Employee networks are voluntary groups of employees that come together based on shared identity or life experience. Properly organised and empowered networks greatly benefit those organisations genuinely looking to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace ...
The essence of a service charge is that the landlord provides certain services and facilities for the benefit of the occupiers of a multi-let building and the occupiers collectively reimburse the landlord for those costs by paying a fair proportion of the costs of those services ...
Welcome to the third and final part in our series of articles on the Building Safety Act 2022. In Part 1 of our series of articles on the Building Safety Act 2022 we discussed the greater exposure to claims due to extensions in limitation periods and the measures aimed at addressing failures to remedy historical safety defects. In Part 2, we discussed the dutyholder regime and, in this final part, we look at the new gateway regime for higher risk buildings ...
Switch2 Energy, Shoosmiths and BEIS have come together to provide an update on how regulation, rising energy prices and decarbonisation targets are impacting heat network operators and customers. This second webinar, in a series of three, looks at what to do with existing buildings in relation to heat networks ...
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed the introduction of a new Principle that “a firm must act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers” together with three cross-cutting rules and four proposed customer outcomes ...
Welcome to the second part in our series of articles on the Building Safety Act 2022. In Part 1 of our series of articles on the Building Safety Act 2022 we discussed the greater exposure to claims due to extensions in limitation periods and the measures aimed at addressing failures to remedy historical safety defects. In Part 2, we discuss the dutyholder regime and look at the steps developers can take now to prepare ...
The regulations incoprorate requirements on occupational pension scheme trustees under at 2019 Competition and Markets Authority Order to carry out a tender process for fiduciary management services and set objectives for their investment consultants. The Occupational Pension Schemes (Governance and Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (Regulations) will come into force on 1 October ...
A summary of the key takeaways from a recent webinar on reducing scope 3 Sold Products emissions. Shoosmiths is delighted to be sponsoring United Nation Global Compact Network (UNGC) UK’s series of webinars on ‘Reducing Scope 3 Emissions’. The event featured guest speakers: Emma Watson, Net Zero Senior Manager, CDP & Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi); Mark Lancelott, Consulting Director, PA Consulting; and Emma Darroch, Responsible Business Manager, Sky ...
This was introduced on 6 April 2022 and is an essential part of the recruitment process, as this will ensure you have a statutory excuse against a civil penalty and allow you to remain compliant as your duty of sponsors if you currently hold a sponsor licence. The digital right to work check can only be made by Identity Service Providers (IDSPs) for British and Irish Citizens as physical proof of documents are expected to finish by 2025 ...
The Prime Minister has approved, and government has published the long-awaited final terms of reference for the COVID-19 Inquiry. The inquiry, chaired by the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE, is two-fold and will: 1. Examine the COVID-19 response and the impact of the pandemic in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and produce a factual narrative. 2. Identify the lessons to be learned from the above, to inform preparations for future pandemics across the UK ...
Employees have the right to access personal data relating to them held by their employer. However, responding to such access requests is not always easy. In a 2-part article, we tackle the 12 questions employers most frequently ask when handling DSARs. 1. How do I verify that the request is genuine? There is no set format for making a data subject access request (DSAR), so a request might be made verbally, in writing, by email or by other electronic means ...
Employees have the right to access personal data relating to them held by their employer. However, responding to such access requests is not always easy. In a 2-part article, we tackle the 12 questions employers most frequently ask when handling DSARs. 7 ...
In a recent case, a unilateral termination clause in the relevant contract had no bearing on whether termination via agreement between the parties was available, and the court held that novation of the contract by the conduct of the parties was valid ...
Welcome to the first part in our series of articles on the Building Safety Act 2022. The Building Safety Act received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022. While many of the provisions will be implemented over the next 12-18 months, the industry is being urged to get ready now. Dame Judith Hackitt stated in a recent HSE Bulletin: “The clock is now ticking and the pace is accelerating. Change is going to happen this time – there’s no denying it anymore!” ...
In a recent case the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) upheld a 25% uplift to compensation for an employer’s failure to comply with the ACAS Code of Practice, following a discriminatory dismissal that was purportedly due to redundancy ...
Another instalment from the UK courts guiding employers on how to comply with S145B of TULRCA when participating in collective bargaining. In the same month as we are contending with the largest rail strikes in 30 years, it is apt that the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in Edinburgh has issued a decision in a theme of cases involving Section 145B of TULRCA and how it can impact pay negotiations ...
Shoosmiths colleagues Andy Graham and Amy Leech highlight some of the main considerations for employers looking to move their employees onto a four day working week. Shoospeak HR podcast 4 day working weeks - a dream or disaster? Shoosmiths colleagues Andy Graham and Amy Leech debate the four day working week pilot and some key considerations for employers looking to implement this type of working pattern ...
Insolvency practitioners are undoubtedly alive to the risks of ignoring or mis-handling crypto assets and the threats of misfeasance or unfair harm claims that could follow. In this, the first in a series of articles on the subject, the message is simple – the technical details might appear arcane but provided you take specialist advice, a crypto asset is no different from any other asset you come across – keep calm and carry on ...
The Court of Appeal has given some much-needed clarity on this issue in the recent decision of Abbey Healthcare (Mill Hill) Limited v Simply Construct (UK) LLP [2022]. In a majority judgment, the Court of Appeal reversed the first instance decision and held that the collateral warranty in question was a construction contract within the meaning of s.104(1) of the Housing Grants, Construction & Regeneration Act 1996 (the Construction Act) ...
In the lead up to the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry, we look at the impact the pandemic has had on the Education sector. Education has been particularly badly affected by worldwide COVID-19 restrictions, with 184 country-wide school closures, leaving 1.53 billion out of school, and impacting 87.6% of the world’s total enrolled learners1. The move to online learning One of the biggest changes for the sector was the move to remote learning ...
Since the current Electronic Communications Code was introduced in 2017, swathes of it have come under the judicial microscope and even resulted in impending legislative updates. Until now, there has been no scrutiny of the process under which telecommunications apparatus is to be removed following termination of the underlying agreement ...
In a judgment handed down on 14 June 2022 in The Federal Republic of Nigeria v JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A [2022] EWHC 1447 (Comm) (FRN v JPMC) the court again considered the scope of the Quincecare duty and gross negligence. The decision is good news for Banks. The case related to the payment of over $1 billion by JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) to accounts held by a Nigerian company called Malabu Oil and Gas Limited (Malabu) ...
Legal directory Chambers and Partners has today launched Global LawTech 2022, ranking Shoosmiths8 Connected Services Cia® and Matters+ as band one products. This global guide is part of Chambers’ professional advisor series and is its second report on the rapidly moving legal technology sector ...
The Supreme Court refuses to re-open lease contracting-out issues previously determined by the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court has denied the Fragrance Shop’s request for leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in TFS Stores Ltd v The Designer Retail Outlet Centres (Mansfield) General Partner Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 688 ...
An LTAF is a UK authorised fund which offers greater flexibility in terms of assets that it can invest in than other types of UK authorised fund. It has more liquidity than more traditional fund structures such as private equity limited partnerships ...
