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General liability newsletter - January 2020
Welcome to the latest edition of our general liability newsletter, rounding up the key cases from January 2020. This month we look at recent cases involving; claims for court fees, late applications to vacate trial, part 36 settlements & litigation privilege.
Read moreTax update - February 2020
In this month’s update we report on (1) HMRC’s Venture Capital Schemes Manual; (2) the review into the off-payroll working rules; and (3) a briefing paper regarding retrospective taxation put before the House of Commons. We also comment on three recent cases relating to (1) the meaning of “structure” for the purposes of capital allowances; (2) an HMRC challenge to carry-back loss relief claims; and (3) principal private residence relief.
Read moreOnline resale price maintenance practices attract highest fines yet from the CMA
The CMA announced on 22 January 2020 that it has fined Fender, the guitar manufacturer, £4.5 million for illegal resale price maintenance practices ("RPM").
Read moreAnother successful round for the CMA
The Court of Appeal confirms that an absolute online sales ban imposed by a supplier on its authorised retailers is illegal.
Read moreDevon Waste Management – Waste firms win appeal in landfill 'fluff' case
In Devon Waste Management Ltd and Others v HMRC [2020] UKUT 1 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) has held that the disposal of certain waste materials did not attract a charge to landfill tax.
Read morePatch Test: Is your GP watching Love Island?
The reality TV phenomenon Love Island returned to viewer's screens on 20 January 2020, opening to an audience of 4.8 million. One contestant's open display of contraceptive choice has caught the attention of viewers and, hopefully, some GPs.
Read moreCan a super regulator save the High Street?
Henry Priestley introduces 'The Future of Retail' - a joint publication with Raconteur and The Times, published on 17 December 2019, where Partner Jeremy Drew discusses the need for a super regulator to help rescue the High Street.
Read moreBetween a rock and a card place - the changing nature of professional introductions
To what extent is the humble business card being affected by changes in how professional introductions are made? With details of our professional lives now often available online, there are fewer opportunities to introduce ourselves through our business cards
Read moreThe Future at Lloyd's Blueprint One
Welcome to Insurance Covered! The podcast that looks at the inner workings of the insurance industry with the help of expert guests! For our maiden episode we look at 'The Future at Lloyd's Blueprint One' with a particular focus on the plans to revolutionize the claims process.
Read moreBuilding on renewable energy #1 - Solar power
Solar power is produced by the absorbing of the sun's rays by solar panels. The photovoltaic (pv) cells contained within the panels convert sunlight into electricity, which (after conversion into an alternating current) can then be exported to the grid or used to power the sites on which the panels are situated. This all sounds simple enough, but solar pv arrays can present some challenges from a design and construct perspective.
Read moreBuilding on renewable energy
2019 was potentially a significant year for the renewable energy industry. Record temperatures and environmental catastrophes highlighted the need to reduce carbon emissions and make greater use of sources of renewable energy, and political parties championing green policies saw – for the most part – their share of the vote increase both domestically and internationally.
Read moreBitcoin is 'property' and can therefore be subject of proprietary injunction
Following recent case law on the matter, the High Court has found that bitcoin can be 'property' and can therefore be the subject of a proprietary injunction.(1) In reaching its conclusion, the court adopted the detailed analysis of the issue set out in the UK Jurisdictional Task Force's November 2019 Legal Statement on Crypto-Assets and Smart Contracts, thereby providing a far more detailed judicial basis for the finding than found in previous cases. The bitcoins at the heart of this case were part of a ransom payment paid to a hacker who installed malware on a company's IT systems.
Read moreRPC represents party in key case for establishing the governing law of arbitration agreements.
In the recent case of Kabab-Ji S.A.L v Kout Food Group, RPC and Ricky Diwan QC (Essex Court) represented Kout Food Group before the Court of Appeal. In an important judgment, the Court established that on the proper construction of the relevant contract there was an express choice of English law governing the arbitration agreement despite that agreement providing for any arbitration to be seated in Paris.
Read moreVegans: a new protected group?
Retailers would be forgiven for thinking that 2020's Veganuary coincided with a new law protecting all those who participate. Much of the press coverage of a recent employment tribunal case appeared to suggest just that. The true picture is a little more nuanced. Munch on that kale while we fill you in...
Read moreHigh Court grants proprietary injunction over Bitcoin cyber ransom payment to a third party
Instances of Ransomware are becoming increasingly common. We regularly deal with these types of cases and are seeing an escalation in both the sophistication of the attacks and the ransom demands being made.
Read moreBreaking news - dominant purpose test extends to legal advice privilege
The Court of Appeal has held that legal advice privilege will apply to communications only if seeking or giving legal advice is their dominant purpose.
Read moreWitness evidence reform - evolution not revolution?
The Witness Evidence Working Group's recommendations for witness evidence reform focus on the more consistent enforcement of existing rules with some limited new measures.
Read moreFirst UK Court decision applying Cofemel
The IPEC has issued its first ruling following the CJEU's decision in Cofemel, finding that "complete conformity" with EU law would exclude any requirement of aesthetic appeal.
Read moreVAT update - January 2020
In this month’s update we report on (1) changes to the rules relating to distance selling; (2) changes to VAT for intra-EU chain transactions and zero rated goods; and (3) HMRC’s guidance on proposed changes to the VAT treatment of call-off stock arrangements. We also comment on three recent cases which consider (1) whether VAT zero rating is available for electronic editions of newspapers; (2) the scope and meaning of “services of consultants”, for the purposes of Article 59(c), Principal VAT Directive; and (3) the deductibility of input tax on fees incurred in implementing a tax scheme.
Read moreCyber_Bytes - Issue 6 2020
Welcome to Cyber_Bytes, a round up of key developments in cyber, tech and evolving risks over the first month of 2020.
Read moreCJEU hands down decision in Sky v SkyKick case
This morning, the CJEU handed down its judgment for the much anticipated Sky v SkyKick case – certainly one of the most important trade mark referrals from the High Court over the past few years.
Read moreSports Ticker 5 – Saracens, W Series and Speedrunning
Welcome to the fifth edition of the RPC Sports Ticker - providing fortnightly bite-size updates from the sports industry.
Read moreLoot Boxes: what's in the box?
On 12 September 2019 the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) released its report into what it calls "immersive and addictive technologies".
Read moreLloyd-Webber – capital gains losses allowed over properties which were never completed
In Lloyd-Webber and another v HMRC [2019] UKFTT 717 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has held that a payment made under a contract for the acquisition of land was for the acquisition of contractual rights, rather than for the land, giving rise to an allowable loss on termination of the contract.
Read moreBossing the rules: lowering the standard?
Solicitors everywhere will be concerned at the recent move of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, alongside the recent SRA Standards and Regulations reforms, to alter the standard of proof to be applied in disciplinary proceedings. This article looks at the background to the Tribunal's recent decision, the reasons for the change, and the concerns around it.
Read moreFull and frank disclosure means more than just putting relevant matters in evidence – a new year warning in UKIP v Braine & Others
New year, new reminder of the obligation to make full and frank disclosure in without notice applications, this time in the context of a falling out within the UKIP party. The obligation can only be satisfied by drawing the court's attention to legal or factual matters which could undermine the applicant's own application; it is not enough to simply put relevant matters in evidence before the court (UKIP v Braine & Others). Injunction, confidential, publication and non-disclosure.
Read moreDisciplinary investigations against architects #2 - Complaints to the ARB
Further to our previous article which provided an overview of the Architect Registration Board's disciplinary process, we explain the first stage of a disciplinary investigation against an Architect, the complaint stage.
Read moreDisciplinary investigations against architects #2 - Complaints to the ARB
Further to our previous article which provided an overview of the Architect Registration Board's disciplinary process, we explain the first stage of a disciplinary investigation against an Architect, the complaint stage.
Read moreSSE Generation – UT considers the meaning of structure for the purposes of capital allowances
In HMRC v SSE Generation Ltd [2019] UKUT 332 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) dismissed HMRC's appeal against the decision of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) that the taxpayer was eligible for capital allowances in relation to certain expenditure it incurred in connection with the construction of the Glendoe Hydro Electric Power Scheme.
Read moreASA issues guidance on how to deliver a compliant marketing subscription box
How careful do you need to be when offering a free trial? What does a free trial “subscription trap” look like? And how do you avoid setting one?
Read moreASA ruling on Dyson
How careful do you need to be when making factually correct claims in a context which might change their meaning?
Read moreASA ruling on Merkur Cashino Ltd
Can ads on the back of bus tickets be seen to target protected age categories?
Read moreASA ruling on Casumo
Can a gambling ad be seen to be targeting vulnerable consumers if it appears in a Google search result for those trying to “unsubscribe” from gambling ads?
Read moreASA ruling on promoting alcohol – Tequila Rose
What if your influencer looks younger than they are when it comes to posts promoting alcohol?
Read moreASA ruling on Imperial Tobacco
When can e-cigarette advertisers encourage “new” users of their products?
Read moreASA ruling on phrases which may have a sexual connotation – Boohoo.com
How easy is it for a campaign to be deemed “socially irresponsible” where it refers to a phrase which could possibly have a sexual connotation?
Read moreASA ruling on “humorous” tweets – Burger King
How careful do you need to be when using topical events to let loose a branded tweet? Put another way, was the combination of Nigel Farage, “milkshaking” and “#justsaying” a responsible tweet by Burger King?
Read moreWhat is the right hashtag to use when labelling an ad
What is best, and worst, practice in labelling a post as an ad?
Read moreASA ruling on “#brand ambassador” – Cocoa Brown
Does the use of “#brand ambassador” in an Instagram caption make the post easily identifiable as an ad?
Read moreASA ruling on contractual relations Brooks Brothers
Can a post by an influencer be deemed to be an ad, even when the post is at the influencer’s own initiative and to his own followers, and not at the direct request of the relevant brand?
Read moreObligations to remove content
Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek v Facebook Ireland Ltd, Case C-18/18
Read moreMemorandum of Understanding on online advertising and intellectual property to continue
What steps is the advertising industry taking to minimise the placement of advertising on IPR- infringing websites?
Read moreASA seeks injunction for email sent to wrong recipient
ASA v Robert Neil Whyte Mitchell
Read moreNew statutory redemption period for Irish gift vouchers
Irish Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019
Read moreMajor finance, retail and media companies targeted in Irish “cookie” sweep
How does the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) monitor whether websites are compliant with data protection law?
Read moreICO guidance on the use of cookies and similar technologies
Can implied consent be relied on for the use of cookies? Or, in the words of the ICO’s blog, “what does ‘good’ look like?”
Read moreCJEU rules out opt out consent for cookies
Planet49 GmbH v Bundesverban der Vebraucherzentralen
Read moreStriking the balance between the RTBF and substantial public interest
GC, AF, BH, ED v CNIL Case C-136/17 GC, AF, BH, ED v Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL)
Read moreCJEU rules on the territorial scope of the “right to be forgotten”
Google LLC v Commission Nationale de l'informatique et des Libertés (CNIL)
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