Karen Collins

Diversity in action: A guide for charities – creating change

The work of our client, Blueprint for All (formerly the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust) is an example of how diversity in action can change lives. Blueprint for All believes in a future where talent is respected and nurtured, where organisations recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and where communities can thrive. Sonia Watson OBE, …
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COVID-19 right to rent checks temporary measures extended to 5 April 2022

Due to COVID-19, landlords have been benefitting from the temporary measures to the right to rent checks by allowing the checks to be carried out virtually. These temporary measures were extended to the 31 August 2021 and recently, the UK government have announced a further extension to the 5 April 2022. Key points: How to …
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Bates Wells contributes to Policy & Practice for Purposeful Business, an ambitious report by the British Academy

The British Academy Future of the Corporation programme builds on four years of research and insight from leading thinkers to answer big questions on the role of business in society. These new findings, described by the Financial Times as “one of the world’s most ambitious efforts to reform capitalism for the 21st century”, conclude four …
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Bates Wells rewrites fellow B Corp Planit IE’s articles of association and employment contracts to better reflect its values

Planit IE is a design practice that pioneers sustainability and puts the long-term health of the environment and communities it works with at the heart of everything it does. Earlier this year, we rewrote their articles of association and employment contracts to better reflect their B Corp values. Our first step was to gain a …
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The cost of getting flexible working requests wrong

A tribunal has awarded almost £185,000 in damages after a central London estate agent refused to grant a flexible working request. In this update, we cover how the tribunal came to a decision and highlight why this is significant for employers. The recent case of Thompson v Scancrown Ltd, trading as Manors, is a salutary …
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Are you in the adult social care sector? Have your say on the impact of the end of free movement.

Significant challenges within the care sector have become particularly prominent in the last few weeks, with an increase in staff shortages due to the end of free movement and a spotlight placed on funding. In response to the government, The Migration Advisory Committee (‘MAC’) is requesting views and evidence from anyone with relevant knowledge, expertise …
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A review of our litigation team’s positive impact

As we reflect on our work over the last year, we are proud of the extensive impact our litigation team has made to the lives of so many people. Download the report below to read about some of their most impactful work from Autumn 2020 to Summer 2021.
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Update to Travel Rules from Amber List Countries from 19 July 2021

The UK Government has announced today that, from 19 July 2021, fully vaccinated UK residents who are travelling to England from a country on the Amber List will not be required to quarantine in their homes for 10 days. They will still be required to pay for PCR tests before and after they arrive in …
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New ballot system for T5 Youth Mobility Workers

The Home Office has recently introduced a new ballot system for migrants seeking entry into the UK under the T5 Youth mobility visa. This sought after visa allows migrants of certain nationalities to live, work and study in the UK for a period of 2 years. When will it open? The ballot runs twice a …
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Bates Wells advises SigmaRoc plc on its £305 million syndicated debt facility

SigmaRoc was created in 2016 and focuses on investing, improving and integrating companies in the European construction materials sector. Nordkalk was established in 1898 as a limestone developer in Finland and has expanded to become a leading supplier of limestone-based solutions for agricultural, construction and chemical industries. The enlarged quarried materials group is operating across …
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Mergers: salvage or sense?

Lawrence Simanowitz, partner at Bates Wells, recently shared his observations on the surprising lack of increase in the number of mergers across the sector. Lawrence, who regularly advises on mergers, said to Third Sector: “If you look at the economic research we have seen showing a really high proportion of charities that thought they would …
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Urgent legal reform is needed to help high-risk groups leave Afghanistan

We believe an urgent intervention is needed to help groups that are at high risk of persecution by the Taliban escape Afghanistan – including human rights activists, lawyers, and academics. We also want the government to offer support and assurances to NGOs working to help their people on the ground in Afghanistan. Chetal Patel, immigration …
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