Robert Sowerby

Areas of practice:

Robert advises on a broad range of property matters and has particular specialisms in charity, ecclesiastical and school property and stamp duty land tax (SDLT). Robert has extensive experience acting as trusted advisor to clients including Church of England dioceses, single and multi-academy trusts, charities, landed estates and individuals on matters such as:

• Charity property disposals and acquisitions together with related regulatory and constitutional compliance.
  
  
• Academy conversions and transfers, including community schools, foundation schools and voluntary-aided and voluntary-controlled church schools.
  
  
• Acquisition, disposal and other dealings with all forms of Anglican ecclesiastical property including parsonages, closed church sites, glebe and diocesan trust property.
  
  
• School land transactions and associated applications for Department for Education and grant funder consent.
  
  
• Trusts compliance and trusts modification applications.
  
  
• Complex title investigation and property registration projects.
  
  
• Asset management matters such as licences, wayleaves and easements.
  
  
• The SDLT treatment of a range of residential, commercial and mixed property transactions.

Career:

Robert joined Wrigleys in 2010 and qualified as a solicitor in 2014 after completing his training contract with the firm. He was promoted to Managing Associate in 2025.

Professional memberships:

Ecclesiastical Law Society

Charity Law Association

Charities’ Property Association

Accreditations and Accolades:

Robert is a Dementia Friend

Publications:

Robert has written the following articles:

Martyn's Law and Places of Worship