Not for Profit, Philanthropy & Charity Lawyers (Australia - Brisbane & the Gold Coast)

We are one of a handful of Australian law firms that have a dedicated Not for Profit and Charity Law division advising non profit and charitable institutions around Australia and internationally.

One stop legal services shop for Not for Profits & Charities

Our team of lawyers and depth of resource allow us not just to focus on Not for Profit legal issues but the full range of general legal services that non profits need including:

• Tax Law endorsements and issues for charities and non profits
• Collections Act registrations
• Structuring
• Property (including Charitable Trusts)
• Employment and Workplace Relations (including Collective Agreements)
• Discrimination issues
• GST issues
• FBT issues
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Structuring & Strategic advice

We advise regularly on and prepare the documents for the establishment of various non profit bodies including:

• Companies limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001
• Associations under various Association Incorporation Acts; and
• Unincorporated Associations

We have conducted numerous legal structural reviews and long term strategic planning initiatives for National bodies, State based bodies and Local bodies.

Our Not for Profit client groups normally engage us as their general legal counsel and expect us to have a broad understanding of their activities and keep a watching brief on developments in the law as it effects them.

Constitutions

We have drafted from scratch, reviewed, re-worked and amended numerous constitutions, by-laws and rules for these bodies.

Letters Patent bodies

Letters Patent bodies are an historical form of association that has been preserved. That is bodies who are formed on this basis can generally continue on this basis. There are very few lawyers who understand how this form of association works together with the functioning, powers and officeholder responsibility associated with it.

Tax compliance for Not for Profits (ABN, GST, FBT, endorsement and audit issues)

We advise on:

• applying for and maintaining the correct tax endorsements
• complex issues as to “who is the tax payer” when trusts are involved
• getting your “house in order” for a tax audit

DGRs, PBIs and Gift Funds

We have established and advised countless DGR and PBI bodies and DGR Funds within existing Charitable Institution bodies.

Charitable Trusts

We have established and amended many and varied Charitable Trusts.

Boards

Our lawyers don’t just advise Boards, they have served on many and varied Boards and leadership groups.

Other jurisdictions

Our lawyers advise in this sector, not just in Queensland but across Australia and internationally. This allows us to have an informed perspective of likely regulatory change.

Papers & publications

Our lawyers are invited to regularly present technical papers in this sector. Some of those papers are in the Legal Resources Section of our web site