England - North • Private client
Wrigleys Solicitors LLP
Charity expert Fiona Wharton heads up the team at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP which offers a ‘top class service’ to regional, national and international clients, recently adding the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments to its portfolio. Wharton is highly specialised in governance, mergers and collaborative working, almshouses as well as advising public sector bodies in their role as corporate trustees. Drawing on national expertise, the team offers advice to faith charities and specialises in community-led housing for which Laura Moss is the key contact. Joanna Blackman advises charities, their trading subsidiaries, and social enterprises on constitutional amendments, structural transactions and asset transfers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘They have an excellent knowledge base of that Charity sector which is invaluable. This is a key strength in what can be a complicated sector, particularly in dealings with Regulators and Commissioning teams. They are widely renowned in this sector and have a great reputation.’
‘Fiona Wharton is exceptional in her experience of all charity legal matters. She is an excellent advisor and her knowledge is invaluable in highlighting key areas particularly in the merger process we are undertaking. Without her guidance and expertise we would have encountered serious pitfalls’
‘They are a charity specialist and have the expertise to fully and properly advise charity clients. Fiona Wharton has excellent charity expertise.’
‘Wrigleys have an in-depth understanding of charity / not for profit law. They have worked with us on a complex issue which needed a great deal of detective work. Without their specific expertise in the charity sector the future of our organisation would have been at risk. I was particularly pleased that I was invited to a face to face meeting when that became possible. Our previous solicitors had given us poor advice and left us exposed to a number of risks. There is really no comparison between them and Wrigleys.’
‘We worked with Joanna Blackman, she was patient in explaining the issues of our rather complex situation, and made sure we understood each step of the way. I had the impression that she loved her job and relished the process of investigation involved in understanding and untangling historic legal set-ups. We felt we received top class service, with a thorough exploration of the past and present situation, a solution to some difficult problems, and an explanation of the options we have to take things forward to keep the organisation running securely and smoothly in future. Our previous solicitors had given us poor advice and left us exposed to a number of risks. There is really no comparison between them and Wrigleys.’
‘Fiona Wharton has been excellent in understanding and responding to issues of governance, appreciating the historic and current challenges we are facing and challenging (appropriately) some of our thinking. We have benefitted from her commonsense approach and clarity and her understanding of our time and other constraints.’
‘I have worked with Fiona Wharton on a recent piece of work around classification of a legacy received by the College. Her work has been excellent. A timely response to the original query was followed by an in-depth explanation of her opinion which was highly valued by our governors.’
‘Strong with regards to foundation/charity law, including foundation setup and legal advice related to this.’
Key clients
- Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments
- Housing Justice
- Crossroads Care Cheshire, Manchester & Merseyside Limited
- Herstmonceux Community Land Trust
- Hospital of the Holy and Undivided Trinity
- City Mental Health Alliance CIC
- Staveley Community Trust
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Fiona Wharton