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Luxury today - go green or go home?

Published on 09 May 2023. By Chloe Shum, Trainee Solicitor

"Sustainability" is the new buzzword in marketing.

Parliamentary 'wash up' – which Bills made it through?

Published on 31 May 2024. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer and Shahil Goodka, Trainee Solicitor

On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a General Election will take place on 4 July 2024. Parliament was then prorogued on 24 May 2024 which allowed a mere 2 days for 'wash up' - the process by which outstanding bills may be rushed through the parliamentary process.

Las Vegas of the East – Navigating Challenges and Embracing Economic Diversification in Macau

Published on 29 May 2024. By Abbie Cheung, Trainee Solicitor

Digital nomads: the world is your oyster?

Published on 08 May 2024. By Samantha Cheng, Trainee Solicitor

Imagine seeing the world while you work, without having to take time off. That's quite the dream, isn't it?

Trainees take on 2024

Published on 06 Feb 2024. By Dominic Barnes, Trainee Solicitor and Tom Butterfield, Trainee Solicitor and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor and Abigail Pipkin, Trainee Solicitor and Michael Miles, Trainee Solicitor and Emily Snow, Trainee Solicitor and Emily Twomey, Trainee Solicitor and Mars Yeung, Trainee Solicitor

2023 was a year of change, with the Coronation of King Charles III, COVID-19 finally losing its pandemic status and continued economic and political instability across the globe.

Rumble in the concrete jungle – London as a disputes powerhouse

Published on 23 Jan 2024. By Lucas Johncey, Trainee Solicitor

"London is the most attractive centre for commercial litigation and international arbitration" according to the Law Society's International Data Insights Report 2023.

Advertising Video on Demand – To AVOD or avoid?

Published on 15 Sep 2023. By Niamh Greene, Trainee Solicitor

As most movie and TV streamers can attest to, Subscription Video on Demand services (or 'SVODs') continue to multiply. No need to put the kettle on while the adverts play; SVODs offer consumers an instant, ad-free escape to worlds unknown at just a click of a button.

Listing reforms in the UK: to market, to market?

Published on 19 Jul 2023. By Ali Chowdhry, Associate

The Financial Conduct Authority is proposing wide ranging reforms to the UK's Listings Rules to entice more high growth companies to list in London

Next-gen AI: Disrupting your business?

Published on 11 Apr 2023.

It’s no secret the tech sector is going through a tough time at the moment with the large swathes of layoffs seen in 2022 continuing into 2023. So much so that bespoke trackers now actively monitor the 167,004 (and counting) tech jobs already lost this year.

Trainees take on 2023

Published on 02 Feb 2023. By Lauren Butler, Associate and Tom Butterfield, Trainee Solicitor and Ella Ennos-Dann, Associate and Rory Graham, Associate and Lewis Manning, Associate and Emily Snow, Trainee Solicitor

2022 was a year of extremes, with focus on our longest-reigning Monarch alongside our shortest-serving Prime Minister (and a lettuce).

TGI…Thursday?

Published on 04 Jan 2023. By Megan Grew, Associate

What would you say if I offered you 100% of your salary and you only had to work four days a week? For the employees of 70 companies across the UK, this was their reality for the second half of 2022.

Ofcom's 'Roadmap to Regulation' underway with its consultation on illegal harms duties under the Online Safety Act

Published on 12 Jan 2024. By Jessica Kingsbury, Associate

In November, Ofcom, as new online safety regulator, published the first of four major consultations under the Online Safety Act ("OSA"), which sets out its proposals for how "user-to-user" ("U2U") services (essentially any online website or app that allows users to interact with each other) and online search services (i.e. Google, Bing and similar) should approach their illegal content duties under the new legislation. The consultation provides guidance in a number of areas including governance, content moderation, reporting and complaints mechanisms, terms of service, supporting child users, and user empowerment.

The Online Safety Bill is set to become law

Published on 21 Sep 2023. By Rupert Cowper-Coles , Partner, Media and Nadia Tymkiw, Senior Associate and Jessica Kingsbury, Associate

The Online Safety Bill will shortly become law in the UK as soon as it receives Royal Assent. The legislation will introduce a new regulatory regime for online platforms and search engines which target the UK, imposing wide-ranging obligations on in-scope services with serious consequences for non-compliance.

The Online Safety Bill and the risk of unintended consequences

Published on 31 Mar 2023. By Nadia Tymkiw, Senior Associate

The Online Safety Bill was reintroduced to Parliament late last year, with new amendments receiving scrutiny in the House of Commons in December, before the bill entered the House of Lords in January. The bill continues to evolve, most notably with the government removing the requirement for user-to-user platforms and search engines to prevent adult users from encountering "legal but harmful" content, instead requiring online platforms to provide users with enhanced content controls (i.e., choice as to what content is seen), and imposing further obligations around transparency and enforcement of online platforms' terms and conditions. "Legal but harmful" obligations remain in place for under 18s. The government has recently agreed to introduce criminal sanctions for senior managers who fail to take proportionate measures to protect children from potentially harmful content.

The right to know who has your personal data (RW v Österreichische Post AG (C-154/21))

Published on 07 Feb 2023. By Alisha Jackson, Paralegal and Alex Pollock, Associate

In RW v Österreichische Post AG (C-154/21), the European Court of Justice ("ECJ") has provided clarification on the right of access to personal data and information relating to the processing of such data under Article 15(1) of the GDPR.

The Model Anti-SLAPP Law: an overview

Published on 25 Nov 2022. By Mafruhdha Miah, Senior Associate

Following the Government's response to the SLAPP consultation in the summer, the UK Anti-SLAPP coalition (a working group that includes English PEN, the Foreign Policy Centre and Index on Censorship, "the Coalition") has this week published a model Anti-SLAPP law, which has been endorsed by a collection of free speech and anti-corruption organisations, journalists, editors and lawyers.

Interim injunctions and competing public interests (Attorney General v BBC)

Published on 22 Apr 2022. By Mafruhdha Miah, Senior Associate

In Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales v British Broadcasting Corporation [2022] EWHC 826 (QB), an interim injunction has been granted in favour of the Attorney General (AG) to restrain the BBC from broadcasting the identity and image of an alleged covert human intelligence source for MI5 (known only as ‘X’) who is accused of being abusive to two former partners and using his position with MI5 to terrorise and control one of the women. The injunction was granted on the basis that, while it "represented a very significant interference with the right of the BBC to freedom of expression and the correlative right of the public to receive the information the BBC wishes to publish" [23], such a measure was necessary in order to prevent a real and immediate risk to X’s life or safety, as well as the potential wider impact of publication on national security.

Need a psychiatrist? There's an app for that!

Published on 18 Jun 2024. By Emma Kislingbury, Senior Associate

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have commissioned research to explore the public perception of Digital Mental Health Technology (DMHT).

The UK and EU propose bans on 'forever chemicals' (PFAs) – Great for the environment but what about the medical industry?

Published on 14 Mar 2024. By Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

'Forever chemicals', which are used in countless industries worldwide, have been linked to a range of health issues.

The results are in: Physician and Anaesthetic Associates pose "a significant risk to patient safety" according to latest BMA opinion poll

Published on 12 Mar 2024. By Alice Lacey, Associate

A BMA survey completed by over 18,000 UK doctors has flagged significant concerns regarding the way Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthetic Associates (AAs) work within the NHS. The news comes as the Government implements plans to roll out a rapid medical associate recruitment plan and regulate associates through the General Medical Council (GMC), the doctors' regulator. In this blog we look at the reasons behind the backlash and how this may impact our healthcare and insurer clients.

Weighing up the risks: Remote GP consultations

Published on 02 Feb 2024. By Shireen Hussain, Paralegal

Telephone and online GP appointments risk harming patients, according to a study published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in November 2023. The study found that remote consultations have been linked to an increase in fatalities due to serious health conditions, that would likely have been picked up at face-to-face appointments.

Weight loss jabs – a litigation time bomb

Published on 15 Jan 2024. By Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

Weight loss jabs like Ozempic are giving rise to new health concerns. Litigation is emerging in the US with firms claiming that cases will be in the thousands.

Cutting the red tape: MHRA publish new guiding principles for AI-based medical devices

Published on 22 Nov 2023. By Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

Developers of AI-based medical devices will benefit from the MHRA's new guiding principles which aim to reduce onerous regulatory requirements.

Mental Health Act v Mental Capacity Act: How to avoid a deprivation of liberty claim

Published on 03 Oct 2023. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate and Emily Snow, Trainee Solicitor

A finding that the detention of a teenager ('JS') with complex mental health issues was unlawfully deprived of her liberty highlights the importance of understanding the interaction between the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

McCulloch and Others v Forth Valley Health Board [2023]: Bolam is back in the game for consent

Published on 18 Aug 2023. By James Davies, Senior Associate and Emily Snow, Trainee Solicitor

Bolam is well and truly back in the game for consent! The Supreme Court’s decision in McCulloch confirms that the Bolam test should be applied when considering whether alternative treatment options should be discussed with a patient.

General Damages Uplift: Beware

Published on 11 Jul 2023. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate

A recent decision in Coventry Combined County Court will have far -reaching impact on the valuation of all personal injury claims. The decision of Recorder Jack gives the green light for Claimants to seek higher general damages awards. In clinical negligence claims, where general damages can already be as high as £400,000, this will have significant implications for Defendants and their insurers.

NMC concerns over potentially fraudulent nurse registrations

Published on 28 Jun 2023. By Shireen Hussain, Paralegal

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is contacting more than 500 professionals who trained abroad to determine whether they could have gained fraudulent or incorrect entry to the register after unusual and concerning data emerged from one its testing sites.

Met police withdraw: a radical restructuring of mental health provision

Published on 14 Jun 2023. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate

Metropolitan police officers to be banned from responding to mental health incidents from 31 August 2023.

QOCS rule changes now in force – has the imbalance been restored?

Published on 16 May 2023. By Georgie Jenkin, Associate

A review of the amendments to the QOCS regime and the impact on costs recovery for defendants and insurers.

The Pharmacist will see you now: Independent Prescribing

Published on 20 Mar 2023. By Alice Lacey, Associate and James Davies, Senior Associate

Pharmacist independent prescribing services will be trialled across England in 2023 – a possible game changer for our healthcare system and one to watch for insurers.

'A google map of the body' – how the metaverse is transforming the healthcare industry

Published on 27 Feb 2023. By Ellie McCarthy, Associate

Twins Bernardo and Arthur Lima were born conjoined at the head in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At almost four years old, they have undergone seven extensive surgeries in order to be separated. The operations involved almost 100 medical staff and were led by surgeon Dr Noor ul Owase Jeelani in at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and Dr Gabriel Mufarrej in Brazil.

Weighty issues for diet app developers

Published on 04 Jan 2022. By Dorothy Flower, Partner

2022 is set to be the year of the diet app. The distinction between what is a mere lifestyle app and what should in fact be a regulated medical product or service can be difficult to assess.

New guidance on Machine Learning – plenty for humans to learn too

Published on 04 Nov 2021.

A triumvirate of healthcare regulators has published ten guiding principles (the Principles) concerning the development of Good Machine Learning Practice (GMLP). The Principles shed light on the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) products that depend on machine learning. Humans should take note.

Blood Tube Shortage: Testing Times

Published on 03 Sep 2021. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate

Test tube shortage leading to delays in blood tests; protection for GPs from liability.

The latest addition to Kwasi Kwarteng's reading list

Published on 24 Aug 2021.

The Regulatory Horizons Council report sets out recommendations for medical devices regulations reform in the UK

The government responds to Cumberlege - What now for product liability risks in the life sciences sector?

Published on 26 Jul 2021.

The government has accepted most of Baroness Cumberlege's recommendations, with long term implications for litigation concerning medicines and medical devices.

Life sciences and the Brexit trade agreement of Christmas Eve 2020

Published on 26 Mar 2021.

As the nation prepared for muted Christmas celebrations at the end of last year, those in industry were able to feast on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement settled between the EU and UK on 24 December 2020 (the TCA). The TCA concluded months of uncertainty for the life sciences sector. Companies had been waiting to see how far the UK government would go in agreeing to follow EU standards concerning medicines and medical devices. By the time the EU and UK finally agreed the TCA, questions over life sciences regulations had rocketed up the agenda against a backdrop of vaccines and treatments developed to combat Covid-19.

Covid-19 vaccines: an injection of politics

Published on 07 Jan 2021.

A legacy of the pandemic will be greater debate, amongst politicians and the public, about how life sciences products are brought to the market.

The Nocebo Effect: study into statins signals a timely warning

Published on 17 Nov 2020. By Dorothy Flower, Partner

New study into statins highlights issue of the Nocebo Effect with implications for manufacturers, insurers and society

Buyer Beware: NHSX Guidance on Artificial Intelligence

Published on 15 Oct 2020.

NHSX Guide on AI is a useful resource for manufacturers and insurers in mitigating litigation risks

Parents contest NICE Cannabis Guidelines at Court

Published on 16 Sep 2020.

A family is seeking judicial review of NICE guidelines in the hope that doctors are more likely to prescribe cannabis-based medicines. The outcome could have significant consequences for the healthcare sector.

Beyond the fruit and yoga: surviving or thriving?

Published on 16 Jun 2020. By Mental Health Workstream,

Last week the RPC Mental Health Work Stream (our internal network) hosted an interactive session with over 60 colleagues and clients.

Back to the Future: a look ahead at medical malpractice issues for COVID-19-related claims

Published on 15 Apr 2020. By James Davies, Senior Associate

Future issues for Insurers to consider in assessing COVID-19 medical malpractice / clinical negligence claims.

SC double decision on vicarious liability

Published on 03 Apr 2020.

Handed down on 1 April, the two, separate, Supreme Court judgments on vicarious liability were no April Fool's jokes; they are serious and welcome responses to a difficult issue.

COVID-19: the battle between fact and fiction

Published on 01 Apr 2020. By Emma Kislingbury, Senior Associate

In the era of fake news, and at a time of global panic, how is the government responding to the daily spread of unauthorised health claims around COVID-19?

The Archers does Insurance – a light-hearted look at coverage issues following the Grey Gables explosion

Published on 27 Mar 2020. By Sian Morgan, Partner

For radio aficionados, the long running radio soap The Archers is a welcome daily escape from daily life. However, the last few episodes have not been without their drama. For a medmal insurance lawyer looking to unwind after a day of (home)working, there are a number of taxing fictional issues to which one can turn one's mind.

The "war" against Coronavirus: implications for the Life Sciences industry when regulations are loosened

Published on 25 Mar 2020. By Dorothy Flower, Partner

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.

Patch Test: Is your GP watching Love Island?

Published on 04 Feb 2020. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate

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.

General Election roundtable sheds light on key issues for the Healthcare and Life Sciences sectors.

Published on 11 Dec 2019.

Last week RPC invited guests to a roundtable to debate the UK political parties' manifesto promises affecting the healthcare and life sciences sectors. Some policies attracted criticism whilst one party bucked the national trend to emerge a winner.

Endometriosis: painfully under-diagnosed?

Published on 22 Nov 2019. By Amber Oldershaw, Associate

Endometriosis, described as a "silent source of unnecessary misery", affects over two million women in the UK. So, why is it taking over 7 years to diagnose?