Bates Wells - 2022 impact report review
I'd been looking forward to reading this impact report for a while and it didn't disappoint.
I'd recommend that anyone working in professional services reads this. There's so much to learn from what Bates Wells are up to.
👍🏻 3 things I like...
1. USING THEIR EXPERTISE TO HAVE AN IMPACT
A business can usually have the biggest impact if it uses its skills and expertise to make a difference and if impact is integrated into what it does day-to-day.
Bates Wells use their skills as lawyers to have an impact – the things they’re up to will enable far greater impact than they could deliver alone. The Butler-Sloss v the Charity Commission case which was a big deal that has potential to have a huge impact; embedding climate change commitments into contracts; using their legal expertise to provide pro bono immigration support to people escaping Afghanistan & Ukraine.
2. COLLABORATION FOR WIDER SYSTEM CHANGE
They're collaborating with several other organisations to deliver bigger system wide change – e.g. Chancery Lane Project, Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association.
3. A NEW TYPE OF CONTRACT
They’re working with B Corp clients to develop contracts that are fair (vs one sided) and in plain English. This has been something that’s been bugging me in my own business.
The default approach tends to be one sided and unfathomable.
Contracts that are fair on all parties (e.g. versus the default “all IP belongs to me”) and everyone can understand without a law degree are much needed.
❓3 questions it raises
1. WHAT ABOUT ‘THE YEAR OF LITIGATION’?
ClientEarth are increasingly in the news and some have said that 2023 will be ‘the year of litigation’. I’m curious as to whether Bates Wells gets involved in this sort of litigation? Or whether they're supporting it behind the scenes?
2. HOW CAN OTHERS LEARN FROM THEIR REPUTATIONAL RISK GROUP?
Bates Wells have a Reputational Risk Group that assesses matters or clients whose activities might have a negative impact on Bates Wells’s reputation – e.g. because of a poor human rights record.
I see many businesses grappling with this challenge. I’d love to understand more as I think lots of other organisations could learn from them.
3. HOW HAVE THEY REDUCED EMISSIONS WHILE GROWING?
They’ve reduced their carbon emissions by 80% in the last 10 years. In that same period their turnover has increased from £16.7m (year ended 31 March 2012) to £27.9m (year ended 31 March 2022). I’m curious about how they’ve achieved such an impressive reduction while also growing the business?
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You can read the report for yourself here and let me know what you think.
If you’re preparing to write your own impact report, you might find my FREE Impact Reporting Roadmap helpful: