Charities & Charity Law Jobs

The firm

Winckworth Sherwood is an exciting, diverse and growing business. Joining our team will see you work with some of the UK’s most interesting clients.

In the last year alone we have:

• Worked on corporate transactions valued at over £3 billion
• Advised our developer and social housing clients on over £1.6 billion of residential sales and over £1 billion of refinancings
• Advised on HS2 which will see the development of over 330 miles of railway network with an expected £59 billion benefit to the wider economy
• As if that wasn’t enough, we are also involved in the transformation of Battersea Power Station and act for the majority of London’s major Housing Associations who together own assets of over £17.3 billion.

However it’s not all about big numbers and high-profile projects; the real success of our business comes from the ability of our teams to provide fantastic service and create long-lasting relationships.

The role

This is a busy and varied role that will require you to be confident in progressing matters whilst seeking input from others in the team and firm when necessary. Given our wide-ranging client base, you will need to be willing to engage with other legal frameworks (particularly in relation to ecclesiastical entities and schools), and to tailor your skills and advice accordingly.

You will be expected to be able to manage all aspects of client onboarding, file set-up and ongoing file management including financial management and billing.

You will also be expected, with the support of the team, to be involved in business development activities and events.

The team

An exciting opportunity has risen for a mid-level Charities Solicitor to join the firm’s extremely well regarded (Legal 500 and Chambers ranked), friendly and welcoming charity team based in Oxford. 

Our charity team sits at the heart of the sector. We advise a wide range of charitable and not-for-profit organisations including major national charities, Oxford Colleges, Royal Charter bodies, ecclesiastical charities, Community Interest Companies and other social enterprises, philanthropists, and schools (academies and private).  We advise on all aspects of charity law from setting-up charities, governance advice, reviewing and advising on historic trusts and modernisation, fundraising, incorporations, mergers and trading subsidiaries, through to trustee training, regulatory compliance, Charity Commission statutory inquiries and complex trustee dispute issues. 

As a team we strive to find practical, commercial solutions to the challenges faced by charities.

Client base and type of work

Examples of the areas of work that you might advise on include:

• Setting-up and registering new charities, including advising on the legal structure of the new charity and how any relationships with non-charitable bodies should be managed.
• Reviewing and advising on the interpretation of governing documents, including advising on making changes to those governing documents and applying for any necessary consents.
• Full governance reviews, policy drafting and trustee training.
• With the support of colleagues, engaging with often complex areas of law, in particular ecclesiastical legislation and frameworks, education law, land law and historic trusts.
• Managing charity incorporations and mergers, including liaising with colleagues where other specialist advice is needed, for example, in relation to any charitable land that will transfer.
• Advising on the interpretation of legacy gifts to charities.
• Applying to the Charity Commission for schemes and orders.
• Winding-up charities.
• Advising on the establishment of social enterprises including community interest companies.
• Day to day administration of a grant making charity including preparing for trustee meetings and drafting grant agreements.

Candidate specification

Requirements for the role

• A track record in practising property and charity law. Experience of ecclesiastical law would also be advantageous
• A willingness to work independently and as a team and a strong work ethic are essential
• To be confident and articulate with exemplary communication skills with clients, internal clients, contemporaries and support staff alike

Our Values

Our Values

Our values sit at the heart of everything we do. They are what make Winckworth Sherwood unique. A combination of our people, our history and our culture forming a core set of values which unite us. We pride ourselves on being a diverse and inclusive workplace where individuals and teams can thrive in a friendly and respectful environment. Our values fall into three broad categories based on how we think, work and act. They are all linked and they all complement each other: