Bates Wells' new chief leads firm towards LLP conversion
London's Bates Wells & Braithwaite has appointed a new senior partner and plans to become an LLP within 12 months.
Incumbent John Trotter, head of the firm's administrative and public law practice, steps down as senior partner today (3 April) after five years in the post. He is replaced by partner and charity & social enterprise head Stephen Lloyd.
Bates Wells has 73 lawyers and 18 partners and a turnover of approximately £10m. It is considered one of the pre-eminent UK firms for charity law and has a reputation for its administration, employment and immigration law capabilities. In addition, it handles commercial and private client work as well as property work for business and not-for-profit organisations.
The firm also has strong links with the Liberal Democrats. Lloyd took over the role of head of charity & social enterprise from Andrew Phillips, now a Liberal Democrat lord, and Bates recently represented a prominent party member at the centre of a sex scandal.
The firm appointed Peter Bennett, former chief executive of London's Maitland Chambers, as its first partnership executive in January.
