Wrigleys

Background
Wrigleys began its life as a separate firm in 1996 when the private client and charity team from Dibb Lupton Alsop (now DLA) demerged. Operating from offices in Leeds and Sheffield, Wrigleys combines the charity and private client departments of DLA, Hammonds and Eversheds variously from Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. It also includes the specialist charity firm of Malcolm Lynch.

In the only two independent assessments of UK law firms, Chambers and Legal 500, Wrigleys is the leading firm in its region in a number of disciplines including charities, in relation to which it is described as a firm with "a strong reputation" and as "a national player".

The Charity Law Practice
We advise on a large variety of clients' needs including: constitutional arrangements, operational issues, heritage and cultural matters, the developing field of social investment, education, matters relating to grant making and best practice and a range of property issues which charities and not for profit organisations face.

One of the particular interests of the firm is the developing Social Economy involving trading by charities and not for profit organisations. We produce a quarterly bulletin Social Economy for our charity and not for profit clients and topical issues arising from our regular seminars/trustee training programmes are featured on our web site.

Partners in the Charity Team are all charity trustees and members of the Charity Law Association.

The Charity Team
Malcolm Lynch is the head of our Charities and Social Economy Department with over 20 years experience of working with charities. He advises a wide range of local, national and international charities on charity law and relations with the Charity Commission, governance, charity trading, fund raising, mergers and other commercial aspects of charities.

Chris Billington leads the employment team for charities. He advises on commercial aspects of charities and is particularly interested in education and health charities.

Valerie James is a charity property specialist, working with a number of charities with shop and other property portfolios. She also advises on charity governance and relations with the Charity Commission.

Godfrey Smallman heads up the charity team in the firm's Sheffield office. His charity client portfolio includes a number of ancient and well known grant making foundations. His special interest is in the grant making field, particularly in relation to education and religious charities.

Matthew Wrigley, Ann Duchart, Julia Boyes and Peter Chadwick lead Wrigleys advice on private initiatives, assisting in the establishment of charitable trusts by wealthy business people and other philanthropists and safeguarding heritage property.

The Wider Firm
The firm is established as a niche practice for the private and charity client to provide continuity and succession for our clients whose affairs are often conducted within a trust framework.