Bates Wells is specialised within the purpose and impact space. Practice co-head Louise Harman focuses on sustainability-focused governance, finance, and impact investment mandates. Fellow co-head Luke Fletcher is a particular expert on the integration of purpose, impact, and positive ESG management within corporate and commercial structures. Elsewhere in the team, David Hunter and Oliver Scutt specialise in nature-, climate- and ocean-positive governance, while Sung-Hyui Park and Nirav Patel focus on development finance and impact investments.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- House of Hackney
- B Lab (UK)
- Fair4All Finance
- Remnant Revolution
- British Pasture Leather
- Greenwith Studios
- Athena Blue
- Social Value International
- Knepp Wildland Foundation
- Common Nature Ltd
- Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
- Luppit Landscape Partnership CIC
Work highlights
Assisted Athena Blue to embed guardians for nature and for future generations within its legal and decision-making structures.
Advised B Lab UK on the updating of the B Corp legal requirement, which mandates that certified businesses adopt a corporate purpose to pursue positive social and environmental impact alongside shareholder return, and on its application across different business structures.
Advising Social Value International on the requirement for company accounts to be “true and fair” as the foundation of its “True and Fair Project”.
Practice head
Louise Harman; Luke Fletcher
Other key lawyers
David Hunter; Sung-Hyui Park; Nirav Patel; Oliver Scutt