"outstandingly clever, brilliant tacticians"
Our work in relation to charities ranges from non-contentious advice and drafting as to the creation and structuring of charities, through applications to the Charity Commission or the court by charity trustees for advice or directions to hostile litigation in all cases both in England and abroad. Members of Chambers have acted for or advised the Attorney General, the Charity Commission, charity trustees, interim managers, and other interested parties. Few of the leading charity cases over the last 15 years do not feature one or more members of Serle Court.
The issues dealt with range from the high profile question of whether independent schools provide sufficient public benefit to justify their charitable status to questions of whether unusual provisions in wills or trusts create charitable gifts or are void and from issues as to the validity of elections of a charity’s committee to questions of whether a charity has complied with the special statutory requirements for the sale of land. Following appropriate advice many of the potential disputes involving wills are disposed of without the need for court proceedings, and many of the cases with which members of Chambers are involved are not only confidential but sensitive.
William Henderson and Jonathan Fowles are the co-editors of the leading textbook, Tudor on Charities, 10th Ed. (2015, Sweet & Maxwell) and the 1st Supplement to the 10th ed. (December 2018, Sweet & Maxwell). Both Will Henderson and Jonathan Fowles are recognised as leading practitioners in this area by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, and both have been speakers at the Charity Law Association Flagship Annual Conference.
"a definite go-to chambers for contentious trust work"