Expert Analysis

• Emerging Trends From A Busy Climate Litigation Year

  

  Although many environmental cases brought in the U.K. were unsuccessful in 2023, they arguably clarified several relevant issues, such as climate rights, director and trustee obligations, and the extent to which claimants can hold the government accountable, illustrating what 2024 may have in store for climate litigation, say Simon Bishop and Patrick Kenny at Hausfeld.

• 2024 Will Be A Busy Year For Generative AI And IP Issues

  

  In light of increased litigation and policy proposals on balancing intellectual property rights and artificial intelligence innovation, 2024 is shaping up to be full of fast-moving developments that will have significant implications for AI tool developers, users of such tools and rights holders, say lawyers at Mishcon de Reya.

• How Businesses Can Prepare For Cyber Resilience In 2024

  

  With cybersecurity breaches one of the biggest threats to U.K. businesses and as legislation tightens, organizations should prioritize their external security measures in 2024 and mitigate risks by being well-informed on internal data protection procedures, says Kevin Modiri at Nelsons.

• Dyson Decision Highlights Post-Brexit Forum Challenges

  

  The High Court's recent decision in Limbu v. Dyson, barring the advancement of group supply chain claims against Dyson subsidiaries in the U.K. and Malaysia, suggests that, following Brexit, claims concerning events abroad may less frequently proceed to trial in England, say lawyers at Debevoise.

• Best Legal Practices For The Holiday Party Season

  

  With the holiday party season in full swing, two recent Solicitors Regulation Authority decisions serve as a useful reminder to both individuals and firms of the potential employment and regulatory consequences when misconduct is alleged to have occurred at a work event, say lawyers at CM Murray.

• Foreign Assets Ruling Suggests New Tax Avoidance Approach

  

  The U.K. Supreme Court's recent ruling in His Majesty's Revenue & Customs v. Fisher, which found that the scope of the transfer of foreign assets is narrow, highlights that the days of rampant tax avoidance have been left behind, and that the need for wide-ranging and uncertain tax legislation is lessening, says James Austen at Collyer Bristow.

• Key Questions Ahead Of 2024 Right-To-Work Changes

  

  In 2024, the U.K. will increase the maximum civil penalty for companies hiring employees who don't have legal permission to work, so employers should work toward minimizing the risk of noncompliance, including by using an identity service provider to carry out digital right-to-work checks, says Gemma Robinson at Foot Anstey.

• Migration Data Could Mean Big 2024 Changes For Employers

  

  In light of the Office for National Statistics' recent revised net migration figures, the government has taken a tough stance on reducing migration, announcing numerous upcoming immigration rules changes that employers need to be aware of, including work sponsorship, say Caroline Bagley, Emma Morgan and Adil Qadus at Shoosmiths.

• The Top 7 Global ESG Litigation Trends In 2023

  

  To date, ESG litigation across the world can largely be divided into seven forms, but these patterns will continue developing, including a rise in cases against private and state actors, a more complex regulatory environment affecting multinational companies, and an increase in nongovernmental organization activity, say Sophie Lamb and Aleksandra Dulska at Latham.

• Employment Law Changes May Increase Litigation In 2024

  

  As we enter 2024, significant employment law updates include changes to holiday pay, gender equality and flexible working, but the sector must deal with the unintended consequences of some of these changes, likely leading to increased litigation in the coming year, says Louise Taft at Jurit.

• How European Authorities Are Foiling Anti-Competitive Hiring

  

  Lawyers at Squire Patton discuss key labor practice antitrust concerns and notable regulation trends in several European countries following recent enforcement actions brought by the European Commission and U.K. Competition and Markets Authority.

• When Can Bonuses Be Clawed Back?

  

  The High Court's recent decision in Steel v. Spencer should remind employees that the contractual conditions surrounding bonuses and the timing of any resignation must be carefully considered, as in certain circumstances, bonuses can and are being successfully clawed back by employers, say Merrill April and Rachael Parker at CM Murray.

• Trial By AI Could Be Closer Than You Think

  

  In a known first for the U.K., a Court of Appeal justice recently admitted to using ChatGPT to write part of a judgment, highlighting how AI could make the legal system more efficient and enable the judicial process to record more accurate and fair decisions, say Charles Kuhn and Neide Lemos at Clyde & Co.

• Employer Considerations After Visa And Application Fee Hikes

  

  The U.K.'s recent visa and application fee increases are having a significant financial impact on businesses, and may heighten the risk of hiring discrimination, so companies should carefully reconsider their budgets accordingly, says Adam Sinfield at Osborne Clarke.

• Collapse-Risk Buildings Present Liability Challenges

  

  Recently, buildings, such as Harrow Crown Court, have been closed due to risk of collapse from use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in their construction, but identifying who will pay for the associated damages may be challenging due to expired limitation periods, say Theresa Mohammed, Jonathan Clarke and Villem Diederichs at Watson Farley.