Stone King experts quoted in Charity Finance law survey

Five Stone King Partners are quoted alongside charity law peers in Charity Finance magazine’s survey of the legal matters that charities should have on their radar. The feature article also confirms Stone King as a top three charity law firm in the UK with a ‘Band 1’ ranking in independent legal directory Chambers & Partners.

The seven-page feature examines the current legal landscape for charities. It considers what upcoming legislation, notable rulings and other emerging themes charities should be aware of and prepared for in the year ahead.

In the article’s examination of the Charities Act 2022, Stone King’s Head of Charity Sector, Stephen Ravenscroft, questions what the government will do with the change relating to ex gratia provisions that were put on hold in Autumn 2022. He explains: “The change arguably allows national museums to de-accession works and return them to their country of origin, so will a technical ‘clarification’ or interpretation of the provision be found?.”

The feature considers the impact of other legislation on certain charities, with Stephen quoted reflecting on the Schools Bill, which was pulled in 2022, and Stone King Partner Julian Blake is quoted extensively explaining the position of charities and social enterprises in relation to the Procurement Bill. He says: “In its current form the Bill would extend entrenched problems for charities and social enterprises, as their distinctive public value and collaborative intent is not effectively recognised in public procurement processes for public services.” Julian also comments on the implications of the reclassification of Further Education Colleges to the public sector.

Another topic touched on by the feature is the prospect of a general election within the next two years. Stone King Partner Rosamund McCarthy Etherington highlights the amendments within the Elections Act 2022, emphasising that: “It brings with it several key amendments which charities and issue-based campaigners will need to be crystal clear on as they continue their proud tradition of advocacy and campaigning to achieve change.”

Stone King Partner Reema Mathur addresses the topic of recruitment in the charity law sector, as well as the pertinent question of office space, explaining that ‘some charities are letting their leases expire or sub-letting their offices and moving staff to work from home full time as they consider their long-term strategies’.

In addition, among other themes on the horizon, Stone King Partner Tom Murdoch highlights important work in the sphere of charitable public benefit journalism with more applications for charitable status by news providers expected in 2023. He believes that ‘this will help to restore vital impartial journalism in the UK’.

To read the full article in the Charity Finance magazine’s February issue, please go to: Law Firms Survey: A new Charities Act and more legal developments on the way

Please note, this article is behind a paywall.