As a partner at Bates Wells, I support organisations seeking to create positive social impact. My expertise spans charity law and governance, campaigning and election law, public law (including public procurement and subsidy control), and equality law.
Whether it’s setting up and maximising impact in daily operations, or navigating tricky situations such as crises, inquiries and investigations, I deliver robust and practical guidance. My clients span a wide range of charities, INGOs, campaigners, public bodies, and purposeful businesses.
As co-leader of our top-tier Politics, Campaigning, and Elections team, I support political parties, candidates, and advocacy groups in campaigning and influencing public policy. Beyond technical expertise, I bring a strong understanding of how political parties and campaigners operate – and the realities of making change happen.
I consider myself lucky to work with brilliant clients trying to make the world a better place – and try to play my own part through voluntary roles. I am currently the Chair of Bail for Immigration Detainees, and a director of Liberty (the National Council for Civil Liberties). I was previously a trustee of CARAS (Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) for six years.
- External General Counsel I support a number of clients as an external general counsel, offering pragmatic and prompt support to boards and senior leadership teams.
- Mergers: Humankind and Richmond Fellowship I advised Richmond Fellowship on its merger with Humankind, to create Waythrough – a charity with an income of around £120 million and 2,500 staff – putting their combined resources together to support people dealing with drug and alcohol, mental health and housing challenges.
- Regulatory investigations: Oxfam GB I advised Oxfam GB on the 16 month statutory inquiry, the most complex statutory inquiry undertaken by the Charity Commission at that time, covering safeguarding governance and serious incident reporting.
- Governance I work closely with our Dispute Resolution and Employment teams to support organisations through trustee disputes and conflict.
- Politics, Elections and Campaigning: General Elections 2024 and 2019 With our multi-disciplinary team, I helped a number of political parties, charities and non-party campaigners on national and local campaigns ahead of the UK General Elections in 2024 and 2019, navigating charity law, spending limits and reputation management. I have also supported new political parties with registration, and advised various high-profile political figures.
- Equality law Advised a leading sexual violence charity on the issue of single-sex spaces and protected beliefs, providing training and written guidance to its members around the Equality Act 2010 following the For Women Scotland judgment.
- Public procurement and subsidy control Advised a leading sports charity on its investment in a several new football facilities across the country, including navigating public procurement and subsidy control compliance.
- Public law I advise on all manner of advisory public law, and have recently represented a national charity in its engagement as a core participant in a major statutory public inquiry
- Charity registrations I advised pro bono on the registration of the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, the first of its kind in London.
- Charity fundraising and events Advised an independent production company on the organisation of a charity benefit concert at Wembley Arena. Our advice included advising on commercial contracts, reputational and legal risks in the lead up to the event and fundraising and charity law compliance relating to the fundraising element of the event and public communications.