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Charity Services

The Furley Page Charity Law team works with a wide range of legal specialists across the firm to provide a multi-service approach to Charity work. We understand the needs of charities and why they need to be effective 'businesses'. Legal Advisers within our Charity Law team have day to day experience of providing practical advice to Charity clients on a range of topics including:

Almshouses

We act on behalf of a number of Almshouses in Kent and offer hands on involvement in the organisation of Almshouse Charities, offering valuable insights into the modernisation of each Charity and overseeing the implementation of new working practices. We are regularly in touch with the Almshouse Association and advise Trustees on the standards of Almshouse Management including Quinquennial Inspections, Annual Budgeting, Letters of Appointment, Interview and Grievance Procedures, Investment Advice and portfolio management. For futher information about Almshouses contact Aaron Spencer, Partner.

Legacy Management

We actively participate in Will Aid and prepare a number of Wills for our clients each year. We can also act for Charities that have been appointed as executors in a Will to ensure the estate is administered efficiently.Our team gives seminars to leading Charities on the use of Discretionary Trusts when providing for people with learning difficulties and disabilities and the role of Charities in this area. For futher information about Legacy Management contact Aaron Spencer, Partner.

Charity Administration Services

We provide assistance with the administrative running of charities; preparation and submission of annual accounts; formulation and review of policies; assistance with queries raised by the Charity Commission. For futher information about Charity Administration Services contact Aaron Spencer, Partner.

Property

We can assist with the acquisition and disposing of property (including leases and gifts), compliance with the Charities Act 1993 and can offer advice on general property portfolio management. For futher information contact Andrew Gough, Partner.

Planning

Our Commercial Property team can advise across a range of contentious and non-contentious issues on all aspects of the planning and development process. For further Information contact Andrew Gough, Partner.

Education

We assist with public benefit issues; consolidation, alteration and replacement of Charity Commission schemes. We advise on the extent of permissible trading activities by universities and FE colleges, consistent with charitable status and design and deliver training programmes for Trustees. For futher information contact Aaron Spencer, Partner.

Employment Law

Our Employment Law team can offer advice on the drafting of new contracts of employment and the amending of existing contracts. We also advise on disciplinary and grievance procedures as well as dismissals and disputes. For futher information contact Andrew Masters, Head of Employment Law.

Problem Wills and Estates

From time to time, Charities need advice on their rights in order to protect Charitable legacies left to them. Typically, problems are encountered with homemade Wills and their validity, unclear gifts and wrongly described Charities. We can advise you with regard to difficult or obstructive executors and can check estate accounts on behalf of Charities to ensure the fees and expenses of an estate are reasonable. We can also defend Inheritance Act claims that may threaten gifts left to Charities. For further information contact Simon Wolfe, Partner.

VAT and Other Taxation

The Furley Page Taxation team can advise on VAT issues affecting charities, including property acquisitions and disposals, VAT recovery, VAT on sponsorship payments and the VAT aspects of transactions to which charities are party; advising on other tax issues affecting charities, including the extent of charitable exemptions. For further information contact Sarah Bogard, Associate and Chartered Tax Adviser.

Quick contact

Furley Page Solicitors in Kent, London, Canterbury, Chatham & Whitstable
Get in touch on 0845 603 10 57