Lucy Mclynn heads a versatile team at Bates Wells, which is particularly known for its support to third-sector employers on a wide range of issues. It continues to be involved in some key litigation relating to issues such as transgender rights, and artificial intelligence. A growing area of focus is advising on investigations. The practice continues to receive a regular stream of work about handling senior staff changes, and managing a changing workforce. Other names to note include Paul Jennings, Paul Seath and Rachel Mathieson.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Customer service is excellent at BW, they are all very friendly while not compromising on professionalism and expertise. The team always go the extra mile to protect the company and thinking beyond any instructions given.’

  • ‘Paul Jennings is exceptional. His knowledge is extensive and reliable. His demeanour and general way of being is very reassuring and makes him a pleasure to work with.’

  • ‘We have a fantastic relationship with our main contact and the team. We work with Paul Seath who always goes above and beyond.’

  • ‘Paul Jennings and  Lucy McLynn. Both are very professional and came up with good options to address complex issues in the charity sector that I work with. Senior Associate Hannah Wright provided robust and rigourous follow up.'

  • ‘An excellent employment team , committed and pragmatic and superb lawyers. Lucy McLynn is a brilliant employment lawyer. Despite her intense workload she always has time to discuss issues and provides brilliant, intelligent, effective legal advice in difficult areas.’

  • ‘The team are down to earth, supportive, collaborative, calm and highly professional. They are really great to work with, responsive and are able to translate complex legal scenarios into straight forward guidance.' 

  • ‘Paul Jennings-has been really supportive and collaborative as a partner. Our employment law budget is small, but Paul and his team go out of their way to support us.'

  • ‘Excellent knowledge and pragmatic approach to issues. Lucy McLynn - all round excellent.'

Key clients

  • Financial Ombudsman Service
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists
  • British Red Cross Society
  • Caffe Nero
  • Euro Foods
  • RNIB
  • The Chancery Lane Project
  • National World
  • R&F Group UK Companies
  • Football Foundation

Work highlights

  • Acted for Centre for Global Development in the high profile dispute over ‘gender critical’ beliefs, Maya Forstater v CGD.
  • Acted for the prestigious West London members’ Club, the Hurlingham Club, in successfully defending the Club’s first Employment Tribunal hearing.
  • Acting for Universities UK – the membership body for Higher Education Institutions across the UK – in defending an Employment Tribunal claim of race discrimination brought by a former agency worker who was engaged by Universities UK.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Lucy McLynn

Other key lawyers

Paul Jennings, Paul Seath, Rachel Mathieson, Hannah Wright