Bates Wells | UK Supreme Court Unanimously Rules Legal Definition of “Woman” in the Equality Act 2010 is Based on Biological Sex; For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16

Member News & Insights

On 16 April 2025, the UK Supreme Court reached a unanimous decision, in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] USCK 16, that the terms ”man”, “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 (“EqA”) refer to a biological man, a biological woman and biological sex, and therefore that the legal definitions of “man” and “woman” do not include transgender men and transgender women.

Bates Wells | London International Disputes Week: Defending International Tort Class Actions in the London Courts

Member Events

4 June 2025
As part of London International Disputes Week, we will be co-hosting a hybrid event with Henderson Chambers on Wednesday 4 June, from 9am – 11am.

We are witnessing a rapid rise in new forms of international claims against London-based defendants, targeting supply chains, foreign subsidiaries, investors and NGOs. The London Courts are showing an increased willingness to expand their jurisdiction to any part of the world where there is a connection to the UK, particularly where claimants may lack funding options in their own countries.