Hill Dickinson has a long history of acting for a wide variety of religious organisations including The Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance, The Dean and Chapter of Liverpool Cathedral, numerous parochial church councils, the Archdiocese of Liverpool, closed religious orders, a number of Methodist Churches and Jewish community groups.
Beyond specialist ecclesiastical law matters, Hill Dickinson advises other faith based groups, charities and not for profit organisations on a range of issues.
We also advise organisations from cricket clubs to community centres which have a historical connection with religious organisations, but to which there is no longer a direct connection. Our education team also provides services to a number of faith schools and we act for the Liverpool Diocesan Board of Education.
Our areas of expertise include:
- Constitutional and governance issues
- Rights and responsibilities of trustees
- employment and disciplinary matters
- Advising groups in respect of their obligations to protect children and vulnerable persons
- Acquisition and disposal of land, including advising on construction documentation and overage/claw-back provisions where the land is sold for redevelopment
- Landlord and tenant issues, including the disposal of properties on long leases, temporary lettings, leases to allotment societies and other leasehold management matters.
- Voluntary registration of property at the Land Registry
- Shared facilities agreements relating to use of land, car-parks and other community facilities
- Variation of restrictive covenants
- Neighbour disputes and adverse possession
As religious organisations face increasing demands on their finances, we aim to provide a cost effective solution to the unique challenges facing religious organisations.
The team includes Roger Arden who acted as Registrar and Bishop’s Legal Secretary for the Diocese of Liverpool from 1968 to September 2010. Roger has been deeply involved in the life in the Diocese for many years. Roger continues as Chapter Clerk to the Dean and Chapter of Liverpool Cathedral.
Proven track record
- Running training sessions for trustees and Churchwardens on the benefits of voluntary first registration of land.
- Advising a religious order looking at rationalising their property estate and identifying potential new uses in line with their aims and ethos. We reported in detail upon their countrywide holdings in conjunction with other professionals, exploring all planning options. We brought together a team with other Supported Living, Social Housing, Charitable clients and contacts to provide best value from resultant schemes.
- Providing a complete service including devising policies and defending insurance claims, safeguarding, lay worker and other employment issues.
