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Related news & insights - Hilary Aldred

Record fine on the University of Sussex for governance breaches: what next for a sector already in financial distress?
Posted: 05/06/2025
On 26 March 2025, the independent regulator for higher education, the Office for Students (OfS) imposed a record £585,000 fine on the University of Sussex for governance breaches relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom. The level of the fine, together with suggestions from the OfS that this may be the first of several......>>
What is a woman? How educational institutions might react to the recent Supreme Court ruling
Posted: 28/05/2025
Recently, the UK Supreme Court ruled in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers that the term 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) refers exclusively to biological sex. This judgment has significant implications for the interpretation of equality law and its application across various sectors, including the education sector......>>
What is a woman? How charities might react to the recent Supreme Court ruling
Posted: 01/05/2025
The Supreme Court's high profile ruling on 16 April 2025 in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers confirmed that ‘sex’ means biological sex in the Equality Act 2010. This article looks at some of the implications of the decision from a charity law perspective. The Supreme Court's judgment means that, under the Act: a ‘woman’ is a......>>
Court of Appeal rules on expression of personal beliefs in a professional setting
Posted: 19/02/2025
The recent ruling by the Court of Appeal (CA) in the case of Mrs Kristie Higgs, a pastoral administrator and work experience manager at Farmor’s School, highlights the challenges faced when expressing personal beliefs in a professional setting. Mrs Higgs faced dismissal following complaints about her Facebook posts. The posts were......>>
Legislation on freedom of speech in the higher education sector to be reintroduced – with changes
Posted: 03/02/2025
Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, informed Parliament on 15 January 2025 that the government would be progressing with previously paused legislation in relation to freedom of speech in the higher education sector, but with some significant changes. The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 was passed under the......>>
EAT decision considers whistleblowing protection for trustees
Posted: 07/11/2024
Following the decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in the case of MacLennan v British Psychological Society (Protect and anor intervening), nearly a million charity trustees may now have protection against being subjected to a detriment if they blow the whistle on alleged wrongdoing in the charities they serve. This is......>>
Is possession still nine-tenths of the law? Claim for possession brought by University of Birmingham against protesters
Posted: 29/10/2024
A recent claim for possession brought by the University of Birmingham, against occupiers protesting the university’s failure to condemn the actions of the Israeli Defence Force in Palestine, highlights the conflict between the rights of students to protest and the rights of the university as a landowner. The main issues in the claim are centred......>>
Penningtons Manches Cooper appoints new head of charities
Posted: 30/09/2024
Leading charity lawyer Virginia Henley has joined Penningtons Manches Cooper to head its charities practice. Virginia, who joins the firm as a partner today, will be based in the firm’s Cambridge office, with a national remit. She was previously head of the charities team at HCR Law and has also worked at Bates Wells and Blake Morgan......>>
Charity Commission appoints Penningtons Manches Cooper to its Interim Manager panel
Posted: 11/07/2024
Expanding our highly regarded charity sector expertise, partner Hilary Aldred and associate Rachel Spruce have been appointed to the panel of approved Interim Managers for the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Charity Commission is a non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities and maintains......>>
What does a Labour government mean for the charity sector?
Posted: 10/07/2024
Historically having a Labour government, with its emphasis on public welfare, has translated into increased funding for charities, particularly those addressing poverty, homelessness, and social inequality. It might therefore be thought that charities working in these sectors will now see an increase in government support; although if there really is......>>

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