Closing or merging a charity
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Expert charity solicitors specialising in closing or merging charity organisations
There may come a point in the lifetime of a charity whereby you choose to close that charity or alternatively you decide that to merge your charity with another would better serve the needs of your current and future beneficiaries.
What is closing or merging a charity?
Closing or merging a charity involves the process of dissolving the organisation and distributing its assets to other charitable organisations or returning them to donors. This can occur due to financial difficulties, lack of support, or a change in the organisation’s mission. The process typically involves legal and financial considerations and must be done in accordance with state and federal laws.
Contact Gordon
What legal services do we offer?
Our areas of expertise include:
- Procedural issues relating to dissolution
- Liability of trustees
- Reporting to the Charity Commission
- Company law procedures
- Redundancies
- Transfer of assets
- Termination of property interest and contracts
Get in touch with the team at one of our offices in Southampton, Woking, London, Guildford, Lymington or Richmond for expert advice.
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Detailed knowledge of legal issues and legal requirements facing charities. They seek to understand the particular circumstances and offer practical and tailored advice.
Legal 500, 2025
The personal touch and understanding of the people and the business they support is superb. The range of knowledge within the practice covers all the elements we would possible need and more.
Legal 500, 2025
Moore Barlow has a great understanding of charity law. The firm has always been able to answer any queries and communicate with us in layman’s terms.
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Moore Barlow provides a comprehensive range of advice for national and international charities. The team largely handles governance, transactional, and structural matters, including areas such as fundraising, mergers, regulatory, property, registration, and employment. Moore Barlow also has expertise in youth charities alongside regularly dealing with the Charity Commission. Another facet to the firm’s practice is handling cross-border charity mandates.
Chambers and Partners, 2024
The charities team work hard to get to know their clients and to give a personal service that recognises our own specific needs. We are confident that they will give us accurate, timely and helpful advice in times of crisis as well as more routine needs.
Legal 500, 2024
We have been delighted with the service we have received from the charities team at Moore Barlow. The team have supported us on a range of matters, including establishing a trading a subsidiary, support with collaboration agreements, governance advice, and copyright advice. They have an excellent approach to customer service combined with really strong expertise in the charity sector.
Legal 500, 2023
We used Moore Barlow for a charitable organisation’s restructure during the midst of the pandemic and were delighted by their responsiveness then and their familiarity with the legal and financial territory. Their team work was great – we got continuity and level of staff seniority appropriate to each stage of the process.
Legal 500, 2023
The charities team are outstanding. There can’t be many law firms where clients actually enjoy having to get in touch. They are responsive, personable and incredibly knowledgeable. Not only do they grasp the issues quickly, but they are solutions focussed. You don’t come away with a range of options which you are left to chose between, but you are expertly guided through those decisions, and end with a clear sense how to progress the problem.
Legal 500, 2022
The team has considerable expertise in advising charities, in particular in educational sector. They are unusual in being able to advise on the intersection between charity governance and other issues including employment and safeguarding and so we are confident that they understand the context in which we are operating.
Legal 500, 2021
These guys are fun to work with. They give excellent, clear, thorough advice. Just who you need in a crisis (which, let’s face it, is mostly when you call a lawyer). They guide you rather than just present the options. Highly responsive and professional. Seems a good balance of big enough to have specialist capability, small enough to offer personal and really good service.