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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