Olivia Norman

B Corp acquisitions: Preserving purpose through a change of ownership

For B Corps and other kinds of purpose-driven business, having an embedded purpose-beyond-profit provides a compass in times of change. However, some changes need to be considered carefully, to ensure the longevity of that purpose and, for B Corps, the maintenance of certification. This is most pronounced when a sale of the business is in …
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Bates Wells and Fashion Declares have collaborated on a Sustainable Fashion White Paper: The Future of Fashion Regulation in the UK

In recent years, there have been significant developments in sustainability legislation introduced by the European Union (EU) and United States (US) which apply directly to the fashion and textile industry. Whilst there are a range of views on the effectiveness of this legislation, the United Kingdom (UK) still lacks a coherent fashion and textile regulatory …
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Bates Wells and Fair Game drive key improvements in Football Governance Bill as it advances in Parliament

The Football Governance Bill has received its first reading in the House of Commons, having passed through the House of Lords with its key provisions intact. The Bill will introduce an Independent Football Regulator to oversee the licensing of clubs in the top five tiers of the men’s game, with three main objectives: protecting individual …
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Balancing Flexible Working and Office Working: Lessons from Gill v BDW Trading Ltd

The Covid pandemic has left an indelible mark on the world of work; with flexible, hybrid working becoming the norm in many industries.  However, five years on, many employers are asking staff to return to working in the office – if not full time, then at least more often.  For example, companies such as Amazon, …
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Whistleblowing – A cautionary tale

We recently acted for the Royal College of Nursing assisting them successfully to defend an unfounded whistleblowing claim brought by their former Chair of Council. The Bates Wells team was led by Paul Seath and Jasmine Sudworth. This case study highlights the potential pitfalls where claimants fail to raise concerns in the correct way, where …
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Asking a female employee why she wants to work can amount to harassment related to sex: Lessons from A Pereira v Wellington Antiques and Another

In the recent case of A Pereira v Wellington Antiques and Another, the Employment Tribunal looked at the issue of whether an employer asking a female member of staff questions about why she wanted to work, why she needed to earn money, and about her husband, could amount to harassment related to sex; and found …
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Employment Rights Bill faces criticism in the House of Lords

On 27 March 2025, the Employment Rights Bill (“ERB”) passed its second reading in the House of Lords; after a lengthy debate lasting almost six hours. The Bill runs to 300 pages, with a further 200 pages of explanatory notes. The Labour government are claiming that the ERB will be “the biggest upgrade to workers’ …
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Regulating for growth – a new approach to an old idea?

“We’ve got to look at regulation across the piece, and where it is needlessly holding back investment… mark my words, we will get rid of it”. This was Prime Minister Kier Starmer’s bold commitment at the International Investment Summit in October 2024. Two months later, on Christmas eve 2024, the PM wrote to 17 regulators, …
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Increases in employment related statutory pay and compensation limits from 6 April 2025

From 6 April 2025, as is the case each year, the Government will be increasing the level of employment related statutory payments, as well as the compensation limits applicable to certain Employment Tribunal awards; by 2.7% (roughly in line with the Retail Prices Index (“RPI”)). Below we set out a summary of the key increases, …
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Does a lack of insight and remorse warrant dismissal? Lessons from Hewston v OFSTED [2025] EWCA Civ 250

In the recent case of Hewston v OFSTED [2025] EWCA Civ 250, the Court of Appeal looked at the question of whether an employee’s lack of “insight” and “contrition” during a disciplinary process merited a disciplinary sanction of dismissal, and found that it did not.  The Court also found that the fact that the employee …
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The introduction of paid Statutory Neonatal Care Leave entitlement from 6 April 2025

From 6 April 2025, employees will benefit from a new statutory entitlement to paid leave, of up to 12 weeks, in circumstances where their child requires specialist neonatal care in the first 28 days following birth.  We set out a brief overview below. Statutory Neonatal Care Leave The entitlement to Neonatal Care Leave (“SNCL”) will …
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The top ten things charities get wrong in whistleblowing cases

Employees in the UK are entitled to certain legal protections in the event that they make a disclosure about wrongdoing that is in the public interest (known as “blowing the whistle”).  For employers, including charities, the best way to comply with their legal obligations to protect whistleblowers within their organisation, is to ensure that they …
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