Profile

About

Bates Wells is widely acknowledged as one of the leading law firms for social enterprise in the United Kingdom. Bates Wells has been at the heart of the sector for over 20 years, working with many of its most innovative companies – from the Fairtrade Foundation to Big Society Capital and the founding community of B Corps in the UK.

Types of Work

The firm is notable for its policy work in this field, such as the creation of the Community Interest Company, which Bates Wells devised and then worked with government to implement. Over 10,000 CICs are in existence today. Bates Wells also advised the Cabinet Office on the law, regulation and tax treatment of social enterprise, which led to the case for a social investment tax relief.