The recent COVID-19 Inquiry's public consultation on its draft terms of reference has captured a substantial amount of public engagement; balancing the representation of all affected groups and avoiding lengthy delays looks like a real challenge. Baroness Hallett’s draft terms of reference (draft terms), published on 11 March, requested the views of individuals and organisations by 7 April on the scope of the COVID-19 Inquiry ...
A summary of the key takeaways from a recent webinar on reducing scope 3 transportation and distribution emissions. Shoosmiths is delighted to be sponsoring United Nation Global Compact Network (UNGC) UK’s series of webinars on ‘Reducing Scope 3 Emissions’ ...
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has issued guidance on ads for cryptoassets following an increase in the number of Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) complaints about crypto ads. What are cryptoassets? Cryptoassets are defined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as: “cryptographically secured digital representations of value or contractual rights that use some type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and can be transferred, stored or traded electronically ...
The proposed planning reforms in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill are many and varied. However, there are a number of themes that run through the proposals. Ambition The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill aims to reverse geographical disparities between different parts of the United Kingdom by spreading opportunity more equally ...
In the light of the current geopolitical situation, including severe counter sanctions and restrictions imposed by the Russian Government, we would like to provide you with an update on the current IP regulation in Russia. Partial legalization of parallel imports On 29th March, the Russian government issued a Decree No ...
Local authorities will be given rights to let vacant high street premises under new powers contained in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Background The government wants to regenerate local high streets as part of its levelling up agenda. A key element of its proposals is to give local authorities the right to let vacant premises on their high streets following a rental auction process ...
In two 30-minute webinars in May we highlighted a number of key changes which the Charities Act 2022 will introduce (into the amended Charities Act 2011) on a staggered basis in three tranches over the coming 18 months ...
Following the first reading of the Procurement Bill in the House of Lords, Shoosmiths considers how this will change public procurement as we know it. The Government has recently taken the next step in its plan to transform public procurement, by publishing the Procurement Bill (‘the Bill’). The first reading in the House of Lords took place on 11 May 2022 and we can now start to consider the changes this Bill will bring ...
Yesterday was closing submissions day for “Wagatha Christie”, aka Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney. While we await Mrs Justice Steyn’s verdict, Kath Livingston, a Shoosmiths partner in dispute resolution & litigation, gives her thoughts and reflections on the trial, with more to follow after judgment ...
Aaron Harlow and Ian Hardman examine the tough new measures that are being taken to force the real estate industry to pay to remove cladding - protecting leaseholders from costs. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has requested that residential property developers fund and undertake all necessary remediation of buildings over 11m that they have had a role in developing. This includes buildings both 11-18m and 18m+ ...
With those operating in the living sector now facing the risk of older assets becoming stranded – obsolete to funders and residents - Liz Sweeney and Liana Di Ciacca examine the journey to retrofitting stock and embracing ESG. The use of sustainability linked loans grew rapidly in the real estate finance market during 2021 ...
Dan Hargreaves and Andrew Millar outline potential joint venture models, the opportunities for both the private and public sector, and key considerations before entering an agreement. Local authorities continue to face significant pressure on budgets, and many are continuing to explore a more entrepreneurial approach to deliver transformational developments or regeneration projects ...
Building on Shoosmiths’ recent insight paper, unlocking net zero strategies for business, James Wood-Robertson charts the routes to decarbonisation, while discussing the role of collaboration and partnerships in achieving net zero. After the much-anticipated COP26 climate summit, where governments across the world made their net zero commitments in a bid to tackle the challenge of limiting global warming, the prospect of setting targets became even more crucial ...
Dr. Michael Psaila and Dr Christine Calleja participated in the International Fraud Group’s bi-annual meeting, which was held in London on the 11th and 12th May 2022. The IFG was established in 1997 by London firm Mischon de Reya with the aim of bringing together law firms that work in fraud investigation and asset recovery and now boasts members from over 50 countries ...
Michael Bennett and Amber Wright explain the importance of reducing embodied carbon in construction - putting forward the case for legislative reform and how new technologies, methods and contracts are supporting the living sector’s move to net zero. To date much of the government’s focus to meet its net zero targets has been on creating more energy efficient homes and buildings ...
Charles Arrand considers the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, with a focus on both the potential business and human costs of failing to discharge obligations under the Order. Fire safety is regulated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Order), which applies to almost all buildings, places and structures other than individual private homes ...
John Cleaveley and Amber Wright explore the economic and market headwinds currently impacting the construction industry, with analysis of how living sector operators and developers can mitigate risk in a volatile environment. The construction industry is operating in testing market conditions with economic uncertainty persisting into 2022 ...
The Pensions Regulator is targeting employers suspected of not complying with their workplace pension duties with in-person spot checks on a more regular basis for the first time since the start of the pandemic ...
The Professional Investor Fund (PIF) supports the Government’s goal as it targets professional investors. The UK Government and the Financial Conduct Authority have engaged with proposals regarding PIFs. In 2020 the UK government announced a review of the UK funds regime and published a call for input ...
InvitationDear Ladies and Gentlemen,ALRUD Law Firm is honored to invite you to participate in our webinar:Foreign Business in Russia: What to Do and How to Mitigate Your Risks?The initial shock has passed, and the time has come to summarise the new legal regime as it pertains to your foreign business in Russia. In recent months, we have been assisting numerous foreign clients from different industries in developing and implementing solutions concerning their foreign business in Russia ...
The latest episode of News from Poland is devoted to implementation by Polish companies of sanctions imposed on Russia for its attack on Ukraine. This topic is discussed by Anna Olejniczak-Michalska from the firm’s Private Client practice and Łukasz Lasek from the firm’s Dispute Resolution & Arbitration practice. On April 16, 2022, the Act on Special Solutions to Counteract Support for the Invasion of Ukraine and to Protect National Security entered into force ...
One of the objectives of Product Oversight and Governance requirements is for manufacturers and distributors of an insurance or investment product to take into consideration the interests of customers when designing and /or distributing the relevant product ...
With the Royal Assent of the Subsidy Control Act 2022, Shoosmiths considers how the Act moves the UK away from the state aid regime. Summary The Act aims to create a less onerous regime for controlling subsidies while still preventing negative impacts on competition and investment. Public authorities must self-assess whether their subsidies or subsidy schemes meet the subsidy control principles. Subsidies or schemes of particular interest must be referred to the CMA for review ...
