What Charity Trustees need to know: governance, disputes and compliance insights

On 7 November 2025, Dispute Resolution and Charity Partner, Khaled Moyeed, hosted a charity law seminar and networking dinner for Muslim-led charities in London. 

The event has around 100 attendees, including trustees from a wide range of organisations and professional advisers. Guests got the chance to hear practical insights and top tips from lawyers at gunnercooke as well as a specialist charity law barrister. 

Speakers from gunnercooke included Private Client Partner, Nick Hall, Employment Partner, David Buckle, and Real Estate Lawyers Ehsan Chughtai and Songul Matyar. 

Additionally, Ted Loveday of Maitland Chambers provided guidance on managing internal disputes and responding to Charity Commission enforcement. Saif Ahmad, former CEO of three major Muslim charities, represented the Muslim charity sector and shared her experience working with charities, exploring both the challenges and opportunities that may arise. 

The seminar concluded with a lively open plenary session featuring questions, case studies, and contributions from attendees, followed by a networking dinner. 

Key takeaways: 

• Governance must be proactive, not reactive: Trustees should always keep governing documents up to date, minute decisions clearly, and ensure the board collectively understands its legal duties. 

• Internal disputes escalate quickly if not managed early: You should develop and maintain clear procedures for conflicts. It’s also essential that record-keeping, and independent mediation are tools used to prevent reputational and regulatory exposure. 

• Charity Commission engagement should be strategic and transparent: It’s important to respond promptly to any issues, providing evidence-based explanations, and demonstrating robust systems and controls. 

• Employment issues are one of the biggest risks for charities: Have compliant contracts, handle grievances consistently, and ensure safeguarding responsibilities are fully embedded. 

• Real estate remains a key operational challenge: Trustees learned the importance of proper due diligence on property transactions, understanding lease obligations, and documenting arrangements with partner organisations clearly. 

Actions Trustees should take: 

• Review their governing document and update where needed. 

• Implement a dispute-resolution policy and train trustees on early intervention. 

• Conduct a compliance audit focusing on safeguarding, AML, conflicts of interest, and financial controls. 

• Update employment contracts and staff handbooks, ensuring they align with relevant legislation. 

• Document all property arrangements – leases, licences, shared-use agreements, and trustee approvals. 

• Ensure trustees receive annual legal and governance training tailored to your charity’s operations. 

Organiser, Khaled Moyeed added: “I wanted to create a platform where trustees and their professional advisers can come together to have access to the best quality advice for Muslim-led charities. We can’t wait to continue to organise similar events in the future. gunnercooke is able to assist Muslim charities with any legal advice they may need from employment law to real estate and drafting wills.” 

Are you a charity looking for expert legal advice? Contact Khaled Moyeed here.