Why Bates Wells?
We’re an award winning, purpose driven City law firm. We were the first UK law firm to become a B Corp and are the highest scoring global law firm in the B Corp community. Globally recognised as the market leading UK firm for charities and purpose-driven organisations, our commercial teams are also using law as a force for good and driving change from the inside out.
Our values are key to our success, and you’ll be able to make a real impact from day one.
Come and join the firm who have a standout and authentic commitment to a triple bottom line, where we’ll never prioritise profit over people and planet.
The role
This is an excellent opportunity for a charity and social enterprise lawyer to join our market-leading team. You will provide legal and strategic advice on a full range of corporate and commercial issues affecting these sectors, with specialist focus on regulation and operations.
You’ll have significant client contact, building networks and relationships, helping to originate work, and leading the day-to-day running of matters with supportive supervision to support your development.
The work will often be innovative and/or technically and strategically challenging, working with leading lawyers in these fields to help inspiring clients to create positive impact.
Your work will cover a wide range of issues, including:
- Establishment, incorporation, mergers, de-mergers, and restructuring
- Joint ventures and collaborations
- Commercial contracts (including IP)
- Charity fundraising and technical charity law
- Regulatory and governance matters, including crisis management
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Provide high quality legal and strategic advice to our clients.
- Maintain high standards of client service via excellent relationship and matter management.
- Continue developing your expertise to provide practical advice and increase your profile at the firm.
- Identify and deliver business development opportunities.
- Maintain awareness and flexibility to respond effectively to the market.
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A qualified solicitor with at least 2 years’ PQE, ideally with experience advising charities and social enterprises (candidates with transferable skills may also be considered).
- Experience advising on a range of charity, commercial and corporate law issues, including governance and Charity Commission regulation. Experience in fundraising, charity trading and international partnerships is desirable.
- The ability to drive matters forward, taking ownership of client contact, project management and day-to-day delivery.
- An interest in business development and building networks.
- Excellent technical, communication, negotiation and advocacy skills.
- Able to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail and analytical skills, with a proportionate and commercial approach.
- Able to work both independently and collaboratively, including supervising and developing trainees and paralegals.
About our Charity and Social Enterprise team
We advise on the full range of corporate and commercial issues affecting charities and social enterprises, with specialist overlays relating to the regulation and operation of those sectors.
Our clients span household name charities, social enterprises, purpose driven businesses, corporates, governments, and public authorities or institutions, ranging from start-ups and grass roots groups to large national and international organisations. They include thought leaders on charitable and social impact issues. Our strong focus on innovation and positive social change provides opportunities to advise on novel and developing areas of law. The sheer depth and breadth of our practice provides enormous variety, and an interesting and challenging combination of complex and more routine advice.
Impact-Driven Purpose: We align profit with social purpose to create lasting positive impact for our people, communities, and planet.
Committed to the Climate: Through our Climate & Nature Group, we reduce environmental impact and drive a just transition to net zero.
Championing Inclusion: We foster a diverse, inclusive culture where creativity and innovation thrive.
Flexible and Hybrid Working: Our hybrid model supports balance, with part-time options and at least two office days weekly.
Progressive Benefits: We offer sustainable pensions, IVF support, private healthcare, and more for your well-being and growth.
At Bates Wells, equity, diversity, and inclusion are part of who we are and how we work. As a B Corp and purpose-driven law firm, we’re committed to building a workplace that is fair, inclusive, and representative of all.
At Bates Wells, we’re not the average law firm. We believe that actions speak louder than words. We strive to do the right thing as a business and to help our clients make a positive impact on their people and society.
Recruitment at Bates Wells – The use of AI
At Bates Wells, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our recruitment processes. We understand the importance of ensuring that our methods align with best practices and respect the privacy and rights of all candidates.
We would like to clarify that we do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, sift, score, reject, or approve any recruitment decisions, at any stage of our recruitment process. Our recruitment decisions are made by hiring managers and the HR team, ensuring a personal and thoughtful approach to each candidate.
We do utilise AI technology in a limited capacity to enhance our recruitment process. Specifically, we use Metaview to record and transcribe interviews. This tool helps us maintain accurate records of interviews, to support objective scoring of answers based on evidence and ensures that we can review and reflect on the conversations held during the recruitment process. Importantly, Metaview is not used to evaluate candidates or make any decisions regarding their suitability for a role.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of privacy and fairness in our recruitment processes and will continue to review and update our practices to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and guidelines.
