Karen Collins

New company guide empowers UK company directors to embed sustainability information in financial reporting

Bates Wells has contributed to a new guide, issued by the True & Fair Project, to support UK company directors who have decided that information relating to sustainability issues is necessary for their accounts to give a true and fair view. ‘Are Your Financial Statements True and Fair?’ underscores directors’ legal obligation to consider sustainability …
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Bates Wells advises ICAPE Holding on the acquisition of ALR Services

Bates Wells has advised ICAPE Holding on its acquisition of ALR Services Limited, a UK based company specialising in the procurement of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Founded in 1999, the ICAPE Group acts as a key technological expert in the PCB and technical parts supply chain. With a global network of 39 subsidiaries, the Group …
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What’s next for UK environmental protection?

On 24 January, the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill was ‘adjourned’ to 11 July after politicians were denied the opportunity for a ‘free vote’ to advance the Bill to its next stage. Instead, the government has promised that next steps will include binding commitments to advance the CAN Bill’s objectives, including for legislation. We considered …
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The Southport murders – will a non-statutory inquiry be enough?

The government has announced a public inquiry into the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice DaSilva Aguiar in Southport in July 2024. The inquiry will look at the murders in the context of rising youth violence, online radicalisation, and extremism. As with all inquiries, the aim will be to work out what …
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“Yes we CAN”: The new Climate and Nature Bill

The Climate and Nature Bill has its second reading in Parliament on 24 January and we’re one of hundreds of organisations supporting the proposed change in legislation. Its aim is to require the UK government to put stronger policy and action in place with important principles that go much further than the existing Environment Act. …
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The new subscription regime: are you ready to renew?

The new Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act came into force on 1 January 2025, bringing in a raft of changes to competition law for organisations in the UK. In this series we’ll be looking at key sections of the Act, and what this means in practice for businesses and charities.   It might not …
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2024 in review: strategic litigation

In 2024, strategic litigation continued to have an impact on decision making, policy setting and changes in the law. Decisions in a number of high-profile cases are likely to have far reaching implications for governments and organisations over the course of 2025 and beyond. In this blog we discuss several significant judgments and what they …
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2024 in review: UK immigration twists, turns, and digital shifts – and what’s ahead for 2025

2024: A year of change in UK immigration 2024 was a pivotal year for UK immigration, marked by significant policy changes impacting employers, individuals, and the broader immigration system. From evolving government directives to the transition toward a fully digital immigration framework, the UK’s immigration landscape has seen notable shifts. As we venture into the …
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Lord Briggs defends fixed recoverable costs regime for professional negligence cases

In a speech for the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association, Lord Briggs championed voluntary adjudication and gave qualified support to the use of fixed costs and one way costs-shifting to promote access to justice. On 11 November 2024, Bates Wells was pleased to host an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the PNLA’s formation. In …
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It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas…

The arrival of the festive season is usually a time for merriment but for employers it brings with it the challenges involved with sourcing additional staff. It’s important that you don’t let practices slip, otherwise, you may find yourselves in tricky situations. Here are our top tips for HR directors this festive season to help …
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The Football Governance Bill – does Rugby Union need its own independent regulator?

English sport has traditionally followed a model of self-governance. However, times are changing. The Independent Football Regulator is being introduced imminently, and the England and Wales Cricket Board has opted to create its own arms-length regulator. In this series, Clara Hutter and Ben Thomas look at rugby union and ask whether a similar approach to …
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Changing seasons heralding changes to private rented sector

This month we saw a test case brought in the High Court by a group of registered social landlords in Wales who sought clarification on whether contract-holders were required to pay rent whilst a landlord was in breach of their obligation to provide them with electrical condition reports.   The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 …
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