Chris Rowse
UK Guide 2025
Band 3 : Charities
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+44 (0)20 8394 6438Share profile
Band 3
About
Provided by Chris Rowse
Practice Areas
Chris specialises in providing complex legal and strategic advice to charities. His clients include a number of ‘household name’ charities, as well as smaller voluntary bodies. Chris advises on diverse issues, including governance, commercial contracts and other agreements, constitutions (including for charities established by Royal Charter or statute), trading and fundraising, establishing new charities, regulatory matters involving the Charity Commission, joint ventures and other collaborations and mergers.
Chris has particular expertise advising clients working internationally. Chris also advises individuals and families who wish to donate to charity, including on tax-efficient giving and setting up foundations.
Career
Chris trained and qualified at Withers LLP and worked in their charity and philanthropy team from 2007. In 2014 Chris joined Russell-Cooke and he became a partner in the charity and social business team in 2017.
Professional Memberships
Charity Law Association.
Publications
Chris contributed to the book ‘International Charitable Giving’ (OUP, 2013) and has written and contributed to a number of articles in the sector press.
Personal
Chris has a degree in law and history from Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
Chris is a trustee of the international development charity ACE Africa (UK). He is also the chair of a ‘friends group’ for an open space in south London.
Chambers Review
UK
Chris Rowse is particularly well versed in assisting charities with domestic and international collaborative projects, partnership agreements and funding arrangements. He has additional experience advising on governance and trustee issues and liaising with the Charity Commission.
Articles, highlights and press releases
5 items provided by Russell-Cooke
An opportune moment to carry out a family audit: Generation Game, a Family Office report
The Russell-Cooke Family Office has published a report highlighting the current changing dynamics and shifting landscape for families.
No oral modification clauses - avoid getting caught out
A 'no oral modification' (NOM) clause is a clause stating that a contract cannot be modified except in writing and subject to other formalities. When included in a contract it is binding on the parties to that contract.
New Charity Commission guidance for charities connected to non-charitable organisations
The guidance recognises that charities often work with organisations that aren't charities, in order to help the charities to achieve their mission. There are associated risks and challenges and the guidance aims to help charities maximise the benefit of their connections and minimise the risks.
CAP updates rules on naming prizewinners and marketing to children
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) recently announced changes to some of the rules in its Code to align with new data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.
The Charity governance code comprises a set of principles and best practice standards to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance. The Charity Commission supports the code and has withdrawn its ‘hallmarks of an effective charity’ guidance in response to it.
An opportune moment to carry out a family audit: Generation Game, a Family Office report
The Russell-Cooke Family Office has published a report highlighting the current changing dynamics and shifting landscape for families.
No oral modification clauses - avoid getting caught out
A 'no oral modification' (NOM) clause is a clause stating that a contract cannot be modified except in writing and subject to other formalities. When included in a contract it is binding on the parties to that contract.
New Charity Commission guidance for charities connected to non-charitable organisations
The guidance recognises that charities often work with organisations that aren't charities, in order to help the charities to achieve their mission. There are associated risks and challenges and the guidance aims to help charities maximise the benefit of their connections and minimise the risks.
CAP updates rules on naming prizewinners and marketing to children
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) recently announced changes to some of the rules in its Code to align with new data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.
The Charity governance code comprises a set of principles and best practice standards to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance. The Charity Commission supports the code and has withdrawn its ‘hallmarks of an effective charity’ guidance in response to it.
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