Recent Posts

Changes to IR35 are coming – will they affect your business?
From 6 April 2020, organisations that engage “off-payroll” workers will become responsible for determining their employment status and...
11/10/19
Brexit and Prorogation re-visited - the implications for financial services "in flight" legislation
The second - and, hopefully this time , legally effective - prorogation of Parliament took place on 8th October 2019 , in preparation...
10/10/19
A Tale of Two Interventions: Mixed Messages from MHCLG on Green Belt release in Local Plans
The last few days have been... well... interesting... for those of us who spend our time keeping an eye on the workings of MHCLG. In...
10/10/19
Brexit and a new "No-deal readiness report"
On 8th October 2019, the UK Government issued a detailed "No - deal readiness report" giving extensive information as to the measures...
09/10/19
Brexit and businesses that export services to the EU
At this time, the UK Government appears to be advertising in the national and business press almost on a daily basis with its "no deal"...
08/10/19
Brexit and the Electronic Execution of Documents
On 3rd September 2019, the Law Commission of England and Wales issued a seminal report on the "Electronic Execution of Documents". This...
08/10/19
Brexit and Blood Diamonds
Particular industries stand to be affected more harshly than most in the event of a "no deal" Brexit, unless the appropriate...
07/10/19
Stop Trying to Make Fetch Happen! Lessons from the Tory Party Conference....
I am writing this post on October 3rd.* As such, this blog will be devoted, in pretty much equal parts, to information gleaned from the...
03/10/19
Brexit and new UK proposals to replace the Irish "backstop"
On 2nd October 2019, to much fanfare at the Conservative Party annual conference, Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, announced new...
03/10/19
Conservatives pledge to increase NMW to £10.50 within five years
The chancellor, Sajid Javid, has said that his party will increase the national minimum wage to £10.50 by 2024. The proposed rate will...
03/10/19
Brexit and businesses that import goods into the UK from the EU
In line with its declared policy of preparing for the worst, the UK Government has for some weeks been publishing full page adverts in...
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Do your staff take appropriate rest breaks?
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998 workers should be able to take a 20 minute unpaid rest break after working six hours. Young...
03/10/19
Brexit and European Union Law
The free London business newspaper, City AM , reported in its edition of 27th September 2019 of a rumoured plan for the UK Government to...
30/09/19
Brexit and updated directions under the FCA's Temporary Transitional Power
The title to this blog will be pretty obscure to most people, even by Brexit standards. It is worth highlighting, however, that the...
27/09/19
Brexit and "Endangered Species"
When writing about "Endangered Species" in the Brexit context, people might well have differing views! In this article, it is a...
27/09/19
Brexit and the Rule of Law
The single Supreme Court judgment dated 24th September 2019 in the "prorogation" appeals in the English case of R( on the application of...
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How do you show you have taken all reasonable steps to avoid workplace discrimination?
Employers can avoid liability for harassment/discrimination carried out by staff if they can show they took all reasonable steps to...
24/09/19
Brexit and access to information
The UK Government has recently ramped up its public access to information on Brexit with its "Get Ready for Brexit" campaign, which is...
24/09/19
Brexit and Cyber Security Certification Schemes
The EU has done a lot of work in promoting Cyber Security Certification Schemes with a view to strengthening the digital single market...
23/09/19
Building a Community: Are Garden Villages & New Settlements the way to solve the Housing Crisis?
This post is inspired by somewhat local concerns. My home council, Tunbridge Wells, published its draft Local Plan on Friday,* and is...
23/09/19
Brexit and House of Commons Library briefing papers on trade and product standards and safety marking in the event of a "no deal".
On 12th September 2019 the House of Commons Library, which is proving to be an invaluable research source for Brexit-related material,...
20/09/19
Brexit and changes to design and trade mark law if the UK leaves the EU without a deal
As we approach the 31st October 2019 ( currently, Boris Johnson's "do or die" day for leaving the EU) and pending a new Withdrawal...
20/09/19
Stop Press! - Court of Appeal sides with Developers over interpretation of CIL Regs
On 12 September, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in the Giordano Appeal. For those who do not spend their lives permanently on...
20/09/19
Brexit and the"Cobham" Take-over Bid
Even in these dog days of the EU-UK relationship, the legal complexities of that relationship continue to have some bite, at least in...
19/09/19
Brexit and DAC6 (the EU Directive on Administrative Co-operation for certain tax purposes)
EU Directive on Administrative Co-operation 2018/822 (commonly known as "DAC6", being the latest amendment to the original EU Directive...
19/09/19
Update: Brazel v The Harpur Trust
A number of our clients have asked us if the Court of Appeal’s decision in Brazel v The Harpur Trust is likely to be appealed. That case...
19/09/19
Brexit and an update on financial services regulation
On 16th September 2019, Andrew Bailey, the Chief Executive of the UK Financial Conduct Authority ( "FCA") , gave an important "state of...
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How should you react if an under performing member of staff you are thinking of dismissing raises whistleblowing allegations?
You know the scenario. A disgruntled member of staff who is put under pressure to improve, makes whistle-blowing allegations in an...
16/09/19
Betfred criticised for failing to include overtime in holiday pay
The issue of paid holiday is back in the news today. A whistleblower employed by Betfred has said that, despite changes in the law, it...
16/09/19
Brexit and Data Protection
On 11th September 2019, the Information Commissioner's Office ("the ICO") , the UK public body responsible for monitoring and enforcing...
13/09/19