Membership Associations - Professional Associations, Trade Associations and Governing Bodies
At Harvey Ingram, we have a team of specialist lawyers who have extensive experience in working with membership organisations such as professional bodies, professional societies, professional institutes and professional associations as well as trade associations and governing bodies such as sports governing bodies.
These organisations are usually owned or run by their members, with membership restricted to those operating in a particular sector or who have particular qualifications.
Most membership associations will be companies limited by guarantee. We also advise unincorporated associations (which pose unique problems due to potential personal liability to trustees and/or committee members) and Industrial and Provident Societies.
Typical examples of the specialist advice that we provide to a membership organisation includes:
- Advice on the structure and constitution including membership criteria, grades of membership, voting rights of different classes of members, corporate governance aspects, election of representatives and officers and the setting up of branches and groups.
- Mergers of membership associations.
- Disciplining, expulsion and exclusion of members and potential members.
- Advice on restricted practices and information exchanges between members which can lead to competition law issues.
- Advice on the gathering and use of personal data to ensure compliance with data protection legislation.
- Advice on the vast range of commercial agreements which membership organisations can enter into such as agreements relating to the education of its members, sponsorship agreements, rights to use accreditations and logos, terms and conditions for advice and helplines operated by the organisation.
Contact Us
If you would like more information on our legal services for membership associations please contact one of our specialist organisation lawyers: