Charities

Devonshires has a wide variety of local, national and international charities among its client base. It has serviced the charity sector for well over 50 years.

Our charitable clients include charitable housing associations and trusts; regeneration agencies covering leisure, job training, healthcare, crime prevention and cultural activities; religious charities; international aid charities; endowed charities; and individual charitable bequests.

The team undertakes work for a broad range of clients involving general charitable bodies and specific housing related charities, including charities registered with the Charity Commission and other charities which are exempt from registration with them. Our advice to charities includes:


  • registration of new charities with the Charity Commission or as industrial and provident societies
  • advice on the fast-growing area of urban and rural regeneration and relief of unemployment
  • dealings with the Inland Revenue
  • mergers and amalgamations of charities, including transfers of business/engagements and Charity commission schemes
  • general guidance from the Charity Commission - a particular topical issue being the autonomy and independence of a charity from influence from public/local authorities, parent bodies and beneficiaries
  • joint ventures with other charities and the private sector
  • drafting and amending constitutions
  • reviewing and amending grant terms
  • establishing primary purpose and trading subsidiaries

Recent projects include the formation of a joint venture care homes operator; advising clients on the formation of two regeneration companies (involving housing and education projects); the reorganisation of corporate trusteeships; and advising clients on the implications of the Charities Act 2006.

Our Charity Law Team is headed by partners Andrew Cowan (who has undertaken international projects with an international housing charity), Gareth Hall and Andrew Crawford. Most of our partners and many of our fee earners deal regularly with charities and so are well aware of the impact of charity law on topics as diverse as property, employment, construction and corporate law.