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Perspective - Publication

Casting your net zero ambitions: eight key steps for retailers

Published on 24 Nov 2022. By Patrick Brodie, Partner and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG strategy lead and Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality

With climate change at the forefront of the ESG agenda, the employment relationship, and the opportunities to engage with the workforce on this subject, are crucial ingredients in the quest to becoming a truly green retailer.

Perspective - Publication

UK set to reform consumer protection legislation and its competitive regime

Published on 10 Nov 2022. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel and Joe Lippitt, Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate

The UK is set to introduce a wide array of changes to its consumer protection legislation and competition regime. The focus of the changes revolves around giving greater protection to consumers over subscription traps, tackling fake reviews and improving enforcement. The latter is likely to bring in GDPR/competition law-level fines for breaches of consumer protection legislation or non-compliance with the CMA's investigations or remedies, with maximum fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover.

Perspective - Publication

Where to next for Buy Now Pay Later?

Published on 12 Oct 2022.

On Monday 20 June 2022, HM Treasury responded to its consultation on proposals to extend regulation to unregulated Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products. This consultation closed in January 2022. The Treasury's response confirmed the scope of regulation will cover BNPL products and short-term interest free credit (STIFC) provided by third-party lenders.

Perspective - Publication

Extended producer responsibility for packaging: How to prepare

Published on 12 Oct 2022.

In the Spring 2022 edition of Retail Compass, we reported on the Government's consultation on regulations covering extended producer responsibility (EPR) which places the financial burden of dealing with packaging once it becomes waste on producers as opposed to taxpayers.

Perspective - Publication

It's a supermarket sweep as HFSS products face sweeping promotion and placement restrictions

Published on 12 Oct 2022.

In an attempt to tackle obesity in the UK, in particular childhood obesity, a swathe of restrictions on the placement and promotion of HFSS products in-store and online will be introduced in phases from October 2022 to January 2024.

Perspective - Publication

Online Sales Tax: the right way forward?

Published on 12 Oct 2022.

On 25 February 2022, HM Treasury launched a consultation exploring the possible introduction of an online sales tax (OST) to address the imbalance resulting from the higher business rates applying to in store retailers, compared to online businesses. The consultation closed on 20 May 2022.

Perspective - Publication

Greenwashing: UK regulators set their sights on misleading green claims with an increasing focus on sectors such as fashion retail and F&D

Published on 12 Oct 2022.

UK consumer regulators, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), are ramping up their enforcement of green claims to protect consumers from 'greenwashing'

Press and Media

UK retail sector M&A deals increase to 34 – up 21% on last year

Published on 05 Sep 2022. By Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

• M&A targeting fashion retailers particularly active

Perspective - Publication

Retail Compass Summer edition 2020

Published on 28 Jul 2020. By Jeremy Drew, Partner and Karen Hendy, Partner

Welcome to the Summer 2020 edition of Retail Compass – our guide to key upcoming legal and policy changes affecting Retail and our thoughts on the need-to-know issues.

Perspective - Blog

The ASA bites back – Burger King 'Rebel Whopper' ads ruled to be misleading and in breach of advertising rules

Published on 07 May 2020. By Ben Mark, Partner

At the start of the year, Veganuary hit the headlines, with the British public challenged to ditch animal by-products in favour of a plant-based diet for the month of January.

Perspective - Publication

Hong Kong data protection: cross-border transfers of personal data

Published on 20 Jun 2022. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner and Andrea Randall, Partner

We take a closer look at businesses' obligations under Hong Kong law to protect personal data in a cross-border transfer and the new recommended model contractual clauses.

Perspective - Snapshot

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill opens door for stricter regulation of news platforms

Published on 07 Jul 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

How might the proposed Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the Bill) affect news reporting by digital platforms?

Perspective - Snapshot

Online Safety Bill: Latest amendments increase focus on children safety

Published on 31 Mar 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What is the focus of the latest round of amendments proposed to the Online Safety Bill and how will these impact online platforms?

Perspective - Blog

Furlough, Act Now to Avoid the Knock

Published on 23 Sep 2020. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG strategy lead

As we leave behind the curious summer of 2020, both HMRC and the SFO are readying themselves for the new term. First order of business: combatting corporate misuse of furlough and Covid-19 bail-out funds. According to official statistics released on 18 September, furloughing of staff in the wholesale and retail sector peaked on 24 April at 1.85 million employees - by 31 July, initial figures show 789,000 retail jobs furloughed– a decrease of more than a half since the peak for the sector. Some furloughed employees in the wholesale and retail sector have been returning to work as lockdown restrictions eased, others have, sadly, faced redundancy. As the furlough scheme winds down to a close next month, some employers may be faced with HMRC insisting that their furlough claims amounted to a misuse of – or even fraud against - the scheme.