Charities are besieged by demands: pressures of regulation, fast changing legislation, the day-to-day challenge of providing public services, and the need to act commercially. Spending donations on legal fees can easily be misinterpreted as wasteful and lead to bad publicity. Our Charities Group understands these pressures and expectations. We use our cross-departmental expertise to advise on all aspects of the law enabling charities and not for profit organisations to operate more effectively and commercially in pursuit of their objectives. Key Services Beddoes applications authorising trustees to become involved in litigation Charity proceedings and applications to be joined as a party to proceedings Contentious and non-contentious wills, trusts, probate advice Dispute resolution both on behalf of and against charities including Charity Commission inquiries and appeals against their decisions Executors’ powers and duties Fundraising agreements, sponsorship, events and commercial participator contracts Intellectual property matters, including counterfeiting, passing off and trademarks Legacy fundraising and contested probate, including rectification proceedings and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, challenges to validity and interpretation of wills and caveats Mergers and re-structuring Property, employment, defamation and fraud issues Setting up, regulation and governance Tax advice