Updates

Mergers: salvage or sense?

Lawrence Simanowitz, partner at Bates Wells, recently shared his observations on the surprising lack of increase in the number of mergers across the sector. Lawrence, who regularly advises on mergers, said to Third Sector: “If you look at the economic research we have seen showing a really high proportion of charities that thought they would …
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The right to work checks concession has been extended – what does this mean for your organisation?

With less than one week to go until the Covid-19 adjusted right to work checks were due to end, the Home Office has announced today that these measures will be extended until 5 April 2022 (inclusive). In recent months we have been lobbying the Home Office via Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association to request a delay …
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The Charities Act 2022, explained: Social Investment

Have you considered how the new Charities Act 2022 could affect your charity’s social investment activities? Our blog outlines key changes, focusing on investing permanent endowment and the restrictions on dispositions of land In 2016 the statutory social investment power was introduced into the Charities Act 2011, which confirmed the ability of most charities to …
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5 top tips to ensure your hybrid working model is a success

Our top tips are a helpful guide when making and implementing such important business decisions. Organisations country-wide are grappling with decisions around what their future way of working will look like. Undeniably, one of the biggest changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, has been the sudden shift away from a “9 to 5” office-based …
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The Charities Act 2022, explained: amending the governing document of a charitable trust or unincorporated association

The latest in our blog series, untangling the Charities Act 2022 to pull out the key points your charity will need to know, action now and plan for. The Charities Act 2022 will be implemented in stages between now and sometime in March 2024. Once the relevant provisions in the Act come into force, it …
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Latest update on International Data Transfers – what do we do now?

June has been a significant month for international data transfers in both the EU and UK, following a flurry of activity from various levels of the EU. This post considers the key developments in this fundamental area of data protection law, including what organisations should start to consider going forward. Jump to: 4 June: EU …
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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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Diversity in action: A guide for charities – governance

The Charity Governance Code is recognised by the Charity Commission as the standard for effective charity governance and boards of larger charities are expected to review their own performance annually with an external evaluation every three years. The Charity Governance Code has seven core principles, including ‘equality, diversity and inclusion’ (EDI). EDI was introduced in …
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Important update for incoming travellers: negative COVID-19 testing prior to departure

The UK government has announced it will next week impose a requirement on incoming travellers to present a negative test for COVID-19 if arriving by boat, plane or train.  This is a marked change from previous requirements and will present an additional challenge for incoming travellers in addition to the self-isolation requirements on arrival. The key points …
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Government introduces legislation to Parliament seeking to curb the use of Judicial Review

The Bill is the first legislative step in the Government’s plan to introduce restrictions on the use of Judicial Review On 21 July 2021, the Government introduced the Judicial Review and Courts Bill (“the Bill”) to Parliament. The Bill is intended to bring into law some, but not all, of the measures consulted on by …
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The Charities Act 2022, explained: changes and clarifications to the law around legacies

In our latest blog to untangle the Charities Act 2022, we take a deep dive into the law around legacies – including ex gratia payments, mergers and charity land. What do you need to know? The Charities Act 2022 contains some real nuggets for charities which receive legacies which should help remove some red tape …
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New Elections Bill – impact on charities and issue-based campaigners

The Bill aims to amend and supplement existing law applying to organisations that engage in issue-based campaigning and advocacy work Shortly before summer recess, the new Elections Bill 2021 was introduced by the Government.  Whilst much of the focus on the Bill has been on controversial new voter identification requirements, the Bill also aims to …
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