Resources

Expertise, events, news and updates –
what interests you?

The Be a Better Business Handbook

It can be hard to know where to start when thinking about embedding purpose into your organisation. However – we’ve done it ourselves – and as the first UK law firm to be a B Corp, we are proof that finding the right mix of purpose and profitability is achievable. Our team of expert lawyers …
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Is the government’s legislative agenda creating risks for the UK economy?

The free flow of personal data across borders is essential to the modern economy. But reforms to our data protection and human rights frameworks, as well as sweeping changes to laws we retained from when we were members of the EU, could put EU-UK data flows at risk at a time when the UK economy …
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Quick reference guide to government relations: regulation of lobbying, political finance, ethics and anti-corruption

Bates Wells has partnered with Lexology to author its UK guide to government relations. Part of Lexology’s ‘Getting the Deal Through’ series, the government relations guide is a quick reference tool for global legal counsel to drill down and review law and regulation on the UK form of government, the regulation of lobbying, political finance, …
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People and culture discussion: Celebrating women every day, and social causes at the heart of business

We recently hosted a discussion with a range of HR professionals from fellow B Corps. At our Spring meeting, the topics were: Celebrating women every day – How can men help, and what can organisations do to generally support women?Social causes at the heart of business – what do we consider a social cause to …
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Talking governance: emotional intelligence

In difficult times, third-sector organisations can take a lead in tackling complex issues, through prioritising relationships and understanding the emotional drivers behind behaviours. Tesse Akpeki explores the new direction in governance and explains how boards can make the change. The UK is facing democratic, digital, economic and environmental turmoil. So says the final report of …
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Talking governance: holding difficult conversations

Good and professional behaviour is critical to board effectiveness. Governance expert Tesse Akpeki gives guidance on how to hold difficult conversations. The ICSA guidance, Improving charity boardroom behaviours, stresses the importance of encouraging positive behaviours in and outside the boardroom. The guidelines remind us that policies, procedures and protocols only go so far in promoting good …
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Talking governance: values-driven leadership

Values-driven leadership can maximise the potential of an entire organisation. Governance expert Tesse Akpeki elaborates on the advantages of a values-driven approach and explains how it can be achieved. Values-driven leadership occurs when leaders are driven by values that shape their mindset and inform their decisions and actions. Values articulate what the organisation cares about, …
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How B Corp status might revolutionise football

Following the government’s welcome announcement on 25 April that it would seek to implement the recommendations of the Crouch Review – a “Fan-led Review of Football Governance” – there is now finally momentum in the need of reform for the country’s most loved sport. The issue with the various reviews into football, including the Crouch …
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Covid-19 Inquiry update: Terms of Reference

As you will have seen in the national press, last Thursday the Chair of the Inquiry wrote to the Prime Minister setting out her recommended changes to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference. The Chair has recommended that the Terms of Reference should be reframed to put possible inequalities at their forefront, so that an investigation …
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The new Subsidy Control Act – your FAQs answered

Lindsay Draffan and Suhan Rajkumar are here to untangle the new Subsidy Control Act and explain what it could mean for your organisation. What is the Subsidy Control Act (or SCA)? Sounds ominous. This is new legislation which effectively replaces the EU State Aid regime in the UK. The simple answer is that SCA controls …
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Fundraising Regulator – new self-reporting regime

At its annual meeting, in March 2022 the Fundraising Regulator launched a new self-reporting tool, which will allow organisations to self-report fundraising incidents where there may have been a  breach of the Code of Fundraising Practice to the Fundraising Regulator. The introduction of the self-reporting tool comes at the same time as the Fundraising Regulator …
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Impact Focus: A purpose-driven approach to managing workforce disputes and supporting harmonious culture

Bates Wells convenes a regular Impact Counsels’ Forum for senior counsel working within impact investors, B Corps, and other purpose-driven businesses. The Forum discusses the ‘impact angles’ of the legal and practical issues faced by in-house legal teams. Recently, the Forum explored how purpose-driven organisations can approach internal dispute resolution in ways that ensure purpose-driven …
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