31 results found

How do the futuristic vehicles in films like I, Robot and Minority Report reflect real-world privacy challenges we face today with connected cars? This podcast episode examines the intersection of science fiction and data protection, exploring how our vehicles collect and share information that could affect everything from insurance rates to targeted advertising.

What happens when a disgruntled employee from a notorious brokerage firm decides to exercise their data protection rights? This podcast episode examines the intersection of privacy law and corporate misconduct through the lens of one of cinema's most infamous financial scandals, exploring how a simple data subject access request could have exposed a web of illegal activity.

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority issued a commitment decision involving 11 commodity futures traders, raising critical questions about when traders constitute separate undertakings under competition law and whether UK-based activity on predominantly non-UK exchanges falls within UK competition jurisdiction. The decision highlights significant risks for businesses operating in grey areas of competition law enforcement, particularly regarding trader independence and territorial scope.

Draft legislation introduced into UK Parliament seeks to prohibit the development, deployment and operation of artificial superintelligence systems through a private member's bill.

The UK government's Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026 proposes sweeping changes to corporate modern slavery reporting, introducing mandatory content requirements, financial penalties up to £1 million or 1% of turnover, and enhanced board-level accountability. Organizations that have taken a minimal compliance approach to the Modern Slavery Act 2015 face significant reputational and regulatory...

As businesses navigate technological advances and significant employment law reforms, workforce planning has become critical to success. But what happens when organisations fail to forecast future skills needs, and how can the legal risks of poor planning be minimised in an evolving regulatory landscape?

The UK government has published a technical consultation on transitional provisions for the increase in Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) from 55 to 57, effective April 2028. The draft legislation aims to protect individuals aged 55 or 56 who have already taken steps to access their pension benefits, ensuring these payments remain authorized and avoid tax penalties.

The Upper Tribunal has ruled that taxpayers cannot simply rely on professional advice as a reasonable excuse for non-compliance with HMRC information notices. This decision examines when reliance on advisers crosses the line from reasonable to negligent, and what level of engagement taxpayers must maintain even when professional help has been instructed.

UK employers face significant updates to their data protection obligations in 2026, driven by the Employment Rights Act 2025 and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. These legislative changes require organizations to revise privacy notices, implement new complaints procedures, extend data retention periods, and enhance transparency around equality monitoring and holiday records.

The UK Government's Commercial Payments Bill introduces sweeping reforms to tackle late payment practices, including mandatory 60-day payment caps for large businesses contracting with SMEs, non-negotiable statutory interest rates, and enhanced enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner. These measures represent a fundamental shift in commercial payment regulation, requiring businesses to overhaul their invoice-to-payment processes, strengthen governance structures, and prepare for increased boa

The 2026 NPPF reshapes planning policy, strengthening support for infrastructure, energy, data centres and economic growth while maintaining housing delivery as a core priority.

The UK venture capital market has rebounded from its 2022-2024 downturn, with funding activity recovering and larger rounds returning, particularly for AI and DeepTech businesses. However, despite improved market conditions, investors maintain strict deal terms focused on founder alignment, governance protections, and exit control. Analysis of proprietary deal data reveals how capital concentration, leaver provisions, liquidation preferences...

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces sweeping reforms to trade union rights, including new access provisions, simplified recognition processes, and enhanced protections for representatives. With key measures taking effect in October 2026 and January 2027, employers face critical decisions about whether to proactively establish voluntary recognition agreements with trade unions or risk statutory recognition applications from potentially hostile unions.

The UK Government has launched a consultation proposing significant changes to the withholding tax regime on interest payments to overseas lenders. The proposed reforms would shift from HMRC's current gatekeeping role to a self-assessment system where UK borrowers independently determine treaty relief eligibility, fundamentally altering compliance responsibilities and risk allocation in cross-border lending arrangements.

The Supreme Court has clarified the scope of protection for part-time workers under the Part Time Workers Regulations 2000, ruling that part-time status need only be an effective cause—not the sole cause—of less favourable treatment. This landmark decision in Augustine v Data Cars Ltd significantly lowers the bar for part-time workers to establish discrimination claims and requires employers to reassess their workplace policies and practices that may disproportionately impact part-time staff.

Forklift trucks present significant workplace hazards requiring careful regulatory compliance. This article examines the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and related health and safety legislation, explaining key duties around equipment strength, thorough examination requirements, and practical compliance measures for organizations operating lifting equipment.

Shareholder activism is increasingly targeting AIM companies, where concentrated shareholdings and lower liquidity can enable activists to gain influence rapidly. When private challenges to strategy or management escalate into public campaigns for board change, directors face critical decisions about how to respond, with the first 90 days often proving decisive in determining the outcome.

Employment tribunals are seeing a sharp rise in interim relief applications, with monthly filings now matching what used to be annual totals. These applications can force employers to continue paying dismissed employees' salaries and benefits for months while awaiting a final hearing, creating significant financial exposure even when the employee isn't working.