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Perspective - Blog

Cyber_Bytes - Issue 6 2020

Published on 29 Jan 2020. By Richard Breavington, Partner and Christopher Ashton, Senior Associate and Rachel Ford, Partner

Welcome to Cyber_Bytes, a round up of key developments in cyber, tech and evolving risks over the first month of 2020.

Perspective - Blog

Cyber_Bytes - Issue 5 2019

Published on 10 Dec 2019. By Richard Breavington, Partner and Christopher Ashton, Senior Associate and Rachel Ford, Partner

Welcome to Cyber_Bytes, a bi-weekly roundup of key developments in cyber, tech and evolving risks.

Perspective - Blog

No Deal Brexit – implications for data and privacy law compliance

Published on 17 Oct 2019. By Jon Bartley, Partner and Richard Breavington, Partner

The Brexit rollercoaster ride continues. At the time of writing, the UK and EU have just announced the agreement of a new withdrawal deal but there are serious doubts about whether it will be backed by Parliament. Despite the requirements of the Benn Act, the risk of the UK leaving the EU without a deal continues to be a concern.

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Pushing back on APP scams

Published on 18 Jul 2019. By Ian Dinning, Senior Associate

An Authorised Push Payment (APP) is where a payer instructs their payment service provider, such as their bank, to send money from their account to another. These payments are usually made through the Faster Payment Service or CHAPS.

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Brevan Howard's gagging order against Reuters upheld by the Court of Appeal in breach of confidence case

Published on 10 Jul 2017.

The news agency, Reuters, has lost its appeal against an injunction, which prevented it from reporting leaked confidential and commercially sensitive information concerning a leading global alternative asset manager, Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP.

Perspective - Publication

Brexit does not spell the end of the GDPR

Published on 08 Feb 2017.

The General Data Protection Regulation (the GDPR) is due to become law on 25 May 2018. As this will be before “Brexit” (Britain’s exit from the EU) takes effect, the GDPR will apply in the UK from that date.

Perspective - Blog

18 months on - the ICO reflects on Google Spain

Published on 11 Nov 2015. By Alex Wilson, Partner

The ICO has recently blogged on the cases it has received in the year and a half since the Google Spain decision last May.

Perspective - Publication

Apps: regulators globally push for data transparency

Published on 16 Feb 2015.

“Not in front of the telly: Warning over ‘listening’ TV”.

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Brand & Khan obtain continuing "anti-harassment" order against masseuse

Published on 29 Sep 2014.

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).

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A Chinese lesson for private investigators

Published on 30 Aug 2013. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

Those engaged in the investigation business – whether sniffing out personal or corporate intelligence – are well aware of the need to comply with laws that protect personal information.

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Can schools take pupils' fingerprints?

Published on 09 Apr 2013. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

The Times reported last week that parents at an independent school in north London had protested when fingerprints were allegedly taken from pupils without consent with a view to the fingerprints being used for the automated lunch payment system.

Perspective - Blog

A former editor’s view on the naked Royal

Published on 22 Aug 2012. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

There’s an interesting view on the naked pictures of Prince Harry from a former tabloid editor.

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Access to Documents in Criminal Proceedings – Guardian Challenge Secures Change

Published on 03 Apr 2012. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

The Court of Appeal has ruled that where documents have been placed before a judge and referred to in the course of open proceedings, the default position should be that access should be permitted on the open justice principle.

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Cabinet minister's 17-year-old son gets privacy injunction but not anonymity

Published on 15 Feb 2012. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

The son of Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, has obtained an injunction against the publishers of the Daily Star Sunday.

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A "tenuous claim to privacy": Hutcheson v News Group

Published on 23 Jul 2011. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

Can you expect to keep a second family private? That was the ambitious hope of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's father-in-law, Chris Hutcheson.

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A former judge reflects on privacy injunctions

Published on 15 Jun 2011. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

Mr Justice Eady's interview last month by Joshua Rosenberg -

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A digest of recent news (1) - UK judgments

Published on 30 May 2011. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

For one reason and another, the blog has been unable to report on much of the recent news. This entry is an attempt to remedy the situation. Normal service should be resumed shortly.

Perspective - Blog

Another ruling on privacy injunctions

Published on 22 Mar 2011.

Judgment was handed down today in a case where a privacy injunction was made in 2008.

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Can employers spy on their employees?

Published on 11 Mar 2011.

The US media have reported a number of instances in which companies have hired private detectives to spy on workers taking "sickies".

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Anonymity order lifted in marital privacy case

Published on 28 Feb 2011.

A High Court judge has lifted an anonymity order protecting the identity of a formerly married couple involved in a privacy dispute.

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Anonymity proposed for teachers accused by pupils

Published on 31 Jan 2011.

The controversial Education Bill was published on 26 January 2011.

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A mass outbreak of anonymity: CDE and FGH v MGN and LMN

Published on 20 Jan 2011. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

It is not unusual for claimants in privacy cases to be anonymised. It is less common for defendants and distinctly unusual for non-parties.

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7/7 footage withheld from public to protect privacy of victims and their families

Published on 14 Jan 2011.

The Coroner conducting the inquest into the terror attacks in London on 7 July 2005 has ordered that certain footage shown in court of the aftermath of the 7/7 attacks should not be released to the media.

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Anonymity of egg and sperm donors

Published on 13 Jan 2011.

A survey by Manchester Fertility Services highlights issues of privacy concerning egg and sperm donation.

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Applications for privacy injunctions – when notice need not be given

Published on 10 Jan 2011. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

In DFT v TFD [2010] EWHC 2335 (QB) Sharp J made an order to restrain publication of allegedly private and confidential information without notice having been given to either the respondent or the media.

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Anonymisation of parties in matrimonial proceedings

Published on 10 Jan 2011. By Keith Mathieson, Partner

The Court of Appeal has lifted an order by a family court judge which directed that the parties to the proceedings should be anonymised.

Profile

Helen Yost

Senior Associate

Profile

Lauren Kerr

Associate

Perspective - Publication

A shifting landscape? The outlook for data regulation in 2023

Published on 09 Jun 2023. By Jon Bartley, Partner and Amy Blackburn, Senior Associate

With a relatively new Information Commissioner in the UK and a renewed focus on getting post-Brexit data protection laws through Parliament, attention is turning to the ICO’s priorities and how they fit into this new landscape.

Perspective - Publication

Transitioning to a net zero economy

Published on 31 May 2023. By Rosamund Akayan, Knowledge Lawyer and Connor Cahalane, Partner, Head of Public Companies

The TPT has published a draft disclosure framework and implementation guidance for private sector entities to transition to a net zero economy, making recommendations for companies and financial institutions to develop gold-standard transition plans.

Perspective - Publication

CSRD: shakeup of the EU's sustainability reporting rules

Published on 25 May 2023. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate and Sarah Mountain, Partner and Connor Cahalane, Partner, Head of Public Companies

The EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force on 5 January 2023.

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Deposit Return Scheme: Key considerations for drinks producers and retailers in the UK

Published on 16 May 2023. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial

Defra has now responded to its consultation on the introduction of a DRS in England, Wales and NI. The DRS will require retailers to charge a small fee on certain drinks containers sold, which consumers can reclaim if they return the container to a designated return point.

Perspective - Publication

Going Green – staying on the right side of competition law

Published on 15 May 2023. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel and Leonia Chesterfield, Of Counsel

Environmental issues are high on the agenda for many consumers and businesses alike. They are also increasingly an area of focus for competition authorities around the world, including the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), who are keen to ensure that competition law concerns do not unnecessarily prevent businesses from collaborating legitimately on environmental sustainability initiatives.

Perspective - Publication

New REUL? How will the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) affect UK businesses?

Published on 09 May 2023. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Patrick Brodie, Partner

When the Brexit transition period ended, so did the alignment of EU law with UK domestic law.

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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

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

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.

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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'

Perspective - Blog

The Terminator: A Tale of Two Insurance Claims

Published on 19 Dec 2023. By Peter Mansfield, Partner

It is 2029, and the Machines are losing their war with Humanity. What to do?

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Project Angel Bidco v AXIS - what are the key takeaways for warranty and indemnity insurers?

Published on 30 Nov 2023. By James Wickes, Partner and Matthew Wood, Senior Associate and Matt Ward, Trainee Solicitor

On 31 October 2023, the London Circuit Commercial Court gave judgment in Project Angel Bidco Limited (in administration) v Axis Managing Agency Limited & Ors (2023) EWHC 2649.

Perspective - Blog

Wordings do matter

Published on 06 Nov 2023. By Tamsin Hyland, Partner

Contract drafting has been brass tacks for lawyers since the dawn of time. In its broadest terms, it involves putting the scope of a bargain reached between parties into clear and effective language.

Perspective - Blog

Storm Babet, flooding and the insurance implications

Published on 24 Oct 2023. By Victoria Sherratt, Partner and Andrew Roper, Partner and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

Subtropical cyclone Storm Babet is currently responsible for over 350 flood warnings in the UK, with more flood warnings expected later this week.

Perspective - Blog

Getting to know Global Access Lawyers

Published on 09 Oct 2023. By Carmel Green, Partner and Simon Laird, Global Head of Insurance

Global Access Lawyers brings together some of the worlds leading insurance law practices. In the following pages get to know the different law firms that make up Global Access, who we are, where we operate and the kind of work we do. We hope you find this useful to understand the international reach of Global Access.

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Court of Appeal finds in favour of FSCS on scope of the Policyholder Protection Rules (PRR)

Published on 14 Sep 2023. By Tamsin Hyland, Partner

Tamsin Hyland explores the recent judgment of JR (On the application of Manchikalapati v FSCS [2023] EWCA Civ 1006) and its relevance to insurance policy wording.

Perspective - Blog

What does the FRC's proposed corporate governance overhaul mean for D&O exposures?

Published on 04 Jul 2023. By James Wickes, Partner and Aimee Talbot, Knowledge Lawyer

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has now published the draft new UK Corporate Governance Code following the Government's requirements that it incorporate more robust internal control and prudent and effective risk management requirements. The deadline for responses to the FRC's consultation is 13 September 2023.

Press and Media

Are pension fund trustees at risk of legal action following UK gilts’ meltdown?

Published on 07 Oct 2022. By Rachael Healey, Partner

Are pension fund trustees conducting liability-driven investing at risk of legal action following the volatility in the UK gilt market?

Perspective - Blog

Is the FCA to blame for BSPS? MPs seem to think so

Published on 22 Jul 2022. By Rachael Healey, Partner

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday published a report entitled "Investigation into the British Steel Pension Scheme". The report makes a number of recommendations in light of its investigations in to the FCA's conduct and regulatory oversight at the time of the issues arising from the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) and in particular the decision by 7,834 members to transfer to a personal pension arrangement. The report is heavily critical of the FCA's handling of BSPS and its regulatory oversight of the defined benefit transfer market generally. Given the request in the report for an update from the FCA on its progress on the various recommendations and conclusions in 6 months' time, we wait to see how the FCA reacts to yet further criticism of its handling of BSPS at a time when it is reviewing responses to the consumer redress scheme consultation.

Perspective - Blog

SIPPs and FOS - does the Rowanmoor decision change anything?

Published on 02 Feb 2022. By Rachael Healey, Partner

Last week FOS published a decision it reached last year in a complaint against a SIPP provider involving advised sales. The FOS upheld the complaint, finding that the SIPP provider should have rejected business from the regulated financial adviser, CIB Life and Pensions Limited (CIB), given, broadly, red flags available to the SIPP provider with respect to the operation of CIB's business model including that CIB was not advising on the ultimate investment within the SIPP and as a result such introductions involved a significant risk of consumer detriment. The decision has received quite a bit of press attention - but has it moved the dial for SIPP complaints before FOS or not?

Perspective - Blog

The Future of Insolvency Regulation

Published on 04 Jan 2022. By Rachael Healey, Partner

On 21 December 2021 the Government launched a consultation into the future of insolvency regulation. The changes proposed in the consultation document will have a wide ranging impact on the insolvency profession (and its insurers) with the proposals including: the direct regulation of insolvency firms, the introduction of a single regulatory body with powers to order compensation against insolvency practitioners and firms, a new additional requirements regime, changes to the bond regime and a public register of insolvency practitioners and firms. Many of the changes proposed require primary legislation and so it may be some time before the changes to take effect (if adopted). But there does appear to be some wind behind these proposals given they follow on from the Call for Evidence in 2019 and a more general focus on insolvency issues in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.