Firm Profile > Bates Wells > London , London

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Bates Wells > Firm Profile

Bates Wells Braithwaite is a unique firm, combining a strong commercial and charity practice with a general emphasis on public interest work, media, education and working with mission-led businesses. The firm is renowned for its expertise in advising charities. The firm also has great strength in the areas of corporate law and employment law, as well as real estate, immigration, litigation, and public and regulatory law (with a particular emphasis on administrative law). The firm prides itself on its diversity of practice areas, its clientele and its staff.

The firm: Founded in 1970, BWB is based in London, with clients across the UK and internationally. BWP’s alternative business structure means that in addition to its legal services BWB provides advisory and impact advice, as well as a compliance and financial regulatory services consultancy. BWB is proud to be the first UK law firm to achieve B Corporation certification, underlining its commitment to its people, the environment and doing socially valuable work.

Bates Wells Braithwaite has a significant international practice across all specialisations, reflecting the international scope of many of the firm’s clients.

Types of work undertaken: The charity and social enterprise team is recognised as one of the leading charity law practices in the country. It acts for numerous household names, international charities and NGOs. It has particular expertise in obtaining charitable status for innovative organisations and for initiatives within the sector. As well as having initiated the idea of the Community Interest Company, the firm has been responsible through the years for many books, articles and other publications. Particularly notable has been the department’s cutting-edge advice on social enterprise; its close liaison with the Cabinet Office on social impact bonds; its innovative work in advising charities and the government on the developing area of mutualisation; and the consolidation of its role as a market leader in the field of social finance.

The corporate/commercial team has expanded significantly in recent years and undertakes work for a wide range of businesses. The team has developed considerable expertise in M&A, joint ventures, management buyouts, commercial contracts and partnership advice. This team has a strong presence in the technology sector and specialises in the small to mid-cap market, acting for many AIM listings.

The employment team advises both employers and employees on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law, including dismissals and redundancies, restrictive covenants, TUPE, service agreements and injunctions. The team has particular interest and expertise in all areas of discrimination. The team undertakes most representative work in-house, both in the Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. It also offers a full range of employment training services.

The extensively experienced public and regulatory law team acts for regulators, charities, not-for-profit and private sector organisations. The team has a particular focus on work with educational establishments and central and local government (including audit). It also acts for businesses, campaign groups and individuals who wish to challenge the decisions of public authorities.

The firm’s education team is fast becoming a market leader, advising the full spectrum of schools, higher and further educational institutions, regulators and professional bodies.

The immigration team handles all aspects of immigration and nationality law, including work permits, highly-skilled migrant applications, residency, asylum work and human rights.

The litigation team is broad-based, with particular specialisations in commercial litigation, property litigation, administrative law, civil liberty law, social work law, intellectual property law, insolvency and defamation. The media disputes team recently represented The Times in a ground breaking Supreme Court appeal, in which the judge established a common law right to information from public authorities where it is in the public interest for such information to be released.

The real estate team handles all types of commercial property work with related specialist expertise in financing and borrowing, planning and construction, and insolvency work, both for property companies, and also a wide range of businesses and individuals, both as landlords and tenants.

The sports team acts for regulatory and governing bodies, amateur and professional sports teams, sports charities and individual sportsmen and women. A broad variety of work ranges from the establishment of the Football Foundation to advising leading international athletes on their immigration status.

The culture and creative team advises a wide range of arts organisations and venues across the creative industries, from theatre, dance and opera, to artists and companies in the digital sphere.

Student (The Lex 100)

Bates Wells
Bates Wells is revered for its 'focus on social impact'. Trainees report meeting 'down-to- earth, approachable and normal people' during the recruitment process, which assured them that 'they could really fit in' at the firm. There is a 'unique level of charity law work' on offer at Bates Wells and respondents appreciated being given 'high levels of responsibility early on', going so far as to say they 'started doing work that actually mattered from very early on into the first seat'. 'Assisting on an urgent, high-profile court case that also went to the Court of Appeal' was a clear highlight for one trainee. Indeed, 'a high level and range of work' and 'lots of client contact' is the norm. Sometimes this can lead to 'being insanely busy for a couple of weeks and feeling like you're not working to the best of your capabilities'. Generally, though, the work/life balance is good at Bates Wells. A 'friendly, non-elitist culture' pervades, where 'senior staff are more approachable' than at some other firms. As the firm grows, there is increasing 'difficulty getting to know new joiners', which irked some recruits. Exacerbating the situation, 'social events aren't always so well attended'. Perhaps unsurprisingly, pro bono is a 'core part of our charity offering', including 'lots of volunteering and outreach opportunities with schools and students, which feels like a nice way to get involved in the firm and give back'. If a firm whose 'ethos and charity law work' appeals to you, consider Bates Wells.