Russell Cooke Putney London 2

About Clare

I really enjoy engaging with clients, hearing their plans, sorting out their problems, moving things forwards and helping them to achieve what they set out to do.

Clare helps charities, sports clubs and other third sector organisations with all aspects of property law.

Clients have described Clare as ‘helpful and responsive’, ‘proactive and solution-focussed’ and as having ‘patiently and persistently achieved what we needed’.

Clare's particular areas of interest are the use and preservation of open space and unusual buildings, events spaces, projects that help improve, strengthen and make independent a community, resolving complex property problems (including those involving title and trust law issues and disputes) and anything involving bespoke legal drafting.

She values the variety of working in the sector and loves getting to know clients and helping with their varied projects.

Clare regularly writes articles and gives seminars and webinars on property law for charities, including two YouTube videos. She also sits on the board of a trading subsidiary in the events space for a charity involved in sailing, rowing and preservation of buildings.

Clare worked with us on a complex and innovative project. Always proactive and solution-focussed, Clare brought her considerable expertise and good humour to the table at all times: I would thoroughly recommend both her and Russell-Cooke.
Sarah Parsons • Trustee • Trinity Fields Trust

Experience

  • Managing the property portfolios of a national blind charity (as landlord) and a national education charity (as tenant)
  • Assisting a well-known park and palace in managing lettings, events, trading subsidiary relationships and general strategy
  • Provided bespoke burial rights/construction of mausoleum documents and advice for a well-known London cemetery
  • Advised a substantial wildlife park on documenting relationships with its landlord, as well as assisting various sports clubs, a sports field, a boxing gym, an outdoor pool, a windmill, a community self-build project and various other unique projects
  • Ongoing advice to a national body involved in the protection of open space, including on complex issues such as permanent endowment/designated land
  • Helping charities including various religious organisations to unravel complex title issues and to deal with disputes
  • Assisting benevolent organisations in the taking and removal of charges
Clare’s expertise and experience in charity law has helped us resolve issues which stemmed back over 50 years
Jatinder Singh • Trustee • Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick

Memberships

  • Member of the Ethical Property Foundation’s list of property professionals who assist small organisations in dealing with their property issues

We always find her approachable, easy to speak with and knowledgeable. It helps to have a solicitor that is not just full of ‘law language’ but breaks it down so you can comprehend the best way forward.
Jean Davis • Catch22

Clare's highlights

Acquiring property—legal and practical know-how to save you money for a sustainable future

For this discussion, the panel of speakers will share their thoughts, tips and mistakes to avoid when acquiring property for your charity.
News

13.03.2023

Changes to property aspects of the Charities Act due this spring

The Law Commission looked at technical issues in charity law in 2017 and their suggestions now form part of the Charities Act 2022...
Clare Garbett, Senior associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, charity law and not for profit team. Sam Morris, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, charity law and not for profit team.
Multiple Authors
8 min Read
Clare Garbett, Sam Morris
Videos

07.07.2022

Charity incorporations - why incorporate and key issues

Carla Whalen, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, charity law and not for profit team, Clare Garbett, Senior associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, charity law and not for profit team. Gareth Roy, Senior associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, charity law and not for profit team.
Multiple Authors
26 min Runtime
Carla Whalen, Clare Garbett, Gareth Roy
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