Legal Advice For Not-For-Profit Organisations
At Myerson Solicitors, we provide strategic, commercially aware legal advice to not-for-profit organisations across the UK. We understand that the objectives and challenges of not-for-profit entities are unique, requiring legal expertise that is not only technically sound but also aligned with your values, structure, and long-term mission.
Whether you are establishing a new charity, restructuring an existing organisation, entering commercial partnerships, or navigating regulatory compliance, our specialist solicitors are here to help. With a trusted reputation for delivering practical and sensitive legal solutions, our Corporate and Charity Law teams are well-versed in supporting organisations across a range of charitable and philanthropic sectors.
Our Legal Expertise for Not-for-Profit Clients
Our comprehensive legal services for not-for-profits include advice on:
- Charity formation and registration with the Charity Commission
- Selection of appropriate legal structure
- Drafting and updating governing documents
- Trustee duties and governance frameworks
- Risk management and regulatory compliance
- Fundraising law and commercial participation agreements
- Establishing and managing charitable trading subsidiaries
- Grant-making structures and funding arrangements
- Charity mergers and collaborative projects
- Advising on property transactions
- Employment law issues
- Legacy administration and contentious probate matters
- Dispute resolution and regulatory investigations
- Appeals against Charity Commission decisions
What Defines a Charity?
A charity is not defined solely by its name or intentions. Under the Charities Act 2011, an organisation qualifies as a charity if it:
- Is established for exclusively charitable purposes; and
- Is subject to the control of the High Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction over charities.
Charitable Purposes Include:
- Prevention or relief of poverty
- Advancement of education, religion, health, citizenship, arts, culture, heritage, science, sport
- Human rights, environmental protection, animal welfare, and more
- Organisations must also serve the public benefit.
Choosing the Right Legal Structure
Selecting the correct legal structure is critical.
It affects everything from your organisation's legal identity and liability to your governance requirements and reporting obligations.
We advise on the legal implications of the following not-for-profit models:
Charitable Trusts
Ideal for organisations with assets or endowments and a limited operational scope. Charitable trusts are governed by a trust deed and managed by trustees with fiduciary responsibilities. They do not have separate legal personality, which can limit their ability to enter contracts or hold property in the charity’s name.
Unincorporated Associations
Often chosen by community groups and membership organisations, unincorporated associations are easy to set up and operate with minimal regulatory burden.
However, they lack a separate legal identity, exposing committee members to potential personal liability. We draft clear constitutions and advise on risk mitigation and formalisation of relationships.
Companies Limited by Guarantee
This structure provides a separate legal identity and limited liability for members, making it suitable for larger charities with employees, property holdings, or contractual obligations.
These organisations must also comply with company law alongside charity law, and we provide guidance on dual regulation and governance.
Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
A CIO is a modern legal form designed specifically for charities.
It offers the benefits of incorporation, such as limited liability and a separate legal identity, while requiring compliance only with charity law (not company law). We assist with CIO registration, governance documents, and transitioning from other legal forms.
Governance, Trustees and Compliance
Sound governance is essential for public trust and effective delivery of charitable objectives. We advise trustees and boards on:
- Legal duties and liabilities
- Managing conflicts of interest
- Compliance with the Charity Commission's guidance and regulatory updates
- Trustee appointment, retirement, and succession planning
- Drafting or revising governing documents to reflect best practice and legal changes
We also support clients in dealing with serious incident reporting, safeguarding concerns, and responding to investigations or audits by the Charity Commission or HMRC.
Commercial and Operational Advice
Running a charity or not-for-profit involves many of the same operational risks as any other business.
Our legal team provides tailored commercial advice that supports your activities without compromising your charitable status. We advise on:
- Commercial contracts and service-level agreements
- Licensing and intellectual property
- Data protection (UK GDPR) and privacy policies
- Partnership and collaboration agreements
- Trading subsidiaries and tax-efficient structures
- Fundraising compliance and sponsorships
- Real estate transactions and lease negotiations
Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Investigations
Charities can sometimes find themselves involved in disputes, whether internal (such as trustee disagreements or governance breakdowns) or external (such as legacy disputes, employment issues, or regulator concerns).
Our Dispute Resolution team has deep experience in:
- Charity Commission interventions
- Contentious probate and will challenges
- Employment tribunals and volunteer grievances
- Contractual disputes
- Judicial review and regulatory appeals
We aim to resolve issues efficiently and discreetly, with minimal disruption to your charitable work and reputation.
Why Work With Our Corporate Lawyers?
- We have been ranked as a Top Tier law firm by the Legal 500 for the last seven years.
- You will receive city-quality corporate law advice at regional prices.
- Price transparency - we provide our clients with an estimate at the outset of any piece of work, with ongoing updates throughout the matter.
- Our Corporate Partner-led service ensures you receive the very best legal advice and commercially minded support.
- We have a large team with corporate finance experience across a diverse variety of business sectors, including financial services. Our team focuses on achieving your objectives and meeting your deadlines, especially in legal matters pertaining to public companies.
- We are a full-service law firm operating from a one-site office, which means our teams communicate effectively and efficiently, and our Corporate Lawyers can draw on support from other specialist lawyers, such as property and employment lawyers.
- Our Corporate Solicitors use technology and AI effectively to ensure that we are working as efficiently as possible and that geographical distance is no bar to us from providing you with excellent client service.
- Our Corporate Team were named “Team of the Year (Cheshire)” at the 2025 North West Rainmaker Awards.
- Myerson was shortlisted for ‘Large Deal of the Year (£50m+)’ at the Yorkshire Rainmakers Awards 2026 for advising AQA on its acquisition of Realise Training Group, highlighting the strength of the firm’s Corporate team in delivering high-value, complex transactions across the UK.
- We were the winners of ‘Corporate Team of the Year 2021’ at the Manchester Legal Awards.
- Take a look at the Myerson Promise for further benefits of working with us here.
Testimonials
Mr Preston
Chris Moss's advice and support was exceptional. I would highly recommend.
Mr. Maitland, VendiTech
Myerson has been exceptional to work with, combining a high level of professionalism with a pragmatic, commercially minded approach. Communication is always clear, timely, and responsive, which gives us real confidence when navigating complex decisions. Chris, Charlotte and Richard provided invaluable support across multiple areas of our business. Their guidance has been instrumental to our continued success and has played a key role in giving us strong confidence around compliance as we scale and evolve.
Gary Johnson, CDL
The strength that Myerson brings to CDL and its group companies is an intimate understanding of our products and services and how they are utilised in the various sectors of our evolving marketplace. CDL and Myerson have worked together for over 10 years and in that time CDL have been fortunate to attract, court and secure many new contracts including large banking and global organisations.
Tim Webb, RTA Claim Solutions
Myerson have been hugely professional and supportive in providing expert legal advice to the business. For us, their quality of service and expert knowledge of commercial business was equally as important as their undoubted legal capabilities. We hope to be able to continue to work with them over the long term.
Tony Sampson , J2 Retail Ltd
Unphased by the ‘big names’ and frequently head to head with much larger firms, they have always worked effectively on our behalf as both a business and as shareholders, and have represented us extremely well in many complex and difficult situations. Myerson partners and lawyers have an excellent grasp of the commercial realities of our business – something that is equally as important as their undoubted capabilities as lawyers.
David Hibbert, Stax Trade Centres PLC
We were introduced to Myerson back in 1986 with a view to them advising us on our MBO. Myerson have always been there with clear, easily presented counsel as to how to deal with every aspect of business life. We respect their honesty and integrity and have no qualms in recommending them to any up and coming entrepreneurs.
Mr. Roberts, Communications Plus Ltd.
Chris Moss, Melisa Chaplow and Charlotte Peers have been exceptional. Thank you.
Mike Forsyth - Founder and Chairman, Safer Sphere
Myerson Solicitors acted for us in a complicated Management Buy-Out transaction. Akeel, Palma, Simon, Andrew, and the team supported completion in a tight time frame with the utmost professionalism and diligence. They coordinated and cooperated seamlessly with the wider advisors and stakeholders, ensuring full protection and compliance with the transaction. We have worked with Myerson on a number of legal aspects for over 5 years, and would highly recommend their services.
Colin
Supported my business from the outset. Always there when needed. Superb integrity and pricing. Always gets the job done effectively with open dialogue and communication at every point. Yes I highly recommend.
Chambers UK Guide 2026
The Corporate team at Myerson is the perfect size for a balance between expertise and personal service.
Chambers UK Guide 2026
Myerson's Corporate team is attentive, available and technically knowledgeable.
Chambers UK Guide 2026
Myerson's Corporate Team were good to deal with and we worked well together.
Legal 500, 2024
Responsive, always willing to provide some direction, guidance and support, even at short notice, and, due to the familiarity of the business across the team, there are multiple contact points which means there is always somebody to speak to who understands our company and objectives.
Legal 500, 2024
The whole team is responsive and highly approachable, taking time to understand the business and framing legal matters in a manner understandable to the audience – working with a range of people across our business.
Legal 500, 2024
They have always looked at the whole picture and taken time to understand my business, so advice is tailored. No time-wasting and treated like I am their only client.
Legal 500, 2024
Well resourced and able team that expertly and adequately handle whatever we throw at them as our retained commercial lawyers.
Legal 500, 2024
Smaller boutique corporate team who are very responsive, professional and add value to corporate transactions.
Meet Our Corporate Solicitors
Home-grown or recruited from national, regional or City firms. Our corporate solicitors are experts in their fields and respected by their peers.
Contact Our Experts
You can contact our lawyers below if you have any more questions or want more information:
0161 941 4000
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