The voluntary sector operates with constrained resources, both financial and human. There is an increased pressure to be more commercial, which means dealing with the challenges of funding and fundraising, trading, governance, staffing and property, and other issues such as data protection and pension provision. At the same time, charities need to remain transparent while protecting their reputations. In addition to legal advice on various legal matters, AEL law firms are also well placed to provide broader strategic advice and advice on commercial arrangements with third parties.
AEL law firms provide advice on how best to approach the question of philanthropy, recognising that some wish to play an active, high profile role, whilst others prefer to remain anonymous and may wish to leave the decision-making to others; advice to those charities which raise awareness of threats to the environment, activities which bring a wide variety of legal issues to be considered; advice to the higher education sector, including universities that require legal assistance particularly with property, HR and intellectual property issues.
The experts act for a diverse range of charities and not-for-profit organisations. The clients include household names, national and international charities, family charitable trusts, foundations, schools and professional and governing bodies.