Jo Coleman

Charities: private wealth

Jo specialises in advising charities and those who work with charities on all aspects of charity law and regulation.

Whether establishing new charitable organisations for philanthropists, or advising national household name charities on new projects, structures and ventures, Jo delivers complex projects efficiently and in a straightforward manner to ensure her clients can achieve more for their beneficiaries.   Jo also has significant experience in conducting governance reviews of all types of charitable organisation, providing practical and tailored advice to help improve governance processes and systems.  She has also advised membership charities on disagreements with their members.  She advises across the range of charitable activity and has particular experience in advising religious bodies on restructuring and managing complex trust arrangements.  Jo has also advised on many multi-party charity mergers, helping to guide her clients smoothly through the process.  She also provides reassuring support when charities face financial difficulties and provides advice designed to ensure that trustees are protected from liability and the best outcome possible can be achieved for the charity and its purposes.

With the Charity Commission becoming a more active regulator, Jo has advised numerous charities who need to report serious incidents, charities facing compliance visits and inspections and those who are subject to a section 46 Inquiry.

Jo is currently  the Chair of the Charity Law Association. She chaired the working party on the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 and gave evidence to the Joint Scrutiny Committee in the House of Lords. Jo lectures on issues of charity law and writes for the sector press.