Withers LLP

Withers LLP

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Chris Priestley

Chris Priestley

Withers LLP, London

Work Department

Charities and philanthropy.

Position

Head of the firm's charities & philanthropy practice.  Particular areas of expertise are: regulatory investigations; safeguarding; cross-border collaborations, structuring and fundraising; charity governance and mergers; Royal Charter work; and advice to educational and healthcare charities.  Chris also advises on the structuring of complex charitable groups (both domestic and international) arrangements and the ownership by charities of underlying business and social enterprises. Chris has a strong reputation for advising corporate and private donors on their philanthropy strategies and the structuring of family foundations. He regularly addresses conferences on charity law topics, is a member of the executive board of the Charity Law Association and authored the ICSA Charity Trustee's Guide. Clients include Macmillan Cancer Support, Arts Council, College of Optometrists, Cancer Research UK, NSPCC; Girls’ Day School Trust; British Red Cross Society; and the Tate.

Career

Trained Robson McLean; qualified 1994 (Scotland); partner Withers LLP 2003. Author of fundraising chapter in Tolley’s ‘Charities Manual’; regular contributor to Charity Press; trustee:  Barrow Foundation; and W.O Street Foundation.

Languages

English

Memberships

Executive committee, Charity Law Association; Institute of Fundraising Codes of Practice Committees.

Education

George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh; University of Edinburgh (LLB Hons; Diploma in Legal Practice).

Mentions