Expert Analysis

• Employer Lessons In Preventing Unlawful Positive Action

  

  A recent Employment Tribunal decision that three white police officers had been subjected to unlawful race discrimination when a minority detective sergeant was promoted demonstrates that organizations should undertake a balancing approach when implementing positive action in the workplace, says Chris Hadrill at Redmans Solicitors.

• A Close Look At Labour Party's Worker Reform Plans

  

  The U.K. Labour government has proposed significant employee rights reforms that suggest a careful approach to balancing business operations alongside increasing worker rights, though certain industries may struggle to adjust to changes to zero-hour contracts, and an extended claims window could strain employment tribunals' workload, say Nick Hurley and Isaac Bate at Charles Russell.

• UK Judgment Could Change Anti-Money Laundering Regimes

  

  After the Court of Appeal of England and Wales' determination that criminal property remains criminal property in the hands of its purchaser even if purchased at market value, many businesses could face a new or heightened risk of prosecution for criminality in their supply chains and related money laundering offenses, say lawyers at Macfarlanes.

• What To Expect From Labour's Pension Schemes Bill

  

  The Labour government’s recently announced Pension Schemes Bill, outlining key policy areas affecting the retirement savings sector, represents a positive step forward for both defined contribution scheme members and defined benefit superfunds, but there are some missing features, says Sonya Fraser at Arc Pensions.

• What UK Workers' Rights May Look Like Under Labour

  

  It is clear from the recent King's Speech that the new Labour government has set itself an ambitious pro-worker agenda, with the intent of overhauling employment laws and upgrading workers' rights, say lawyers at Cleary.

• Irish Businesses Should Act Now To Prepare For EU AI Act

  

  Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the Irish job market, and proactive engagement with the forthcoming European Union AI Act, a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for Irish businesses, will be essential for Irish businesses to responsibly harness AI’s advantages and to maintain legal compliance, say lawyers at Pinsent Masons.

• Takeaways From World Uyghur Congress Forced Labor Ruling

  

  The Court of Appeal’s recent judgment in the World Uyghur Congress' case against the National Crime Agency confirms that companies dealing in goods that they suspect to be products of forced labor are potentially liable to criminal prosecution, presenting significant legal risks that cannot always be mitigated through conducting supply chain due diligence, say lawyers at King & Spalding.

• Don't Wing Settlements: Lessons From Morley's TM Ruling

  

  In Morley's v. Sivakumar, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court recently found that a fast-food franchiser had breached a fried chicken franchise's trademark rights, despite a prior settlement agreement, offering lessons on drafting express terms to ensure IP protection, say Nessa Khandaker and Clare Cornell at Finnegan.

• Key Takeaways From Proposed EU Anticorruption Directive

  

  The European Commission's anticorruption proposal, on which the EU Council recently adopted a position, will substantially alter the landscape of corporate compliance and liability across the EU, so companies will need to undertake rigorous revisions of their compliance frameworks to align with the directive's demands, say lawyers at Linklaters.

• Decoding Plans To Simplify The Transfer Of Undertakings Law

  

  The prior Conservative government's proposed reforms to the Transfer of Undertakings Regulations to simplify processes protecting employee rights have generally been welcomed, but the fact that Labour is now in power casts significant doubt on whether they will be pursued, says Robert Forsyth at Michelmores.

• Employer Lessons From Teacher's Menopause Bias Win

  

  A Scottish employment tribunal’s recent decision to award a teacher over £60,000 ($77,829) for unfair dismissal is a reminder that menopausal symptoms can amount to a disability, and together with potentially stronger measures from the new Labour government, should prompt all employers to implement effective menopause support policies, say Ellie Gelder and Kelly Thomson at RPC.

• What New UK Labour Gov't Is Planning For Financial Services

  

  Following the Labour Party’s U.K. election win on July 4, the new government has already announced its key missions for economic growth, green investment and tax reform, so affected Financial Conduct Authority-regulated entities should be prepared for change and on the lookout for details, says Rachael Healey at RPC.

• What Legal Cannabis In Germany Means For Employers

  

  Since April 1, the consumption and limited possession of cannabis has been permitted in Germany, so employers should take a few steps to maintain safe and productive workplaces while respecting the new legal landscape, says Sven Lombard at Simmons & Simmons.

• How Cos. Can Harness Mobility To Sustain The Space Industry

  

  In order to tackle the skills shortage in the U.K. space industry, companies should use immigration policies, which were recently updated by the government, to attract international talent, says Laxmi Limbani at Fragomen.

• Tips For Orgs Using NDAs In Light Of New UK Legislation

  

  The recent passage of the Victims and Prisoners Act follows a crackdown on the misuse of nondisclosure agreements, but although NDAs are not prohibited and regulators recognize their legitimate justification, organizations relying on them must be able to clearly explain that justification if challenged, say attorneys at Macfarlanes.