Insights & News

CORPORATE MISTAKES YOUR BUSINESS MAY HAVE MADE …AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO ABOUT IT

Inbrief

08 June 2023

Corporate requirements can be fiddly and, sometimes, unintuitive. It is easy for businesses to trip up on corporate issues. In this series we look 10 of the most common corporate mistakes companies makes, and, more importantly, what they should do about them.

Contracts of employment

Inbrief

17 May 2023

A contract of employment can be a written document, a verbal agreement, or a mixture of the two. Even where the employer and employee have agreed express terms, certain terms are always implied into every contract of employment. Understanding the full effect of the contract of employment is important because it forms the basis of many of the legal rights and obligations which govern the employment relationship.

Alternative dispute resolution in the workplace

Inbrief

02 May 2023

Workplace disputes are disruptive and, in many cases, expensive for businesses, particularly if they result in litigation. It will often be in the interests of both parties to a dispute to avoid litigation except as a last resort. This depends on the parties’ understanding that there are alternative means of resolving disputes. There are a range of methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) available. Making the appropriate choice at the most suitable point in a dispute gives employers the best chance of keeping cost and workplace disruption to a minimum.

Frequently asked questions on termination payments

Inbrief

29 March 2023

Our FAQs Inbrief looks at some of the common tax questions that arise on termination of employment.

Company’s register of people with significant control (PSCs)

Inbrief

22 March 2023

Most UK companies and LLPs are required to find out and record details of the individuals or legal entities that have significant beneficial ownership or control over them. The information must be recorded in the company’s register of people with significant control (PSC register) as part of its statutory books.

Environmental Advertising

Inbrief

08 March 2023

According to the UK’s Climate Change Committee, consumer behaviour must change in order for the UK to achieve its net zero targets. The good news is that sustainability is a growing factor in consumers purchasing decisions.

Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court (UPC)

Inbrief

02 March 2023

The German government has now ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPC), meaning that the UPC will become operational on 1 June 2023.

Salary sacrifice arrangements

Inbrief

27 February 2023

A salary sacrifice arrangement is where an employee gives up the right to receive part of the cash salary due under their contract of employment in return for the employer’s agreement to provide some form of non- cash benefit.

The Online Safety Bill

Inbrief

14 February 2023

The Online Safety Bill will introduce a new regulatory regime to address illegal and harmful content online. We are seeing more and more scrutiny in this area, with Australia, Ireland and the EU already passing new legislation, including the EU’s Digital Services Act, and Singapore proposing similar legislation.

Insolvency and TUPE

Inbrief

04 January 2023

Buying from an administrator can be a golden opportunity to pick up a business at a substantial discount to market value. It is a chance for a fresh start, without the debt and creditor demands experienced by the insolvent owner. But no business can run without people – and employment law tends to protect employees.

Pension auto-enrolment

Inbrief

22 December 2022

All employers are required to automatically enrol eligible jobholders into a suitable pension scheme and fund a minimum level of pension savings (without reducing pay or benefits elsewhere). At least 8% of qualifying earnings must be paid into the pension scheme, with a minimum employer contribution of 3%.

Compliance requirements for new employers in Great Britain

Inbrief

14 December 2022

When setting yourself up as an employer in Great Britain it is important to ensure that you understand and follow all the relevant rules. This Inbrief summarises the main legal obligations and administrative requirements that apply to new employers.

What’s the value in updating my articles of association?

Inbrief

01 December 2022

There is no obligation to keep your articles of association (articles) up to date but there are benefits. It would be cost effective to update your articles to reflect, and take advantage of, the current statutory regime, most notably the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) which replaced the Companies Act 1985. This guide explains why.

Industrial action

Inbrief

22 November 2022

Economically turbulent times resulting from coronavirus have seen an increase in trade unions’ membership and an increase in them ‘flexing their muscles’ by threatening industrial action over adverse changes in the workplace for their members.

A guide to the litigation process in England and Wales

Inbrief

04 November 2022

If you are involved in a dispute in England and Wales you need to know: what options there are for resolving the dispute; what litigation involves; the steps from the start of proceedings to trial; what parties to proceedings have to do; the fundamentals of court procedure; how to use legal advisers efficiently and cost effectively; and what happens after judgment.

A guide to the litigation process in England and Wales including disclosure in the Business and Property Courts

Inbrief

04 November 2022

If you are involved in a dispute in England and Wales you need to know: what options there are for resolving the dispute; what litigation involves; the steps from the start of proceedings to trial; what parties to proceedings have to do; the fundamentals of court procedure; how to use legal advisers efficiently and cost effectively; and what happens after judgment.

Tax rules for employment intermediaries - what this means for agencies and employment businesses

Inbrief

31 October 2022

Over recent years a number of anti-avoidance measures have been introduced in a bid to tackle “disguised employment”. Disguised employment refers to those situations where arrangements are implemented to falsely treat employees or workers as self-employed, primarily to gain a tax or National Insurance Contributions (NICs) advantage.

Hybrid working arrangements

Inbrief

26 October 2022

Following the widespread experience of employees working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, some employers are starting to implement hybrid working arrangements on a longer-term basis.

The Bribery Act 2010 - an employment law perspective

Inbrief

26 October 2022

In recent years there has been increasing focus on anti-bribery and corruption. The Bribery Act 2010 created a regime of criminal offences described by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office as “the toughest bribery legislation in the world”.

M&A employment law support: TUPE clauses in a business transfer agreement

Inbrief

19 October 2022

If the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) apply to a business sale, it has significant ramifications for both the buyer and seller. This Inbrief examines how the business transfer agreement can best cater for these issues.