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What is the UK India Trade Deal?   The United Kingdom and the Republic of India concluded talks on a free trade agreement (FTA). The agreement was reached on 6 May 2025 between the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi, and is expected to increase the UK GDP gross domestic product by £4.8 billion and UK wages by £2.2 billion each and every year in the long run.  As a result of the deal, businesses will now be able to trade with India with “confidence and security”, the Prime Minister stated, as the mission of the government is to secure “sustained economic growth” and that the UK “will benefit from open export markets and access to competitive imports that support production at home.”  India represents one of the most dynamic and exciting economies in the world and has the highest growth rate in the G20.  However there has been significant challenges for UK business seeking access to this growing market and despite challenging conditions, the UK business have high ambitions for the future of trade with India.   From an Indian perspective, the government of India announced that the major trade deal signed with the UK will provide “greater global mobility for aspirational young Indians” and expand opportunities in Britain.  Addressing the House of Commons, the Minister of State and Department for Business in Trade said in a statement that the deal ensures the UK point based immigration systems remain unaffected.  He later emphasised that the agreement covers temporary business mobility, not immigration and it is aligned with the existing UK properties.  A key feature of the Free Trade Agreement is a provision exempting Indian workers temporarily posted in the UK from paying UK social security contributions for up to three years! The press release around this stated that the FTA eases mobility for professionals including contractual service suppliers, business visitors, investors, intercorporate transferees, partners and dependent children of intercorporate transferees who try to work and independent professionals like yoga instructors, musicians and chefs.  The opposition pointed out that the agreement will come at a significant cost to the British taxpayer.  It may be that it will be 20% cheaper for companies in the UK to hire Indian workers over British workers.  Harriet Baldwin said in the House of Commons that she was shocked and asked “will the convention really mean that an Indian owned restaurant chain in the UK could pay no National Insurance for its chef while a British pub next door pays full National Insurance for its chef?”   What is the advice to employers recruiting from India?   The new trade deal will streamline access to skilled workers and global talent route.  The FTA creates a framework to simplify the application process for Indian professionals in key sectors and although eligibility is still governed by the skilled worker visa requirements and the global talent route, the agreement commits to reducing procedural barriers particularly for recognised roles and qualifications such as tech, health and cultural services.   How will new business mobility provisions be improved?   Indian nationals can benefit from up to 12 months of temporary entry and an easier movement under the global business mobility service supplier and secondment workers’ route.  It will also improve processing and documentation guidance.  This is not a route to settlement and is designated for short-term contractual or intercompany work.   What would be the effect on intercompany transfers?   The FTA facilitates smoother movement of skilled staff from Indian companies to the UK branches through the global business mobility senior specialist worker route.  The key improvement will include reduced documentary burden, consistent eligibility standards and National insurance exemption.   How will it benefit recognition of professional qualifications?   A framework is being introduced to mutually recognise qualifications in fields such as accountancy law, architecture, engineering and details will depend on professional body agreement, but the process will support easier visa access via recognised status under the skilled worker or the global talent route.   What will be the effect on the youth mobility route?   Indian nationals continue to benefit from India Young Professionals Scheme allowing for two years’ work and travel stay in the UK and has 3,000 spots annually.  The key limitations are that none of those create settlement rights and all applications must comply with Immigration Rules.   Where can I find the relevant guidance?   More specific Home Office guidance that is dedicated to the India/UK Free Trade Agreement and its immigration measures can’t be found because the deal is not yet in force. The Home Office will issue guidance once the final text of the FTA is legally verified and published, the UK Parliament complete its scrutiny and approve it, and the implementation legislation (the Home Office rules) are drafted.  The likely publication will be May 2026, based on current timelines.

Russell Woolley joins the partnership on 1st July 2025   Carpmaels & Ransford is pleased to announce the promotion of Russell Woolley to the partnership effective from 1st July 2025. Russell sits within the firm’s Chemistry team. Building on his academic experience and PhD researching fuel cell electrodes, Russell has built up particular expertise in the field of energy storage and conversion, including lithium-ion batteries. He works for firms big and small, from established industry players to guiding start-ups with their first few patent applications. His work stands up to scrutiny: Russell’s clients have secured major investment following in-depth due diligence assessing the strengths of portfolios he has drafted and prosecuted. Russell is a leading member of the Carpmaels multidisciplinary Energy+ team made up of attorneys with expertise across chemistry, materials, electro-mechanical engineering, IT, and biochemistry. The team enjoys devising creative strategies for high-value IP assets in the rapidly developing and exciting energy field, leveraging their technical know-how and extensive experience handling contentious matters and coordinating global portfolios. Hugh Goodfellow, Managing Partner at Carpmaels & Ransford, comments: “Russell has developed an impressive practice during his time at the firm, and we are very pleased that he is joining the partnership. His promotion will further strengthen our growing energy team and the work we do advising clients across the full spectrum of new technology in the energy sector.”

 This recognition underscores CyXcel’s commitment to delivering top-tier incident response services and enhancing its clients’ cyber resilience   18 March 2025 - Global cybersecurity consultancy, CyXcel, a business division of leading law firm Weightmans LLP, today announced that it is just one of two law firms to achieve NCSC Cyber Incident Response (CIR) Approved Vendor status. This status has been achieved by only 43 companies in total in the UK and is a crucial benchmark for organisations delivering incident response services set by the UK government’s leading cybersecurity authority. It demonstrates CyXcel’s technical capability, experience, and operational effectiveness to handle serious cyber incidents.  This accomplishment aligns with CyXcel’s commitment to excellence and delivering top-tier incident response services for its clients. The NCSC recommends that all UK organisations should use an NCSC assured Cyber Incident Response provider when dealing with cyber incidents as the status offers assurance that a provider meets the stringent technical, procedural, and ethical requirements set. Steve Sandford, Partner, Digital Forensics & Incident Response at CyXcel comments, "This achievement demonstrates that our team has undergone rigorous assessment, meeting the highest industry standards and has strengthened our reputation as a trusted and credible cyber security provider. For our clients, this means confidence in the quality of service they receive, knowing they are engaging with a provider that has been vetted by the UK’s most trusted cybersecurity authority.” Edward Lewis, CEO of CyXcel also said, “Cyber incidents are becoming more frequent, sophisticated, and damaging. Organisations across all sectors face an increasing risk of ransomware attacks, data breaches, and nation-state threats. In this environment, businesses must ensure they engage with trusted, capable, and accredited incident response providers who can handle cyber incidents with the highest level of expertise and professionalism. We are very proud to achieve this status and by committing to these standards, we not only strengthen our own capabilities but also provide our clients with the assurance that their cybersecurity is in the safest possible hands.” Engaging a CIR accredited provider ensures that organisations receive expert assistance when cyber incidents occur. These providers bring a wealth of experience and specialised knowledge, enabling them to swiftly identify, contain, and mitigate security incidents. Their expertise is invaluable in minimising the impact of breaches and preventing future occurrences. By leveraging the skills of accredited professionals, organisations can navigate complex security challenges with greater confidence and efficiency. For further information on the NCSC’s Cyber Incident Response scheme visit: Cyber Incident Response (CIR) - NCSC.GOV.UK About CyXcel CyXcel is a global cybersecurity consultancy, helping organisations safeguard their digital assets against evolving threats. Our integrated approach sets us apart. With experts from cybersecurity, law, regulatory, and geopolitical fields, we offer solutions that address every facet of today’s business challenges. With a focus on resilience, compliance, and innovation, CyXcel delivers advanced security technologies, threat intelligence, and tailored risk management strategies to businesses across industries. Whether you’re responding to data privacy laws, preparing for digital transformation, battling ransomware, or navigating international sanctions, we deliver seamless strategies that make sense in the real world. Our mission is to empower enterprises with the tools and expertise needed to navigate today’s complex cyber landscape with confidence.   A business division of leading law firm Weightmans LLP, CyXcel is just one of two law firms to achieve NCSC Cyber Incident Response (CIR) Approved Vendor status, a crucial benchmark for organisations delivering incident response services set by the UK government’s leading cybersecurity authority. CyXcel was also named Best Cyber Start-Up of the Year at the Cyber Security Awards 2025. For more information, visit www.cyxcel.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X: @CyXcelSecurity.  

Mourant, a law firm-led professional services business, is expanding its global investment funds offering with the hire of a partner from Kirkland & Ellis. Brad Hillson joins Mourant as Global Head of Private Capital and will drive the firm's private capital practice which includes services provided in BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Jersey, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Singapore and the UK. Brad's practice spans all aspects of investment funds with a particular focus on fund formation and structuring, reorganisations, and cross-border transactions. He has notable experience advising sponsors on global carried interest arrangements and other complex incentive programmes. Brad has advised leading private equity sponsors including Ares, Bridgepoint, BC Partners, EQT, GLP Capital Partners, IK Investment Partners, KKR, Montagu and Summit Partners. Notably, Brad recently advised long-standing client, GLP Capital Partners Limited, on the US$3.7 billion sale of its international business to Ares Management Corporation. Commenting on the appointment, Mourant CEO, Jonathan Rigby, said: "We are delighted to welcome Brad to Mourant. He has a stellar reputation in the market for delivering exceptional service to many of the world's leading private equity firms. Brad's global practice will bolster our position as a market leader in cross-border investment fund services, enable us to continue to provide a top-tier funds offering to our clients, and further expand the depth and breadth of our leadership team." Global Co-Head of Investment Funds, Alex Last, commented: "Brad brings a wealth of commercial and highly technical experience to our investment funds group. His practice, which spans the US, Europe, and Asia, is squarely aligned with the continued expansion of our funds offering and he brings highly sought-after experience of advising on some of the world's largest and most complex investment fund transactions. This level of expertise will no doubt be a huge asset to Mourant." Brad Hillson added: "Mourant's market leading multi-jurisdictional investment funds platform is exceptional in its breadth and depth and the client response to what we're building here has been overwhelmingly positive. We're growing an elite offshore investments funds legal practice with seamless access to top-tier fund administration and governance services. I'm thrilled to join the leadership team at Mourant and privileged to continue to work with many of the world's leading private equity firms." Mourant's global Investment Funds group continues to lead the market, earning notable rankings across the leading legal directories and consistent recognition in the Monterey Fund Report – an independent research company that provides comprehensive statistical analysis of the fund industries in Jersey, Guernsey, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the UK.   For further information please contact: Zara Raymond, Marketing Manager: [email protected]   About Mourant Mourant is a law firm-led, professional services business with over 60 years' experience in the financial services sector. We advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg and provide specialist entity management, governance, regulatory and consulting services. We are an international and globally-integrated firm with offices in a number of the world's leading international finance centres, including London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Our business is intrinsically linked to the global economy and the capital flows that support it. We serve the needs of our clients in all major time zones, facilitating responsible cross-border finance and investment, the pooling and protection of capital and the resolution of disputes. Our clients include many of the world's leading financial institutions, international corporations, asset managers and institutional investors. We are routinely instructed to work alongside the world's pre-eminent legal, accounting and financial services firms. We have an outstanding reputation for integrity and professional ethics, underpinned by a strong risk management culture. Find out more: mourant.com