Charities and social enterprises

The Third Sector (Charities and Social Enterprise Solicitor Portadown):
Not for profit organisations are a key third sector of our economy with specific challenging and evolving needs particularly in the areas of competition, procurement, administrative, corporate governance, property and employment law.

What we do (Charities and Social Enterprise Solicitor Portadown):
We act for charities, housing associations and local groups on incorporation, constitution, corporate governance, employment, procurement, mergers, collaborations, joint ventures, trading subsidiaries, cy-pres schemes, charitable objects and the leasing acquisition and disposal of property. We also advise on the roles, responsibilities and liabilities of trustees, board and committee members, officers and directors.

We are committed to helping you meet the challenges of being a modern charity by providing an excellent range of Charity Law services.

We offer the highest quality service to clients, complemented by a real commitment to relationship-based working.

Our skills cover a broad range of matters, including:

  • Charity Commission;
  • Trustee(s);
  • Fund-raising;
  • Funding Agreements;
  • Trading;
  • Duties and responsibilities;
  • Governing documentation;
  • Group structures;
  • Joint projects;
  • Amalgamations;
  • Mergers.

As Charity Law solicitors we take a flexible approach to your needs and tailor our services accordingly. Some clients choose to use us to address a wide variety of issues, almost like in-house lawyers. We provide them with advice on matters as diverse as to remunerate a trustee, protecting a charity logo, or entering into a fund-raising agreement with a commercial entity.

Other charities may employ in-house legal staff or receive assistance from NICVA and therefore only call on our services on an ad hoc basis. In these cases we happily provide advice and support in relation to special projects, such as a review of governing documentation to reflect changes in law and best practice, or making arrangements for a joint project with another charity.

However you prefer to work, we do all that we can to add value to your organisation.

  • Employment;
  • Legacies;
  • Trusts;
  • Wills;
  • Intellectual property;
  • Child protection;
  • Data protection;
  • Buying and selling property;
  • Regulatory compliance;
  • Project planning;
  • Funding and coaching;
  • Mentoring and training.

We undertake a wide variety of work for social enterprises – from advice on the right legal structure through to drafting or advising on procurement issues and contracts, employment advice, property, and dispute resolution.

Public service provision is going through a sea change. All across the public sector, groups of providers are being encouraged to “go it alone” by forming separate social enterprises, often taking cooperative or mutual form.  The Localism bill includes a “right to provide” which will apply to all kinds of public services.

If you are on this journey, many questions will come up along the way:

  • What is the best legal structure to choose?
  • What happens to employment and pension rights?
  • What about our offices and our equipment?
  • The process is a challenging one but we can guide you through the minefield.

We are ready to help you, whether you are a local authority or other public body looking to “externalise” a service, or a group of employees looking to form a new social enterprise.

If my you have any questions and want an immediate response please contact our Mr Kevin Neary who is happy to answer your questions by return of email to kevinneary@jphlaw.co.uk.

Licensed to practice in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Company Law Solicitor Portadown)

A vital extra dimension to all these services is that, since we are licensed to practice in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, we are uniquely placed to advise the increasing number of businesses choosing to pursue commercial projects on both sides of the border.

Being licensed to practice in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, we provide high-quality, all-Ireland legal services to business. Our Strategic location in the city of Portadown near the border and within easy reach of Belfast and Dublin also offers obvious advantages.

Whatever your requirements then – acquisitions to restricting, from property to inward investment – our professional approach and practical advice ensure that you maximise your business opportunities while avoiding the pitfalls.

YOUR TEAM

Kevin J Neary
BCL TEP (STEP)
Notary Public Solicitor
Advocate – Principal

Educated at St Colman’s College in Newry, Kevin graduated from University College Dublin in 1982 with a degree in Law (BCL).

He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Certificate of Professional Legal Studies in 1984 and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland in 1984. He was later admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland in 1992, as well as in England and Wales in 2008. He qualified as a Solicitor Advocate in 2013. He is also a certified Mediator.

Kevin has worked at Donnelly Neary & Donnelly since he was admitted to the Roll in 1984 and has been a partner in the firm since 1988.

Kevin is a Notary Public, and is currently the President of the College of Notaries in Northern Ireland. He is also a Trusts and Estates Practitioner (TEP) of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a member of the NI Commercial Property Lawyers Association. Kevin currently acts as Treasurer for the Irish Legal History Society and is Deputy Chair of the Statutory Committee for the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

Kevin has experience in all areas of practise; however, Kevin specialises in commercial property, as well as in general conveyancing, trusts and wills.

Kate Ervine
LLB (QUB)
Solicitor – Principal

Kate Ervine graduated from Queen’s University and completed her degree in Law & Accountancy in 2006 and Trust & Estate Administration in 2009.

Kate was formerly employed by two provincial firms before joining the practice in August 2007. Kate specialises in Conveyancing, Administration of Estates; contentious Probate; Will drafting; Agricultural law and Taxation. Kate is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Michael Grant
LLB (QUB)
Solicitor – Principal

Michael graduated in law with LLB Hons from Queens University Belfast in 1985 He works with JPHLAW as well as being the Principal of Campbell & Grant in Newry.

Michael’s legal expertise includes conveyancing, criminal law, commercial property acquisition, sales development, residential property development, licensing, planning, trusts, inheritance tax, wills and estates both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.

About Us

The firm aims to give its clients the benefit of long experience, which is considerable bearing in mind the fact that all of the partners have been in practice in Northern Ireland for over twenty or more years.

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