Reema Mathur

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT REEMA MATHUR

I’m a Partner in the Charity Team at Stone King. I act for a variety of charities, ranging from start-ups to household names, from community-focused operations to those with international reach, and from grant-making to operational charities.I specialise in charity law and governance, and how they apply to charities in practice. I’m particularly experienced in the technical and complex aspects, such as dealing with permanent endowment, un-restricting restricted funds and re-writing complex governing documents. I aim to always give technically robust advice which is workable for charities in practice.Examples of my work include:• Governance and board reviews, including for charitable companies, charitable incorporated organisations, charitable trusts and Royal Charter charities• Removing or adapting restrictions on how charitable funds can be used • Addressing disputes among trustees, and between charities and their stakeholders• Interactions with the Charity Commission• Restructures, mergers and collaborative working • Fundraising, including working with professional fundraisers and commercial partners • Incorporation of unincorporated charities• New charity formation and registrationI particularly enjoy advising charities which support women and girls, such as those working in education, health, employment and economic deprivation. I was a trustee of a domestic violence charity for seven years, which was hugely rewarding and also gave me an insight into what charities want from their lawyer.I am also interested in armed forces charities. I’ve advised armed forces charities on mergers, restructurings and incorporation; changes to objects; relationships with corporate supporters; and the occasional dispute.I recently stepped down after nine years on the Executive Committee of the Charity Law Association, five of which were as its Vice Chair. The CLA provides technical input to help develop charity law.I have chaired several CLA working parties, including those which responded to the Fundraising Regulator’s consultation on the update of the Code of Fundraising Practice, and the consultation on changes to the Charity Governance Code in 2020. I have participated in many more working parties, including those which considered the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 and the Charities Act 2022. I strongly believe in the push for greater equity, equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal sector and in charities. I’m a member of Stone King’s EEDI strategy group, and was also on the CLA’s EEDI working party.