Sector Target: Organisations

We exist to improve lives, communities and society. Our understanding of, and commitment to, the voluntary sector underpins the ethos of the whole firm, not just a department or team. This depth of understanding helps us find the most effective way to help charities achieve their aims.

We have worked with charities and other not-for-profit bodies since 1973, and we are independently ranked in the top five national law firms for such work. We are particularly well known for our longstanding support to faith-based charities; indeed the firm was founded because of the Christian commitment of the original partners. We work with churches and faith-based groups of all kinds and sizes to help them achieve their mission–whether that is to share their faith or transform society.

Our long-term commitment to our other chosen sectors, including health and social care, social housing and social business, means we are regularly involved in large and critically important projects involving charities in those sectors and the wider third sector. At the same time, we provide reliable, cost-effective support to many smaller charities. Working in this way can be challenging but it is a privilege to work alongside charities and people who share our purpose and values – and help them to improve lives.

We help charities, and those who support them, overcome the obstacles to achieving their aims, whether that involves providing a cost-effective response to day-to-day legal issues or helping to manage a complex project that is critical to the future of the charity. We can help with most of the issues that a charity is likely to encounter and where we cannot help ourselves we usually know someone who can.

We have received advice from Anthony Collins for many years, covering constitutional, management and numerous other aspects of running a charity, including staff employment. In consideration of the expertise, professionalism, support and attention to detail from the staff we have engaged with, in particular Phil Watts and Doug Mullen, I am very happy to recommend their services to any other organisation. 

Iain Mair, Executive Director, GideonsUK

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We have been recognised for the work we do

The Legal 500 Leading Individual 2023

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We are a nationally recognised education law firm with legal experts who are trusted by schools, academies, education providers and dioceses across the country. 

We believe education is of fundamental importance for human flourishing and the common good. Our clients tell us that the service they receive from us is unique. We believe this comes directly from our commitment to the purpose of our firm: to improve lives, communities and society. 

Our goal within the education sector is not to maximise profit, but to become the leading national adviser partnering with individuals, organisations and policy-makers, to build a strong, more connected society.

Our dedicated team offers academy conversion services and annual legal support packages on a highly competitive fixed-fee basis, as well as general education law, employment and HR, and governance advice that’s always tailored to the needs of your organisation.

Quite simply, we believe that the combination of our values and our expertise makes a significant difference.

Having Anthony Collins Solicitors as our legal advisers benefits TKAT in so many ways. Their education law team provide us with responsive, expert advice across the range of our Trust’s activities, from procurement, contracts, GDPR and employment, to admissions, child protection, land issues and anything else we might need. ACS have a strong social conscience: they do what is right. They understand our business and always respond quickly with pragmatic advice tailored to our needs. Quite simply, we trust ACS and we take action on their advice with confidence. 

Belinda Clack, Director of Business Development, The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT)

 The quality of service we received was outstanding. A highly professional, yet personal service. I would highly recommend Anthony Collins Solicitors to any educational institution. 

Mark Heuston, Executive Principal, South Newscastle Trust.

 Anthony Collins Solicitors has become part of our extended family, with support and service of the highest quality being offered to us and our schools and value-for-money and excellence at the heart. 

Canon Linda Wainscot, Diocesan Director of Education, Coventry Diocese.

Latest sector insights

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Pensions and fire and re-hire September 4, 2024

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Now let the change begin – what does the new Government have in store for HR? August 9, 2024

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We have been recognised for the work we do

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024

Chambers UK 2024 Guide

The Legal 500 Rising Star 2024

The Legal 500 Next Generation Partner 2024

The Legal 500 Leading Individual 2024

See our awards

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Social Impact Report 2023

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Health and social care providers are operating in a very challenging financial environment with an increased focus on regulation. As such they need specialist legal support to help build thriving organisations.

Anthony Collins Solicitors acts as an expert for many leading adult health and social care service providers. We specialise in helping the vulnerable, whether that is due to age, mental or physical capability, mental health problems or consequences of addiction. Our services range from governance advice, employment and property development to dealing with any regulatory issues that may arise.

From regulation to property and employment to governance, our expertise in health and social care legal practices is wide and varied. In a large sector, everything from judicial reviews to the Human Rights Act has to be considered. Our goal is to make health and social care law as easily accessible as possible.

One of the most important parts of health and social care, and the legal processes that surround the sector, is the regulation of the parties involved. Regulatory action can significantly damage your reputation. We work both reactively to help with management of regulatory issues and proactively to help you get the governance right in the first place to ensure you are well led.

We also have a team of corporate and commercial lawyers doing deals in the sector. Our expertise in governance, collaboration, mergers, procurement, state aid and commercial contracts means that we cover the wide range of potential corporate and commercial questions you, as a social care provider, might encounter. We draw on our experience of contracting arrangements with local authorities and the NHS, whether it is a search for funding or potential development projects – we have professionals who are always more than happy to help. Our knowledge of the sector enables us to position you to get the best possible deal.

Our experts in health and social care property specialise in development projects, construction contracts, buying and selling care homes, care home management, leasehold, and property disputes. Our role is to simplify the law for you, making it clear and easy to understand so you can make the most out of your property and simplify the development process.

Our health and social care solicitors have expertise in managing change, resolving disputes, advising on TUPE and National Minimum Wage issues in particular. As well as people, health and social care can enter the realm of intellectual property. In this case we have experts in organisation name and brand assets, copyright and licensing. 

Due to our wide variety of expertise and in-depth knowledge of the sector, no matter what your query or reason is for contacting us, we would be delighted to help you. 

Latest sector insights

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National framework for commissioning care and support: code of practice September 10, 2024

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Great Ormond Street Hospital has offered ‘sincere apologies’ to children who have suffered lifelong damage September 10, 2024

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Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024

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See our awards

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Preparing for the sale of your care or dentistry business

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Our commitment to social housing stems from our desire to improve peoples’ lives and, health aside, a place to live is as important as it gets.

Starting with helping tenants to make their own estate transfers a success, over the past 25 years we have grown to be one of the leading social housing law firms in the country and are ranked as Band 1 by Chambers. We have done this by never forgetting we are part of a sector making a difference to peoples’ lives. 

With recent population booms, economic recessions, and political unrest there is a greater demand than ever before for our range of legal services for social housing providers.

Our expertise ranges from major projects such as stock transfers, innovative structures and joint ventures, to the day-to-day nuts and bolts of making housing work. We have teams of housing solicitors specialising in: housing litigation, housing management, employment matters, housing corporate services and property.

Whether you are a registered provider, a local authority, or an organisation that is working in the social housing sector, our housing solicitors have the knowledge and expertise to help you further your purpose.

Affordable Housing is at the forefront of public policy…

Lack of quality affordable housing, be it rented, low-cost home ownership or for market sale, is at the forefront of public policy.  The tragic event of Grenfell Tower, the Government’s U-turn on LHA, Brexit and the impact on interest rates/sources of funding all combine to make the picture more complicated than ever before.

What isn’t complicated is that right across the spectrum the need is acute, and registered providers are best-placed to meet that need; their long history of flexibility, inventiveness, social purpose and (at least for the time being) the low cost of finance mean that now is the time for providers to deliver.  

Organisations navigating these waters need advisers who are experts in housing law and who work collaboratively with colleagues and clients to create solutions that are robust to last in the years ahead. We believe, having a motivated team of solicitors who are focused on “beginning with the end in mind”, and wanting to make a real difference with their skills, means we are ideally placed to do just that.

For further information

To find out more about how we can help you, and how we’ve helped others, please contact Jonathan Cox.

 Equipped to advise sizeable local and national clients, including a number of housing trusts, on sophisticated matters. One client commends the team for its “supportive and comprehensive legal service delivered in a friendly and easy-to-understand way.”

Chambers and Partners, 2021

 Offers a wide breadth of experience across the social housing field, calling upon a deep team of distinguished sector experts. Equipped to advise sizeable local and national clients, including a number of housing trusts, on sophisticated matters. Regularly provides property management advice and handles financings and tenant disputes, among other issues. Also notable for its advice on governance and corporate restructuring. 

Chambers and Partners, 2022

 They are really reliable and really customer-focused, and give very practical advice in a very timely way. 

Chambers and Partners, 2022

 National reputation for work in social housing development and management, as well as corporate matters. Regularly represents a number of the largest housing associations in the UK. Key offices in Birmingham and Manchester. 

Chambers and Partners, 2022

Latest sector insights

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Renters Rights Bill finally lands September 12, 2024

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The London Borough of Merton found itself in the news recently through its first use of a rarely used power September 10, 2024

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We have been recognised for the work we do

The Legal 500 Leading Individual 2023

The Legal 500 Next Generation Partner 2023

The Legal 500 Top Tier Firm 2023

See our awards

You may also be interested in

Social Impact Report 2023

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Insights

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We do things a bit differently at Anthony Collins Solicitors. We have a proud tradition of supporting the public sector and unlike purely commercially driven law firms we are able to mix our technical excellence with a genuine social conscience. The ethos and ethics of our practice and desire to help transform our communities into thriving places means that we are ideally placed to support and understand our local authority clients.

Local government is facing the biggest set of challenges for many years. With much reduced budgets and staffing levels, pressures to generate income, the need to work more efficiently and collaboratively with neighbouring authorities and the private sector, the lawyer’s lot is becoming even more difficult.

That’s why the Anthony Collins Solicitors approach to providing true partnering-based legal support works so well for our local authority clients. Our work with local authorities is wide and covers a lot of areas, from employment matters to acquisitions and mergers. Whether you need support with a judicial review, commercial litigation, or the tendering of a process (or of documentation) we have experts on hand to help. Our flexibility means that we can provide tailored and cost-effective support. Some clients prefer us to take total control of a project and liaise directly with client teams for instructions. Others, especially when there is a larger in-house resource, want us to be a second pair of eyes to support the in-house legal team. That means that the in-house team retain political credit but still have the benefit of external legal support.

This method of working helps clients to maximise the support given to the council whilst minimising the external legal spend. We have a range of pricing options depending on how much involvement we have and how much work is carried out collaboratively with the in-house legal team – whether we are working on a fixed-, capped-, value-based or hourly rated fee. 

We can support you with resolving procurement challenges, integrating health or social care, or acquisition of land, you can rest assured we can add value. We have also helped authorities with bulk conveyancing, social-value projects, community benefits, alternative delivery models and procurement policies. These are all areas where we have designed processes to make them simpler. We are here to ensure that you have peace of mind, knowing that your matter is being dealt with correctly, efficiently, and in the strictest confidence.

Administration is a core and vital part of local authority management. We offer advice and guidance over the freedom of information act, councillor’s conduct, constitutions and decision-making, internal procedures and employment. Our expertise also covers energy projects, front-line services, social enterprise, state aid, asset management, anti-social behaviour, property litigation and joint ventures. We can help you with any and all issues involving local government.

Our dedicated team is focused on finding a swift and satisfactory conclusion to your query and is devoted to doing what is best for the community. This, combined with over 40 years’ experience, makes us the ideal candidates to solve your legal needs.

Latest sector insights

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National framework for commissioning care and support: code of practice September 10, 2024

The Welsh Government has published a new Code of Practice (the Code) which came into effect on 1 September and applies principles and…

Read More

Pensions and fire and re-hire September 4, 2024

Fire and re-hire is a hot topic at the moment, with the Government looking to ban it. Hot off the press, a recent employment tribunal…

Read More

Labour’s plans for private landlords August 13, 2024

The new Labour Government has pledged to review the private rented sector (PRS), which plays a key role in meeting housing needs, to…

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Now let the change begin – what does the new Government have in store for HR? August 9, 2024

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On 17 July 2024, the Regulator of Social Housing issued its Annual Consumer Regulation Review for 2023-2024. This relates to the last…

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National Planning Policy Framework: Proposed updates and key changes August 2, 2024

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The King’s speech and the Government’s planning agenda July 19, 2024

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Planning promises… Labour pledges to make a change July 9, 2024

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We have been recognised for the work we do

The Legal 500 Leading Individual 2023

The Legal 500 Rising Star 2023

The Legal 500 Top Tier Firm 2023

See our awards

You may also be interested in

Social Impact Report 2023

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Insights

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Business. Better.

“To prosper over time, every company must deliver not only financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society.”

(Laurence Fink, CEO of Blackrock, January 2018)

The times for businesses are unpredictable. We all see examples of businesses both succeeding – and failing – to demonstrate business being done in a way that enhances its reputation. Consumers, employees and wider society are embracing their spending power and choosing businesses based on their values.

We help businesses achieve financial success and demonstrate their values through how they work, in all aspects of what they do.

Every business can be better. There are many ways to do this from small steps, to big leaps.

We help businesses make sure that their values are evident in:

• Corporate deals and business ownership
• Contracts and purchasing
• IT, data and technology
• Construction
• Employment
• Property

We can help you do business for good and improve the bottom line. If you want to explore this, take a look at our Ethical Business Project – a new handbook for businesses or get in touch.

Business. Better.

Some examples of how we have helped businesses show their values:

Corporate deals and business ownership

• innovative structures such as employee ownership, co-operative and mutual structures;
• embedding purpose in your business process;
• clear and open decision making;
• alternative finance/funding structures like community shares and social investment;
• accreditations and trade body membership which recognise demonstrate your integrity, such as B Corps, the Fair Tax mark and other ethical marks.

Employment

• representation of gender, BAME and encouraging social mobility;
• supporting diversity and going further than the letter of the law;
• equal pay;
• paying the living wage;
• gig economy use,
• “fair” employment terms and using apprenticeships and other workplace access schemes;

Commercial contracts

• positive climate change action clauses;
• ethical and environmentally sustainable supply chains;
• incentivising quality;
• partnering and collaborative projects;
• terms and conditions which fairly apportion risk;
• negotiations that are tough but fair.

IT, data and technology

• creating ethical efficiencies through innovation;
• maximising the value of data;
• maintaining trust in your digital practices.

Property

• ethical buildings;
• landlord requirements – both where you are landlord or demanding it of your landlord;
• green buildings;
• quality of works and taking responsibility for repairs/management companies in a way that goes above the bottom-line requirements.

Construction and development

• true urban regeneration
• sustainable development and communities;
• fair payment/treatment down the supply chain;
• social value through construction;
• private/public partnerships that are genuinely driven by a common good.

For more information

Please contact David Alcock.

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We have been recognised for the work we do

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024

Chambers UK 2024 Guide

The Legal 500 Rising Star 2024

The Legal 500 Next Generation Partner 2024

The Legal 500 Leading Individual 2024

The Legal 500 Hall of Fame 2024

The Legal 500 Top Tier Firm 2024

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2023

Chambers UK 2023 Guide

The Legal 500 Hall of Fame 2023

See our awards

You may also be interested in

The Ethical Business Project

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Social Impact Report 2023

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