HOW WE CAN HELP

We believe the charity, not-for-profit and social impact sectors play an essential and extremely valuable role in society. Our team is passionate about serving organisations and individuals with a connection to this sector and do so exclusively.

Our clients benefit from our full service offeering, cross practice legal advice and specialisation in highly complex matters. We advise our clients across all their activities and operations (not just those specific to charities and not-for-profits), which is a unique and powerful combination unparalleled in the market.

We understand running an organisation, trust or corporate foundation requires significant time, effort and commitment. We also recognise each organisation is different, with their own unique circumstances. As a result, we strive to understand these differences to ensure our advice is practical, targeted and relevant. Our advice goes beyond the black letter of the law to help ensure our clients are protected legally, commercially and reputationally.

Our services

• Structuring and establishment: Establishing new organisations and trusts, including advising on the most appropriate structure type, such as company limited by guarantee, incorporated association, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation, cooperative or trust.
• Registering and working with regulators: Registering organisations and working with regulators such as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and state-based departments of fair trading (or equivalent).
• Corporate governance and constitutions: Assisting organisations and their officers with internal governance frameworks, helping ensure tax concessions at both the federal and state level (including keeping pace with changes in the law and best practice, writing, reviewing and updating constitutions and other governance documents, providing advice regarding running and calling director and member meetings, directors’ duties, voting procedures, protocols and reporting, and providing corporate governance reviews and board charter solutions).
• Mergers and acquisitions: Advising on mergers and acquisitions, including group restructures and consolidations, sale and acquisition strategies, asset and business sales, purchases and transfers, share sales and member transfers, and vendor and purchaser due diligence (including the establishment and operation of data rooms).
• Accessing and complying with tax concessions: Obtaining and complying with the requirements for deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement and access to other income tax exemption, fringe benefits tax concessions, capital gains, land tax and payroll tax relief, providing analysis of charity tax concessions, DGR and other tax issues from the initial review and application process, through to audits and ongoing compliance.
• Fundraising, promotions, gaming, gifts and events: Advising on charitable fundraising laws, licensing and regulation and the running of charitable fundraising activities and events (including liaising with relevant state regulators and the engagement of commercial fundraisers), advising on requirements regarding receipt of deductible gifts, contributions and other donations (including tax considerations) and advising on lotteries, art unions, raffles and related matters.
• Working with others: Advising on, negotiating, drafting and reviewing agreements such as joint venture and consortium agreements, memoranda of understanding and partner agreements (including devising ownership, reporting, management and operational structures).
• Internal reviews, investigations and dispute resolution: Conducting internal reviews and investigations, including advising on whistle-blower and related legislation, advising on how to manage legal disputes, providing representation from informal resolution and settlements to tribunal and court proceedings, and preparation of all related documents.
• Compliance in conducting overseas programs: Ensuring organisational processes and practices align with, and mitigate risks associated with, Australian counter-terrorism financing, sanctions, anti-corruption, anti-bribery laws, ACNC External Conduct Standards and related obligations.
• Commercial agreements: Negotiating, drafting and reviewing those agreements that sit behind an organisation’s activities such as supply agreements and funding agreements (including tenders and government grant / funding agreements).
• Schools: Advising on the establishment, operation and consolidation of building funds, library funds, scholarship funds, necessitous circumstances funds and general advancement / endowment funds, advising on the interrelationship between such entities within the broader context of school philanthropy, and advising on the proper use and application of school funds.
• Social enterprises: Advising on establishing, funding, and running social enterprises.
• Intellectual property: Advising on and helping with trade marks (including clearance checks, registration and protection), copyright, licensing, and IP transfer.
• Employment and volunteering: Preparing, reviewing and advising on employment, consultancy and volunteer agreements, volunteer codes of practice, HR policies and procedures, performance management, employment disputes and when required, representation at the Fair Work Commission or Court.
• Wills and estates: Advising on family provisions and similar laws and providing assessments of merits and prospects, advising on dispute resolution strategy and tactics, including attending mediations and representation in court, reviewing, negotiation and amending deeds of settlement, providing general advice and guidance on wills and estates matters.