Daff Richardson and Hilary Aldred co-head a multi-practice team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, which advises a broad range of third-sector clients. These clients include local and national charities, and social housing and trade associations. It also advises religious institutions, family offices, philanthropists, and grant making charities. Oxford-based Richardson advises charities on many employment matters. Cambridge-based Aldred advises numerous charity and not-for-profit clients with particular expertise in advising charities in the education sector. Laura Dadswell is another key contact who acts for many wealthy families when they are creating philanthropic structures. Virginia Henley joined the firm in September 2024.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Hillary Aldred is an outstanding lawyer and tactician, who knows the law back to front and has an impressive client following. The team has a particular strength in education and university work in general. They are very well organised, across the detail of their cases, and leave no stone unturned.’
‘They understand our business and unique ways. Happy to advise is terms that are relevant to us.’
‘The full team are always very accessible, knowledgeable and helpful with any enquiry.’
‘They know and understand our organisation and how we approach risk. They give the options and then their guidance if asked.’
‘Extensive legal knowledge. Practical application.’
‘Daff Richardson has extensive legal knowledge and practical application. Very accessible and responsive.’
Key clients
- I Choose Freedom
- Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust
- The Campden Charities
- Churchill College, Cambridge
- Keble College, Oxford
- Christ Church, Oxford
- Pembroke College, Oxford
- Green Templeton College, Oxford
- International Headache Society
- National Oceanography Centre
- Reeds Foundation
- The Institute of Leadership and Management
- The Company of Biologists
- Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
- The Licensed Trade Charity
- Marine Stewardship Council
- The Fire Fighters Charity
- The Institute of Psychoanalysis
- The Chartered Association of Business Schools
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies
- The Finzi Trust
- The Pirbright Institute
- Wellington College
- Motor Neurone Disease Association
Work highlights
- Assisting a significant and growing number of Oxford and Cambridge Colleges with providing bespoke trustee training to the governing bodies.
- Acting as support to the in-house legal team at the National Oceanography Centre on various matters.
- Advising the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the UK’s leading independent economics research institute, on its domestic and international brand management and enforcement.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Daff Richardson, Hilary Aldred