A Christian charity was sued for refusing to employ a non-Christian. We proved that the faith ethos was so central to how the charity worked that they could not be required to recruit someone from another faith.
We help sports stars and organisations overcome their hurdles.
Our work for sporting clients covers everything from governance advice, to funding for new facilities, to taking care of trade marks. Our clients are equally varied, ranging from grassroots clubs to national governing bodies and world-class sportspeople.
Sports charity work is a core focus for the team. We set up charities for the Rugby Football Union, British Gymnastics and the ECB. And thanks to campaigning by our founder, Andrew Philips, amateur sports clubs get tax relief through the CASC scheme.
How we help
We advise on almost every issue sportspeople and organisations face. We help organisations like the Football Foundation, Lawn Tennis Association and British Cycling to develop new facilities.
We help organisations to buy or lease property. We also help international sports stars get their immigration paperwork in order.
On a more day-to-day level, we handle issues around tax, governance and trade marks. That can include advising on relationships with trading subsidiaries and helping to draft the model constitutions that go out to clubs.
Our reputation
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The sports team at Bates Wells has excellent knowledge of charity and not for profit sector.
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Bates Wells receives ‘nothing but praise’ for its ‘excellent level of service’, particularly in the firm’s specialism of sports charity work
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The team are passionate about third sector and deliver on challenging topics with empathy
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The practice goes above and beyond expectations
Case Studies
Major international NGO
Our Sports Team
