News

Bates Wells joins Mediator Locator

Paul Jennings, Rachel Mathieson, and Tim Constable have recently joined Mediator Locator, a new platform that allows parties to quickly be matched with a mediator to support them to resolve their legal issues. Disputes can be time-consuming and costly, with a profound effect on wellbeing, resources and energy. We believe that, where appropriate, focusing on …
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Can trustees take parental leave?

Philip Kirkpatrick, Partner in our Charity & Social Enterprise team, discusses the legal issues around trustees taking extended leave, including for parental leave and periods of ill-health, in an article for the Association of Chairs. Responding to a question from Joe Saxton, Chair of the Association of Chairs, Philip concludes that with no statutory rights …
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Pioneers Post: Philip Kirkpatrick comments on Anglian Water’s purpose-led business model

Philip Kirkpatrick, Partner in our Charity & Social Enterprise team, has spoken with Pioneers Post about the positive impact that embedding social purpose into a company can have but the need for better accountability mechanisms to ensure the value of doing so in the long term. Anglian Water, a UK water utility company, amended its …
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Bates Wells Announces Partnership with Making the Leap to Support Aspiring Solicitor Apprentices

Bates Wells today announces that the firm has partnered with leading societal change charity, Making The Leap, on the provision of assessment centre preparation and support for aspiring solicitor apprentices. Candidates who have been invited to the firm’s competitive apprenticeship assessment centres have been offered the opportunity to join Making The Leap for two days …
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Bates Wells and the EHRC supports Uber Eats driver who faced problematic AI checks

An Uber Eats driver received financial settlement following allegations that an AI facial recognition system, required to access the Uber Eats platform, was racially discriminatory. Pa Edrissa Manjang continuously experienced difficulties with Uber Eats’ verification system. In 2021, he was removed from the platform and told by Uber Eats that they had found ‘continued mismatches’ …
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Bates Wells’ LGBT+ history month roundup 2024

This February, we joined in the UK’s celebration of LGBT+ history month. History month is an opportunity for us to reflect, and to take steps to continue to build inclusion for our people. It also enables us to look outwards, to our work with clients and with the wider legal and professional community. This LGBT+ …
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Supervising Solicitor Services

Executing a search order can be challenging and unpredictable. Our experience as supervising solicitors is second to none. Download the file below to find out more.
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Bates Wells announces impactful and significant judgment – Ali v Green Party of England and Wales

The case was brought against our client, the Green Party of England and Wales. Today sees the judgment in Ali v Green Party of England and Wales.  Mindy Jhittay who represented the Green Party of England and Wales comments, “This case is significant as a decision which will be of great interest to political parties …
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In the news: Chetal Patel comments on new UK migrant rules

Following Home Secretary James Cleverly’s announcement on the 4th December of the government’s intention to cut migration numbers with a 5 step plan, Chetal Patel spoke with various news outlets to discuss the consequences of these changes. One of the planned actions is to increase the earning threshold for overseas skilled workers from its current …
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Driving purpose AND driving economic recovery….read on to find out more

Last week saw the launch of a new report produced in collaboration by leading think tank Demos and B Lab UK – The Purpose Dividend – exploring the economic impact of being a purpose-driven business. The journey to become a truly purpose-led business isn’t always an easy one and we understand the key stakeholder pressures …
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Creating impact: Bates Wells recognised by The Times Best Law Firms 2024

We’ve been commended by The Times Best Law Firms 2024 for our work for administrative and public law, charities, employment and immigration. The piece acknowledges the sad passing of Andrew Phillips earlier this year, commemorating his contribution to the legal world, and highlighting how Bates Wells continues to use the law as a force for …
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Net zero and the government U-turn – what will you do?

The government announcement on 20 September 2023 has derailed several climate change commitments including in relation to reducing carbon emissions from residential properties. The argument is that this relieves some financial burden for property owners. However, commentators suggest the U-turn on EPCs not only stores problems for the climate crisis but also creates a longer term …
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