Bates Wells

Charity & Social Enterprise

Louise is a Partner in the Charity and Social Enterprise team at Bates Wells, advising charities, social enterprises, philanthropists, B Corps, and impact-driven businesses on governance, structuring, social investment and international development finance. She brings transactional expertise from her early career as a banking lawyer, including cross-border and emerging market finance.

Louise co-leads the firm’s Purpose & Impact strategy and has played a key role in developing the B Corp movement in the UK, including designing the legal requirements now used by over 1,100 businesses. She also advises commercial organisations embedding purpose into their governance and operations and provides guidance on policy and mission-led business initiatives.

Her charity law practice covers a wide range of legal and commercial matters, including corporate structure, regulatory compliance, financing, and impact investing, often working at the intersection of charitable and commercial activity.

Partner Bates Wells, 2019

Secondment, Government Inclusive Economy Unit advising on the Mission led Business Review, 2016

Joined Bates Wells, 2014

Secondment, Barclays Corporate Transaction Management, 2013

Secondment, EMEA Leveraged Finance of Citibank, 2011

Admitted as a solicitor, 2009

Trainee Solicitor, Clifford Chance LLP, 2007

Project officer, Ethnic Community Development Organisation, Bangladesh, Voluntary Service Overseas, 2005 – 2006

Trustee of B Lab UK, 2020

Secretary of the Policy Council of B Lab UK, 2016

Member of the Charity Law Association

Pro bono advice to a range of charities and social enterprises, campaigning for freedom of expression, education and childcare

University of Bristol, Law LLB (with study abroad at National University of Singapore), 2005