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Bates Wells Impact Report 2025

We are united as a firm in our values and in our purpose. We want to use the law as a force for good, helping charities and purposeful businesses to be better and bolder in their choices. We also want to be the best type of business that we can be, and to bring others …
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The concussion gap: why sporting organisations need to pay more attention to brain injuries in women’s sport

While much of the focus has been on male athletes, increasing evidence from scientific studies1 suggests that biologically female athletes may be at a higher risk of sustaining concussions and other sport related traumatic brain injuries and suffering more severe long-term consequences than their biologically male counterparts. Litigation related to sports-related brain injuries is growing, …
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EHRC announces regulatory action in respect of policies which allow access to single sex spaces and services based on gender self identification

On 27 August 2025, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) announced that it has completed its review of evidence obtained from the Government’s 2024 call for input on organisations’ approaches to single sex spaces and services, and that it will be taking regulatory action where organisations’ policies on this issue misrepresent equality law. Specifically, …
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Having a protected conversation: top tips for employers

What is a “protected conversation”? Section 111A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (“ERA”) enables employers to have confidential, or “protected”, conversations with employees; in circumstances where they wish to explore the option of bringing the employment relationship to an end on agreed terms; without the conversation being referenced in subsequent unfair dismissal claims. When …
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Employer alert: hot compliance trends and tips

The Government’s crackdown on illegal working gained momentum over the summer of 2025, with employers and advisers experiencing an increase in compliance requests and enforcement action from the Home Office. We look at three key areas where we have seen an increase in enforcement activity and how employers can prepare themselves and mitigate risk. These …
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What do awarding organisations need to know about the new failure to prevent fraud offence?

From 1 September 2025, many awarding organisations across the UK will face a new compliance obligation under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA): the corporate offence of failure to prevent fraud. This legislation is designed to hold certain organisations accountable when individuals acting on their behalf commit fraud intended to benefit the …
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When is an adjustment reasonable? Lessons from Hindmarch

In the recent case of Hindmarch v North East Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust [2025] EAT 87, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) looked at the question of whether an adjustment requested by a disabled employee will be reasonable if it does not alleviate or avoid the substantial disadvantage faced by them in the workplace. Mr Hindmarch, …
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Changing your governing document – top tips for professional membership bodies

Professional bodies, learned societies, and Royal Colleges should regularly review their governing documents to make sure they are up to date. Sometimes organisations grow or change, and it’s important that your governing documents are accessible, user-friendly, and up to date for your organisation and members. Take a look at our quick checklist to see if …
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The EU’s proposed Omnibus reforms to the CS3D: A lost opportunity to leverage human rights and climate litigation for a more sustainable economy?

Earlier this year, the European Commission published the ‘Omnibus I’ directive proposal (the Omnibus): a ‘package’ of measures aimed at simplifying key sustainability-related EU legislation, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). The CS3D creates a due diligence duty upon large companies to address certain adverse human rights and environmental impacts in their operations …
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Legal Update: New Office for Students requirement on harassment and sexual misconduct protections now in force for higher education providers

The Office for Students (OfS) has introduced a new ongoing condition of registration (the New Condition) for higher education providers (HEPs), aimed at protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct. Published in July 2024, the New Condition came into full effect on 1 August 2025. These changes were introduced under the Higher Education (Freedom of …
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Bates Wells advises the founders of House of Hackney on buyout of private equity investment

Bates Wells has advised the founders of British B Corp interiors brand, House of Hackney, on the buyout of existing private equity investors to return the business to full founder ownership. The transaction was partly financed by a crowdfunding campaign through a bond offer managed by Triodos Bank UK. For over a decade, House of Hackney has …
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What should not-for-profits consider when carrying out legal activities?

The last decade has seen a steady increase in strategic litigation, with individuals and organisations seeking to use legal cases to drive change in relation to a host of social issues. As noted in our guide to using the law to create change, these kind of challenges can be a powerful tool in a not-for-profit’s …
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