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COVID-19 Your workforce: a caution against putting equality on the backburner
UK business, like much of the rest of the world, is and will, for some time, remain firmly in the grip of COVID-19's tentacles.
Read moreRegulatory update - March 2020
Welcome to the March edition of our monthly Regulatory Update, which aims to pull together key developments from the past month across the various UK regulators – and help you to navigate the regulatory maze.
Read moreInsurance broker E&O exposures: COVID-19
As insurers brace themselves for large volumes of notifications across all lines of business relating to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) we expect to see a second wave of E&O notifications by insurance brokers when policyholders (businesses and individuals) find themselves without adequate cover for losses relating to the pandemic. Some insurers are already seeing a spike in such notifications.
Read moreCOVID-19 – FCA's update for consumers
In the current unsettling time, in addition to publishing guidance for firms, the FCA is keen to maintain contact with consumers. The FCA wants to ensure consumers are being protected and therefore, is providing regular advice on the steps that consumers can take to stay aware of any potential impact on their finances.
Read moreCOVID-19 forces HMRC to temporarily change its stamp duty processes
Yesterday (25th March) HMRC announced some "temporary" changes to its stamp duty processes, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read moreVAT update - March 2020
In this month’s update we report on (1) HMRC’s recently published policy paper in relation to the VAT liability of digital publications; (2) EU Council Regulation (EU) 2020/283 and Council Directive (EU) 2020/284 in relation to combatting VAT fraud; and (3) EU Council Directive (EU) 2020/285 in relation to the special scheme for small enterprises. We also comment on three recent cases which consider (1) whether a specific form is required for the notification of an assessment of VAT; (2) when VAT is collectable as a debt due; and (3) what constitutes a reasonable excuse for incorrectly issuing a zero-rating VAT certificate.
Read moreThe "war" against Coronavirus: implications for the Life Sciences industry when regulations are loosened
Politicians have reached for military metaphors when setting out their response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Governments hope that the Life Sciences industry will win the fight against the virus by arming the healthcare sector with pharmaceutical and medical device solutions. In the first of a series of blog posts over the coming months on Coronavirus, we examine the pressures that industry must balance when responding to the call to arms.
Read moreCOVID-19 and Commercial Tenants' Rights Regarding Rent
This blog sets out various issues for commercial tenants to consider in relation to impending rent payments and government intervention in response to Covid-19. We are currently fielding numerous enquiries from tenants seeking advice about whether rent holidays, reductions and other concessions can be obtained in these unprecedented times.
Read moreCOVID-19 and Commercial Tenants' Rights Regarding Rent
This blog sets out various issues for commercial tenants to consider in relation to impending rent payments and government intervention in response to Covid-19. We are currently fielding numerous enquiries from tenants seeking advice about whether rent holidays, reductions and other concessions can be obtained in these unprecedented times.
Read moreCredit Suisse: Appeal allowed as HMRC had failed to open a valid enquiry
In Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd and others v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 86 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) allowed a company's appeal against a closure notice on the grounds that HMRC had not issued a valid notice of enquiry.
Read moreCOVID-19: help for supermarkets and other retailers with competition law compliance in challenging times
The Government is providing the supermarkets with the necessary comfort, so that they can co-operate with each other in order to keep the shelves stocked and deliveries continuing during the course of the COVID-19 crisis.
Read moreCOVID 19 Your workforce: What on earth is "furlough"?
Meaning of furlough, especially in the context of companies dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
Read moreCOVID-19 - The official guidance on remote hearings; early engagement is key to success
COVID-19. The courts are trying to conduct "business as usual" as much as possible in this challenging climate. The latest official guidance, published on Friday, covers remote hearings in all Civil Courts in England & Wales; it relates to all types of hearings – applications, trials and appeals.
Read moreCOVID-19 Your workforce: pay and costs - practical ideas our clients are exploring
COVID-19 Your workforce: pay and costs - practical ideas our clients are exploring. These are extraordinary times that place extraordinary pressures on all of us, including dealing with your workforce. We set out below some ideas that we are hearing about from our clients and some areas you may wish to think about in terms of your employee costs.
Read moreCOVID-19 Your workforce: supporting mental health when home working
COVID-19 Your workforce: supporting mental health when home working. Many of us are working from home during this crisis and while this can be an effective way of working for some, it is less happy for others; loneliness, caring for vulnerable dependants and challenging home environments are all being experienced. There may be members of your teams who fall into these categories.
Read moreCoronavirus/COVID-19 and the Impact on Litigation
In these unusual times, we are all having to adapt our social, family and working lives to deal with an unprecedented global situation which throws up a vast number of new worries and issues to deal with. This article looks at concerns raised specifically about litigating in the current climate.
Read moreCoronavirus/COVID-19 – Regulatory Update
Our lawyers' liability and regulatory team take a look at the areas of solicitors' regulation that are likely to be impacted by Coronavirus/COVID-19 and the consequent move towards working away from the office.
Read moreCOVID-19: FCA's update for firms
The FCA's website may not be your first port of call to keep up-to-date on the COVID-19/coronavirus situation here in the UK, but it should be on your list. Why?, you may ask!
Read moreFOS warns consumers to ensure insurance applications correct
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has warned consumers of the risks in providing incorrect details in relation to insurance policies in a new insight report. The risks include policies being avoided due to misrepresentation or material non-disclosure or potentially facing a significant shortfall due to underinsurance.
Read moreCOVID-19: Impact on court hearings and successful virtual mediations
As anticipated, the Courts are now moving to a (mainly) remote working basis.
Read moreInsureds likely face uphill battle in seeking coverage for coronavirus losses in both US & UK
As the coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to spread, organizations around the globe are facing mounting business disruptions and economic losses. Some of these entities may seek coverage for these losses under a variety of insurance policies. Coverage under any form will depend, of course, on the facts of the claim, policy wordings, and the applicable law. Here, we highlight some policy wordings insurers should keep in mind when evaluating coronavirus-related claims under various coverage forms.
Read moreSpring Budget 2020 - main tax announcements
This blog discusses some of the key tax changes announced in last week's Budget, and subsequent tax developments.
Read moreRisk management for surveyors – how to be prepared for your PII renewal
Surveyors will be aware of the requirement to have Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII), both for RICS membership and to protect themselves in the event of a claim. Despite the fact that valuers are facing considerably fewer claims than they did in the years following the 2008 economic crisis, there has still been a reduction in the availability of PII and surveyors are facing a challenging time when they come to renew their insurance.
Read moreSigning documents during COVID-19
This blog gives some practical advice on how to sign documents during the Covid-19 restrictions, including where signatories and others are working from home without access to usual printing and scanning facilities.
Read moreQuasi-proprietary claims: use of disputed funds to pay legal costs
In Kea Investments Ltd v Eric John Watson, the High Court considered to what extent a defendant should be permitted to use funds subject to a freezing injunction to fund its legal expenses where the claimant advances a quasi-proprietary claim over those funds
Read moreMcMillan – Gambling proceeds not taxable income
In McMillan v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 0082 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) held that proceeds of gambling were not taxable income.
Read moreNavigating the dead zone: Understanding liquidation preferences in venture capital #2
In the second of a series of blogs aimed at demystifying common provisions found in venture capital term sheets (with the hope of accelerating the negotiation process between investors and founders), Peter Sugden looks at liquidation preferences.
Read moreContingency market coronavirus briefing – event cancellation
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the current COVID-19 outbreak to be a worldwide pandemic. For the vast majority of people, this label may make little practical difference; the WHO designation does not trigger any automatic or mandatory global reaction, and the decision as to the steps to be taken in response to the outbreak remain in the hands of national governments.
Read moreLitigation funder liable for uncapped adverse costs
In ChapelGate Credit Opportunity Master Fund Ltd v James Money, the Court of Appeal ordered a funder to pay the full amount of adverse costs. [2020] EWCA Civ 246. In a significant judgment for commercial litigation funders, the court found that the ‘Arkin cap’ (which can cap a litigation funder's liability for adverse costs to the amount of funding that was provided) is not a binding rule to be applied automatically in every case involving a litigation funder. Instead, the court considered all of the facts of the case and exercised its discretion in determining whether to cap the litigation funder's liability for adverse costs.
Read moreCovid-19 risk update for UK insurers
In the context of the novel coronavirus dominating international news headlines, RPC consider some key insurance issues with respect to the potential application of notifiable disease and supply chain extensions to standard business interruption insurance policies.
Read moreSports Ticker 8 – Sturridge ban, Cycling World League and Sun Yang's ban
Welcome to the latest edition of the RPC Sports Ticker - providing fortnightly bite-size updates from around the sports industry.
Read moreAria Technology – No specific form required for notification of assessment of VAT
In Aria Technology Ltd v HMRC [2020] EWCA Civ 182, the Court of Appeal confirmed that there is no particular form or formality required of an assessment under section 73(1), Value Added Tax Act 1994 (VATA) and an assessment can be contained in more than one document as long as the minimum requirements are set out in a clear and unambiguous way.
Read moreBeware a broad brush approach to costs assessment
Court of Appeal dismisses former client's objection to solicitors' invoices on assessment.
Read moreCyber_Bytes - Issue 8 2020
Welcome to the eighth 2020 edition of Cyber_Bytes, our bi-weekly roundup of key developments in cyber, tech and evolving risks.
Read moreInternational risk: the evolution of the remedy of avoidance
There used to be a side-splitting “joke” amongst the barrister authors of a particular insurance law textbook that its title ought to have been “How to Avoid”. This was because twenty-five years ago telephone calls between insurance carriers and their lawyers might often have started with: “We are going to get clobbered. How can we get out of this?”. Back then the insurance market was a very different place to what it is now. It was somewhat fragmented and there was a heady mix of under-capitalisation and LMX spiral business (a hazardous game of “pass the exploding parcel” played through mutual reinsurance). A big loss could spell doom – hence the “joke”.
Read moreCyber_Bytes - Issue 9
Welcome to Cyber_Bytes, our bi-weekly roundup of key developments in cyber, tech and evolving risks.
Read moreSnapshots Winter 2019
This is your roundup of all recent legal updates spanning advertising & marketing, commercial cases,technology / digital, data protection and intellectual property.
Read moreThe FCA's key concerns for the pensions market in 2020
In its Sector Views published on 18 February 2020, the FCA has announced its strategic priorities for the pensions sector for this coming year. Key issues include transfer advice, which continues to be a supervision priority, and poor value products that lead to lower living standards in retirement.
Read moreTransformation and risk – what the future holds for retail
Data, AI, and the impact of Covid-19. Kyle Monk – Head of Insight and Analytics at go-to trade association the British Retail Consortium (BRC) – left plenty of food for thought on the future for retailers, and those who advise them, at a talk delivered last week.
Read moreRestrictive covenants in shareholders' agreements and commercial contracts
The Court of Appeal has recently reaffirmed the approach to the enforceability of restrictive covenants in shareholders' agreements and other commercial contracts.
Read moreHappy Birthday to the SIPP
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the first self invested personal pension (SIPP).
Read moreBeware: English jurisdiction clauses do not mean choice of English law
Where parties have agreed in a contract that the English courts will have jurisdiction in the event of a dispute, it does not automatically follow that English law will be the governing law. A party recently found this out, to its cost, when a different governing law clause meant an expired limitation period. This case demonstrates that those entering into contractual agreements should carefully consider a choice of law clause that specifically designates the laws of a country that suits them. GDE LLC v Anglia Autoflow Limited.
Read moreBuilding on renewable energy #2 - Wind power
Wind power is, unsurprisingly, generated by wind (typically as little as a light breeze) passing over and turning the turbine's blades. The blades are connected via a shaft and gearbox to a generator, which converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy. A transformer then increases the voltage of the generated energy to enable transmission to the grid.
Read moreBuilding on renewable energy #2 - Wind power
Wind power is, unsurprisingly, generated by wind (typically as little as a light breeze) passing over and turning the turbine's blades. The blades are connected via a shaft and gearbox to a generator, which converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy. A transformer then increases the voltage of the generated energy to enable transmission to the grid.
Read moreTax update - March 2020
In this month’s update we report on (1) updated guidance provided in HMRC’s SDLT manual in relation to section 75A, Finance Act 2003; (2) a House of Commons briefing paper discussing insolvency and joint and several liability notices for directors; and (3) a Policy Paper concerning upcoming changes to the regulations for the Non-residents Landlord Scheme. We also comment on three recent cases relating to (1) capital gains losses incurred in respect of properties which were never completed; (2) a landfill “fluff” case; and (3) inheritance tax agricultural property and business property relief.
Read moreLinpac – Tribunal confirms that EU group relief claims did not replace earlier domestic claims to relief
In Linpac Group Holdings Ltd v HMRC [2020] UKFTT 60 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) allowed an appeal against an HMRC decision that the taxpayer's claim for group relief had been withdrawn by a subsequent claim.
Read moreAnd the winner is... that pre-loved dress
The recent awards season has seen a new dress-code emerging on the red carpet - wearing clothing either rented or previously worn, in an aim to project a message of sustainability. This reflects trends in the wider fashion world, where sustainability models like rental and resale are emerging fast as brands and consumers look to minimise their impact.
Read moreA CEO's outlook of the insurance market (with Sian Fisher)
Welcome to Insurance Covered! The podcast that looks at the inner workings of the insurance industry with the help of expert guests. This episode we look at the insurance market from the perspective of Sian Fisher, CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
Read moreSo Long Blues
Following our previous IP hub update, Glaxo has suffered fresh survey woes.
Read moreSports Ticker 7 – 'Premflix and Chill', McIlroy and Allianz
Welcome to the second edition of the RPC Sports Ticker - providing fortnightly bite-size updates from the sports industry.
Read more