Charities need specialist advice. As they broadly fall into two categories – trusts and corporate entities – Hill Dickinson’s charities team is led by practitioners experienced in trusts and companies.
In relation to the setting up of new charities we advise on:
- Practical issues, including whether or not the proposed objectives are charitable in law
- The most appropriate form for the charitable organisation
- Applications to the Charity Commission for registration
Charities and trustees face a range of legal issues. Against an ever-changing legal and regulatory background, it is critical that they take advice at appropriate times. Our team deals with:
- Constitutional issues eg changes in the objectives of the charity and necessary liaison with the Charity Commission
- Advice to charity trustees on their duties, powers and possible liability, including acquiring trustee indemnity insurance
- Advice on fundraising issues, including trading arrangements, the establishment of trading subsidiary companies, commercial participation agreements and joint ventures between charities
- Advice on legacies and gifts to charities, including estates in administration and advice on estates subject to a dispute, including the interpretation of wills
- Advice on governance issues, including the adoption of terms of reference of governing bodies
- Advice on risk management processes, including controls and the proper delegation of powers
- Advice on relevant changes in the law, for example the Charities Act 2006 and the Companies Act 2006
- Advice on public benefit
The team is experienced in providing both onshore and
offshore trusts and tax advice to high-net-worth individuals based
in the UK or overseas.
Hill
Dickinson has offices in Liverpool and Manchester and so enjoys a
commanding position in the region, providing advice to leading
business figures, wealthy families and landed estate owners. This
sophisticated department engages in a good deal of international
and offshore tax and estate planning. The practice was given a
boost by its acquisition of a number of former Halliwells
solicitors.
