Insights & News
Search for Insights & News
-
Alternative dispute resolution in the workplace
Inbrief
24 November 2016Workplace disputes are disruptive and, in many cases, expensive for businesses, particularly if they result in litigation.
-
Senior Managers Regime, Certification Regime and Conduct Rules
Inbrief
24 November 2016Banks and other financial institutions are seeing some of the most significant regulatory changes affecting staff in many years.
-
Preparing a trade mark infringement or passing off case: practical considerations?
Inbrief
21 November 2016This checklist is aimed at rights owners and their advisers, including in-house lawyers, who are considering bringing a trade mark or passing off action in the UK. It provides a brief series of tips and pointers on things to consider when preparing a case.
-
Remuneration code - For banks, building societies and investment firms
Inbrief
30 October 2016The financial services industry has been the focus of wide-ranging reform over the past few years as a result of both UK Government and European initiatives. In January 2014, a package of reforms implementing the fourth set of amendments to the EU Capital Requirements Directive (“CRD4”) took effect.
-
Bullying and harassment
Inbrief
19 October 2016Dignity at work has become increasingly recognised in recent years as an important issue for employers to address. Taking action to prevent bullying and harassment at work can be crucial in avoiding increased levels of stress and absenteeism, low staff morale, high turnover and decreased productivity.
-
Family rights
Inbrief
04 October 2016Employees who have parental responsibility for a child are afforded certain legal rights in order to protect and support their role as parents.
-
Industrial action
Inbrief
22 September 2016Economically turbulent times have seen an increase in trade unions ‘flexing their muscles’ by way of industrial action.
-
Visa applications for entrepreneurs and investors
Inbrief
13 September 2016The UK provides attractive visa options for individuals seeking to invest in the country. But the rules are strict. There are two separate categories - for ‘entrepreneurs’ and ‘investors’ - each with detailed eligibility and documentation requirements.
-
Managing ill health and disability
Inbrief
06 September 2016The management of ill health and disability raises problems that employers have to grapple with on a daily basis. Minimising the cost and inconvenience of ill health in the workforce, whilst ensuring compliance with legal obligations, requires both a clear understanding of the relevant legal principles and a co-ordinated approach.
-
The Working Time Regulations 1998
Inbrief
20 July 2016The Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) implement the European Working Time Directive in the UK.
-
Brazilian Olympic Act: a last minute hurdle for ambushers
Inbrief
07 July 2016With the Rio Olympic Games just around the corner, there have been concerns about the country’s readiness to play host to the competition, its athletes and scores of fans. Issues around stadium safety and anti-doping policies have been at the forefront of the debate, but there has also been, until very recently, a distinct lack of clarity for brands and sponsors planning marketing activities in Brazil in the lead up to the Games.
-
Termination of employment
Inbrief
06 July 2016Terminating employment can create a plethora of unwanted issues for the employer, including claims of wrongful or unfair dismissal.
-
Trade Marks in the United States
Inbrief
20 May 2016Trade mark rights in the United States arise from use of a trade mark, not registration and therefore a trade mark registration for a business, brand or product name, a logo, slogan or other trade mark provides a business with the most effective and least expensive way to prove trade mark rights in the United States.
-
Maternity leave and pay
Inbrief
10 May 2016The law recognises women on maternity leave as being particularly vulnerable and gives them special protection. As a result, employers need to be careful to make sure they comply with their legal obligations in this area. This Inbrief summarises the rights which women on maternity leave enjoy and looks at some common problem areas.
-
Information and consultation
Inbrief
09 May 2016The Government implemented the EU Information and Consultation Directive by bringing into force the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 on 6 April 2005.
-
Pension auto-enrolmentt
Inbrief
20 April 2016From 1 October 2012 a fundamental change to employers’ obligations concerning workplace pensions took effect, requiring employers who have passed their “Staging Date” to automatically enrol eligible jobholders into a suitable pension scheme and fund a minimum level of pension savings (without reducing pay or benefits elsewhere). The new rules will require all employers to review (and, if necessary, amend) their current pension arrangements or face substantial penalties for non-compliance.
-
Defamation & Malicious Falsehood
Inbrief
19 April 2016Reputation protection which embodies our law of defamation has become increasingly important. Together with the law of privacy, including confidentiality, reputation protection is a vital right for individuals and corporations, especially the advertising industry where image and celebrity rights attract so much attention.
-
Trade Mark Watch Services
Inbrief
21 February 2016There is a temptation for trade mark owners to breathe a sigh of relief as they eventually file their trade mark applications. It is often the culmination of months of work searching for any prior rights and perhaps investigating, negotiating, cancelling or acquiring such rights. It is an end, but only to the beginning of a brand’s lifecycle. Once the application is filed, this is when the brand protection programme begins in earnest.
-
Trade Mark and Design Searches
Inbrief
21 February 2016Whenever a new launch is proposed, whether it is for a product, brand, business name or an advertising campaign, there is always a risk that someone else is already using an identical or a similar name or design. If so, then that party may be entitled to obtain an immediate injunction from the court to prevent the launch and obtain damages for trade mark, design right or copyright infringement and/or passing off.
-
UK Trade Marks
Inbrief
17 February 2016A trade mark registration for a business, brand or product name, a logo, slogan or other trade mark provides a business with the most effective form of protection against a competitor making improper use of its trade mark. Whilst a trade mark might be capable of being protected through other areas of the law, such as passing off, copyright or design right, registering a trade mark has a number of important benefits.