The judgment by the Court of Appeal in Fiona Trust and Holding Corporation v Yuri Privalov (2007) is being hailed as a decision that will help maintain London's reputation as one of the leading centres for international commercial arbitration.

This update keeps you informed of new developments in employment law and focuses particularly on a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal decision concerning Amnesty International.

The ancient remedy of distress has come under increasing criticism in recent years as being excessively draconian. Now, the government has listened to the critics and taken action.

Regulations extending identity cards for foreign nationals (ICFN) to skilled workers came into force on 6 January 2010.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 has introduced significant changes to how trade unions conduct statutory ballots, expanding beyond traditional postal voting to include electronic and workplace methods. A new Code of Practice, effective from 25 August 2026, establishes the framework for these modernized voting procedures, including the creation of a 'responsible person' role within unions who must carefully evaluate security, accessibility, and member preferences when determining ballot methods. These reforms

Jake Paul's recent launch of a family office in North Texas exemplifies a growing trend among younger high-net-worth individuals seeking flexible wealth management structures. As an estimated £5 trillion+ prepares to transfer between generations in the UK alone, family offices are emerging as sophisticated platforms that balance wealth preservation, entrepreneurial opportunity, and philanthropic goals while addressing the complexities of modern tax environments and generational succession.

Brain cancer can strike unexpectedly, affecting even young, healthy individuals with devastating consequences. When symptoms like seizures, sensory disturbances, and cognitive changes are dismissed or misattributed to less serious conditions, critical opportunities for early diagnosis may be lost. Delayed recognition of brain tumours can result in irreversible neurological damage, reduced treatment options...

President Trump's executive orders targeting birthright citizenship have created unprecedented uncertainty for international intended parents pursuing surrogacy in the United States. With the legal landscape shifting rapidly and US citizenship no longer guaranteed for babies born through commercial surrogacy arrangements, families at every stage of their journey must now navigate complex contingency planning involving alternative passports, immigration status, and constitutional challenges.

The collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market in the US has sent shockwaves throughout the international banking community and has had a devastating effect on the domestic and international credit markets.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is refusing increasing numbers of applications under the points based system (PBS).

On 10 February 2010 a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules was laid before Parliament which is due to come into force on 3 March 2010.

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has temporarily suspended birthing services at North Devon District Hospital due to unsafe medical staffing levels, forcing expectant mothers to travel over 50 miles to Exeter Hospital for delivery. The closure, announced with only five days' notice, raises critical questions about workforce pressures within NHS maternity services and whether similar suspensions could occur at other hospitals across the country.

On Friday 7 August, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) issued new guidance notes for sponsors which include a number of significant changes that are incorporated into the system with immediate effect.

In our August update we gave details of the changes in the sponsorship guidance notes relating to changes to terms and conditions of employment.

Danjaq LLC, the company behind the James Bond film franchise, has failed to prevent the registration of its well known film titles 'Dr No' and 'From Russia with love' by third parties as trade marks in the European Community and the United Kingdom in the following cases.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way that we live and work. As AI changes how businesses operate, supply services and work with customers and clients, the contracts that govern...

We have become aware that the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has recently started to refuse applications to switch into tiers 1, 2 or 5 of the points based system (PBS) by work permit holders where the information supplied in the PBS application is substantially different to information which is held by UKBA in relation to the employee's work permit.

We remind sponsors that it is important to keep a record on each sponsored migrant's file as to which version of the sponsor guidance was in use at the time the certificate of sponsorship (CoS) was assigned and we also recommend that sponsors keep copies of the current and all previous versions of the sponsor guidance.

Virtual assignments are a relatively new concept. Until recently their impact on the landlord and tenant relationship has been uncertain but the Court of Appeal in Clarence House Limited v National Westminster Bank Plc [2009] confirmed that virtual assignments do NOT amount to a breach of standard alienation covenants prohibiting assignment without consent, sharing or parting with possession or entering into declarations of trust in relation to premises.

For internationally connected and high net worth families considering divorce, understanding which jurisdiction offers the most favorable legal framework is crucial. England and Wales has established itself as a premier forum for complex divorce cases, but what specific factors make it attractive, and how do its courts approach asset division, spousal maintenance, and pre-nuptial agreements?