Wilsons Solicitors LLP

Ranked in 'Best of the UK' in this area "Wilsons combination of high-calibre individuals and reasonable rates has proved a massive client draw: 'It can clearly match any one of its counterparts in London, but as it's based in Salisbury, you get the quality of a City firm for provincial prices. You can't hope for better than that.' Well known for being 'straight forward, calm and reassuring' this 'expert and well oiled machine' is a favourite among charities who value the 'firm and practical advice' and reasonable prices...'the service matches - if not beats - any City firm we know.' "Chambers UK

Our Firm

Wilsons is a firm with true expertise, who can provide trusted advice based on a proven track record. Our Charities and Education teams comprises twenty specialist lawyers. We are ranked one of the top five charity law teams in the country and are the largest team located outside London, advising over 550 of the nation's leading charities and not-for-profit organisations on a complete range of constitutional and governance issues and the key areas of legacy management and contentious probate. Our clients range from large international and national charities, to care homes and hospices, independent schools, city academies and local charities.
The core team works with experts across the firm who assist charities with property transactions, probate and trust administration and advice on corporate law, employment law and property litigation. Together our charities team provides a one-stop shop for clients.
From their Salisbury, London and Bristol offices, more than 180 staff including 34 partners are known for delivering individually tailored client service, solutions based approach and for providing top quality advice at highly competitive rates.

Our Services

Our team advises charities on:
• Constitutional and governance issues
• Charity Commission regulation
• Trustee powers, duties, appointments
• Powers and duties of protectors
• Identification/ management of conflicts of interest
• Trustee appointments, retirements and removal
• Mergers and incorporation
• Fundraising, trading and investment issues
• Legacy administration
• Contested Wills and probates
• Statutory Wills
• Commercial issues
• Property transactions
• Employment issues

Our People

Moira Protani, Partner
(T: 020 7998 0421 moira.protani@wilsonslaw.com)
Moira specialises in charity law and advises a wide range of charities on their activities, including the powers and duties of the trustees, mergers, litigation and good governance. She is ranked as one of the leading charity lawyers in the UK and is known for her pragmatic, down-to-earth, approachable style.

Peter Steer, Partner
(T: 01722 427730 peter.steer@wilsonslaw.com)
Peter has achieved national recognition for his expertise in litigation involving charities. Peter and his team concentrate on the resolution of disputes for charities, involving the validity of Wills; lifetime gifts; Inheritance Act claims; disputes over property; the interpretation of Wills; removal of trustees/executors; administration actions and others.

Peter Jeffreys, Partner
(T: 01722 427758 peter.jeffreys@wilsonslaw.com)
Peter specialises in legacy administration, probate and administration of estates for charities and charity law generally. He regularly acts for charities in the Court of Protection in Statutory Will applications and is highly regarded as a lecturer on Wills, probate and related matters.

Stephen Oxley, Senior Partner
(T: 01722 427743 stephen.oxley@wilsonslaw.com)
As a solicitor specialising in both employment and education law, he has considerable experience of dealing with both contentious and non-contentious matters. Stephen advises a range of businesses, schools, charities and individuals, but specialises in advising clients in the education sector.

Service of the highest quality and a culture that fits
Wilsons is known for the high quality of our legal services, both in terms of technical ability and the level of our client service. Integrity underpins everything that we do. Wilsons' approach is tailored to deliver the service you expect, every time.
Our process focuses on identifying issues early and taking a pro-active and commercial approach to addressing them in a way that 'fits' with your desired outcome.