Bates Wells Braithwaite
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| No. of offices | 1 |
| No. of lawyers | 120 |
| Major practice areas | Commercial, charity |
| Date founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Andrew Phillips (Lord of Sudbury) |
| Company type | Limited liability partnership |
| Website | www |
Bates Wells (officially Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP) is a law firm based in London, United Kingdom. The London-based firm employs around 130 people with specialists covering all areas of law.[1][2]
Overview
[edit]The firm was founded by Andrew Phillips (Lord of Sudbury) in 1970.[3][4]
Bates Wells helped in the development of Big Society Capital, the social investment bank founded by Sir Ronald Cohen in 2012. The firm also had a major role in establishing Charity Bank, a financial institution that lends to charities and social enterprises, as well as in helping to develop the definition of a Community Interest Company.[1]
Bates Wells is acknowledged by the United Kingdom's two independent directories, Legal 500 and Chambers UK in 21 areas.[5]
The firms is a co-founder of "trans-Europe" lawyers network, the Parlex Group and UK's Legal Action Group,
Notable clients
[edit]According to Charity Financials, Bates Wells is listed as an adviser in the accounts of 368 of the United Kingdom's 5,000 largest charities.[6] High-profile charities that the firm represents total £7.6bn and include Cancer Research UK, Arts Council England and Oxfam GB. In 2013, the firm won the business of United Learning Trust and Home Farm Trust.[6] Additional clients include Action Aid, the British Red Cross, Friends of the Earth and Shelter, the firm's first charity client.[7]
Bates Wells also represents clients in the entertainment sector such as Sean Combs (P Diddy), 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg.[8]
Alternative business structure
[edit]In June 2014, Bates Wells became the first City of London-based law firm to be granted an alternative business structure (ABS) licence specifically to provide a unified service to its clients.[9]
B Corporation certification
[edit]In August 2015, Bates Wells became the first UK law firm to certify as a B Corporation.[10] "B Corp" status is awarded to "socially conscious businesses that meet externally audited rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency".[11]
Equivalent means
[edit]Bates Wells employed the first paralegal to qualify as a solicitor through equivalent means.[12] Equivalent means was introduced in 2014 as a reform by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as part of the Training for Tomorrow programme to recognise experience obtained in the workplace to fulfil the requirements of a formal period of recognised training or a training contract to become a solicitor.[12][13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Manu Mair (4 March 2015). "Meet the London law firm taking action for both charity and commerce". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ "Bates Welss - People". Bates Wells. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ Andy Ricketts (25 September 2009). "Andrew Phillips wins Luke FitzHerbert Lifetime Achievement Award". Third Sector. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ Jonathan Ames (31 May 2012). "Lord Phillips: law has become tool for rich". The Times. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ Howard Lake (9 December 2013). "Striking series of donations totalling more than £100m show British universities are a big draw for philanthropists, says BWB". UK Fundraising. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ a b Gareth Jones (29 October 2013). "Bates Wells Braithwaite named as UK's leading legal adviser". Charity Financials. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ "Bates Wells tops charity client table for fifth consecutive year". The Lawyer. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ Victoria Bates (16 March 2010). "Celebrity lawyer cements his status". Ad Exchanger. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ Catherine Baksi (13 June 2014). "City firm Bates Wells Braithwaite becomes ABS " Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Law Society Gazette.
- ^ "Charity governance and trustee news - Bates Wells Braithwaite among the UK's first benefit corporations". Civil Society | Governance. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "What are B Corps? | B Corporation". bcorporation.uk. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ a b Laura Clenshaw (15 April 2015). "First solicitor to qualify through equivalent means speaks to SJ". Solicitors Journal. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ John Hyde (15 April 2015). "Paralegal first to qualify as solicitor through equivalent means". The Law Society Gazette. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
