We believe that law can be a powerful lever to drive positive behaviours. We have a long history of using the law to make a difference. We registered the first charity to have sustainable development recognised as their charitable purpose and collaborated with the UK Government to create the Community Interest Company (CIC), a legal structure now used by over 14,000 organisations operating for the public good.
Today, we’re taking that idea even further. The Bates Wells team provided nearly five years of pro bono support to the challengers of Uber culminating in a Supreme Court decision that drivers for the app should be considered workers. We drafted the Better Business Act, promoting a statutory requirement for all companies to have, as a minimum, a corporate purpose and we’re working to establish the legal precedent that trustees have a duty to divest in fossil fuels, to protect their beneficiaries in the long term from the negative impacts of climate change.
When it comes to your environmental strategy, we can help you to minimise your impact at every level of your operations and throughout your supply chain, from climate-friendly clauses in contracts through to advising on your divestment strategy. We’ve been a carbon neutral firm ourselves since 2019, so in working with us, you’re reducing your supply chain carbon emissions.
Supporting you in delivering social impact is core to our expertise. We’re the leading firm for purposeful businesses, charities and social enterprises. We also advise countless businesses on setting up foundations, charitable partnerships and corporate philanthropy.
Our impact investment experts can also help you to amplify your social and environmental impact through your financial strategy. And from a transactional perspective, if you are an impact investor or providing development finance in frontier markets, we can ensure that your ESG requirements are duly enshrined in your investment documents and are enforceable.
Good governance is key to the successful delivery of any ESG strategy. You may be considering the best legal structure for your purposeful organisation. Perhaps you want to embed a commitment to a triple bottom line in your governing documents. Or maybe you’re looking to implement policies and procedures that will push your values throughout your organisation – and down your supply chain. We have the legal and regulatory expertise to guide you through.
Get in touch to find out how we can help you.
