Anderson Strathern LLP

The firm

Our clients come first. That is the principle that Anderson Strathern has been built upon and it is one which drives the way we run our business. We are constantly evolving, developing our abilities, bringing in new skills and creating better ways of working with clients. We like to see ourselves as specialist partners and business minded advisers rather than being just lawyers.
We are a full service firm but we are specialists too. We are recognised as the leading full legal service provider to charities operating in Scotland. We provide a full range of services and presently act for all types of charities from national and household name charities to smaller, locally based charities and grant-giving trusts. We have particular expertise in the education and heritage sectors. We also act for a number of English registered charities in relation to their Scottish operations. Our expertise in regulation and public law gives us particular strength in advising both Scottish and UK wide charities at a time of substantial legal and regulatory change.

The charities team

Our charities team consists of a core team and a cross-departmental unit comprising specialists from other teams such as employment, commercial real estate and corporate. Key players include partners Robin Stimpson, a specialist in charity law accredited by the Law Society of Scotland and Alun Thomas who is Head of our Education team. Our Head of Charities Anne Swarbrick has specialised in charity law for 15 years and was Head of Investigations at the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and legal adviser to its predecessor, The Scottish Charities Office. She is uniquely placed to advise charities in the new Scottish Regulatory Environment. Victoria Simpson specialises in charity and tax law and is a charity trustee of a large national charity. Both Victoria and Anne are accredited charity specialists.

Our services

• Establishing new charities
• Governance and re-organisation advice
• Charity trustees' duties and responsibilities
• All regulatory issues and OSCR investigations
• Cross border and dual regulation issues
• Fundraising, commercial partners and trading
• Employment and discrimination
• Charitable trusts administration
• Investment
• Accounting and business support
• Taxation
• Pensions and insurance
• Intellectual property and brand protection
• Contractual and commercial matters
• Commercial and rural property
• Dispute resolution
• Trusts
• Housing Associations

We provide trustee and other training tailored to clients' requirements on a wide range of subjects.