Recent Posts

Travel quarantine rules: employers questions answered
The government has, controversially, imposed quarantine measures for people entering the UK by plane, ferry or train. These rules apply...
18/06/20
Improving cash flow during COVID-19
The government has introduced a number of measures to assist businesses since the COVID-19 outbreak. Not all businesses are in a position...
17/06/20
Project Restart – resuming play in a pandemic
It’s been a while since our stadiums were full of avid sports fans cheering on their teams, and the only sport we’ve seen on the...
16/06/20
Nine million EasyJet customer details lost in data breach
In May 2020 hackers obtained the personal details of 9 million Easyjet customers and the credit card details of a further 2,000+. Sabrina...
15/06/20
New flexible furlough scheme guidance published
Details of the new flexible furlough scheme available from Wednesday 1 July 2020 have now been published, via updates to existing guides....
15/06/20
Civil Justice Council Report on the impact of COVID-19 on civil court users
Following the government ordered lockdown on 23 March 2020 the Courts and the Justice System in England and Wales had to act quickly in...
12/06/20
The Great Planning Reform Act: Are we on the brink of a planning revolution?
The papers have been full of planning stories over the last couple of weeks. First, there was Westferry Printworks, then came the debate...
11/06/20
Parents returning to work after maternity leave can be furloughed after 10 June
Yesterday, the government published a short news story which confirmed that parents on statutory maternity and paternity leave who return...
10/06/20
Covid-19: Key considerations for schools dealing with school trips
By Jessica-Anne Johnson and Rob Coleridge With lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed worldwide to slow the spread of COVID-19,...
10/06/20
Employers will not be penalised for making genuine mistakes when claiming furlough payments
According to the FT Advisor, HMRC has said it will take a lenient view of those businesses which make genuine mistakes when submitting...
09/06/20
Risk and reputation management in the Covid-19 world and beyond
By Stephen Murphy and Georgie Collins at Irwin Mitchell Reputational risk is nothing new but in the extraordinary times we find ourselves...
09/06/20
10 June - deadline for furloughing staff for first time
The Chancellor is making changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from Saturday 1 July [our blog explains the detail]. Remember:...
08/06/20
Can further Judicial Intervention save the Duty to Co-operate? Sevenoaks to get their day(s) in Court over Local Plan
Yesterday, Sevenoaks District Council published a press release confirming that their legal battle with PINS over their emerging local...
05/06/20
Do you need to include BAME and obese workers in your return to work risk assessments?
Earlier this week, Public Health England published its report on Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19. This concluded that...
04/06/20
Are you Insured? Business Loss and COVID-19: FCA Response Update
By Jessica-Anne Johnson and Katie Byrne at Irwin Mitchell Thousands of businesses are still facing uncertainty in relation to their...
03/06/20A tale of "Interests" - Westferry Pt2.
Late last week Nicola put out a really helpful post on the Secretary of State's decision, to concede to judgment on his decision to grant...
01/06/20
New government furlough scheme rules due on 12 June
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak recently announced that the furlough scheme will change from Wednesday 1 July and will end after eight months...
30/05/20
Coronavirus: SSP rebate scheme now open
Back in March, the government announced that small employers would be able to recover some of their SSP costs linked to staff absence due...
29/05/20
Dyson criticised for return to work plan
According to the Guardian newspaper, engineering firm Dyson told staff to return to work in May and then cancelled the plan "after a...
29/05/20
"It is not safe to open schools anywhere on 1 June" - Independent Sage
Yesterday the Independent Sage Group published its final report: When Should a School Reopen? following its public consultation....
29/05/20
Coronavirus: employees will be asked to self isolate for 14 days under track and trace system
The government has launched its 'track and trace system' today as part of its plans to gradually reduce the lock down. Anyone who...
28/05/20
Cut on the (Apparent) Bias: Westferry Printworks and Apparent Bias in Planning Decisions
We may never know the full story behind the Secretary of State's decision to grant permission for the redevelopment of the Westferry...
28/05/20
COVID-19 – Top tips for minimising the risks of personal liability in relation to directors’ duties
By Ailsa Anderson On 20 May 2020, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (“Bill”) was introduced. It has potentially far-reaching...
27/05/20
COVID-19 – Directors’ legal duties and minimising the risk of personal liability
By Ailsa Anderson The coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, lockdown and social distancing measures have placed a huge strain on businesses...
27/05/20
Supreme Court Decision in Dill: When is a Listed Building not a Listed Building? When it's an Urn?
Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a decision that has significantly clarified the scope and effect of the Listed Building Regime in the...
21/05/20
Furlough, agencies and public funding - more details on eligibility in the education sector
Background The Government announced its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on 20 March. Initially, there was no suggestion that the public...
20/05/20
HMRC receive nearly 800 reports of organisations defrauding the UK furlough scheme
According to a report in the Guardian newspaper, the government has already received nearly 800 reports of suspected fraud of its...
20/05/20/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/MediaLibrary/Images/5ad8be00b1741005e87a7897/2020-05-19-07-16-43-748-5ec387db5354880a10e15b78.jpg)
COVID-19: Insurance cover and the current pandemic
By Robert Parks (Robert.parks@irwinmitchell.com) Businesses are being significantly impacted by the current pandemic with offices being...
19/05/20
Re-opening schools and colleges - employers questions answered
The government has asked schools and FE colleges to start to re-open from 1 June for some students and has published guidance to support...
19/05/20
The practicalities of real estate transactions in the lockdown, a new business as usual
By Vanessa Horn, Practice Development Lawyer The stay at home measures implemented by the government in response to the spread of...
15/05/20