Insights & News
Search for Insights & News
-
Activities fundamentally the same despite alterations to location and scope of service
01 March 2017The Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) has upheld an employment judge’s decision that a service to provide accommodation-based support services for homeless people had remained fundamentally the same before and after a TUPE service provision change (“SPC”), despite alterations to the location and scope of the service.
-
Continuous service for notice pay preserved on transfer
28 February 2017An Advocate General (“AG”) of the European Court of Justice has handed down an advisory opinion on an interesting TUPE issue concerning continuous service, arising in a case referred by the Swedish Labour Court
-
New restrictions on European migrants from March
28 February 2017The Prime Minister is expected to trigger Article 50 in March 2017
-
Bad timing for a counterclaim
27 February 2017The provisions of section 35(3) of the Limitation Act 1980 will not enable a defendant to bring counterclaim that would otherwise be time barred before the proceedings had commenced.
-
Lewis Silkin speaking at Law Society Brexit seminar
27 February 2017Karen Baxter, head of Lewis Silkin’s Professional Services sector group, will be speaking at The Law Society’s event on the implications of Brexit for in-house lawyers on 28 March in relation to employment law.
-
“(Section 55) Shades of Gray” - using the Data Protection Act to prevent employees misusing or taking data
27 February 2017A recent case has highlighted a potentially helpful mechanism in the Data Protection Act 1998 (“DPA”) for employers to use if they are concerned about employees taking data when they leave.
-
Supreme Court upholds spouse minimum income requirement
22 February 2017The Immigration Rules regulate immigration of non-Europeans into the UK. Under the Rules, a non-EEA spouse must earn £18,600 each year before being allowed to join their partner in the UK. The lawfulness of this “minimum income requirement” has been scrutinised and ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court, although with some criticism.
-
Industrial relations update
22 February 2017Our summary of recent “collective” employment law developments includes the latest on the Government’s industrial action reforms, the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Boots case concerning a “sweetheart” recognition agreement and a decision of the Central Arbitration Committee (“CAC”) upholding an information request by the trade union Unite.
-
Clarification on tax changes for the public sector ‘off-payroll’ workers
22 February 2017HM Revenue & Customs has issued guidance on forthcoming changes to the IR35 rules where workers provide their services to a public authority through a personal services company (“PSC”), i.e. a company owned and controlled by the worker.
-
Overview of: ‘Data Analytics and the Future of Elite Sporting Performance’ forum 7 February 2017
21 February 2017The Lewis Silkin Sports Business Group hosted its latest forum event, ‘Data analytics and the future of elite sporting performance’ on Tuesday 7 February, at which our esteemed panellists provided real insight on how elite athletes and teams are increasingly relying on data analysis to gain a competitive edge.
-
Dating apps get even more interesting
17 February 2017A Scottish court has recently refused to find that a legal partnership existed between two former friends and Mr Elliott in relation to a business arrangement to develop and exploit a couple of online dating apps. The court held that, without a contract, there was no partnership and Mr Elliott was not obliged to share the profits from the venture with the friends.
-
Estate agent unable to claim his fee on successful property sale
17 February 2017The Court of Appeal has decided that it cannot imply contractual terms where there is no contract in the first place. In this case, it would not imply a term to enable an estate agent to recover his commission on a sale.
-
Chinese visa applications additional new requirements to be aware of
16 February 2017Following the recent rollout of China’s new work permit system for Chinese Business Z visas, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revised the requirements for photographs submitted to overseas Chinese consular and embassies with visa applications.
-
Pimlico Plumbers are workers not self-employed
14 February 2017In the latest development in a series of cases on employment status, the Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by Pimlico Plumbers and found that a “self-employed” plumber should have been classed a worker.
-
Court considers service of a defendant’s notice to force claimant to serve proceedings or discontinue a claim
14 February 2017A recent decision not only reminds practitioners of a defendant’s ability to force a claimant to either serve proceedings or discontinue a claim by using a CPR 7.7(1) notice, but also considers for the first time the date for compliance with such a notice.
-
We are family – I’ve got all my passports with me
09 February 2017An EEA national using the online application form for a registration certificate or for a document certifying permanent residence can now add their close and extended family members to their online form.
-
IP myth busters (Brands & IP Newsnotes - issue 4)
08 February 2017Myth and legend is not just the stuff of Lord of the Rings. There are plenty of ommon misconceptions in intellectual property which are often further exacerbated by statements on the internet and the popularity of TV shows where legal ‘advice’ or commentary may be given. Here are a few of the most common ones we hear and the truth behind them.
-
Hacked off? Data breaches abound (Brands & IP Newsnotes - issue 4)
08 February 2017The inevitable rise of the data breach, otherwise known as the ‘hack’, continued unabated in 2016. The UK government reported that two thirds of ‘large’ business (i.e. greater than or equal to 250 employees – regardless of revenue) “experienced a cyber-breach or attack in the past year”.
-
Rubik’s Cubes: In a spin (Brands & IP Newsnotes - issue 4)
08 February 2017Those of us of a certain age will remember the frustration of trying to complete a ‘Rubik’s Cube’. But following the CJEU’s ruling that the trade mark registration for the shape of the famous puzzle is invalid; it is the owner of the original Rubik’s Cube 3D puzzle that will be feeling frustrated.
-
Step by step - trade marks in China (Brands & IP Newsnotes - issue 4)
08 February 2017Brand owners will take comfort from a decision of China’s highest Court (the Supreme People’s Court of China) in early December. As part of a long running battle between former basketball star, Michael Jordan, and Chinese sports manufacturing giant, Qiaodan Sports, the former basketball star has finally come out on top – at least in relation to one specific trade mark. Overturning decisions from the lower courts, the Supreme People’s Court revoked a trade mark held by Qiaodan for “Jordan” represented in Chinese characters.