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Philip is a partner in the charities and philanthropy team.
Philip advises charities, not-for-profits and philanthropists on a wide range of charity law and related issues. This includes governance and strategic matters, mergers and restructuring, establishment and registration, trading and their relationship with non-charitable subsidiaries, tax, fundraising and regulatory issues.He has a broad practice, but with a particular specialism in advising organisations in the education and arts sectors. These include schools, colleges, universities, arts bodies, artists and related entities.
Through the Charity Law Association, Philip is a critical friend to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Recent recognition
Me in a minute
After training at a magic circle firm, I realised that I wanted to work with clients who are really making a difference in the world
After training at a magic circle firm, I realised that I wanted to work with clients who are really making a difference in the world, whether they're charities, other not-for-profit organisations, or philanthropists. I've now served these third sector clients for many years, and there's no doubt at all in my mind that I made the right decision. These clients need high-impact, cost-effective advice and that's exactly what I always aim to provide.
One of the benefits of working in this sector is that it always delivers a huge variety of work. In recent years, I've advised on a £1bn corporate donation, a high-profile public fundraising campaign in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Charity Commission statutory inquiries into household name charities, new global philanthropic projects and many more.
My wife is also a lawyer - in publishing - and we have two young children. In between work and parenting I'm a keen runner and a budding novelist. I'm also a trustee of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom Arts Trust.
Track record
Arts charities
Supporting arts charities through legal and practical difficulties faced during the pandemic.
Charitable foundation
Advising on the creation of a new charitable foundation for the estate of an internationally renowned artist.
Disability charity
Advising on a transformative £1bn donation to a leading disability charity.
University contracts
Advising a London university on its student recruitment contracts in China.
Disability charity
Acting as sole in-house counsel (on secondment) for a major international disability charity.
International charity
Advising an international charity founded by one of the world's leading authors on its global governance and UK commercial arrangements.
Fundraising campaign
Advising on a c.£100m national fundraising campaign in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Insight
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External publications
Contributing author to Charity Governance, Jordans 2014; Charity Law - Global Guide, Thomson Reuters 2016.
Admissions
England & Wales 2011
Education
University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall): BA(Hons) and MA Archaeology & Anthropology
University of Durham (Ustinov College): MA Archaeology
Oxford Brookes University: Graduate Diploma in Law
College of Law, Moorgate: Legal Practice Course
Languages
- English
Memberships
Charity Law Association
Key dates
- Year joined: 2021