Scotland’s charities, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations face increasing regulatory and financial pressures. Navigating them can require experienced, considered advice.
Highly regarded lawyers here at Lindsays provide exactly that - offering expert support in a wide range of areas including restructuring, governance, funding, mergers and partnership working.
Our charities group is an experienced and multi-disciplinary team headed by Helen Kidd, one of the few charity law specialists in Scotland accredited by the Law Society of Scotland.
Clients range from well-known charities to innovative start-ups - and from international networks to local community groups and sports clubs. Whether you are a service provider, grant-making foundation, philanthropic individual or a campaigning organisation, our team can assist you to achieve your objectives.
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health), the Carnegie UK Trust, Hostelling Scotland, RNIB, Scottish Autism, Volunteer Development Scotland, the Abernethy Trust and Carr Gomm are among our clients.
A growing part of our work in this sector involves supporting social care providers as they grapple with the delivery of care contracts and employment law issues such as holiday for part-year or irregular hours workers. We also advise on issues around recruitment and retention.
“ No matter the topic, they have an expert who can take the lead and provide well-researched advice" - CHAMBERS UK A client’s guide to the UK legal profession
Lindsays is an ACOSVO (Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations) Strategic Partner and is committed to supporting the organisation to shape the future of Scotland’s third sector by providing its leaders with opportunities to inspire, excel and develop.
Lindsays, as a full-service legal firm, offers the complete spectrum of legal services for the charities and third sector organisations. They include:
- Setting up a charity and navigating the registration process with OSCR
- Governance, including ensuring legal structures and constitutions are fit for purpose and compliant in the sector’s ever changing regulatory backdrop
- Constitutional drafting and health checks
- Individual philanthropy, legacies/bequests
- Fundraising regulation
- Restructuring, whether that may be connected to charities considering incorporation, OSCR reorganisation schemes, mergers or winding up
- Regulatory compliance - experience working with OSCR, HM Revenue and Customs and the Financial Conduct Authority related issues
- Employment law and HR matters
- Real estate projects - both commercial and residential
- Dispute resolution
Our lawyers are on top of the latest policy developments, including The Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill - which underpins regulation of the sector - currently going through the Scottish Parliament.
Up-to-the moment insight into the legal implications of change and good governance are often shared at our bespoke seminars and trustee training on a variety of issues relating to charities.
If you would like to speak to our team, please get in touch. You can also sign up to receive our regular updates and insights for third sector organisations - simply register here.
