Governance

Helping boards, trustees and leadership teams build confidence, strengthen culture and improve performance through better governance.

Governance is more than compliance. It is the foundation of trust, accountability and organisational resilience.

We advise boards, trustees, governors and senior leadership teams on the legal, regulatory and practical challenges involved in governing organisations effectively.

Our clients include charities operating across a wide range of sectors and international borders, educational and faith institutions, membership and professional bodies, staff associations, healthcare and insurance schemes, and other purpose-driven organisations across the public and private sector. We also advise private organisations and individuals whose activities involve significant governance, fiduciary or public-interest responsibilities.

Our approach combines technical legal expertise with practical governance experience. We work alongside boards and senior leaders to strengthen decision-making, clarify accountability, manage risk and develop governance arrangements capable of responding effectively when organisations face change, scrutiny or challenge.

Governance advice

Our governance work includes:

• Board & Trustee Advisory
• Governance Reviews
• Charity Governance
• Safeguarding Governance
• Independent Investigations
• Constitutional & Governance Reform
• Investment Governance
• Regulatory & Governance Advisory

Governance Reviews

Independent reviews of governance structures, decision-making, accountability and board effectiveness.

Our reviews are designed not simply to identify areas of legal or regulatory compliance, but to help organisations understand how their governance arrangements operate in practice and where they can be strengthened.

Constitutional & Governance Reform

Governance structures need to evolve as organisations grow and change.

We advise on constitutional reform, governance structures, delegation and reserved powers, board composition, subsidiary arrangements and the allocation of responsibilities between boards, committees and executive leadership.

Our work ranges from targeted constitutional amendments to substantial organisational and governance restructuring.

Investment Governance

Investment governance is ultimately a board responsibility.

We advise trustees and boards on the governance framework surrounding investment decision-making, including the allocation of responsibilities, delegation, oversight, conflicts, policies, reporting and the relationship between trustees, investment advisers and investment managers.

Our role is focused on governance and legal responsibility rather than financial or investment advice.

Regulatory & Governance Advisory

Organisations can face periods in which governance arrangements come under particular regulatory, public or stakeholder scrutiny.

We advise boards and senior leaders on regulatory engagement, serious incidents, governance failures, organisational disputes and other situations in which effective decision-making, clear accountability and public confidence become particularly important.

Governance under pressure

Good governance matters most when organisations face difficult decisions.

We are frequently asked to advise where governance arrangements are under pressure: following safeguarding concerns, regulatory intervention, leadership disputes, organisational change, reputational challenges or questions about the way significant decisions have been made.

In these circumstances, our role is to help boards establish the facts, understand their responsibilities, make defensible decisions and identify the governance improvements needed for the future.

Governance insights

Our lawyers regularly contribute to the wider discussion about governance, safeguarding, organisational culture, regulatory accountability and board responsibility.

Speak to our Governance team

If you would like to discuss a governance issue, governance review, independent investigation or the governance arrangements within your organisation, please contact Dominik Opaliński or another member of our Governance, Safeguarding and Charity Law team.