Bates Wells Braithwaite

Bates Wells Braithwaite
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
No. of offices 1
No. of lawyers 85
Major practice areas Commercial, charity
Date founded 1970
Founder Andrew Phillips (Lord of Sudbury)
Company type Limited liability partnership
Website
www.bwbllp.com

Bates Wells Braithwaite (BWB) is a professional services consultancy, combining a top legal practice with impact, advisory and compliance advisory services. Andrew Phillips (Lord of Sudbury), co-founder of "trans-Europe" lawyers network, the Parlex Group and UK's Legal Action Group, founded Bates Wells Braithwaite in 1970.[1][2] The London-based firm employs more than 200 people with specialists covering all areas of law.[3] Bates Wells Braithwaite is one of the London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain.[4]

Overview

Bates Wells Braithwaite 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.[3]

Bates Wells Braithwaite is acknowledged by the United Kingdom’s two independent directories, Legal 500 and Chambers UK in 21 areas.[5]

Notable clients

According to Charity Financials, Bates Wells Braithwaite is listed as an adviser in the accounts of 368 of the United Kingdom’s 5,000 largest charities.[6] 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.[6] Additional clients include Action Aid, the British Red Cross, Friends of the Earth and Shelter, the firm's first charity client.[7]

Bates Wells Braithwaite also represents clients in the entertainment sector such as Sean Combs (P Diddy), 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg.[8]

Alternative business structure

In June 2014, Bates Wells Braithwaite became the first City of London-based law firm to be granted an alternative business structure (ABS) license specifically to provide a unified service to its clients.[9]

B Corporation certification

In August 2015, Bates Wells Braithwaite became the first law firm to certify as a B Corporation.[10] 'B Corp' status is awarded to "socially conscious businesses that meet externally audited rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency".[11]

Equivalent means

Bates Wells Braithwaite employed the first paralegal to qualify as a solicitor through equivalent means.[12] Equivalent means was introduced in 2014 as a reform by the Solicitors Regulation Authority(SRA) 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.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Andy Ricketts (September 25, 2009). "Andrew Phillips wins Luke FitzHerbert Lifetime Achievement Award". Third Sector. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  2. ↑ Jonathan Ames (May 31, 2012). "Lord Phillips: law has become tool for rich". The Times. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Manu Mair (March 4, 2015). "Meet the London law firm taking action for both charity and commerce". The Telegraph. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ Richard Browning (December 13, 2013). "Revealed: The UK's 1,000 most exciting and inspirational companies". This Is Money. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ Howard Lake (December 9, 2013). "Striking series of donations totalling more than £100m show British universities are a big draw for philanthropists, says BWB". UK Fundraising. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Gareth Jones (October 29, 2013). "Bates Wells Braithwaite named as UK's leading legal advise". Charity Financials. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Bates Wells tops charity client table for fifth consecutive year". The Lawyer. March 8, 2006. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ Victoria Bates (March 16, 2010). "Celebrity lawyer cements his status". Ad Exchanger. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ Catherine Baksi (June 13, 2014). "City firm Bates Wells Braithwaite becomes ABS ". The Law Society Gazette.
  10. ↑ "Charity governance and trustee news - Bates Wells Braithwaite among the UK's first benefit corporations". Civil Society | Governance. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  11. ↑ "What are B Corps? | B Corporation". bcorporation.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  12. 1 2 Laura Clenshaw (April 15, 2015). "First solicitor to qualify through equivalent means speaks to SJ". Solicitors Journal. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  13. ↑ John Hyde (April 15, 2015). "Paralegal first to qualify as solicitor through equivalent means". The Law Society Gazette. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
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