The UK Consumer Law Revolution Podcast: A Year In Review (Podcast)

Jeremy Brooke’s referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal raises important questions not only for those directly involved in the collapse of SSB Law, but for the wider future of high-volume consumer claims litigation and the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s approach to enforcement.

The government has moved the start date for the UK’s new consumer subscription rules. The regime in Part 4, Chapter 2 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) will now take effect in January 2027 rather than the spring 2027 date announced earlier this year.

The new academic year brings updated safeguarding guidance, statutory duties, and fresh challenges for school and trust leaders. From revised attendance requirements and exclusions frameworks to Martyn's Law compliance and inclusion strategies, discover the essential policies, training, and tools you need to navigate this term's regulatory landscape with confidence.

The UK Government has brought forward new rules to combat subscription traps, requiring businesses to provide clearer contract information, send renewal reminders, and simplify cancellation processes. These changes under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 will take effect in January 2027, with significant penalties for non-compliance including fines up to £300,000 or 10% of turnover.

The UK Government has accelerated the implementation timeline for new subscription contract laws under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, moving the enforcement date from Spring 2027 to January 2027. This change significantly reduces the preparation window for businesses offering subscription services, requiring urgent review of sign-up processes, renewal notifications, and cancellation systems to ensure compliance with the new consumer protection regime.

The EU's Green Transition Directive introduces sweeping new rules on greenwashing, sustainability claims, and product durability that will impact all businesses selling to EU consumers from September 2026. With banned practices, mandatory pre-contractual disclosures, and new labelling requirements, companies must act now to audit their environmental claims and ensure compliance across both physical and digital channels.

The EU's Right to Repair Directive, which entered into force on 31 July 2026, introduces comprehensive measures to encourage product repair and extend consumer goods' lifespan as part of the bloc's circular economy strategy. Alongside the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the Green Transition Directive, these reforms impose new obligations on manufacturers, importers, and distributors to make products more durable and repairable while providing enhanced consumer information about repair opti

The UK government has accelerated the implementation of new subscription contract rules under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, moving the enforcement date to January 2027. These regulations introduce stricter transparency requirements at sign-up, mandatory cooling-off periods including a new renewal cooling-off window, and simplified cancellation processes designed to eliminate 'subscription traps' that lock consumers into unwanted recurring payments.

The UK government has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) provisions that would fundamentally alter how local authorities arrange education for children with special educational needs outside mainstream settings. These changes would eliminate current statutory protections and appeal rights, replacing them with a new framework centered...

The Office for Students has published rules for its new freedom of speech complaints scheme, opening September 2026, creating an external route for staff, academics...

A Hong Kong director was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay HK$93,000 in outstanding wages after her companies failed to pay employees on time. The case demonstrates that corporate officers can face serious criminal liability, including fines up to HK$350,000 and three years' imprisonment, when employment law breaches occur with their consent, connivance, or neglect.

The UK remains without comprehensive AI legislation despite years of debate and promises. Now, a Private Member's Bill proposing to prohibit artificial superintelligence development has been introduced in Parliament, marking the most significant legislative move on AI safety to date. With recent incidents of AI agents breaking containment and warnings from AI researchers about extinction risks, pressure is mounting on the government to act.

The Employment Rights Act introduces sweeping changes to UK employment law, from day-one unfair dismissal rights to restrictions on zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire practices. This comprehensive dashboard tracks implementation timelines, explains current versus future legal positions, and clarifies how these reforms will transform workplace rights across England, Wales and Scotland.

Privilege rules vary significantly across jurisdictions, so it’s important not to assume your home country position “travels”.

UK and EU regulators are intensifying enforcement of online safety rules, with Ofcom issuing its first major fine and the European Commission expanding platform designations. How should businesses coordinate their compliance strategies across child safety, age assurance, and data protection to meet these evolving regulatory expectations?

The Government's draft legislation for a new Securities Transfer Tax (STT), published on 13 July 2026, was a bit of a landmark. Tax advisers will tell you, with a mix of shame and pride, that we still occasionally have to refer to nineteenth century legislation. The Stamp Act 1891 remains the foundation of stamp duty payable on share sales. The whole law in this area is a patchwork of bits of legislation spanning more than a century.

The General Court dismissed an action brought by Rose Bikes GmbH against the EUIPO, raising important questions about word marks that denote colours. This case provides crucial guidance for brand owners seeking trademark protection for colour-related terms, particularly regarding whether such marks are inherently descriptive of the goods they represent.

At the opening session of Lewis Silkin's Managing an International Workforce conference, employment law experts explored major workplace reforms across the UK, India, and EU, examining how regulatory changes, pay transparency requirements, and AI integration are fundamentally reshaping global employment practices. The discussion highlighted how organizations can leverage technology, including AI-powered platforms, to navigate the complex landscape of international employment law across multiple jurisdiction

Employment law and immigration law intersect with discrimination protections in complex ways, particularly around right to work requirements and recruitment policies. This article examines how Irish employers can navigate these overlapping legal frameworks while managing the practical challenges of hiring non-EEA nationals who require employment permits.

Next's appeal of a landmark equal pay ruling provides crucial clarification on when market forces can justify pay differences between predominantly male and female workforces. The Employment Appeal Tribunal's decision offers important guidance for employers navigating equal pay claims, particularly in the retail sector where similar cases are pending.