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Supreme Court ruling in eagerly awaited "sale and rent back" test case
The Supreme Court faced the time honoured question of what happens in a fraudulent transaction where there are two innocent parties with competing claims…
Read moreHong Kong's top court confirms loss of cover
The importance of complying with insurance warranties
Read moreYou're Hired! (Because I like you)
It is often said that a company's employees are its most valued asset.
Read moreCrestfallen claimants: High Court upholds bank disclaimers in claim for negligent advice
In the latest in a line of court rulings upholding disclaimers, the High Court, in the recent case of Crestsign v NatWest & RBS, held that, as a result of careful disclaimer wording, the banks did not owe a common law duty of care to their customer not to provide negligent advice.
Read moreTax Tribunal confirms the time period in which HMRC must open an enquiry
As readers will be aware, HMRC generally has twelve months from the date a company files a return to open an enquiry[1].
Read moreBribes and Undisclosed Commissions to Agents: Supreme Clarity.
In late July, the Supreme Court of England and Wales handed down a succinct judgment on a topic which, while narrow, is of considerable importance in its sphere.
Read moreProject Innovate: an incubator for growth?
The FCA launched its new Innovation Hub yesterday, with the aim of fostering support to businesses looking to benefit consumers in the financial services sector.
Read moreCourt's firm stance refusing to extend valuer's duty of care in tort beyond his contractual duty
In the case of Freemont (Denbigh) Ltd v Knight Frank LLP [2014] EWHC 3347 (Ch), a landowner instructed a valuer to prepare a valuation report for a plot of land.
Read moreArguing until Blue(fin) in the face: Court tells FOS that beneficiaries under a D&O policy are not consumers
The Financial Ombudsman Service has suffered a major defeat in the Administrative Court which will come as a relief to D&O insurers and brokers.
Read moreFTT prevents HMRC from having two bites of the cherry!
In Lady Henrietta Pearson v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 890 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') concluded that HMRC had "ignored" its previous decision by seeking to reduce the amount of a VAT refund ...
Read moreFTT prevents HMRC from having two bites of the cherry!
In Lady Henrietta Pearson v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 890 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') concluded that HMRC had "ignored" its previous decision by seeking to reduce the amount of a VAT refund which it had ordered HMRC make to Lady Henrietta Pearson ('the taxpayer').
Read moreFCA approves 'independent' use of internal specialist advisers
Ever since RDR 'independence' rules were introduced nearly two years ago, financial advisers have sought clarification on referring clients to internal specialists within their firm for expert advice.
Read moreCultural Revolution: FCA offers re-education in the provinces
In a speech at Mansion House last night, Martin Wheatley announced a masters degree in regulation in conjunction with Henley Business School which, he said, will "set the global standard".
Read moreFCA approves 'independent' use of internal specialist advisers
Ever since RDR 'independence' rules were introduced nearly two years ago, financial advisers have sought clarification on referring clients to internal specialists within their firm for expert advice.
Read moreChanges to the UK Corporate Governance Code – real change?
The UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code) sets out principles of good governance for premium listed companies in the areas of board composition and development, remuneration, shareholder relations, accountability and audit.
Read moreGMAC's strategy for limiting VAT payments proved lawful in ECJ
The following is taken from an article by Robert Waterson and Nigel Brook, originally published in International Tax Review (12 September 2014).
Read moreFOS is not unfair; it just doesn't apply the law
The new CEO of FOS, Caroline Wayman, gave evidence to the Treasury Select Committee yesterday, including (reportedly) in response to a poll that revealed 58% of advisers considered FOS unfair in its decisions on financial advice.
Read moreContent Clergy, Satisfied Solicitors, and Bitter Barmen
A recent study by the Cabinet Office has found that the Solicitors' profession is the 44th most content in the UK*. We will all be pleased to hear that accountants trail behind at 45th.
Read moreContent Clergy, Satisfied Solicitors, and Bitter Barmen
A recent study by the Cabinet Office has found that the Solicitors' profession is the 44th most content in the UK*. We will all be pleased to hear that accountants trail behind at 45th.
Read moreThe importance of commercial considerations in contractual construction
The principles governing contractual interpretation under English law are reasonably well-established.
Read moreDon't (Calder) bank on an analogy to the Part 36 regime
When a party makes a Part 36 Offer, the consequences are clear. The rules and sanctions for failure to beat a Part 36 Offer are set out in the Civil Procedure Rules.
Read moreMarket Misconduct Tribunal gives Tiger Asia the "cold shoulder"
Hong Kong's Market Misconduct Tribunal (the MMT) has banned Tiger Asia Management LLC (a hedge fund based in New York) and one of its principal officers from dealing in Hong Kong securities for four (of a maximum five) years.
Read moreHMRC lose employment status case
In the recent case of EMS (Independent Accident Management Services) Limited v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 891 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ("FTT"), found in favour of the taxpayer on the question of whether or not an employment relationship existed.
Read moreNew UK Procurement Rules Published for Consultation
Draft new Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and a Consultation Document on UK Transposition of the new EU Procurement Directives have recently been published by the Cabinet Office. This paves the way for the 2014 Directives to be implemented in the UK early next year.
Read moreFCA COMPLETES THEMATIC REVIEW OF MOBILE BANKING AND PAYMENTS
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently published its findings following its thematic review of mobile banking and payments.
Read moreNo loss of confidence – causation in confidential information claims
Richmond Pharmacology Ltd v Chester Overseas Ltd, Milton Levine and Larry Levine [2014] EWHC 2692 (Ch)
Read moreLeveling the playing field - SFC conclusions on professional investor regime and client agreements
Despite the ongoing political noise coming out of Hong Kong, commercial life and the operation of the financial markets continue unabated.
Read moreUnlimited leave = unlimited productivity?
‘We should focus on what people get done, not on how many hours or days worked. Just as we don’t have a nine-to-five policy, we don’t need a vacation policy.’
Read moreUnlimited leave = unlimited productivity?
‘We should focus on what people get done, not on how many hours or days worked. Just as we don’t have a nine-to-five policy, we don’t need a vacation policy.’
Read moreTribunal allows taxpayer to make a late appeal and rejects HMRC's overly formalistic approach
In Chirag Patel v HMRC[1] the First-tier Tribunal ('FTT') decided that a letter from the taxpayer's accountant constituted a late appeal against a discovery assessment, despite it not being expressed as such.
Read moreEU Consultation on Cloud Computing and Software
The EU has opened a public consultation to help define future research priorities in the areas of Cloud Computing and Software (including Open Source). Any and all stakeholders are invited to submit their views by 10 October 2014.
Read moreAmmunition for Defendants: Claimants may have to waive privilege to prove mitigation
The High Court recently found in a solicitors negligence claim that a claimant acted unreasonably in (1) settling an arbitration and then (2) refusing to waive privilege such that the Court could assess the reasonableness of the settlement.
Read moreBrand & Khan obtain continuing "anti-harassment" order against masseuse
The High Court has recently granted an extension to an anti-harassment injunction taken out by Russell Brand and Jemima Goldsmith, otherwise known as Jemima Khan (the Claimants), against a masseuse (the Defendant).
Read moreSRA's compensation fund to provide cover for negligence claims against uninsured firms
A recent article in Legal Futures suggests that it will cost contributors to the SRA's compensation fund £2.5m in the 2014/15 year in order to cover negligence claims against uninsured firms following the ARP's closure last September.
Read moreIs no news always good news? Drop in complaints may hint at conclusions from over-due FCA complaints review
The FCA's latest publication of complaints data has revealed a decrease of 5% in the overall number of complaints.
Read moreRoot and branch changes to EU VAT rules on intra-entity supplies?
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) last week ruled that services provided by a US insurer to its Swedish branch were subject to VAT in Sweden. This widely reported decision is likely to have implications for insurers and other financial services groups across Europe.
Read moreCMA brings car competition probe to conclusion
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) – the UK's leading consumer and competition authority – yesterday published measures which it expects will increase competition and reduce premiums in the car insurance market.
Read moreTax Tribunal has no jurisdiction to consider public law issues in direct tax appeal
The following is taken from an article by Adam Craggs, originally published in Tax Journal
Read moreCrime and privilege
Under English law, legal professional privilege permits a civil litigant or a defendant in criminal proceedings to withhold from the other side documents subject to the privilege.
Read moreBrokers' Duties – Business Interruption
Whilst not exactly a reason for brokers to jump for joy, the recent case of Eurokey Recycling Limited v Giles Insurance Brokers Limited has at least reversed the trend of brokers' duties becoming more onerous with each reported case.
Read moreSupreme Court clarifies continuing police disclosure obligations
The recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of R (on the application of Nunn) v Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary and another sheds further light on the continuing duty of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to disclose information in criminal cases post-conviction.
Read moreSupreme Court: Insurers counting the costs of negligent will drafting
Insurers beware: where limited funds are available in an estate and there has been a dispute caused by solicitor negligence over a will then the usual 'loser pays' rule may not apply...
Read moreSIPPs: FCA announces new capital framework
SIPP Operators will be forced to hold an extra £18m in reserve capital under new rules outlined by the FCA last month.
Read moreClaim for entrepreneurs' relief succeeds: Tribunal finds that the removal from the payroll did not end taxpayer's employment
The First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (FTT) has decided in Corbett v HMRC[1] that removing a taxpayer from a company's payroll before a sale of that company did not end her employment for the purposes of claiming entrepreneur's relief.
Read moreTurning the clock back
A recent Court of Appeal decision[1] in a pensions' dispute provides a reminder of circumstances in which the English courts will allow a statement of case to be amended to bring a new claim which would otherwise be time barred.
Read moreSlapdash SIPPs told to sharpen up by FCA
SIPP Operators have repeatedly been in the headlines since the FCA completed its second thematic review in 2012.
Read moreSlapdash SIPPs told to sharpen up by FCA
SIPP Operators have repeatedly been in the headlines since the FCA completed its second thematic review in 2012.
Read moreTribunal rejects Ramsay argument and allows taxpayer's appeal in corporate bond case
In Hancock & Hancock v HMRC[1] the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has upheld the taxpayer's appeal against HMRC's decision ...
Read moreLegal Lasers
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is quickly becoming recognised as the future of design, construction and facilities management for new build projects. But what about existing buildings?
Read moreBank backs another winner in interest rate swaps saga – but is it luck or judgement?
Despite their costly on-going review work and redress exercises, banks that sold interest rate swaps are still facing parallel court claims.
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