Resources

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“Distorted and fragmented responsibility”: the role of public law and regulation in ensuring accountability after the Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Seven years since the Grenfell Tower fire in North Kensington, a disaster which brought into devastating focus decades of institutional failings in fire safety and construction standards, and in which 72 people lost their lives, Chair of the Public Inquiry Sir Martin Moore-Bick this month published his 1,700-page report (“the Grenfell Report”) into the tragedy. …
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The new duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace: Top tips for employers

From 26 October 2024 employers will be under a new legal duty proactively to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment in their workplaces.  We take a closer look at what the new duty means in practice, and share some top tips for employers. What is the current law on sexual harassment in the workplace? …
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Living out the B Corp commitment: Supporting the board through B Corp governance training

There are now more than 2,000 B Corps in the UK, currently the second biggest B Corp community in the world. This is no small achievement given the fundamental commitment these businesses must make to pursuing positive impact as well as profit: B Corp certification includes requiring UK businesses to amend their constitutions to adopt …
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New Fundraising Regulator guidance on working with commercial participators and professional fundraisers

Working with commercial participators and professional fundraisers is a valuable way for charitable institutions1 to access funding and build relationships with other organisations. Sometimes the legal requirements can feel like a bit of a technical maze, so we were pleased to see that the Fundraising Regulator has published new guidance (on 13 August 2024) for …
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Our Impact Counsels’ Forum

Bates Wells’ Impact Counsels’ Forum is for general counsel, senior lawyers and other leaders within B Corps, impact investors and purpose-driven businesses of different kinds in our network. The forum meets around 3 times a year, creating an informal peer-to-peer forum for sharing ideas and best practice and to discuss the ‘impact angles’ on key …
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Procurement Act 2023 commencement date delayed to 24 February 2025

The Procurement Act 2023 was due to go live on 28 October 2024. However, a Written Ministerial Statement was published in Parliament today announcing that the Act will now commence on 24 February 2025. Until then, the legislation currently in force (including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015) will continue to apply. The reason given for …
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Realise your purpose: Wellbeing in the workplace

Realise Your Purpose is a Bates Wells campaign to help commercial organisations consider, decide on and implement their ESG goals. From governance to people, and from contracts to real estate, this series will provide insight and guidance for business leaders and senior decision makers on the first steps in their sustainability journey.   Employee sickness absence …
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An evolving regulatory landscape: key events and updates in AI

With generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) foundation models and products becoming more understood, utilised and actively implemented across sectors, and following the UK’s entry into the first binding international treaty governing the safe use of AI, we set out the events that are shaping the regulatory landscape as AI technology rapidly advances. We look more specifically …
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Independent schools – top tips when considering a merger

The government has recently announced its plans to introduce VAT on independent school fees from January 2025, as well as removing their eligibility for business charitable rates relief from April 2025. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in independent schools re-considering their long-term vision. Independent schools may decide to merge for many reasons, including …
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Bates Wells Impact Report 2023 and 2024

Our belief that we urgently need change in the sector, both from within and in using our experience to guide our clients is a fundamental part of everyone’s role in the firm.  Our impact report this year delves into the ways in which we continue to impact and influence businesses and charities to be better …
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Employers’ guide to eVisas – all you need to know

As the UK government continues to phase out physical immigration documents in favour of digital eVisas, it’s important that employers are aware of what the changes mean and how it impacts right to work checks. What’s changing? By 2025, almost all migrants in the UK will have to use a digital record to evidence their …
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Transition to a fully digital system – changes to guidance on eVisas and BRPs

On 6 August 2024 the guidance for eVisas changed to state that anyone with a BRP can now create a UKVI account to access an eVisa. The system previously in place encouraged people to only create a UKVI account if they were invited. According to the guidance, it is planned that people will be able …
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