Resources

Expertise, events, news and updates –
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The tax treatment of settlement agreement payments for discrimination and the (expensive) dangers of getting it wrong

The recent Tax Tribunal judgment in Mathur v HMRC serves as a stark reminder for employers of the importance of getting things right when it comes to the tax treatment of termination payments in settlement agreements, in particular in circumstances where those payments are intended (in full or in part) as compensation for injury to …
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General Election 2024 campaigning resources: catch up on the full series

What do you need to know to campaign effectively within the law in the next few weeks in the run up to the general election on 4 July? Explore our resources on campaigning and get to grips with key rules for charities and other campaigners around spending on campaigning, publishing political statements, and wider political …
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New Charity Commission guidance on Accepting, refusing and returning donations | Bates Wells’ briefing

The Charity Commission’s long-awaited guidance on Accepting, refusing and returning donations was published yesterday (Monday 4 March 2024). There was no consultation on the draft guidance with the sector, which we think would have been a helpful exercise. Accepting, refusing and returning donations is a really tricky area for charities to get to grips with. …
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Setting our science-based target

We have been working hard to reduce our carbon footprint for over a decade now. As a city-based professional services firm, our direct emissions are relatively low, but we are determined to do our bit to reduce any negative impact that we have on the planet and to encourage others to do the same. In …
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Charities Act 2022 – the third phase is here!

A number of significant changes to the Charities Act 2011 will come into force this Thursday (7 March) in the third instalment of the Charities Act 2022’s implementation. The Charities Act 2022 makes technical changes across many areas of charity law and is being implemented in phases, primarily to allow the Charity Commission to prepare …
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B Corp Month UK: Our B Corp journey so far

Happy B Corp month! Next year will mark our 10th anniversary as a B Corp and we’re delighted to see how the movement in the UK has grown from the 60 founding B Corps in 2015 to more than 1,900 with over 81,000 employees. This year the theme is this way forward, highlighting the fact …
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Bates Wells’ LGBT+ history month roundup 2024

This February, we joined in the UK’s celebration of LGBT+ history month. History month is an opportunity for us to reflect, and to take steps to continue to build inclusion for our people. It also enables us to look outwards, to our work with clients and with the wider legal and professional community. This LGBT+ …
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Supervising Solicitor Services

Executing a search order can be challenging and unpredictable. Our experience as supervising solicitors is second to none. Download the file below to find out more.
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The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 explained – New procedures for companies and new powers for Companies House

Updated in November 2024 In the first blog in this series, we flagged that big changes are on the way in 2024 to 2026 for how UK companies, big and small, will be required to submit information and documents to Companies House. In this blog, the second in our series, we explain the changes under …
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Procurement Act 2023

What is it? The new Procurement Act 2023 (“the Act”) was granted Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. It will replace the current Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (“PCR”), Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, Concessions Contracts Regulations 2016 and Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 with one single act and represents a significant transformation of public …
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The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 explained – An overview

Updated November 2024 The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 – how will it affect your company? Big changes are on the way during 2024 to 2026 for how UK companies, big and small, will be required to submit information and documents to Companies House.  The regulator will also have a wider role and …
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Bates Wells announces impactful and significant judgment – Ali v Green Party of England and Wales

The case was brought against our client, the Green Party of England and Wales. Today sees the judgment in Ali v Green Party of England and Wales.  Mindy Jhittay who represented the Green Party of England and Wales comments, “This case is significant as a decision which will be of great interest to political parties …
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