Fiona Wharton joins the top tier Charities and Social Economy team.

Fiona has worked in the charity sector since qualification in 2000, including previously as Comic Relief's first in house lawyer, and in private practice in London, Leeds and more recently in Newcastle.

Fiona advises charities and social enterprises on all aspects of charity and company law and governance, commercial arrangements, mergers and collaborative working, trading and fundraising. She also has considerable experience of advising public sector organisations, corporate bodies and individuals on their relationships with or involvement in charities. Fiona has also advised social housing clients and other exempt charities such as universities and academies on charity and governance issues.

Fiona is a trustee of Changing Lives and VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network North East) and is recognised as an expert in charity law by legal directories Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.

Wrigleys as a firm have decided to expand their regional offices to service the north east clients that have been loyal to the firm for many years. Charity and private clients will be the focus on the new office. On the charity side, Fiona and Claris D'cruz will be based in Newcastle full time. Private clients will continue to be served from the Leeds office, but various partners and solicitors will have the Newcastle office as a base when seeing clients and others in the north east.

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