News

Urgent legal reform is needed to help high-risk groups leave Afghanistan

We believe an urgent intervention is needed to help groups that are at high risk of persecution by the Taliban escape Afghanistan – including human rights activists, lawyers, and academics. We also want the government to offer support and assurances to NGOs working to help their people on the ground in Afghanistan. Chetal Patel, immigration …
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Bates Wells wins Litigation Team of the Year and Pro Bono Initiative of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2021

We are absolutely delighted to have won two awards at the hugely competitive Lawyer Awards 2021. Our first award was for Litigation Team of the Year and is testament to the work the team has done to secure various groundbreaking judgements over the last year. The Lawyer commented on one such groundbreaking judgement – the …
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Chetal Patel reviews the new UK elite visa in Personnel Today

The elite visa will help to “attract and retain the most highly skilled, globally mobile talent” in science and technology. Chetal Patel, immigration specialist and partner, told Personnel Today: “This will be welcome news to tech businesses many of which were concerned about bringing talent from overseas following Brexit and coronavirus”. Although “the focus on …
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Bates Wells and the Law Society release new report and toolkit on women in law

The report shows there is still much further to go to achieve gender equality for women lawyers globally.   A new report, co-authored by Bates Wells and released to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March 2021, sets out to provide practical tools to support women lawyers from around the world in setting up or …
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Bates Wells publishes Gender Pay Report 2020

We are pleased to share our Gender Pay Report 2020, which provides an analysis of our gender pay data and sets out our key projects to further reduce the gender pay gap. Our values are pivotal to us, they shape our decisions and the way we live and work. We focus on making a positive …
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Bates Wells Joins The Good Business Charter

We’re delighted to announce that, after working with philanthropist and businessman Julian Richer to set up the Good Business Charter (GBC), we have now achieved accreditation ourselves. The Good Business Charter (GBC) is an accreditation that seeks to raise the bar on business practices for employees, tax, the environment, customers and suppliers. Bates Wells has …
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Applications for the 2021 #StephenLloydAwards are now open!

The Bates Wells Foundation are excited to welcome entries involving quirky ideas, projects and efforts intending to influence social change. Any charitable organisation with an innovative solution to deliver genuine, sustainable social change is encouraged to apply by visiting www.stephenlloydawards.org. All entries close at midnight 31 August 2021. Created in memory of the late Stephen …
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Bates Wells launches Upward Mentoring programme

We have finished our first ever Upward Mentoring programme. RISE, one of our Diversity & Inclusion Forum subgroups proposed the idea in the wake of our firm commitment to improve the work we do around allyship. RISE worked with HR, our senior leadership and our Black colleagues as well as those from ethnic minorities to …
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A Letter to the Earth

In the run up to COP26, we have teamed up with Business Declares and Letters to the Earth to help highlight the importance of taking action on climate change now. Martin Bunch, Managing Partner at Bates Wells, has joined other business leader (including CEOs from Triodos, Riverford and Forster Communications) by writing a Letter to …
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What to look for in a dispute resolution and litigation team

There is a misconception that you only need a lawyer who is adept at resolving disputes or litigation when all else has failed; the ‘distressed purchase’ to use as a last resort. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Finding and building a relationship with the right dispute resolution team can be one of …
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Charity Financials: Bates Wells acts for more top UK charities than any other law firm

Charity Financials’ latest directory recognises Bates Wells as the top UK law firm in the sector. Charity Financials’ Top 3000 Charities directory reports annually on the finances of the biggest charities in the UK, along with their advisors. Bates Wells has been once again been recognised as top of the table when it comes to …
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Changes to the Covid-19 right to work checks guidance

On 20 April 2021, the Home Office updated guidance for employers in relation to carrying out right to work checks during the pandemic. What’s the current procedure? In brief, there are currently 3 ways to check someone’s eligibility to work in the UK. Conducting a manual right to work check; orUsing the Home Office’s online …
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