St Margaret’s Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2TX
T: 01227 863 136
E: naa@furleypage.co.uk
W: www.furleypage.co.uk
Regions covered: UK wide
About Furley Page LLP
- Long established top 500 legal practice with considerable experience of charity law and especially the almshouse community.
- Members of the firm act both as legal advisors to almshouse charities and as their Clerk/CEO. Nicholas Andrews is clerk to two almshouse foundations and also clerk to the East Kent Consortium of Almshouses
- Expertise in all aspects of governance for due compliance is readily available as is conversion to a CIO or company limited by guarantee.
- Expert drafting of constitutions, changes in objects and advice about statutory requirements is readily available.
- Attendance when required at trustee meetings is a regular part of our close relationship with our clients.
Legal Services
Contact Details
Mr T Rutherford
Partner
Upper Borough Court, Upper Borough Walls, Bath, BA1 1RG
T: 01225 326776
M: 07580 979376
E: timrutherford@stoneking.co.uk
W: www.stoneking.co.uk
Regions covered: Bath, Leeds, London, Cambridge, Birmingham
About Stone King LLP
- Restructuring and incorporations
- Releasing permanent endowment and advising on resident issues
- We advise on all aspects related to almshouses including governance, amending resident handbooks, extra care services, construction and mergers
Legal Practice
Contact Details
Joanna Blackman | Partner
3rd Floor, 3 Wellington Place, Leeds LS1 4AP
T: 0113 204 1114
M: 0784 191 9758
E: Joanna.blackman@wrigleys.co.uk
W: www.wrigleys.co.uk
Regions covered
England and Wales
About Wrigleys Solicitors LLP
Services
Wrigleys Solicitors is a specialist charity and private client law firm with a dedicated Charities and Social Economy team that advises charities and not-for-profit organisations.
As one of the leading charity law practices in the UK, and one of the few firms with lawyers working exclusively for charity and social enterprise clients, we are recognised as experts in our field. We provide practical, common-sense, and technically excellent advice, forming valued long-term relationships with our clients. Our regional location allows us to offer competitive pricing and value for money. We are also fortunate to attract top talent from large commercial firms, with lawyers who seek to use their skills for a more socially driven purpose.
Our specialist advice for charities includes:
- Charity law and governance
- Regulation
- Constitutional arrangements
- Commercial law
- Ecclesiastical law
- Finance and social investment
- Fundraising, appeals and donations
- Permanent endowment and restricted funds
- Property law (including almshouse licences)
- Employment law
- Pension law
- Data protection
Solicitors
Contact Details
Lisa Watson-Cook
Russell House, Oxford Road, BOURNEMOUTH, Dorset BH8 8EX
T: 02380 827444
E: lisa.watson-cook@la-law.com
W: www.lesteraldridge.com
About Lester Aldridge LLP
Recent work has included:
- The incorporation of an almshouse charity by the appointment of a corporate trustee and amendments to the governing document by a Scheme of the Charity Commission
- Advice upon the funding arrangements for a substantial capital project
- Advice upon the terms of appointment, disputes with residents and the procedures to be followed in the event of a termination of an appointment
- Joint ventures or collaborative working with other charities
Solicitors
Contact Details
George Neville
Associate and Solicitor
Pennine House, 8 Stanford Street, Nottingham NG1 7BQ
T: 0115 958 6262
E: george.neville@nelsonslaw.co.uk
W: www.nelsonslaw.co.uk
Region/s covered: England and Wales
About Nelsons Solicitors Limited
Nelsons provides specialist legal advice to the charity Boards of Trustees, ensuring compliance with charity law and best practice governance. Our work includes:
- Governance & Compliance: Advising on trustee obligations, governance frameworks, and regulatory requirements under the Charities Act.
- Charity Commission Engagement: Supporting Boards with applications, reporting obligations, and resolving complex compliance issues.
- Policy Development: Assisting with updates to governing documents and internal policies to reflect legislative changes and sector standards.
- Resident-Related Matters: Providing guidance on sensitive issues such as setting aside appointments and safeguarding obligations for vulnerable residents.
- Strategic Support: Facilitating effective board decision-making and advising on risk management and ethical considerations.