The Charity Commission has appointed interim managers to take over the running of charity Legal Action, following an investigation into concerns it was not operating for public benefit.

The charity, which also goes under the working name Charles Henry & Co, has been under investigation by the Commission since August last year, but appealed to the charity Tribunal over this decision in February. This appeal was dismissed.

The Commission appointed Paul Ridout and Con Alexander of Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP as joint interim managers of the charity. They will take control of the charity’s activities, to the exclusion of its trustees.

Since the inquiry was opened into the charity, it has failed to comply with orders from the Commission directing it to provide the regulator with legally compliant accounts, policies and procedures, and information about the charity’s activities.

The charity, which was registered in 2003, has objects to provide legal advice to people who cannot afford it, and promote welfare and assistance.

In March 2014, the regulator wrote to Legal Action issuing it with a plan and timescale for it to deal with regulatory issues that had been identified by the Commission over a four-year period.

Legal Action was brought to the attention of the Commission in 2010 over concerns that was operating outside of its objects and the regulator has since engaged with it on “various issues”.

Charity Tribunal

During the Tribunal hearing, the Commission claimed that the charity's appeal was not valid because trustee Kevin Gregory, one of the two representatives who signed Legal Action’s notice of application, is also currently “barred from conducting legal proceedings” due to his making “vexatious legal proceedings”.

Judge McKenna ruled that, despite Mr Gregory being barred, she was “not persuaded that the charity is barred by the order from issuing proceedings in this Tribunal” and refused the commission’s submission to strike out the appeal on these grounds.

The interim managers will review any on-going activities at the charity, including bringing an end to any inappropriate activities. They will also review its finances and report back to the Commission, including making recommendations as to the future operation of the charity and the application of its property.

Kevin Gregory, is also a trustee of the Augustine Housing Trust, a storage charity, which the Commission began investigating last year over its occupation of commercial premises. The Commission had said this may result in it becoming liable over business rates.

The Commission is asking anyone who may have had contact with Legal Action or Charles Henry, or who has any information that they believe may be relevant, to contact the interim managers. Information on how to do so can be seen here.

Legal Action is an entirely seperate organisation to the Legal Action Group, which produces a journal called Legal Action.