EDI

We put our heart into achieving your equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) goals.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people against discrimination, victimisation, and harassment.

It is unlawful to treat someone unfavourably due to their protected characteristics - age, disability, gender reassignment (including gender identity), marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. However, there are exceptions, including for charities and women only organisations.

Our lawyers live and breathe our values. We also champion characteristics that are not protected by the Equality Act such as social mobility and caring responsibilities throughout our approach.

How we help

How we can help your organisation

We help charities, businesses, public bodies, membership bodies and other organisations to comply with their obligations (including as employers) under the Equality Act. We review and draft equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies and procedures. We advise on embedding inclusion in all of your activities, particularly where there are competing interests, including advice on lawful positive action. We can also advise on employee disciplinary action and claims against employers.

We undertake reviews for public bodies and large not-for-profit organisations which involve detailed analysis of existing policies, processes, practices and structures. We make robust recommendations for improvements while winning buy-in from key stakeholders.

 

How we help individuals

Our Employment and Dispute Resolution teams also help with bringing or defending Equality Act complaints and claims by beneficiaries, service users, employees, members, volunteers and other stakeholders.

Our immigration team also provide services specifically tailored to alternative families and LGBT+ individuals.

Explore

Creating a ‘Speak Up’ culture in purpose-driven businesses: The benefits of an effective whistleblowing framework

Bates Wells convenes the Impact Counsels’ Forum, a space for senior counsel working within impact investors, B Corps, and other purpose-driven businesses. The forum discusses the ‘impact angles’ on legal and practical issues faced by in-house legal teams. Recently, the forum explored the benefits an effective whistleblowing framework and how that can support an open …
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Using the law to create change – a new guide for charities and campaigning groups

In partnership with NEON, this new guide explains how your organisation can use the law to create meaningful change. Legal action is rarely enough to drive systemic change on its own, but the law can be a powerful tool for purpose-driven organisations, especially when combined with other tactics within a broader campaign strategy. The guide …
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Purpose & Impact: your roundup | June

Welcome to your roundup – a monthly selection of news hand-picked to keep you up to date with what’s going on for businesses and investors working to create positive impact. In this roundup you can find out what’s new in the B Corp, social enterprise, and impact investing spaces, amongst others, collated under helpful headings. …
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New company guide empowers UK company directors to embed sustainability information in financial reporting

Bates Wells has contributed to a new guide, issued by the True & Fair Project, to support UK company directors who have decided that information relating to sustainability issues is necessary for their accounts to give a true and fair view. ‘Are Your Financial Statements True and Fair?’ underscores directors’ legal obligation to consider sustainability …
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Government considers a range of cost protection options for claimants bringing discrimination claims

Most organisations will, at some point, have to respond to a claim (meritorious or not) alleging discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. The usual rule for most litigation before the courts in England and Wales is that the loser pays the winner’s costs (or at least pays a proportion of them). The government is considering …
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Meet our team