Bates Wells

Certified B Corporation
Headquarters

City of London, United Kingdom

Certified Since

August 2015

Industry

Legal activities

Sector

Service with Minor Environmental Footprint

Operates In

United Kingdom

Bates Wells is a truly purpose and impact driven law firm and the first UK law firm to be a B Corp. Our clients are change-makers and leaders who want to make business better for people and planet, as well as some of the world's leading charities and social enterprises. We are the law firm that helped to launch the Better Business Act, fought for workers rights against Uber and safeguarded the role of the Trustees in the Kids Company case. Speak to us to see how we can help you to make your business better and to keep pushing for a fair and just transition for society and our planet. www.bateswells.co.uk.

Overall B Impact Score

Based on the B Impact assessment, Bates Wells earned an overall score of 140.2. The median score for ordinary businesses who complete the assessment is currently 50.9.
140.2
140.2 Overall B Impact Score
80 Qualifies for B Corp Certification
50.9 Median Score for Ordinary Businesses

Governance 24.3

Governance evaluates a company's overall mission, engagement around its social/environmental impact, ethics, and transparency. This section also evaluates the ability of a company to protect their mission and formally consider stakeholders in decision making through their corporate structure (e.g. benefit corporation) or corporate governing documents.

Mission & Engagement5.9
Ethics & Transparency8.4
+ Mission Locked10

What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.


Workers 38.9

Workers evaluates a company’s contributions to its employees’ financial security, health & safety, wellness, career development, and engagement & satisfaction. In addition, this section recognizes business models designed to benefit workers, such as companies that are at least 40% owned by non-executive employees and those that have workforce development programs to support individuals with barriers to employment.

Financial Security9.6
Health, Wellness, & Safety10.9
Career Development7.0
Engagement & Satisfaction8.2

Community 36.1

Community evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it operates, hires from, and sources from. Topics include diversity, equity & inclusion, economic impact, civic engagement, charitable giving, and supply chain management. In addition, this section recognizes business models that are designed to address specific community-oriented problems, such as poverty alleviation through fair trade sourcing or distribution via microenterprises, producer cooperative models, locally focused economic development, and formal charitable giving commitments.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion12.0
Economic Impact11.6
Civic Engagement & Giving5.7
Supply Chain Management6.7

Environment 16.6

Environment evaluates a company’s overall environmental management practices as well as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and biodiversity. This includes the direct impact of a company’s operations and, when applicable its supply chain and distribution channels. This section also recognizes companies with environmentally innovative production processes and those that sell products or services that have a positive environmental impact. Some examples might include products and services that create renewable energy, reduce consumption or waste, conserve land or wildlife, provide less toxic alternatives to the market, or educate people about environmental problems.

Environmental Management4.2
Air & Climate7.0
Water1.3
Land & Life4.0

Customers 24.0

Customers evaluates a company’s stewardship of its customers through the quality of its products and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and security, and feedback channels. In addition, this section recognizes products or services that are designed to address a particular social problem for or through its customers, such as health or educational products, arts & media products, serving underserved customers/clients, and services that improve the social impact of other businesses or organizations.

Customer Stewardship3.9
+ Support for Underserved/Purpose Driven Enterprises7.7
+ Serving in Need Populations12.3

What is this? A company with an Impact Business Model is intentionally designed to create a specific positive outcome for one of its stakeholders - such as workers, community, environment, or customers.



Previous Overall B Impact Scores

2024 Overall B Impact Score140.2
2021 Overall B Impact Score116.5
2017 Overall B Impact Score106.1
2015 Overall B Impact Score108

Additional Documentation

Transparent Disclosure

Influence and impact: using business for good. Bates Wells impact report 2023 and 2024


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