Karen Collins

BatesCast – what next for charity fundraising?

Charity fundraisers around the country are urgently dealing with unprecedented challenges. In the face of extreme financial pressure on charities, what is happening to fundraising, and how can practices be adapted? In this Updates, we speak to Lawrie Simanowitz, a partner in Bates Wells’ Charity and Social Enterprise team, along with special guest Dan Fluskey. …
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People Management: Chetal Patel on key workers and points-based immigration

The government’s points-based immigration scheme has passed its second reading in parliament, despite concerns it will be too restrictive for key sectors including care, food production and supermarkets. Chetal Patel, partner in our Immigration department, has spoken to People Management on this scheme. This new points-based scheme will come into force in January. The bill, …
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Covid-19: The return to the workplace – What are the data privacy implications for employers?

Now that the UK Government has begun the process of lifting certain lockdown restrictions (at least in England), employers are planning the return of employees to the workplace. Whether that be offices, factory floors, retail or catering premises, all employers will need to carefully consider the requirement to provide a safe working environment. We have …
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Bates Wells completes work to get emergency loan finance to charities and SEs

We are pleased to announce that our Charity and Social Enterprise team has just completed work on the formation of a new Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund to provide charities and social enterprises with emergency coronavirus related loan finance. The fund will be run by our client Social Investment Business and is backed by an …
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Civil Society: Coronavirus and charities’ real estate

Amanda Gray and Mark Traynor from our Real Estate team have written to Civil Society to assess the implications of the lockdown for landlords and tenants. In their article, the discuss how we’ve all heard plenty about the challenges facing the charity sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and about the various government …
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Liverpool FC score an own goal – the world of trade marks

European football champions Liverpool FC came a cropper in a recent trade marks case – in quite an instructive way. Mathew Healey explores the world of trade marking names.
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Victoria Hordern writes for Privacy Laws & Business: Is Morrisons to blame for actions of an employee with a grudge?

Victoria Hordern, partner and head of our Data Privacy team, has recently written an article for Privacy Laws & Business. In the article Victoria discusses what the UK Supreme Court’s decision in Morrisons tell us about liability under data protection law. The article focuses on an incident where a Morrisons’ employee maliciously uploaded payroll data …
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The Independent: Lucy McLynn on minimum wage investigations over volunteers for coronavirus testing

Lucy McLynn, partner in our Employment team, has provided comment to The Independent over the news that Boots could be risking investigation under minimum wage legislation after recruiting hundreds of volunteers to carry out coronavirus testing for the government. Lucy has commented that treating the testers as volunteers “feels pretty abusive” and may fall foul of minimum wage legislation, …
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New government guidance on coronavirus and contracts – how to act responsibly and fairly

The Cabinet Office issued new practical guidance on 7th May 2020 on responsible contractual behaviour in the performance and enforcement of contracts impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. The guidance is intended to apply to all current contracts which are materially impacted by COVID-19. Parties are encouraged to be reasonable, proportionate and co-operative to ensure just …
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Bates Wells profiled in the Times Best Law Firms 2021

Bates Wells has been recommended across three areas in this year’s Times report. Bates Wells have been commended for its work in Administrative & public law; Charities and Immigration. The Times Best Law Firms 2021 has recognised Bates Wells as “Best for Charities” in this year’s report. Drawn from surveys among our peers in the …
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Department of Education consults on rationalising post-16 qualifications that compete with T Levels by 2023

According to its recently published consultation paper, the Department of Education (“DfE”) considers that with “more than 12,000 different qualifications funded in England at level 3 and below”. The quality of education and skills provided across the piece do not provide the world class technical education that the DfE is aiming for. The proposal is …
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Merger and real estate

Planning and organisation are important for a successful merger. One aspect of this is to identify, at the outset, any real estate implications that are likely to be involved.
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