Bates Wells > London, England > Firm Profile

‘Bates Wells are on top of their game. Very proactive and so reassuring.’

‘Knowledgeable and up-to-date on immigration law, excellent communication with clients, dedication to their casework and thorough in their approach and case management.’

‘I would strongly recommend the Bates Wells Team. They are an impressive group of immigration specialists doing high quality work and getting amazing results for their clients. This team are second to none and rightly deserve their reputation for excellence in this highly competitive sector.’

‘Excellent client interaction – proactive and knowledgeable, trusted and well-balanced advice.’

‘Chetal Patel is exceptional – the advice she provides is accurate, comprehensive and concise. She understands us as a company so her advice is always tailored, which is very much appreciated.’

‘We have worked with Chetal for several years and will continue to do so as she is simply fantastic. Approachable, knowledgeable, prompt and efficient sums up the way in which she works with her clients and provides excellent advice.’

‘Chetal Patel and Alice Bennington have given invaluable advice on several immigration situations; they have been very professional, efficient and available when I needed to ask even the simplest of questions.’

‘Smruti Jeyanandhan goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction – always quick to respond, helpful and practical in her advice.’

‘Mathew James did an excellent job in navigating a situation that fell outside the normal visa routes. His experience and skill was critical to the success of this application.’

‘Matthew James is very efficient and has an in-depth knowledge of the rules surrounding the application process.’

‘They are really very good and work very hard till they get what they are fighting for.’

‘Alice Bennington and Tim Barden were following up with me at every stage. I had easy access to them both. Alice was interested in my wellbeing, ensuring I didn’t give up, she supported me and never got tired of me. Whenever I speak to her, I feel reassured, I can sense genuine concern, it is more than a job to her.’

‘The level of commitment and dedication to my case is exceptional. Extremely knowledgeable and up-to-date on immigration law.’

‘Tim Barnden is the star and leader of this team, and it is dynamism and personal touch which makes it all work.’

‘They are an impressive group of immigration specialists doing high quality work and getting amazing results for their clients in a wide range of immigration and human rights cases. They put their clients first and ensure that they are advised and represented to the best of their ability in every single case they are instructed in. This team are second to none and rightly deserve their reputation for excellence in this highly competitive sector.’

‘Tim Barnden is excellent. A brilliant, creative and hugely experienced specialist immigration lawyer who get fantastic results that elude other representatives.’

‘Attention to detail and personal care of the client was wholeheartedly met and vastly exceeded expectations.’

‘Matthew James was sensational and I will definitely be using his services again and personally requesting him.’

‘Tim Barnden was there by our side and was incredible. He made sure we understood each section and part of the application. He was very attentive and supportive throughout.’

‘Small but efficient and extremely competent team.’

‘Responsive, pragmatic and reasoned advice to individuals facing immigration issues often arising out of concurrent criminal investigation or proceedings.’

‘Tim Barnden is super helpful and committed.’

‘Matthew James has a practical and sensible approach’

‘Alice Bennington goes above and beyond to get the job done.’

‘Luke Fletcher is very knowledgeable indeed in this area of work and comes with a very strong reputation. He is also an exceptionally responsive, generous and kind person.’

‘Mark Abbott, in particular, is highlighted for his exceptional expertise, dedication, and understanding of client objectives. His ability to provide strategic, tailored advice has been instrumental in navigating the complex legal landscape.’

‘Stephanie Biden provides exceptional counsel. She really listens to the issue and appreciates the in-house tensions around budget and use of external resource.’

‘Simon Steeden is a brilliant partner with strong technical skills in a range of charity law matters, including on political campaigning and election law. Simon provides clear, practical advice to charities and not-for-profits. He is friendly, easy to understand and gives clear and risk-based advice.’

‘Oliver Hunt is a great partner with a specialty in the impact investing space. He has provided us with thorough, risk-based advice and supported us to understand the sector, risks and way to mitigate them. Ollie is always calm, even on high-risk matters.‘

‘Philip Kirkpatrick is at the same time very kind and also a tough cookie when it comes to standing up for our rights. I’m glad he’s on our side! Hannah Lyons’s  knowledge and understanding of our organisation is very deep.’

‘The team contain many of the leading specialists in charity law who bring a wealth of experience and know-how to the table. I’ve worked closely with Lawrence Simanowitz, Hannah Lyons and Laura Soley, who are all excellent.‘

‘I very much value the support of both Lucy Rhodes and Laura Solely, who I’ve always found to be responsive, helpful, pragmatic and easy to work with. Lucy and Laura are both friendly, approachable and very quick to provide guidance, advice and respond on work requests.‘

‘The team at Bates Wells has been invaluable to us. They understand our sector and how compliance applies and have proactively been helping us navigate a complex and changing regulatory environment. We ask questions that they’ve already written memos or blogs on and they’ve really worked to understand our campaigning so they can best advise us.’

‘Very knowledgeable on the charity sector and helpful in dealing with the Charity Commission.’

‘Simon Steeden and Jessica Collings are both thoughtful and innovative in dealing with the Charity Commission.’

‘There is real strength in depth in this team and its election law expertise spans political parties and third party interveners.’

‘Simon Steeden is particularly experienced and knowledgeable.’

‘I worked with Suhan Rajkumar and Simon Steeden to organise electoral law seminars for UK civil society organisations from July last year. These have been attended by hundreds of charities and civil society organisations. This demonstrates Bates Wells’ strong commitment to legal education and support.’

‘Simon Steeden and Suhan Rajkumar are extremely collaborative, patient, and generous with their time, and working with them is efficient and enjoyable.’

‘Eleonor Duhs is highly approachable, easy to contact, and flexible in her approach. Both through her written briefs and contributions at parliamentary events, she has been able to explain complex parliamentary bills and the potential issues in a way that is engaging and easily comprehended by people without a legal background.’

‘As a small organisation in our sector, we value their advice within a broader context.’

‘We work with Erica Crump – she is hugely experienced and personable with great facilitation techniques to bring the best out of boards and executive teams.’

‘They have an exceptional depth of knowledge about the ASA and ad regulation.’

‘Rupert Earle is superb.’

‘They are responsive, clear, and give timely advice.’

‘The firm is excellent with very good all-round client skills.’

‘They have good and swift communicators.’

‘The team offer great expertise, experience, and provide a very high-quality professional service.’

‘We have felt very well-supported through the litigation process.’

‘Rupert Earle provides calm, knowledgeable, and insightful advice to every situation and it’s a real pleasure to work with him.’

‘Richard Marke is excellent and one of the best legal professionals I have worked with.’

‘Bates Wells have advised us on successful challenges to three different public sector commissioning bodies’ procurement for the provision of services. In each instance they brought to their attention issues with the processes followed, evaluation and marking of our bids. All three decided to abandon their original procurement and undertake a fresh procurement.’

‘Charlie Miller (Senior Associate – Dispute Resolution Department) has been excellent. He has inspired confidence and helped to facilitate organisational decision making that deliver results and manage and maintain stakeholder relationships.’

‘Very knowledgeable and helpful team, they take time to understand the challenges and consider realistic and achievable outcomes.’

‘There was a good level of personal care and attention given, with individuals being easily reachable.’

‘Exceptional depth of knowledge about the ASA and ad regulation, as well as advertising-related law.’

‘Rupert Earle has been our lawyer for decades and is superb.’

‘Bates Wells has advised us for many years on advertising law and corporate and HR matters. Their advertising law expertise is second to none.’

‘Rupert Earle is a titan in the world of advertising law and regulation. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has supported our work for many years.’

‘A first rate team led by a master of his profession Rupert Earle. Expert, empathetic understanding of client operations, supporting expert provision of legal advice.Quite simply, the best of his generation. Wonderful client relations underpinned by the expert legal advice.’

‘I cannot fault the team, the advice or the communication. Discussions are easy but also make us think ‘why’ do it that way, our concerns are listened to, we are advised of any potential pitfalls before proceeding and kept up to date with progress. It makes the whole process of brand protection run smoothly and efficiently.’

‘Bates Wells are a good firm of lawyers who listen attentively and provide good commercial advice.’

‘The team takes time to understand our needs and to explain the processes, setting out the timetable clearly and providing all the guidance necessary to ensure that we have the best possible chance of success in our trade mark applications.’

‘We value the proactive approach and experience that all the team are able to provide in a clear, methodical and approachable manner.’

‘Mathew Healey is responsive, considered, personable and advises proportionately, while understanding the realities clients face when balancing trade mark concerns among other risks. Realistic and pragmatic approach to trade mark advice.’

‘Mathew Healey is our go-to trade mark expert. Matthew is good at providing a range of options in response to any business trademark challenges, which are business focused and practical.’

‘Catharina Waller combines legal expertise and active guidance with astute observations on corporate strategy, negotiation and communication. She’s got an eye for detail and can see round corners – both extremely useful qualities in this area of practice. She takes a broad, strategic view on specific issues, seeing the bigger picture on areas like risk, reputation and return on investment.’

‘Catharina Waller is an excellent lawyer who ensures that advice is not only given in a way which is easy for the reader to digest, especially given the often technically-complex subject matter, but that all advice given is done so with an understanding of our business and the wider context.’

‘The team is thorough, diligent and responsive, and provides the legal reassurances clients require.’

‘Alistair Williams is always available when clients need to speak to him, and provides the advice that they need.’

‘Exceptional depth of knowledge of the ASA and AD regulation.’

‘Rupert Earle has been our lawyer for decades. He’s superb.’

‘The team, headed by Richard Marke, is very proactive, always available and extremely pragmatic. We are very confident to work with it. Our clients appreciate the very high level of the understanding of the market and their high level of expertise.’

‘ I have known Richard Marke for a long time and Richard has always been very helpful. He knows how to advise my clients in the best conditions. He always seeks for the best legal solution for my clients and is able to adapt his skills to any type of clients (start-ups, CAC companies, ETI, ….).’

‘Superb team – always felt that I was in safe and professional hands.’

‘Karli Hiscock – leader of the team. Kept me up to date regularly and reassured me when there were unexpected bumps along the way. Exceptional service from Karli.’

‘I have always found the practice reasonable and transparent.’

‘I deal principally with Malcom Headley and find him approachable and more importantly available when necessary. His advice is always well considered and solid.’

‘The team are very approachable and provide clear, easy to understand advice.’

‘Highly professional and extensive knowledge in property transaction. Malcolm Headley is excellent.’

‘Many say they go the extra mile – however Bates Wells actually do.’

‘They are always responsive and nothing is ever too much trouble. I deal with Mark Traynor (partner) and Peter Hopkin (Associate) both are a pleasure to work with.’

‘Excellent and timely data protection advice.’

‘Responsive, thorough, clever, and detail-oriented.’

‘Rayhaan Vankalwala is a top-notch data privacy expert. Exceptional service.’

‘Eleonor Duhs is clearly amazingly experienced and well connected and we are glad to have her advising on and supporting our activities.’

‘Eleonor Duhs is highly approachable, easy to contact and flexible in her approach.’

‘The IT and Telecoms practice at Bates Wells is very well-equipped to cater to the needs of their core market. The team’s strong focus on purpose driven businesses is unparalleled, whilst the breath and depth of their expertise ensures that clients receive top quality legal services, but at reasonable prices.’

‘Great knowledge, experience, and service regarding IT and Telecoms-related legal questions.’

‘Richard Marke has great knowledge, experience, and service with a great international network.’

‘I have known Richard Marke for a long time and Richard has always been very helpful. He knows how to advise my clients in the best conditions. He always seeks for the best legal solution for clients.’

‘Richard Marke has this rare ability to never lose sight of the big picture, whilst at the same time making sure that all the details of the matter are properly considered and addressed. Richard is a very pragmatic advisor, and I’ve never doubted his understanding of his client’s business priorities and objectives. ’

‘Customer service is excellent at BW, they are all very friendly while not compromising on professionalism and expertise. The team always go the extra mile to protect the company and thinking beyond any instructions given.’

‘Paul Jennings is exceptional. His knowledge is extensive and reliable. His demeanour and general way of being is very reassuring and makes him a pleasure to work with.’

‘We have a fantastic relationship with our main contact and the team. We work with Paul Seath who always goes above and beyond.’

‘Paul Jennings and  Lucy McLynn. Both are very professional and came up with good options to address complex issues in the charity sector that I work with. Senior Associate Hannah Wright provided robust and rigourous follow up.’

‘An excellent employment team , committed and pragmatic and superb lawyers. Lucy McLynn is a brilliant employment lawyer. Despite her intense workload she always has time to discuss issues and provides brilliant, intelligent, effective legal advice in difficult areas.’

‘The team are down to earth, supportive, collaborative, calm and highly professional. They are really great to work with, responsive and are able to translate complex legal scenarios into straight forward guidance.’ 

‘Paul Jennings-has been really supportive and collaborative as a partner. Our employment law budget is small, but Paul and his team go out of their way to support us.’

‘Excellent knowledge and pragmatic approach to issues. Lucy McLynn – all round excellent.’

‘Proactive approach to getting things done and protecting our interests at the same time.’

‘In particular I would like to highlight Malcolm Headley who is incredibly responsive and a true professional.’

‘Extremely helpful team, very knowledgeable. Are always prepared to give advice, and always takes a commercial view, outlining the risks/pros and cons on every transaction.’

‘Malcolm Headley provides excellent advice, gives guidance and advice, sometimes before we issue formal instructions. Very commercial, will always talk straight and outline clearly any risks we should be aware of. Always returns calls promptly.’

‘They offer a very efficient service to ensure a transaction is completed in a timely manner and are able to provide excellent advice if there is ever a problem that is encountered during the transaction.’

‘Malcolm Headley offers a great service, always available to answer any queries and get on with completing the work and take the headache from the bank during the transaction.’

‘This is an organisation that knows its sector and works really efficiently and professionally in it. We have worked with a number of law firms, but this is exceptional. Team dynamics, client care, responsive meetings, and socially aware.’