Karen Collins

Stephen Lloyd Awards reopens to both existing and new applicants

The Awards are pleased to unlock a short application window considering both existing applications and new applications. In the wake of Covid-19, the Stephen Lloyd Awards have had to temporarily halt their 2020 Awards process.  In endeavouring to meet social need by continuing to support systemic change-makers, the Awards are pleased to unlock a short …
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Could a ‘hardship fund’ help provide critical support to your employees during the current crisis?

As a result of COVID-19 many people are facing increased financial hardship and are at risk of falling into, or have already fallen into, poverty. We have recently received a number of enquiries from individuals, companies and charities asking how they might be able to support employees and former employees in financial need, as well …
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New insolvency and meetings guidance for Not for Profits and Social Enterprise

In conjunction with The Chartered Governance Institute, today we have published guidance around the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 that provides advice to charities, social enterprises and mutuals about insolvency. A separate piece of guidance about holding meetings during the current pandemic has also been published. Louise Thomson, Head of Policy (Not for Profit) …
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Bates Wells advises the shareholders of DPO Group on the sale of DPO Group to Network International Holdings Plc for USD288m

Bates Wells’ corporate team advised the shareholders of DPO Group, the leading, high-growth online commerce platform and payments provider in Africa, on the conditional sale of DPO Group to Network International Holdings Plc, a FTSE 250 company listed on the London Stock Exchange plc. DPO Group is the largest online commerce platform operating at scale …
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People Management: Chetal Patel on EU citizens granted settled status

Chetal Patel, partner in our Immigration team, has been featured in People Management regarding the latest EU citizens to have been granted settled status. The official figures have shown that more than two million EU citizens have so far been granted settled status recently. However experts have warned that those who fail to apply on …
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Tier 1 Investor

Our client came to the United Kingdom as a Tier 1 Investor, as his entire family were being relocated in various immigration categories as a result of our advice. It was important that they all obtained status at the same time and they gained permission to remain as a family unit, as some of the …
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Tech start up entrepreneur

Our client had an established tech start-up with a global reach, and needed advice in making an extension application to his Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) leave. What happened? We were able to establish at the first meeting that with the time he had spent in the UK as a student, he would be eligible for ILR …
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Media and social entrepreneur

Our client was a high profile social entrepreneur who we have been advising since his first arrival in the UK, all the way to his British citizenship. As a result of his entrepreneurship, he has even been honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours. What happened? We then successfully advised his wife on her way to …
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The emerging normal

The impact of COVID-19 presents challenges and opportunities for charity governance. Governance expert Tesse Akpeki suggests steps your board can take to embrace the new normal.
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The agile office – building on the COVID experience

COVID-19 has forced many businesses, some almost overnight, to embrace home working. Our real estate expert Amy O’Gorman talks to Sue Cleverdon of Cleverdon Associates about opportunities for future resilience through agile working.
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Long anticipated changes to society lotteries come into effect

On 29 July 2020, changes to the rules for society lotteries licensed by the Gambling Commission came into effect. Broadly, the changes, which are reflected in the updated Licence conditions and code of practice (LCCP): increase the caps on annual income from society lotteries from £10 million to £50 million (with a pro-rata limit £31,311,475 …
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COVID-19 Concessions: what next?

The Home Office has today published eagerly awaited guidance on the situation of non-EEA nationals in the UK whose ability to make applications or to travel is being impacted by COVID-19. Concessions introduced so far allowed those who have leave to enter or remain in the UK expiring between 24 January 2020 and 31 July …
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