Karen Collins

Bates Wells advises on the transfer of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board to the IFRS Foundation

Bates Wells has advised CDP, the global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system, on the transfer of the intellectual property and employees of its Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) to the IFRS Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that develops globally accepted financial reporting standards. CDP pioneered using capital markets and corporate procurement to motivate …
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Bates Wells Ethnicity Pay Report 2020

We have completed our Ethnicity Pay Report for 2020 (reporting data as at 5 April 2020). Firstly, we acknowledge that the data does not make for good reading and as a firm we are not where we want to be. However, through producing this report we have been able to identify the gaps and we are already …
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Bates Wells recognised for its early career opportunities and graduate recruitment practices at The AllAboutLaw Awards 2022

The AllAboutLaw Awards showcases the best law firms in the UK. Awards recognise the quality of opportunities for aspiring solicitors, such as vacation schemes and training contracts, as well as the achievements of early talent teams for their marketing and recruitment efforts. The awards are based on the opinions of current aspiring solicitors in the …
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How to introduce a staff hardship fund

As a consequence of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and the cost of living crisis, many employers are considering how they might offer support to current employees in financial difficulties. One way to support them is to set up a charitable staff hardship fund, which can be used to give financial support to members of a defined class of …
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Kids Company: Frequently Asked Questions

Kids Company was a well-known charity which provided practical, emotional and educational support to deprived inner-city children and young people in London and Bristol. Following the charity’s insolvent liquidation in 2015, the Official Receiver, an officer of the Insolvency Service, carried out an investigation into the management and affairs of the charity and the causes …
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Our climate commitments: annual report 2021

While sustainability has always been at the heart of Bates Wells, in 2019, we formally recognised the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis. We promised to achieve net carbon zero in 2019 and work to reduce our scope 3 emissions. We pledged to take the crisis into account when developing our new strategy. We set a …
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Real estate services for B Corps

What impact are your premises having on the environment? The B Impact Assessment asks you to consider this, whether you own the freehold to your premises or are a tenant. Regardless of what stage you are at in the life cycle of property, our real estate team are ready to review your options through a …
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Bates Wells celebrates LGBT+ history month | Listen to our Spotify playlist!

Throughout LGBT+ history month we shared recommendations from people across our firm to celebrate queer history.  We received heaps of amazing suggestions of books, songs and events that demonstrate the cultural richness of each part of LGBT+ spectrum, so whatever your interests are, there will be something for you! Our playlist collates all of the great song suggestions we received, …
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GDPR health check

Now that the GDPR tsunami seems to have receded, it’s time for many of us to take stock and consider whether the steps we took in 2018 and before meet the GDPR standards and the expectations of regulators. Even if you obtained GDPR consulting services in the past to help with your preparations, it is …
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Merger assessment service

Could your charity benefit from our merger assessment service? How could this service help you? We have found that many charities would like a quick and cheap way of determining whether a merger is a good way forward before engaging full legal advice/support. To assist with this, we provide a bespoke service and confidential report …
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Covid-19 Inquiry: Prime Minister has now consulted Baroness Hallett on the Terms of Reference

In a House of Commons debate yesterday, 24 February 2022, Heather Wheeler of the Cabinet Office answered questions from Afzal Khan (Shadow Minister (Justice)), Marsha de Cordova (Labour, Battersea) and Fleur Anderson (Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)) regarding the Covid-19 Inquiry. In addition to the information already in the public domain, Ms Wheeler confirmed that the …
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On the horizon: emerging trends and regulation in company governance mini guide

Has all the press around COP26 and the IPCC report made you think about what the legal landscape might look like in 2030 and how that might affect your governance? Recent research shows that younger people in particular, but also the UK population in general, are less likely to have the wool pulled over their …
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