Dominik Opaliński
Dominik is a Partner in the Charity department at Hunters.
Before becoming a Solicitor, Dominik worked as a qualified teacher in Inner London caring for children and young people from deprived backgrounds with significant learning difficulties. His in-depth safeguarding knowledge and pastoral experience is regularly called upon by institutions and charities across the UK and abroad, whose core activities and purposes are concerned with championing the education, human rights and protection of children and other vulnerable people.
Dominik has extensive operational experience working on the ground across Africa for charities, diplomatic missions and international philanthropists. His accomplishments range from establishing a safe and sustainable presence for organisations and their missions, to co-ordinating and leading complex projects, investigations or audits. Dominik works closely with governments, ministries, their advisors, and established NGOs, particularly in remote and challenging areas. He has considerable expertise in promoting and co-ordinating the improvement of national child protection cultures, structures and protective processes throughout East Africa with leading human rights agencies.
In the UK, Dominik works with a diverse range of charities, staff associations and trade unions to improve and enhance their governance, strategic reviews of their asset portfolios and operational business models for the benefit of their beneficiaries or members. He was selected to develop an annual training programme and forum for charity clients of a leading global investment bank and together with Paul Almy, was appointed to serve as a trustee mentor for a leading UK charity.
Dominik was the architect and lead advisor behind a unique national welfare scheme funded by the Cabinet and Executive Ministers in Northern Ireland and Scotland for the benefit of public sector workers and their families. His achievements also include successfully lobbying the Cabinet with support of members in the House of Lords for an amendment to the Charities Bill 2005 on behalf of the emergency and rescue services. This was adopted in the Charities Act 2006 and now Charities Act 2011.
Following the outcome of the EU referendum in June 2016, Dominik is regularly involved in reviewing strategic plans or potential pan-European projects with charity trustees. He is also the author or several published articles considering the potential impact of Brexit on UK charities.
Department
Awards
The Legal 500 UK 2022
Recommended in the Charities and Not-for-profit category
“Dominik Opaliński is in constant demand in relation to issues pertaining to safeguarding issues and has a substantial case-load dealing with child welfare matters. ”
“Dominik Opaliński is currently involved in setting up a very important alternative dispute resolution scheme in East Africa to enable claims of misconduct by a charitable organisation to be adjudicated there. This has necessitated delicate approaches involving the Chief Justice of one of the East African countries where misconduct by a representative of a charity has allegedly taken place. Devising and establishing this scheme has required a considerable amount of inventive planning and the production on a structure within which the Adjudicators will operate. All this Dominik Opaliński has achieved with great diplomatic skill and energy. The scheme he has devised may well prove to be a standard for other countries in Africa where religious institutions have been operating and which wish to continue their mission in Africa.”
“Dominik Opaliński is an enthusiast for the law, the Catholic faith, charities and his clients and a strong feeling against injustice. He is never cynical or bored.”
The Legal 500 UK 2021
Recommended in the ‘Charities and Not-for-profit’ section
“Dominik Opaliński is consistently alert, careful and resourceful. He responds to the client’s concerns, circling back to ensure that all tasks are performed”
“Dominik Opaliński is culturally aware, conducting himself effectively and appropriately when meeting with victims, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corp. Dominik really understands diversity. A consummate civil society warrior”
“Dominik Opaliński is highly enthusiastic and hardworking, always willing to go the extra mile for his clients”
“Dominik Opaliński has enormous energy, enthusiasm and calm client-handling skills. Wilfrid Vernor-Miles is another member of this firm whose knowledge of and connections within the charity sector are second to none”
The Legal 500 UK 2020
Recommended in the ‘Charities and Not-for-profit’ section
“Dominik Opaliński has considerable experience of the subject and massive enthusiasm for solving problems.”
“extremely keen and energetic”
The Legal 500 2019
Recommended in the Charities and Not-for-profit section
The Legal 500 2017
Recommended in the Charities and Non-for-profit section
“Referrers highlight that he is 'very thorough' and provides 'an excellent service to clients'”
The Legal 500 2016
Recommended in the Charity and Not-for-profit section
“Highlighted for his knowledge of the investment powers and reporting obligations of charities”
MEMBERSHIPS
Dominik is a member of the Charity Law Association, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Catholic Solicitors Conference.
Department
Awards
The Legal 500 UK 2022
Recommended in the Charities and Not-for-profit category
“Dominik Opaliński is in constant demand in relation to issues pertaining to safeguarding issues and has a substantial case-load dealing with child welfare matters. ”
“Dominik Opaliński is currently involved in setting up a very important alternative dispute resolution scheme in East Africa to enable claims of misconduct by a charitable organisation to be adjudicated there. This has necessitated delicate approaches involving the Chief Justice of one of the East African countries where misconduct by a representative of a charity has allegedly taken place. Devising and establishing this scheme has required a considerable amount of inventive planning and the production on a structure within which the Adjudicators will operate. All this Dominik Opaliński has achieved with great diplomatic skill and energy. The scheme he has devised may well prove to be a standard for other countries in Africa where religious institutions have been operating and which wish to continue their mission in Africa.”
“Dominik Opaliński is an enthusiast for the law, the Catholic faith, charities and his clients and a strong feeling against injustice. He is never cynical or bored.”
The Legal 500 UK 2021
Recommended in the ‘Charities and Not-for-profit’ section
“Dominik Opaliński is consistently alert, careful and resourceful. He responds to the client’s concerns, circling back to ensure that all tasks are performed”
“Dominik Opaliński is culturally aware, conducting himself effectively and appropriately when meeting with victims, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corp. Dominik really understands diversity. A consummate civil society warrior”
“Dominik Opaliński is highly enthusiastic and hardworking, always willing to go the extra mile for his clients”
“Dominik Opaliński has enormous energy, enthusiasm and calm client-handling skills. Wilfrid Vernor-Miles is another member of this firm whose knowledge of and connections within the charity sector are second to none”
The Legal 500 UK 2020
Recommended in the ‘Charities and Not-for-profit’ section
“Dominik Opaliński has considerable experience of the subject and massive enthusiasm for solving problems.”
“extremely keen and energetic”
The Legal 500 2019
Recommended in the Charities and Not-for-profit section
The Legal 500 2017
Recommended in the Charities and Non-for-profit section
“Referrers highlight that he is 'very thorough' and provides 'an excellent service to clients'”
The Legal 500 2016
Recommended in the Charity and Not-for-profit section
“Highlighted for his knowledge of the investment powers and reporting obligations of charities”
MEMBERSHIPS
Dominik is a member of the Charity Law Association, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Catholic Solicitors Conference.
