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The Department for Business and Trade has released a comprehensive timeline detailing when key provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025 will come into force, bringing significant changes to workplace rights, trade union powers, and employer obligations. From electronic balloting rights to extended tribunal time limits and strengthened harassment protections, these reforms will fundamentally reshape the employment landscape over the next two years.

The UK Government has published its response to a consultation on tip allocation, alongside an updated draft Code of Practice reflecting new employer obligations under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that political beliefs can qualify as protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, but employers retain the right to discipline employees for how they express those beliefs. This landmark case examines where the line falls between protecting philosophical beliefs and maintaining workplace standards, offering crucial guidance on proportionate responses to employee conduct.

When a defendant resides outside England and Wales, serving legal proceedings becomes significantly more complex, requiring court permission, diplomatic channels, and compliance with foreign jurisdictions' laws. A recent case involving service in Dubai demonstrates how courts are adapting to modern communication methods, including the novel use of Instagram for legal service when traditional methods prove impractical.

Swathes of wildfires in Siberia, Africa, North America and Southern Europe. Landslides in Japan. Intense tropical storms in Florida and Haiti.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 introduces a ban on upwards only rent reviews in commercial leases, fundamentally changing how rent reviews operate across the sector. This analysis examines the scope and application of the ban, including which lease types are affected, when the provisions take effect, and critically, whether agreements under the Electronic Communications Code fall within its reach.

Employers face evolving legal obligations to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, with new duties requiring proactive risk assessment and mitigation strategies. The shift from reactive complaint handling to anticipatory prevention marks a fundamental change in how organizations must approach workplace conduct. Understanding these requirements and implementing comprehensive preventative measures is now essential for compliance and avoiding significant financial penalties.

A team from Blacks Solicitors takes on the challenging 24-mile Yorkshire Three Peaks hike to raise funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research, the firm's 2026 Charity of the Year. The article shares their journey across Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, along with practical advice for anyone considering this demanding fundraising challenge.

The Employment Tribunals in England, Wales and Scotland have issued new Presidential Guidance on interim relief applications, responding to a dramatic surge in cases attributed to AI usage and excessive documentation. This guidance establishes stricter procedural requirements and time limits for these urgent applications, which can prevent dismissals from taking effect in whistleblowing and trade union cases.

The Court of Appeal has issued a significant ruling on training cost repayment clauses in employment contracts, finding that overly broad provisions can be struck down as unreasonable restraints of trade. Employers who require employees to repay training costs upon departure must ensure their clauses are proportionate, fair, and genuinely protect legitimate business interests rather than simply discourage staff mobility. This judgment serves as a critical reminder to review existing contractual provisions,

The UK Government has confirmed that bereavement leave will become a day one employment right from April 2027 under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Employees will be entitled to two weeks' unpaid leave following the death of close family members, with flexible notice requirements and protection against dismissal. Employers should begin reviewing their policies now to prepare for these significant changes to workplace bereavement entitlements.

Property owners with buildings containing multiple flats under a single title can unlock significant financial and strategic advantages through title splitting. This legal process creates individual leasehold interests for each unit, enabling more flexible refinancing options, easier sales, and clearer management structures, though it requires careful navigation of legal requirements including the fundamental rule that you cannot grant a lease to yourself.

The UK Government has announced the second phase of the Renters' Rights Act, introducing a mandatory Private Rented Sector Database that will roll out region-by-region starting in the West Midlands in December 2026. Landlords across England will face registration requirements, annual fees of £65 per property, and potential penalties of up to £40,000 for non-compliance, fundamentally changing how the private rental sector operates.

With the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act 2025, landlords across the private rented sector are reassessing how they structure and manage their property portfolios. The reforms represent one of the most significant changes to residential letting in decades, introducing a new framework for assured tenancies and altering the balance between landlord flexibility and tenant protection. Amidst these changes, one option has attracted increasing attention: the corporate tenancy.