Karen Collins

A brave new world: It’s state aid but not (quite) as we know it…

Following Brexit and the end of the transition period the UK has now committed to a new subsidy control regime in accordance with the new EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to replace the EU state aid regime. All organisations which might give or receive subsidies from UK Government funds – including central and local government, …
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Boardroom 2030 hackathon: looking through a climate lens

We held our first firm wide climate-focused hackathon as part of B Lab’s Boardroom 2030 campaign. We chose to look at Boardroom 2030 through a climate-lens and held a preliminary panel discussion a fortnight before. At the panel event, chaired by B Lab’s Charmian Love, we asked an activist, an environmental think tank policy director …
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Bates Wells honoured as a ‘Best for the World” B Corp, 2021

Bates Wells has been announced as a 2021 “Best for the World” B Corp, in the category of governance. The award means we’re ranked in the top 5% of all B Corps worldwide in terms of our governance and is recognition of the positive impact we make on our people, society and environment. To become …
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Preventing charity fraud

Recent research shows that charities are increasingly aware of the risk of fraud and defences are improving, but some charities still have much to do. In this guest article, Alan Bryce, Head of Development, Counter Fraud and Cybercrime at the Charity Commission for England & Wales reports on the work the commission is doing to …
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Bates Wells immigration lawyer contributes to Third Sector Updates

Chetal Patel, partner in our Immigration Team, has taken part in the latest edition of Third Sector’s Updates series. Speaking to Emily Burt, deputy editor of Third Sector, Chetal spoke on the subject of whether or not charities are ready to deal with the potential impact of Brexit on their immigration arrangements. In a brief …
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What’s new at the Charity Commission?

Emma Knuckey reports on recent developments at the Charity Commission.
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Video: Karli Hiscock discusses the B Corp movement, for Business Reporter

How can the B Corp movement help to advance the future of responsible business? Karli Hiscock shares her thoughts with Business Reporter. B Corps aim to go beyond profit, to have a positive impact on people, the environment and society. In this video for Business Reporter’s Future of Responsible Business series, Karli Hiscock talks about …
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The Charity Commission published new guidance on online safety in its updated safeguarding guidance. What’s new?

As the Commission continues to look into safeguarding issues, this is a timely opportunity to ensure your charity is complying with the Safeguarding Guidance, which applies to all charities and not just those which work with children and/or adults at risk. On Thursday 17 November 2021, mid-way though Adult Safeguarding Week, the Charity Commission published …
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Bates Wells celebrates Disability History Month 2021

This year we marked Disability History Month with a panel discussion focused on one of 2021’s themes, Disability and Hidden Impairment. An award-winning author on the topic joined our internal panellists who discussed their own experiences as well as how we better develop a workplace culture that supports people living with invisible disability or chronic …
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Rachel Mathieson wins Rising Star of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2021 for her role in the Uber litigation

Rachel is a Senior Associate in Bates Wells’ Employment team who qualified in 2014. Alongside Employment Partner Paul Jennings, Rachel successfully represented the two test Claimants taking on Uber in the Supreme Court, in a landmark case concerning the employment rights of an estimated 45,000 drivers across London. The case will have enormous implications for …
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Building purpose into your business: Bates Wells writes for Business Reporter

As more businesses look to operate more responsibly, what are the main factors to consider? And how can you avoid greenwashing? Angela Monaghan, Purpose and Impact Lead, shares her top tips as part of Business Reporter’s Future of Responsible Business series. “There is a growing concern in the UK that capitalism in its current form …
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Video: Luke Fletcher explains the Better Business Act, for Business Reporter

How could the Better Business Act drive action to make business more sustainable? Luke Fletcher elaborates in this new video for Business Reporter’s Future of Responsible Business series. The Better Business Act is a proposed piece of legislation that could rewrite the rules for businesses in the UK. It would require businesses to not only …
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