Staff and volunteers are at the heart of every charity, however employment law can be difficult to navigate with constant change through legislation, the courts’ interpretation, Government policy and Charity Commission guidance. Our employment solicitors are able to assist trustees and senior leaders in taking a pro-active approach in managing their employees and the working environment.

As a leading provider of legal advice to the Charity sector, we act for a broad and diverse range of clients. Our team has extensive experience providing employment advice in all aspects of employment law as it relates to charities and the wider not-for-profit sector. We know that a charity’s employees will often feel a great loyalty towards, and ownership of, the charity or charitable trust for which they work which can lead to greater scope for acrimonious disputes. We also understand how the constraints of charity law can affect charities who want to reward loyal employees.

We understand how important the relationship between the trustees and the senior executive teams is and can assist in keeping this relationship stable and productive, and also assist if such a relationship deteriorates.

We have experience in supporting charities in moments of crisis, particularly arising from grievance or whistleblowing complaints. The HR Consultancy team are able to investigate allegations and support disciplinary procedures, whilst our employment solicitors are able to advise on strategic approach, engagement with the Charity Commission, and risk management. 

Our employment law solicitors have in depth expertise in all matters affecting charities. A few examples of the advice often provided to charities include (but is not limited to):

  • charity mergers and corporate restructures;

  • redundancies and reorganisation;

  • safeguarding and child protection;

  • conduct and capability processes;

  • grievances and whistleblowing complaints;

  • complaints of sexual harassment and discrimination

  • managing senior staff;

  • brand management;

  • use of volunteers and employment status;

  • Charity Commission reporting;

  • Trustee obligations in making severance payments;

  • Representation at employment tribunals.

We also offer HR consultancy services. Our team of HR Consultants works closely with the Charity Employment team to provide continuity of advice in relation to a wide range of employment issues. We offer a range of charity employment retainers to enable you to take advice quickly and easily, at a fixed cost. We are also able to provide Workplace Mediation.

We offer a comprehensive range of HR training sessions designed to support both experienced senior managers and those new to management roles. Our aim is to equip your team with the practical knowledge and confidence needed to handle key people-management responsibilities effectively.

Each training session is approximately one hour long and includes time for questions and discussion. Sessions can be delivered live via Zoom or Microsoft Teams and can be recorded for future use—ensuring that no one misses out. We also offer the option to tailor content specifically to your organisation’s needs.

Cost: £500 per session (plus VAT)

Training topics include:

  • Handling Grievance and Disciplinary Issues: A Practical Guide for Line Managers
  • Conducting Workplace Investigations
  • Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
  • Managing Sickness Absence
  • Handling Difficult Conversations
  • Effective Performance Management
  • Managing Poor Performance

Our goal is to help your organisation adopt best practices, prevent issues before they arise, and confidently manage challenges when they do occur.

What our clients say

"All the staff at Stone King listen very carefully to the needs of the business so they get a clear understanding of what the client outcomes and expectations are. The invoicing is clear and has all of the detail on it that you would expect."

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What our clients say

"The manner and clarity with which support has been provided has been exceptional."

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What our clients say

"The team are absolutely excellent in terms of turning around work and being attentive to client priorities."

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What our clients say

"Harriet is always quick to respond, knowledgeable and works with the best interest of her clients."

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What our clients say

"The team are very knowledgeable and thorough."

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What our clients say

"Stone King are always fast and efficient in responding, and willing to meet tight deadlines with readiness."

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What our clients say

"Stone King are true professionals. They remain calm and collected when faced with complicated issues, and they run through the various layers with focus, close attention and a problem-solving mindset." 

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What our clients say

"The team is lauded for its ‘well-presented advice’ and for the fact that there are ‘sufficient subject matter experts on hand to be able to tackle a wide range of questions’."

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The law and practice referred to in this article or webinar has been paraphrased or summarised. It might not be up-to-date with changes in the law and we do not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided at the time of reading. It should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice in relation to a specific set of circumstances.