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Notice period on potential layoffs - Catherine Leung comments for Hong Kong Economic Times
Press
15 April 2020Catherine Leung has been quoted in Hong Kong Economic Times in relation to notice periods on potential layoffs.
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Hidden Truths Of COVID-19: Digital Discrimination
Press
15 April 2020With millions of people migrating from working on-site to working from home, the resulting culture shift has given rise to a wave of aggressive and discriminatory behaviour in the digital workplace. Lewis Silkin estimates that around 59% of large multinational enterprises have already put into place a plan to respond to pandemic diseases such as Coronavirus.
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Three-quarters have furloughed staff, despite warning it should be used as last option: James Davies comments for HR Review
Press
10 April 2020James Davies comments on this article by HR Review that despite warnings, employers should refrain from the furlough of staff and only use it once all other options have failed, three-quarters of employers have already done so or plan to do in the future.
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A Guide for Promoters on Managing Free Prize Draws and Competitions during the Covid-19 Pandemic
09 April 2020The current pandemic has disrupted everyone's life and business. Although not top of the agenda for most businesses, one question UK promoters are asking is how to deal with their ongoing free prize draws and skill-based competitions.
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Coronavirus - Hong Kong Relief Measures under the Employment Protection Scheme
09 April 2020On 8th April 2020, the Chief Executive held a press conference announcing that the Hong Kong government is to roll out a HK$137 billion (approximately US$80 billion) relief package by implementing the Employment Protection Scheme to assist individuals and businesses to ease the financial difficulties arising out of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Coronavirus: Employers should seek consent for pay cuts - Siobhra Rush comments for Irish Times
Press
08 April 2020Siobhra Rush comments in this article by Irish Times on reducing workers pay during the Covid-19 crisis.
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Corporate Update - April 2020
08 April 2020Welcome to our April 2020 Corporate Update which brings you news and our views on law and practice for corporates and their owners and managers.
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Event cancellation: The COVID-19 factor
Press
07 April 2020Alex Kelham comments in an article by Reactions which examines how around the world certain events can provide a reassuring stability to the calendar
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Government announces the new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)
07 April 2020On 3 April 2020, the Government announced a new loan scheme to provide support for large businesses.
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Convertible loan notes and/or advance subscription agreements as a source of emergency funding: FAQs
07 April 2020Convertible loan notes and advance subscription agreements are typically used as alternatives to equity fundraising by growth companies or more established businesses looking for short term financing to get them to their next equity round (so-called “bridge financing”)
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Two UK Court Rulings Limit Corporate Responsibility for Employee Conduct: Alexander-Milner Smith comments for Insurance Journal
Press
07 April 2020UK companies may let out a “sigh of relief” after Barclays Plc and Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc won a pair of Supreme Court cases that drastically limit corporate responsibility for employee conduct.
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Morrisons wins Supreme Court data leak appeal: Alexander Milner-Smith comments for Essential Retail
Press
07 April 2020Alexander Milner-Smith comments for Essential Retail in an article on the Supreme Court ruling that Morrisons is not liable for a data breach made by a former employee after a disagreement.
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Guidance for employers on how to manage apprentices during the coronavirus outbreak
06 April 2020Most businesses will be affected in some way by coronavirus, but apprentices may be particularly disadvantaged if they are unable to continue or complete their apprenticeship and gain their qualifications. What issues should employers of apprentices be considering?
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Employer not liable for sexual assaults committed by independent contractor
06 April 2020The Supreme Court has ruled that Barclays Bank was not vicariously liable for sexual assaults committed by an individual engaged by it as an independent contractor, as the relationship between the organisation and the contractor was not akin to an employment relationship.
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Lewis Silkin promotes three to partner across UK and Hong Kong
06 April 2020Julia Poulter (Real Estate), Bryony Long (Data Privacy) and Catherine Leung (Employment, Hong Kong) promoted to the firm’s partnership.
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Restrictive covenants: key reminders recently highlighted by the Court of Appeal
06 April 2020In the recent case of Guest Services Worldwide Limited v David Shelmerdine the Court of Appeal found that a non-compete clause, restricting Mr Shelmerdine for a period of 12 months after he ceased to hold shares, was binding. The clause prohibited Mr Shelmerdine, a shareholder who was also a consultant of Guest Services Worldwide Limited (GSW), from being interested in competing businesses.
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Coronavirus – our third employer survey
06 April 2020Our third employer benchmarking survey looks at the take-up of the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and ongoing support for homeworkers.
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Comparative advertising: what it is and how to manage risk
06 April 2020In highly competitive industries, the line between extolling the virtues of one’s own product and comparing it with others can be a very fine, and sometimes blurry, one. Most advertisers will make claims about their products. Those claims might be straightforward, such as claims as to battery life, suitability for certain tasks or conditions, or relating to price. Other claims might suggest that the advertiser’s product is the best, cheapest or superior in some other way. There is a category of advertising though that can be much more high stakes – comparative advertising.
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How will M&A buyers respond to Covid-19?
03 April 2020 -
Covid 19 - Government schemes in other key European jurisdictions
03 April 2020Many other European governments have introduced schemes, similar to the furloughing scheme here in the UK, with the aim of supporting employers experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and encouraging them to retain staff during the crisis. The below is a brief summary of the schemes in place in the key European jurisdictions.