Royal Charters

Produced in partnership with Adam Cygan of University of Leicester and Darragh Connell
Practice notes

Royal Charters

Produced in partnership with Adam Cygan of University of Leicester and Darragh Connell

Practice notes
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What is a Royal Charter?

The term 'Royal Charter' has transformed over time. Originally, a Royal Charter was a procedure by which the Crown could grant corporate personality to bodies of persons conducting activities for public, or private, benefit. Today, the term essentially describes an honorary status, which may be granted to eminent professional bodies or charitable organisations which have a record of achievement and are deemed financially sound in the opinion of the Privy Council.

The term is sometimes used to refer to municipal charters, which establish towns and cities.

Historical usage

Obtaining a Royal Charter was the original mechanism to acquire corporate personality for bodies of persons conducting activities for public, or private, benefit. The first Royal Charter for a body of persons providing public benefit was granted to the University of Cambridge in 1231 and for private benefit to The Sadlers Company in 1272.

As well as educational institutions, such as universities, and livery companies, a Royal Charter became increasingly linked to groups of persons carrying on a profession. This

Adam Cygan
Adam Cygan

Professor Adam Cygan is Professor of European Union Law at the University of Leicester. His research focuses on institutional and constitutional governance within the Internal Market with a particular emphasis upon the legislative process. Professor Cygan has published extensively on the role of national parliaments in EU decision-making and his research challenges core assumptions within EU integration concerning the constitutional principles of accountability and democracy. In particular, his research has examined the contribution made by parliamentary committees to improving accountability within EU governance. Professor Cygan also has also published extensively on governance issues surrounding the operation of the Internal Market including access to healthcare and free movement of persons. Professor Cygan has significant experience of delivering elite-level consultancy and training to a variety of target groups including members of the judiciary, civil servants, policy makers and legislators. He has worked on a diverse range of projects developing institutional capacity and instructing on best practice for civil servants and parliamentarians. This includes recent EU Commission projects in Albania and Azerbaijan as well as projects funded by the UK Foreign Office in Egypt and Libya which involved the establishment of oversight and scrutiny committees in countries seeking democratic transition. Professor Cygan has key communication, organisational and analytical skills that are required for provision of expertise and consultancy as well as extensive experience of producing training manuals and organising and delivering face to face training.

Darragh Connell
Darragh Connell

Barrister


Darragh deals with all aspects of commercial law with specific emphasis upon domestic and international contractual disputes, insolvency, civil fraud as well as crypto asset recovery. He has a busy commercial litigation practice regularly appearing in the High Court. Prior to joining the Bar, Darragh worked as an analyst with Goldman Sachs in London.

He holds a First Class Honours law degree from University College Dublin and he was the Swift MacNeill Scholar at the Honorable Society of the Kings Inns in 2008. Darragh also holds a Masters in Commercial Law from the University of Cambridge (Gonville and Caius College).

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Assent definition
What does Assent mean?

A method of transfer of estate property only available to personal representatives (PRs). An assent activates the gift of estate property to the beneficiary and, after assent, the PRs hold the asset on trust for the beneficiary until any further formalities to transfer the legal title have been complied with.

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