Organisations with environmental and sustainability purposes

Environmental issues have risen to the forefront of the public mind in recent years, and there is a large amount of valuable work being done by charities and social enterprises with environmental and sustainability purposes. At Stone King, we are committed to providing comprehensive legal services tailored to the unique needs of these organisations.

We have a wealth of experience working with purpose-led organisations, including charities and social enterprises, on a range of complex and day-to-day matters, such as: governance; funding arrangements; general policies; public benefit; campaigning and political activity; IP; property and construction; employment; dispute resolution; and data and information law.

We understand the need to place environmental consciousness at the centre of what we do. Our experienced team understands the challenges and opportunities faced by these organisations and offers a range of services to support their mission. We can ensure that your organisation operates within the law, protect your interests, and help you effectively advocate for environmental and sustainability causes.

How we can help

We assist in the formation and structuring of charities and social enterprises, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. Our services include:

Advising on the most suitable legal structure for your organisation;
Drafting and filing necessary documentation with regulators;
Advising on social enterprise options and obtaining registrations; and
Obtaining charitable status and registrations.

Strong governance is crucial for the success of any organisation. We provide guidance on:

Developing and implementing governance frameworks;
Advising on board responsibilities and best practices;
Ensuring compliance with law and regulation applicable to charities and other types of not-for-profit organisations; and
Advising on purposes and activities, including advocacy and campaigning.

Securing funding is essential for the sustainability of not-for-profits. Our team can help with:

Advising on fundraising strategies and compliance;
Drafting and negotiating commercial participator and other types of funding agreements; and
Advising on grants and donations.

Managing staff and volunteers effectively is key to achieving your goals. We offer advice on:

Employment contracts and policies;
Volunteer agreements and management; and
Compliance with employment law and best practices.

Protecting your intellectual property and brand is vital. Our services include:

Trade mark registration and protection;
Advising on copyright and licensing issues; and
Managing brand reputation and enforcement.

Our litigators have a strong reputation for dynamic and robust litigation, and achieve the best outcomes for our clients. Services include:

Representing clients in complex, high-value, and multi-jurisdictional disputes in the courts and in the tribunals;
Representing clients in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) forums, including mediation;
Developing bespoke strategies with clients to resolve conflicts quickly before, during, or after a crisis; and
When an appropriate solution is not possible, litigating effectively and efficiently to bring about the right outcome.

Whether acquiring, leasing, developing or managing property, we provide comprehensive support, including:

Advising on property acquisitions and leases, including green leases;
Negotiating and drafting property agreements;
Managing property-related compliance and disputes; and
Advising on procurement for works, construction arrangements and compliance.

Ensuring the privacy and security of your data is critical. Our team can assist with:

Developing data protection policies and procedures;
Advising on the Data Protection Act and GDPR compliance; and
Managing data breaches and related issues.

Examples of our work

We have worked with many purpose-led organisations who focus on environmental and sustainability goals. Some recent examples include:

Working with the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF), which is now supporting Watershed Investigations, an independent organisation that reports public interest stories involving water (read more here);
Assisting a nature restoration and community land charity in updating their constitution and their offer on biodiversity net gain credits - find out more about biodiversity net gain requirements and how charities might be involved;
Helping a renewable energy social enterprise to offer community shares for co-operatives and other community benefit organisations, including the production of necessary commercial documentation;
Working with a charity that focusses on educating people about nature to licence and protect their brand, and provide governance advice;
Advising an animal welfare charity on legacies, and sponsorship and skilled visa applications;
Working with a community interest company tackling the climate crisis on a local level to become a charity;
Advising a social enterprise that campaigns for locally-owned renewable energy infrastructure on the installation of solar panels on public buildings; and
Assisting a decarbonisation charity in securing a loan to continue to undertake new projects.

At Stone King, we are dedicated to helping charities with environmental and sustainability purposes to succeed. Our holistic approach ensures that your organisation is well-equipped to achieve its mission and make a positive impact on the world.