Harriet specialises in giving advice to the charity and not for profit sector on governance structures and property advice. Her practice focuses on social housing developments, supported living investment based portfolios, retail and commercial leases for not for profit clients as well as advising charities and not for profits on their governance structures.
Her knowledge of the disposal requirements in the Charities Act 2011 allow her to advise charities of the requirements of that Act, as well as on complex issues with designated land and permanent endowment.
Key areas of work include:
- Identifying trust land for local authorities and guiding them through their obligations as corporate trustee of a charity;
- Housing Association site acquisition and development for residential and mixed use.
- Retail portfolios for charities;
- Conflicts of interest, charitable trading and structures to minimise risk;
- Grant agreements;
- Constitutional structures for charitable housing associations;
- Advising faith based organisations on constitutions, governance and ecclesiastical law;
- Charity commission investigations, regulatory actions and enquiries.
Harriet is a ranked lawyer by Chambers and Partners and recognised as a Leading Individual for Charity & Not for profit in Wales:
“Harriet Morgan is concise in delivering valued professional opinion to inform decisions and direct the team”
A “ tough and highly ethical negotiator”.
Career and education history
- University of Warwick English and American Literature 1994 – 1997 2:1
- University of Bristol Masters in Law 1997 – 1999
- University of Cardiff 1999 – 2000 Distinction in Legal Practice Course
- Trained at Geldards LLP 2000 – 2002
- Geldards LLP 2000 – 2024
- Hugh James 2024
- Registrar of the Diocese of Llandaff 2014 – present
Memberships
- Charity law association
Work highlights
- The acquisition of an outdoor recreation centre as a place of worship and minimising the risks in doing so by advising on the setting up of a wholly owned trading subsidiary to purchase the site, advising on managing conflicts of interest, loan and licence documentation between the two organisations as well as the asset purchase agreement, lease licence and related advice.
- Advising a grant organisation on its multi million pound capital grant scheme as well as on governance and charity law issues.
- Advising a local authority on its obligations as a corporate charity trustee and liaising with the Charity Commission in relation to consent for a land exchange.
- Advising a large Christian organisation on their governance, membership structure, property and how amendments to a partner charity articles of association will affect their members.
- Assisting a national body with its restructure to increase funding opportunities to ensure compliance with charity law on trustee benefits.
- A merger between two housing associations one of which was a charitable company and the other a community benefit society.