Resources

Expertise, events, news and updates –
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Strategic litigation and the water crisis

A few weeks ago, the March for Clean Water swept through London, with thousands demanding action on water pollution. The scale of the crisis is undeniable; only 14% of English rivers are ranked as having “good” or better ecological status, and over 10% of our freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction.[1] The Labour …
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Changing seasons heralding changes to private rented sector

This month we saw a test case brought in the High Court by a group of registered social landlords in Wales who sought clarification on whether contract-holders were required to pay rent whilst a landlord was in breach of their obligation to provide them with electrical condition reports.   The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 …
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The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 – an update on the timetable of changes

Our first blog in this series gave an overview of the main reforms being brought in under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.  Our second blog explained the initial raft of changes that came into force on 4 March 2024.  These included new procedures for companies, as well as new powers for Companies …
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Richard Jones discusses Effective Land Disposal in Independent Schools Management

Richard Jones, a member of our Bates Wells Education team, has been published in the December 2024 issue of Independent Schools Management. Richard’s article, “Effective Land Disposal,” delves into the crucial considerations for independent schools navigating property transactions during mergers, with a particular focus on compliance with the Charities Act. You can find his article …
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Managing member disputes: what’s changed for social and private members’ clubs?

In the recent case of Gina Mok v The Lansdowne Club, Mr Justice Ritchie dismissed Gina Mok’s claim against The Lansdowne Club in its entirety. Bates Wells Leticia Jennings  and Katy Sawyer and David Reade KC acted for the Club throughout, and our statement about the judgment can be found here. A significant case for social and private members’ …
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Bates Wells act in an important intervention on behalf of Protect, the UK Whistleblowing charity

Protect, the UK whistleblowing charity, successfully intervened in the Employment Appeal Tribunal case of Declan Durey v South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to protect “injury to feelings” compensation for whistleblowers. The case concerned a challenge to this established form of compensation. Following the hearing, the settled position remains that Employment Tribunals can make …
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Groundbreaking cases and positive impact: Bates Wells recognised by The Times Best Law Firms 2025

We’ve been recognised by The Times Best Law Firms 2025 for our work for charities, employment, immigration, and administrative & public law. Stand out work was recognised on a ground-breaking employment case against Uber Eats, and with the RSPCA on animal welfare regulation in the UK, highlighted in our latest impact report. And also our …
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Impact investing: key trends for 2024 and beyond

With increased awareness about the need for impactful decision-making, business operations and investments (both on a personal and corporate level), it is unsurprising that the rise in impact investing continues. The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) estimates that over 3,907 organizations currently manage $1.571 trillion USD in impact investing AUM worldwide, representing 21% compound annual …
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How corporate foundations can help give life to a purpose-driven business’ impact goals

Do you want to create greater positive impact that goes beyond your business? If you do, you might want to think about setting up a corporate foundation. In the UK, corporate foundations are usually registered charities set up by a commercial company. A corporate foundation works in long-term partnership with the business, maintaining a level …
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Strategic litigation roundtable: the present and the future, the threats and the opportunities

On 6 November 2024, we hosted a group of experts and leaders from charities, campaign groups and funding organisations to discuss the current strategic litigation landscape in the UK and the opportunities (and challenges) it presents for claimants. We reflected on the huge recent successes claimants have had, both domestically and in the international courts. …
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Watch again | The Data (Use and Access) Bill – a practical approach | November 2024

The government introduced the Data (Use and Access) Bill in the House of Lords on 23rd October 2024. Our webinar focused on the following aspects: By the end of this webinar you will be better able to explain the main changes to your organisation and prepare for what’s coming. Click the button below to watch …
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Getting granular about our science-based target

Greenwashing is a growing risk and these days everyone seems to be making claims about their environmental credentials. So, in this world of increasing misinformation and fake news, how can we (and others) be sure that claims about carbon reduction are legitimate? Being open and transparent about green claims will bring us very quickly to …
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