Business Law Library & Tracker

Charities, Clubs & Member Governance

Member organisations, constitutions, officers, registration and reporting.

Sources last reviewed 28 July 2026

Main law guides

122

Acts, regulations and codes worth reading first

Topics

60

Plain-English clusters

Published case explainers

143

Selected cases with a business lesson

Tracked updates

11

New, amended & reviewed

Plain-English explainers, not legal advice. Use the linked official source for section-level detail, and get advice for your situation.

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Main laws

Main lawUnited Kingdom

Bribery Act 2010

UKPGA 2010 c 23

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Regulatory ComplianceContracts & CommercialFranchising, Distribution & DealershipsCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceTelecommunications, Media & ContentHospitality, Alcohol & Gambling
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012

SI 2012/3012

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Not-for-Profits & CharitiesCompanies & StartupsCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceBusiness Identity, Registers & Filings
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Charities Act 2011

UKPGA 2011 c 25

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Not-for-Profits & CharitiesCompanies & StartupsLicences, Permits & RegistrationsCharities, Clubs & Member Governance
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Charities Act 2022

UKPGA 2022 c 6

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Not-for-Profits & CharitiesRegulatory ComplianceLiquidation & RestructuringCharities, Clubs & Member Governance
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Competition Act 1998

UKPGA 1998 c 41

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Consumer Law & TradingContracts & CommercialCompetition, Cartels & Market ConductFranchising, Distribution & DealershipsCharities, Clubs & Member Governance
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Licensing Act 2003

UKPGA 2003 c 17

PriorityIn force4 practical checks · checked 13 June 2026
Food & Product ComplianceRegulatory ComplianceLicences, Permits & RegistrationsCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceHospitality, Alcohol & Gambling
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Gambling Act 2005

2005 c. 19

PriorityCurrent legislation8 practical checks · checked 28 July 2026
Regulatory ComplianceAdvertising, Marketing & PromotionsCopyright, Software & Digital ContentLicences, Permits & RegistrationsRecords, Reporting & NotificationsDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceHospitality, Alcohol & Gambling
Main lawUnited Kingdom

Small Charitable Donations Act 2012

2012 c. 23

PriorityCurrent legislation12 practical checks · checked 28 July 2026
Not-for-Profits & CharitiesRegulatory ComplianceWages, Leave & PayrollBusiness Sales & AcquisitionsFinancial Services, Credit & PaymentsCharities, Clubs & Member Governance
Main lawUnited Kingdom

The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012

UnitedKingdomStatutoryInstrument 2012 3013

PriorityCurrent legislation8 practical checks · checked 28 July 2026
Insolvency & RestructuringLiquidation & RestructuringLicences, Permits & RegistrationsCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceTelecommunications, Media & Content

Cases

UK Supreme Court[2026] UKSC 411 Feb 2026

Dairy UK Ltd v Oatly AB

If you sell plant-based food or drink in the UK, do not assume a creative slogan, campaign line or trade mark is safe just because it is obviously non-dairy in...

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Regulatory ComplianceDismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesAdvertising, Marketing & PromotionsTrade Marks, Passing Off & BrandingLicences, Permits & RegistrationsDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceAgriculture, Farming & Rural BusinessAnimals, Food & Agricultural ProductsStandards, Accreditation & Certification
Court of Appeal of England and Wales[2026] EWCA Civ 433 Feb 2026

On Tower UK Limited v AP Wireless II (UK) Limited

If your business hosts telecoms equipment, buys land with telecoms apparatus on it, or takes an assignment of site rights, do not assume only the original...

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Dismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesLicences, Permits & RegistrationsDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceAgriculture, Farming & Rural BusinessImport, Export, Sanctions & Customs
UK Supreme Court[2026] UKSC 115 Jan 2026

Providence Building Services Ltd v Hexagon Housing Association Ltd

A termination clause is a sequence, not a general fairness test. Before ending a contract, trace every notice, deadline, cure period and precondition in order. A...

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Construction & TradesContracts & CommercialContractors & Worker StatusCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceStandards, Accreditation & Certification
Court of Appeal of England and Wales[2025] EWCA Civ 100024 July 2025

easyGroup Limited v easyfundraising Limited & Ors

Read this case as a practical lesson in running two separate trade mark checks. First, if you own registrations, can you prove genuine use of the mark as registered...

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Dismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesAdvertising, Marketing & PromotionsTrade Marks, Passing Off & BrandingLicences, Permits & RegistrationsDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceTelecommunications, Media & Content
High Court of Justice[2024] EWHC 2654 (KB)21 Oct 2024

Domestic & General Group Limited & Ors v Premier Protect Holdings Limited & Ors

If your business sells plans, subscriptions or cover products by phone, this case shows that the biggest legal risk is not just what your own staff say, but what...

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Liquidation & RestructuringOnline Sales, Subscriptions & PlatformsCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceStandards, Accreditation & Certification
UK Supreme Court[2024] UKSC 1715 May 2024

Lifestyle Equities CV and another v Ahmed and another

For business owners, this case draws a practical line between company exposure and personal exposure in brand disputes. If your company uses a sign that infringes...

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Dismissal, Redundancy & GrievancesDirectors' Duties & GovernanceLiquidation & RestructuringTrade Marks, Passing Off & BrandingDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceImport, Export, Sanctions & Customs
UK Supreme Court[2024] UKSC 86 Mar 2024

Lifestyle Equities CV v Amazon UK Services Ltd

Cross-border ecommerce teams should not assume that a foreign website stays legally foreign. Currency, delivery, checkout wording, search results and customer...

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IP & Brand ProtectionDigital & EcommerceOnline Sales, Subscriptions & PlatformsTrade Marks, Passing Off & BrandingCharities, Clubs & Member Governance
Court of Appeal of England and Wales[2022] EWCA Civ 86423 June 2022

Credico Marketing Limited & Anor. v Benjamin Gregory Lambert & Anor.

If your agreement contains both an exclusivity clause and a post-termination non-compete, assess them separately. This case shows that a court may uphold the first...

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Restraints, Confidentiality & Trade SecretsDirectors' Duties & GovernanceShareholders & Company ControlAdvertising, Marketing & PromotionsDebt Recovery, Guarantees & SecurityDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceUnions, Collective Bargaining & Industrial ActionStandards, Accreditation & Certification
High Court of Justice[2022] EWHC 1142 (IPEC)29 Apr 2022

Zoe Evans & Ors. v Anytime Clubs UK Limited & Anor.

If you run a franchise, keep clear records showing who controls local marketing in practice, not just on paper. A general right to protect brand standards is not...

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Directors' Duties & GovernanceShareholders & Company ControlAdvertising, Marketing & PromotionsTrade Marks, Passing Off & BrandingLicences, Permits & RegistrationsDisputes, Enforcement & RemediesFranchising, Distribution & DealershipsCharities, Clubs & Member GovernanceUnions, Collective Bargaining & Industrial ActionStandards, Accreditation & Certification