Charities
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 1
About
Provided by Stone King LLP
Stone King’s work with charities is at the heart of our practice. We are recognised as one of the leading law firms for charities in the UK, acting for many hundreds across the sector from household names through to local community groups.
Working nationally with offices in Bath, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London and Manchester, our legal advice includes:
- Campaigning and electoral.
- Charity legacy.
- Charity trustee training and advice.
- Crisis management including Charity Commission investigations.
- Complex historic trusts and charity structures.
- Constitutional & governance.
- Education-related charities
- Employment & HR.
- Fundraising.
- Immigration advice and support.
- Information law.
- Intellectual property.
- Interim managers.
- Leading advisers to mature social enterprise.
- Mergers.
- New structures.
- Supporting organisations with environmental and sustainability goals.
As trusted advisers to the charity sector we regularly advise charities in the eye of the storm, often working as the core part of a multi-disciplinary team. Crises frequently emanate from inter-related events e.g. EDI, safeguarding, data loss, financial oversight or so-called “culture wars”.
Our practice also sees us working across many faiths with unrivalled expertise in Roman Catholic religious orders and Diocesan charities as well as having deep expertise in ecclesiastical and charity law affecting the Church of England.
Chambers Review
Stone King has a prominent practice which acts for all types of charities, including notable work for social care and heritage charities as well as schools and all types of religious organisations. The firm advises on the full range of issues faced by charities, including creation, fundraising, governance, mergers and restructuring. The team acts for charities on contentious legacy and regulatory matters, including trustee, registration and governance disputes. The firm is further noted for its work assisting social enterprises with project structuring and financing matters.
Stone King has a prominent practice which acts for all types of charities, including notable work for social care and heritage charities as well as schools and all types of religious organisations. The firm advises on the full range of issues faced by charities, including creation, fundraising, governance, mergers and restructuring. The team acts for charities on contentious legacy and regulatory matters, including trustee, registration and governance disputes. The firm is further noted for its work assisting social enterprises with project structuring and financing matters.
Work Highlights
- Stone King advised Ambitious about Autism charity on its merger with a special education school and college charity with net assets of £8 million.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Stone King team has a thorough understanding of the issues and is also pragmatic in its approach."
"The Stone King team has a flexible, pragmatic approach. They understand the particular issues facing the client charity."
"Stone King has a skilled and experienced team that is responsive to emerging issues and challenges."
"The standout strengths include the extent to which the team works to understand what we, as clients, are trying to do. They put themselves in our shoes."
"Stone King works closely with us to understand the complex relationships with our customers, partners, and stakeholders, helping to find practical solutions that fit well with our requirements."
"The Stone King team has a thorough understanding of the issues and is also pragmatic in its approach."
"The Stone King team has a flexible, pragmatic approach. They understand the particular issues facing the client charity."
"Stone King has a skilled and experienced team that is responsive to emerging issues and challenges."
"The standout strengths include the extent to which the team works to understand what we, as clients, are trying to do. They put themselves in our shoes."
"Stone King works closely with us to understand the complex relationships with our customers, partners, and stakeholders, helping to find practical solutions that fit well with our requirements."
Notable Practitioners
A consultant in Stone King's charities team, Ann Phillips is one of the most experienced and highly regarded practitioners in the charities sector. She has advised on countless significant matters including assisting large-scale charities with their global operations and international relationships.
Rosamund McCarthy is a leading practitioner with experience in a wide range of charity law issues. She has notable expertise advising clients on regulatory matters and inquiries, as well as assisting with corporate structuring and governance issues.
"Rosamund has very extensive experience and a commitment to serving clients."
"Rosamund has provided in-depth advice and support, with an understanding of the challenges being faced and the balance needed."
Daniel Harris has an expansive legacy dispute practice. He represents both national and international charities, often handling cross-border estate disputes.
"Daniel is a go-to for cross-border legacy disputes."
Julian Blake maintains a particularly strong reputation for his social enterprise expertise and his advice on innovative projects and partnerships in the sector. In addition to his proficiency in questions of charity finance, public service commissioning and multiparty agreements, he has significant experience in the establishment and governance of charities.
"Julian has strong sector knowledge and expertise."
"Julian has provided precise, detailed, considered and highly effective advice."
Hannah Kubie advises charities and social enterprises on a variety of issues, including complex acquisitions and sales transactions, grant arrangements and social investments. She is head of the charity and social enterprise team at Stone King.
"Hannah is a class act who cares enormously about the service she provides and that the clients are getting what they need."
"We trust Hannah to provide excellent advice that is tailored to our culture and context."
Stephen Ravenscroft is a respected adviser to a range of charities, with a focus on those involved in education. His experience includes charity registrations, incorporations and governance matters, as well as complex financing and restructuring transactions. He is head of the firm's charity sector.
Tim Rutherford regularly advises religious institutions, heritage organisations and almshouses, along with other clients operating in the not-for-profit sector. His work covers a wide range of matters, such as mergers, governance advice and legacy issues.
Tom Murdoch advises a range of social enterprise and charity clients, including learned societies, think tanks and professional membership bodies. His practice includes assisting with significant investments and intra-organisational disputes, as well as registrations and reorganisations.
"Tom has a deep and broad understanding of charity law and a range of relevant governance issues. He has a great ability to put himself in our shoes, and his responses are well-tailored and specific."
Reema Mathur possesses a strong reputation for her representation of a range of third-sector organisations. She centres her practice on the provision of advice to national and international charities on constitutional and operational matters, including mergers, asset transfers and trustee disputes.
"Reema is brilliant. She is really switched on, knowledgeable and responsive."
"Reema has a great understanding of the challenges charities face. She is always keen to talk through issues and fully gain an understanding before offering counsel."
Ranked Lawyers at
Stone King LLP
UK-wide
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Provided by Stone King LLP