Bates Wells Braithwaite


Bates Wells is a .
Andrew Phillips, co-founder of "trans-Europe" lawyers network, the Parlex Group and UK's Legal Action Group, founded Bates Wells in 1970. The London-based firm employs more than 200 people with specialists covering all areas of law. Bates Wells is one of the London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain.

Overview

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.
Bates Wells is acknowledged by the United Kingdom’s two independent directories, Legal 500 and Chambers UK in 21 areas.

Notable clients

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. 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. Additional clients include Action Aid, the British Red Cross, Friends of the Earth and Shelter, the firm's first charity client.
Bates Wells also represents clients in the entertainment sector such as Sean Combs, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg.

Alternative business structure

In June 2014, Bates Wells became the first City of London-based law firm to be granted an alternative business structure licence specifically to provide a unified service to its clients.

B Corporation certification

In August 2015, Bates Wells became the first UK law firm to certify as a B Corporation. "B Corp" status is awarded to "socially conscious businesses that meet externally audited rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency".

Equivalent means

Bates Wells employed the first paralegal to qualify as a solicitor through equivalent means.
Equivalent means was introduced in 2014 as a reform by the Solicitors Regulation Authority 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.