Charities & Philanthropy
Our specialist private client solicitors in London, Kent and the South East have extensive and specialist experience of helping clients with charities and philanthropy.
Helping you create, grow and protect your charitable vision
Many individuals and families choose to support charitable causes in a more structured and purposeful way. Whether you wish to establish a family foundation, create a charitable trust, or support charities as part of your wider estate and tax planning, we provide clear and practical advice tailored to your needs.
Covering Bromley, West Wickham, Sevenoaks and London our Charities team has substantial experience of guiding clients through both the formation of charitable structures and the ongoing legal responsibilities that follow. We offer a personal and considered approach, ensuring your charitable intentions are reflected properly in the structure you choose.
Creating a Charity or Foundation
If you are thinking about establishing a charity or foundation, we can advise you on the most suitable structure for your aims, whether that involves a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), a charitable trust or another charitable vehicle. We can prepare the governing documents and guide you through your Charity Commission application.
We also provide practical advice for founders and the trustees who will govern the charity, ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities from the outset and that the organisation is set up in a way that is both sustainable and compliant.
Philanthropy, Legacy Planning & Charitable Giving
Charitable giving is often closely linked with estate planning. We regularly work with clients who wish to incorporate charitable gifts into their Wills or to create charitable trusts as part of their long-term legacy. Our advice focuses on achieving your intentions in a tax-efficient and practical way, while ensuring the structure of your giving is robust and meets the necessary legal requirements.
Where charitable intentions cannot be fulfilled as originally planned, we can assist with applications to the Charity Commission to redirect the gift appropriately, ensuring your underlying wishes remain respected.
Supporting you after your Charity is established
Once your charity is up and running, we remain on hand to provide continuing guidance. This may include advising trustees on their duties, updating governing documents as the charity evolves, assisting with compliance and reporting obligations, or helping with any issues that arise in the course of the charity’s operations.
Many charities also require advice on matters such as property, commercial contracts or employment arrangements. Through our wider firm, we can offer specialist support in each of these areas, giving you a single point of contact for all your charity’s legal needs.
How our Charities team can help you
Our specialist private client lawyers in London, Kent and the South East have extensive, and specialist experience of advising clients on charities and philanthropy. If you are considering creating a charity or would like advice on charitable giving or ongoing governance, our Charities team would be pleased to help. Contact us to speak with one of one of our expert private client solicitors on 020 8290 0440.
