The Legal 500

Legal Developments in the UK

• Changes to list of approved English language tests are made by the UKBA

  It has been announced by the UKBA that the list of approved English language tests for those individuals applying under tiers 1,2 and 4 of the points based system has been amended. One of the main changes is the lowering of the TOEFL points score against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). TOEFL now includes scores for spouse and partner applications.
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• Important information about London 2012 released by the UKBA

  Important information about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been published online by the UKBA. With the UKBA expecting to carry out security checks on more than 380,000 workers and participants, it has set out detailed information for those individuals who will be travelling to the UK for the event. The information is divided into the following categories:
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• Premium sponsorship for tier 2 and tier 2 and 4 sponsors

  As reported in our November 2011 Update the UKBA is planning to introduce a 'premium sponsor' category and we expect that this will be in April 2012.
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• Arts Council England introduces new procedure for tier 1 (exceptional talent) applicants

  From 3 January 2012, individuals applying under tier 1 (exceptional talent) of the points based system will need to follow new guidelines if they wish to have their application endorsed by Arts Council England (ACE).
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• The UKBA contacts tier 2 sponsors regarding COS allowances

  The UKBA has been contacting authorised officers at tier 2 sponsors in relation to the new certificate of sponsorship allowance which will become effective from 6 April 2012. Any COS issued from that date will come from the new allocation.
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• The UKBA updates tier 4 sponsors on educational oversight

  The UKBA has reminded all current tier 4 sponsors that if they are not already subject to inspection or review by the relevant educational oversight bodies, they must apply before the deadline stated in the current sponsor guidance.
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• London 2012 visa applications open for spectators

  From 1 January 2012 the UKBA will begin to process visas for non-UK spectators wishing to travel to the UK to watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• 10% Tax Rate for Intellectual Property Confirmed

  On 6 December 2011, the UK Government published further details of a lower Corporation Tax rate for IP earnings which will come into force in April 2013.
  - Boult Wade Tennant

• TUPE AND COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS

  Terms and conditions of employment are often found, especially in the public sector, not in the individual contracts of employment themselves, but in collective agreements between the employer and trade unions, collective agreements which are expressly incorporated into the individual contracts. If the employer and the unions agree changes in the collective agreement then the individual contracts will automatically be varied accordingly.
  - 11KBW

• Freedom of Information Update

  Timothy Pitt-Payne QC
  - 11KBW