Skip to main content

Talk to us: 0333 004 4488 | hello@brabners.com

Registering, Incorporating & Closing Down Charities

Experts in charity registration, incorporation and winding-up — guiding trustees throughout the process.

Talk to us

Our charities, not-for-profit and social enterprise legal team contains specialist charity lawyers who are deeply experienced in setting up, incorporating and closing down third sector organisations.

Recognised by The Legal 500 as the leading team of experts in the North, we've guided many hundreds of trustees through these processes since 2010.

We've always been successful with a registration and routinely provide strategic, pragmatic advice and guidance to charities of all scopes and sizes on incorporation and winding up.

Being a purpose-led, independent business with B Corp certification and our own independent charity, we have a deep immersion in (and passion for) the incredibly important work performed by organisations across the ever-growing voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

Our multidisciplinary team — spearheaded by experienced charity lawyer Graeme Hughes — has the commitment and expertise to help you to achieve your aims and objectives, acting as the legal extension of your charitable, not-for-profit or social enterprise organisation.

Female businessperson signing papers

Registering a charity

While charitable status secures valuable tax reliefs and opens doors to funding that are critical to maximising impact, it also demonstrates a commitment to high standards of governance, transparency and accountability — an essential step in maintaining public trust and confidence.

Starting off on the right foot is crucial. Our expert team has registered hundreds of charities — including think tanks, publishers, professional standards bodies, sports clubs, grant-making organisations, youth centres and health and social care charities — without ever being unsuccessful in a registration application. 

We can seamlessly guide new trustees through the entire process — anticipating the legal, regulatory and practical obstacles that can arise. This can take an expert touch to satisfy the regulator — which is keen to heavily scrutinise applications for registration — that the charity’s initial governance structure is fit for purpose and the charity isn't an immediate or longer-term regulatory risk.

We advise on the most appropriate legal structure to adopt, provide tailored charitable purposes and advise on how to develop governance that best reflects your short-term operational intentions while allowing for flexibility as the organisation grows and adapts.

For organisations where charitable status is either inappropriate or legally impossible, we can advise on alternative legal structures such as community interest companies, community benefit societies, co-operatives, unincorporated clubs and associations, as well as other not-for-profit or social enterprise models where community and social objectives are achieved alongside business goals.

In the vast majority of cases, we can offer a fixed fee for new charity registrations.

People bumping fists outdoors together concept

Incorporating a charity

For new organisations just starting out, there are a wide range of incorporated legal structures available — all of which serve to afford charity trustees with a greater degree of protection from the risks of personal liability. 

However, many longer standing charities were created at a time when certain structures were unavailable or the risks of personal liability were considered to be much smaller. As a result, many existing charities are structured as charitable trusts or unincorporated associations with no legal personality separate to their trustees. The trustees of such charities are personally liable for the obligations of the charity and while a range of protective steps can be taken to mitigate the risk of personal liability arising, it’s impossible to eradicate all contractual and third-party risk.

For some of these charities, it’s advisable to explore the possibility of incorporation. This results in the adoption of a new legal structure, usually in the form of either a charitable company limited by guarantee or a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO).

Our specialist charities team has been incorporating charities for over 15 years. We can advise on the most appropriate new legal structure for unincorporated charities to adopt, as well as the steps involved in transferring the charity’s assets, operations and liabilities to the newly incorporated charitable entity (including all necessary notifications to the Charity Commission).

We know the legal and practical challenges that lie in wait when moving the operations of a charity to a new vehicle and can support with the transfer of staff, contracts and more as well as map out the whole process from an early stage to identify and resolve potential hurdles at the earliest possible opportunity.

Hourglass with frame running out on orange background

Closing a charity

Unfortunately, thousands of charities are wound up each year. While a proportion of these may have achieved exactly what they set out to do, in many cases charities fall victim to the economic and societal challenges they seek to address — forcing trustees to consider closure.

The decision to wind up a charity doesn’t necessarily mean that services have to stop. Mergers or other forms of transfer can secure the ongoing provision of critical services to beneficiaries and the continued employment of staff. Yet even in cases where solutions can be found, a winding up or dissolution will often follow.

We advise on the options available to charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises when financial and operational challenges arise, including on potential insolvencies as well as wrongful and fraudulent trading. We often work alongside an organisation’s other professional advisers to provide key legal support and advice on proposed arrangements with creditors, administrators and liquidators.

The key for charity trustees is to take advice at the earliest possible stage. If you have concerns as to your charity’s short- or medium-term future, our specialist lawyers are on-hand to assist.

Meet our team

Graeme hughes

Graeme Hughes

Partner, Head of Charities, Not-for-Profits and Social Enterprises

Imogen Trafford 1

Imogen Trafford

Associate

Ciara Lawlor

Ciara Lawlor

Graduate Solicitor Apprentice

Brabners has real expertise in charities and dealing with the Charity Commission. This is quite rare to find. Establishing a charitable publisher is hard, because there isn’t a clear line between what is charitable and what isn’t. Brabners did this successfully. Its fees are affordable by the sector.

Client feedback, The Legal 500, 2024

Graeme Hughes competently advises on charity law, governance and regulatory issues, as well as overseeing matters requiring insights from his corporate, property and employment colleagues.

The Legal 500, 2024

We have valued the long-term relationship with [Brabners]… [its] understanding of our company structure — and the market, regulation and jurisdiction in which we operate — supports the delivery of exceptional advice. Graeme Hughes and Imogen Trafford provide outstanding support around charity law.

Client feedback, The Legal 500, 2024

[Brabners] is interested in knowing your business and understanding the culture and nature of what you do. This leads to bespoke solutions… not simply ‘off the shelf’ advice that you may get from any firm.

Client feedback, The Legal 500, 2024

Ex-Charity Commission lawyer and Charity Tribunal Judge Stephen Claus continues to influence departmental and client decisions through his role as a consultant.

The Legal 500, 2024

The ‘outstanding’ Imogen Trafford is highly active on mandates concerning the registering, merging and dissolving of charities.

The Legal 500, 2024

Trusted by

Autism Initiatives Logo
Everton in the Community
National football museum logo AC990 BA4 C4 seeklogo com
About Brabners

Brabners is a purpose-led independent law firm. 

Our independence allows us to be objective, principled and provide a service with heart and character.

We’re on a mission to make the difference for our clients, people and communities. Proudly anchored in the North since 1815, we serve all of England and Wales.

True North Black Logo

Northern Ambition

The collaborative network for purpose-led businesses. We’re building a more sustainable and innovative tomorrow.

Certified B Corporation B Corp Logo 2022 Black RGB svg

Sustainable Business

In 2022, we proudly became the UK’s largest law firm (and the first outside London) to become B Corp certified.

Brabners Foundation Logo Black

Community Impact

We channel the energy of our public-spirited people and clients towards improving our local communities.

Read more about charity law

Talk to us

Loading form...