Rachel Spruce

Senior associate

Rachel Spruce

Senior associate

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+44 (0)1483 791885

Oxford

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Rachel is a charities and private client lawyer in the Oxford office, specialising in private and public trusts, their powers, governance and compliance. Described in the Legal 500 as ‘sought after’, she has particular expertise in advising charities, non-profits, societies, associations and other organisations with non-traditional governance structures.

Working through governance challenges and navigating an ever-developing regulatory landscape, Rachel gives highly tailored advice, solving legal problems that her clients encounter in their work. While the majority of these clients are public organisations, many of them charities and non-profits, she brings her experience in private trusts when advising on situations involving fiduciary obligations, constructive trusts and other complex circumstances.

My clients’ organisational structures don’t necessarily fit neatly into clear definitions – whether that be a royal charter body of international standing or an unincorporated society making an impact in their community. Working with non-traditional governance structures is endlessly intriguing, with no two clients being the same; it is a challenge I enjoy enormously.

Rachel Spruce, Senior associate

A frequent provider of training for trustees, Rachel helps to educate them on their duties and obligations, with a particular focus on promoting good governance.  Working with colleagues in other teams brings the benefits of a multi-disciplinary approach, which gives those being trained access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. Rachel has a particular expertise in advising higher education institutions, including those directly regulated by the Charity Commission, as well as those coming under the remit of the Office for Students.

Recent work highlights

Oxbridge college secondment

Advising an Oxbridge college where I was seconded to advise on and implement an internal governance review, including drafting new statutes and reviewing committee delegations.

University sports club governance

Advising on, and being part of the team conducting, an investigation into a university sports club facing allegations of poor governance and conduct.

Injured athletes’ private trusts

Establishing private trusts for the benefit of individual athletes injured during the course of their sport to provide for their long-term financial security.

Oxbridge governance

Training trustees of multiple Oxbridge colleges on their governance duties, including regulatory compliance and achieving the hallmarks of good governance.

Trustee payment dispute

Supporting a charity with issues around payment of trustees in the context of an employment dispute, and advising on Charity Commission compliance.

Appointment of trustees as executors

Advising on the possible mechanisms for the appointment of a charity’s trustees as the executors of a proposed donor’s estate.

External recognition
Rankings from respected legal directories reflect the reputation our lawyers have earned across their key sectors and areas of practice.

What people are saying

Extremely impressive work… huge amounts of work and thinking presented succinctly.

Charity sector client

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