Lawrence is a qualified lawyer and was previously a partner for 25 years at Bates Wells – the leading law firm in the not-for-profit and public benefit spaces.
His focus is on governance, strategy and regulation (including investigations) and he also has expertise in negotiating and advising on grants and contracts (both government procurement and commercial); transactions and reorganisations (including mergers, spin-outs and incorporations); intellectual property and data protection.
Lawrence’s clients have included international federations such as MSF, Open Society Foundation and ActionAid; major UK institutions and not-for-profits such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Jewish Museum, Shelter, Comic Relief, RSPCA and WWF; and many smaller charities and start-ups.
His board roles have included chair of the Urdang Academy of Dance and Drama, trustee of the World Land Trust, Director of 38 Degrees Ltd, director and hearings panel member of the Fund-Raising Standards Board.
Before training as a lawyer, Lawrence was a broadcast journalist and documentary-maker having worked at the BBC (Panorama, Nature), Channel 4 (Equinox) and US broadcaster ABC News.