Updates

LIBOR transition 2021 – are you ready?

If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to get ready for the transition from the London Interbank Offer Rate interest benchmark (‘LIBOR’) to the new risk-free rates. LIBOR will cease to be in effect from 31 December 2021.
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The General Counsel’s guide to B Corp certification

If you’re a GC or in-house lawyer and your business is considering B Corp certification, we’ve pulled together a quick checklist of the things you need to know. Click the link below to view.
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UK Visas for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) citizens and family members open this month

Last year, the UK government detailed a roadmap for Hong Kong residents who hold British National (Overseas) citizenship, or “BN(O)”, to live and work in the UK. On 31 January 2021, the BN(O) Visa opened, allowing holders of BN(O) citizenship and close family members to apply with a view to settlement and citizenship after the …
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The Operations Team’s guide to becoming a B Corp

Our latest B Corp mini guide is aimed at Operations Teams. Click below to find out the things you need to know.
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Carbon Footprint offsetting for home working

When Bates Wells formally recognised the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis in 2019, we made a number of commitments to mitigate our environmental impact. One of these commitments was to decrease our carbon emissions and to reach net zero carbon in 2019. Net zero carbon covers our Scope 1 and 2 emissions and some of …
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Positive change: the outcomes of an unprecedented year – a Bates Wells report

Twelve months after the UK first locked down, we wanted to take a moment to pause, step back and look at the bigger picture in what has been an extraordinary year for the charity sector.  We asked leading sector journalist Liza Ramrayka to take a look back and pull together the key challenges, solutions and …
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The Triple Bottom Line Q&A Series: Planet

The second edition of our Triple Bottom Line Series focuses on the planet. We asked Thang Vo-Ta, CEO & Co-founder at Callaly, about their experience of being a B Corp so far and their future goals. Click below to read more.
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Ten steps to make recruitment safe

As businesses venture into the new normal – which may include a hybrid office and home working – employers should take time to review their recruitment policies. Many employers struggle to implement effective recruitment and induction processes within their organisations. With the rise of hybrid working, now more than ever employers need to consider if …
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What should you do if your email has been hacked?

Our newest guide outlines the top tips for dealing with an email hack. It’s a shame we had to write this guide. But unfortunately hacking, phishing and other blagging attacks are becoming more and more common – particularly in a work context. Whether it’s your email that’s been hacked or whether you’ve received an email …
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How is the new post-Brexit UK subsidy control regime taking shape?

Although the UK and EU have agreed a national ‘subsidy control’ regime to replace EU state aid law here, the new regime is still taking form… Following the end of the transition period, the UK has a new subsidy control regime. Subsidies are, broadly, defined along similar lines to the EU’s definition of ‘state aid’, …
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Real estate update: Rent reductions – mitigate the impact of Covid-19

With the significant economic impact of Covid-19 and the associated closure measures, many organisations are having to modify their strategies to adapt and survive. Tenants of commercial property should consider whether to seek a renegotiation of their rent payment obligations. This article gives a user-friendly summary of the various options to consider when renegotiating. Click …
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Diversity in action: A guide for charities – taking positive action

Want to take positive action on improving diversity but don’t know where to start? The Equality Act sets out a framework that permits organisations to take ‘positive action’. We’ve produced a user-friendly article that explains what qualifies as a positive action under the EA to help you put your plan into action. To read this …
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