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The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: harsh but fair?
A recent case highlights the dilemma of businesses whose assets are frozen as suspected proceeds of crime.
Read moreWarning: Enhanced Penalties for Financial Sanctions
Penalties for breaching financial sanctions have increased this week (since 2 May 2017) as HM Treasury brings The European Union Financial Sanctions (Enhanced Penalties) Regulation 2017 (the Regulation) into force.
Read moreTax update, May 2017
In this update we report on HMRC’s recently amended guidance on the General Anti-Abuse Rule, HMRC’s draft guidance on the new disguised remuneration provisions in the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, and on the recent modifications to the Finance Bill 2017.
Read moreLicensors beware – BlackBerry wins refund of royalties from Qualcomm
Smartphone chip supplier Qualcomm has been ordered to pay back $814.9 million to BlackBerry as part of a binding interim arbitration settlement.
Read moreReining back from last orders - The Protection of Pubs: an update
Provisions in the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 for the protection of pubs, including restrictions on changes of use and demolition, updated from the draft Bill.
Read moreUpper Tribunal confirms First-tier Tribunal has jurisdiction to amend tax return
In HMRC v Eric Walker [2016] UKUT 32, the Upper Tribunal (UT) has confirmed that the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has the power, under section 50, Taxes Management Act 1970 (TMA), to amend a return if it decides the taxpayer is entitled to a smaller repayment than the one claimed.
Read moreThe rise and rise of e-sports
With the announcement that e-sports will be included in the official programme for the 2022 Asian Games, competitive gaming is now a globally significant brand, and the once-derided pastime of playing video games is now a viable, and lucrative, career opportunity.
Read moreTop Tips for Commercial Tenants – Lease Expiry
Commercial advice for business tenants approaching lease expiry
Read moreVAT update April 2017
In this month’s update we report on HMRC’s call for evidence on alternative methods for collecting VAT for online sales, HMRC’s policy on historical VAT bad debt relief claims following the BT and GMAC decisions and the enactment of the insolvency VAT clawback concession. We also comment on three recent cases involving mistake-based claims for unjust enrichment, the VAT treatment of temporary workers and the apportionment of residual input tax for finance houses.
Read moreThe age of the lawyer
Earlier this month Legal Business published its fifth GC Powerlist UK. The intervening 12 months since the last edition have been some of the most seismic in living memory. This is my take – first published in the Powerlist – on some of the implications for General Counsel and in-house lawyers.
Read moreEuro Packaging UK Limited – classification of long-life shopping bags
In HMRC v Euro Packaging UK Limited [2017] UKFTT 0160, the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) allowed the Appellant's appeal against decisions of HMRC relating to the customs duty to be paid on the importation from countries outside the EU of shopping bags and its refusal to remit the customs duty.
Read moreUK Court grants first 'live' blocking order against streaming servers
The Football Association Premier League (FAPL) recently won its application for a court order that the six main retail internet service providers block access to streaming servers until the end of the 2016/2017 Premier League Season. The application covered live streaming only – i.e. it only applies when those servers are streaming infringing content.
Read moreLessons learned from Property Alliance Group v RBS
This article assesses the key aspects of the High Court's judgment and considers their implications for similar claims.
Read moreGuidance on the "cardinal rule" for implying terms
In Irish Bank Resolution Corp Ltd (In Special Liquidation) v Camden Market Holdings Corp the Court of Appeal held that a term could not be implied into an agreement because, although it was linguistically consistent, it was substantively inconsistent with the express terms. In doing so, the court shed further light on the application of the "cardinal rule" that an implied term must not contradict any of the express terms of the contract.
Read moreFCA publish consultation paper on the Insurance Distribution Directive
The FCA has published the first of two consultation papers setting out its proposals for transposing the Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) into English law.
Read moreLet there be light
The importance of light in WELL Building Standards and how it sits within the context of planning law and rights of light
Read moreCultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Act 2017: what do collectors and dealers need to know?
The UK Parliament has recently passed the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Act 2017. Although the provisions of the Act have not yet come into force, how will this impact collectors and dealers?
Read moreNo more payouts for ticket touts?
Ticket touts are exploiting sports and entertainment fans by artificially inflating ticket prices. Will the recent amendments to the Digital Economy Bill (DEB) be effective at preventing this unfair practice?
Read moreTribunal cancels penalty imposed against doctor and criticises unreasonable HMRC behaviour
In Dr Ragini Pandey v HMRC [2017] UKFTT 0216 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) cancelled a penalty which had been issued by HMRC under paragraph 1, Schedule 24, Finance Act 2007 and in so doing criticised HMRC's 'unreasonable' behaviour.
Read moreEaster and the Cocoa Calamity
With the world in the midst of a cocoa crisis, this could be the last Easter as you know it.
Read moreA case of unintended consequences
Supreme Court Judgment of Lowick Rose LLP (formerly known as Hurst Morrison Thomson LLP) (in liquidation) v Swynson Ltd and another [2017] UKSC 32
Read moreThe law of unintended consequences
Why professional indemnity insurers should closely examine losses in professional negligence claims
Read moreComplaints against insolvency practitioners hold steady
The insolvency service has published the latest figures for complaints against insolvency practitioners made to the Complaints Gateway during 2016. The statistics indicate that the Gateway has received a reasonably steady level of complaints since it was established in 2013 but promisingly for practitioners the Gateway does appear to be weeding out more complaints with the Gateway having rejected 29% of complaints in 2016, compared to 18% in the Gateway's first year.
Read moreCFAs and ATE premiums out of the running in freedom of expression cases
Supreme Court tips media organisations' Article 10 rights over obligation to pay claimants' additional liabilities in freedom of expression cases
Read moreClosure Notices defective but JR dismissed as taxpayer should have appealed to the Tribunal
In R (on the application of Archer) v HMRC [2017] EWHC 296 (Admin), the High Court agreed with the claimant that a Closure Notice issued by HMRC must state the tax due, but dismissed his application for judicial review on the ground that he should have appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (FTT).
Read moreCinema Wars: The Courts Awaken
A review of two recent planning law cases relating to cinema schemes, looking at s73 applications and the role of development plan policies in managing competition.
Read moreProduct liability update
In this Update we take a look at some of the recent stories making the news, from driverless cars to advertising for high fat, salt or sugar food or drink products.
Read moreChina’s consumer credit rating culture is evolving fast - probably too fast?
Ratings are a big deal; school ratings, restaurant ratings and movie ratings to name but a few. There is now at least one more rating that matters to people in mainland China - online credit ratings.
Read moreHacked – IAAF victim of cyber-attack compromising athlete data
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has been subject to a data breach – allegedly by Russian hacking group Fancy Bears - potentially compromising the sensitive data of a number of athletes.
Read moreSupreme Court decides on assignment and variation of CFAs
In Plevin v Paragon Personal Finance Limited the Supreme Court determined that a CFA had been validly assigned to a new firm and that variations to it after 1 April 2013 were not new agreements.
Read moreEleven more charities fined by ICO in 'wealth screening' probe
The ICO has fined a further eleven charities following an investigation that revealed widespread misuse of donors' personal data.
Read morePermissions in Principle: a brave new planning world?
An overview of regulations relating to brownfield land registers and permission in principle including criteria for including land in a register and allocating it for housing development
Read moreTax update, April 2017
In this update we report on recent HMRC guidance on partnership follower notices and penalties, the new employment status checker for the intermediaries legislation (IR35) and details of tax avoidance scheme for income and national insurance contributions which HMRC has highlighted in its Spotlight 37.
Read moreSIPP scheme administrator avoids 'pension liberation' tax charge
In HMRC v Sippchoice Ltd [2017] UKUT 87 (TCC) the Upper Tribunal (UT) has upheld the decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) that Sippchoice should not be subject to scheme sanction charges but said that the FTT's reference to MTIC case law in assessing the evidential burden was incorrect.
Read moreSleeve sponsorship – a new trick up the sleeve for Premier League teams
The blog provides an insight into the consequences arising from the introduction of sleeve sponsors to the Premier League, with a particular focus on club's existing commercial arrangements and deals that are being negotiated/will be negotiated.
Read moreCourt of Appeal provides a timely reminder of the principles relating to clear and unambiguous contractual negotiations
In Global Asset Capital, Inc and another v Aabar Block SARL and others the Court of Appeal found that the High Court had erred in its finding that in assessing whether a contract had been concluded, it need not take account of inconsistent subsequent communications between the parties following the arguable conclusion of a contract during a telephone call that had followed a "subject to contract" offer letter.
Read moreFund management litigation
Recourse for LP investors when an investment goes wrong
Read moreChoppy waters ahead: the decline of North Sea oil
On 8 February 2017, Royal Dutch Shell unveiled its plans for decommissioning the Brent oilfield. Many other producers of North Sea oil are considering ceasing operation, or have already done so. However, the decline of this industry may herald the emergence of another: what opportunities does decommissioning present?
Read moreMIPIM: 10 things we learnt about you
A round up of things we learnt during our first experience of MIPIM week, from what to wear to how to plan your diary and make the most of your new connections
Read morePrior arbitral award – abuse of process?
Michael Wilson & Partners Limited v Sinclair and others [2017] EWCA Civ 3 demonstrates the interplay between arbitration and litigation, considering whether legal proceedings commenced by A against C are an abuse of the court's process where arbitration proceedings between A and B have decided the issue in question. The Court of Appeal held that a prior arbitration award can found an argument that subsequent litigation against a third party is an abuse of process, but will rarely do so. On the facts of this case, the claim was not considered to be an abuse of process.
Read moreLetters of Credit: Fraud conquers all – if it is fraud
The High Court decision in Petrosaudi Oil Services (Venezuela) Ltd v. Novo Banco S.A. and Others [2016] EWHC 2456 provided a useful reminder that the principle of autonomy, which provides for payments to be made under letters of credit, regardless of disputes under the underlying contract, will not be upheld if the fraud exception applies. In its decision at first instance the High Court had found that the fraud exception had applied. However, the High Court judgment was appealed. This update discusses the Court of Appeal's decision.
Read moreDigital comparison tools: the CMA decides against a market investigation reference
Six months after the CMA launched its market study into digital comparison tools, it has decided not to make a market investigation reference, but will focus on four areas of possible concern in a second phase of its market study.
Read moreVAT update, March 2017
In this month’s update we report on the Chancellor’s announcement in the Spring Budget that he intends to “crack down” on VAT “missing trader” fraud within the construction industry, the Offce of Tax Simplification’s Interim Report on its review of VAT, and the EU’s consultation on proposals to tackle VAT fraud.
Read moreEngaging with Development – do we always know what we need?
Comment on the need for public engagement in the planning and development process, following a ULI presentation on The Well-Tempered City (author Jonathan Rose)
Read moreRent reductions in Side Letters: do they work?
Rent Reductions, rent reviews, side letters and retail.
Read moreNew legislation will allow taxpayers to seek partial closure notices
Proposed legislation contained in Finance Bill 2017, will enable partial closure notices to be issued in respect of a discreet issue while other issues remain under enquiry by HMRC.
Read moreWhat chance is there for developers railing against Stamp Duty Land Tax
After nearly three years of the increased residential Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rates and almost a year of the SDLT surcharge for additional properties, developers are mounting a call for reform. How successful can this be opposite a government under economic pressure?
Read moreWhose file is it anyway: What should a solicitor provide to a client when met with a request for "the file"?
The Law Society has published new guidance on what a solicitor should do when a client requests a copy of its file.
Read moreThe role of executive pay in promoting responsible business
Executive pay is a thorny issue. Well-structured remuneration packages can help to ensure that companies are run responsibly for the benefit of shareholders, employees, customers, and wider society. However, when improperly designed, executive pay packages can encourage short-term and risky behaviour which dents public confidence in business.
Read moreAltogether now – aggregation in solicitors' professional negligence claims
The Supreme Court in AIG Europe Limited v Woodman and others [2017] UKSC 18 provides welcome clarification of how you can aggregate claims against solicitors under the SRA's Minimum Terms and Conditions.
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