restructuring for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent
Institution
We acted for the Royal
Agricultural Benevolent Institution on restructuring its
constitution and amending its Charter. This work is an example of
and demonstrates our capability in dealing with a full range of
constitutional forms, including the amendment of the constitutions
of charities governed by Acts of Parliament, charters and other
ancient trusts and statutes.
rationalisation of two complex charitable organisations the
Mission to Seafarers and The Roman Catholic Diocese of
Portsmouth
We advised on the rationalisation of two
complex charitable organisations the Mission to Seafarers and The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, to take advantage of existing
law and the reform of charity law under the Charities Act 2006 to
simplify their current complex structures. We have created an
innovative process of analysis and reporting, using a unique
decision tree approach in order to carry out these large scale
tasks efficiently and in a cost controlled manner.
providing English Charity law and governance advice to US
consultants on major public health joint venture
We acted for US consultants Applied
Strategies Consulting in providing English Charity law and
governance advice in the review of governance of a major public
health joint venture research project for the relief of people
suffering from disease in poor countries. The work involved
advising in USA and in England on options for bringing better
effectiveness and efficiency into the central organisation.
Working with representatives of research organisations from a
number of countries, we proposed and explained the pros and cons of
different constitutional structures and made recommendations for
preferred options. Disclosure of name of research charities and
funders not authorised in view of the sensitivity of the
matter.
advising on the merger of the Royal Philanthropic Society and
Rainer to make Rainer Crime Concern
We advised on the merger of the Royal
Philanthropic Societyand Rainerto make Rainer Crime Concern. Joyce
Moseley, Chief Executive of Rainer commented: "The merger of Rainer
and Crime Concern made perfect sense for solving young people's
problems at home, at school, in their families and in the community
but we had to overcome some legal differences between the two
charities in order to bring them together. We particularly
appreciated the practical no nonsense approach of Elizabeth Davis
and her team of charity lawyers at Blake Lapthorn in helping us to
achieve an amicable and timely merger."
advising the Royal Armouries on a dedicated website, protection
of copyright and terms and conditions of procurement
Advising the Royal Armouries on the
publication of information on a dedicated interactive website,
including advice on the legal powers of the museum charity, on its
charity's powers to campaign, the protection of copyright and terms
and conditions for the procurement of an interactive website.
creation of new charity with wider objects for London based
benevolent fund, the Institution of Engineering and Technology
Benevolent Fund
We advised the London based benevolent fund,
the Institution of Engineering and Technology Benevolent Fund on an
innovative hive out of charitable and non charitable activities
into a new charity with wider objects that would encompass the
whole activity without breach of charity law or loss of tax
exemptions.
advised on the merger of Thames Valley Hospice and Paul Bevan
Cancer Foundation involving a number of subsidiary trusts and
trading companies
We advised on the merger of Thames Valley Hospice
(a trust) and Paul Bevan Cancer Foundation (a company limited by
guarantee) involving a number of subsidiary trusts and trading
companies limited by shares. We advised on an appropriate and tax
efficient structure for the resultant merged charity, including
structures for carrying out a number of retail and other trading
and sponsorship activities.
advice on release of charitable funds
We advised he trustees of the Portsmouth Roman
Catholic Diocese in relation to the use of land and funds for a new
church hall. This work was significant in that it involved a
successful application to the Charity Commission for an innovative
application of permanent endowment to enable funds and land to be
used for the church hall of a parish that itself had no free funds
for the purpose.
acting for ecclesiastical charitable organisations to provide
advice and documentation for a secured inter-trust loan to fund
property redevelopment
We acted for ecclesiastical charitable
organisations to provide advice and documentation for a secured
inter-trust loan to fund property redevelopment and - planning
agreements and sharing agreements for joint redevelopment of
property by two denominations which will end up with shared worship
place instead of two separate buildings.
In addition to the above, the group have also advised:
- a national charity on their legacy fundraising strategy
- a hospice on receiving its full entitlement from an estate
after the donor had died including advice on a number of allegedly
fraudulent cheques
- an Oxford College regarding a gift of memoirs
from a famous student
- a trustee performing below standard and the eventual removal of
a trustee.
