Insights & News

Equal Pay

Inbrief

02 March 2017

Equal pay law first developed in the UK in the 1970s after a campaign by trade unions and women’s groups. It is now a basic principle of European law that men and women who do equal work should receive equal pay. This principle is implemented in the UK today through the Equality Act 2010.

Gender pay gap reporting

Inbrief

02 March 2017

The Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017 (the “Regulations”) require employers to report on the gender pay gap in their organisation.

Equality at work

Inbrief

03 February 2017

Discrimination in the workplace is governed by the Equality Act 2010. This brings together into one place all of the equality laws that had developed over a number of years, including those based on EU law. It also covers discrimination in other areas such as the provision of goods, facilities and services.

An agent’s guide to athlete trade marks

Inbrief

20 January 2017

Sportsmen and women invest massive amounts of time and energy into perfecting their sporting prowess. As an agent, your role is to invest your time and energy into their well-being, to nurture their income generating potential, and protect their image and reputation.

An agency guide to trade mark searching

Inbrief

20 January 2017

Whenever 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.

Contracts of employment

Inbrief

12 January 2017

A contract of employment can be a written document, a verbal agreement, or a mixture of the two.

TUPE

Inbrief

11 January 2017

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 and previous versions of the regulations (which have been in force in the UK since 1981) implement the European Acquired Rights Directive, the general purpose of which is to safeguard employee rights in the transfer of a business.

Race discrimination

Inbrief

15 December 2016

The European Council Directive (2000/43/EC) prohibits direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the workplace in respect of race (which includes colour, nationality, ethnic origins and national origins). This is implemented through the Equality Act 2010.

European works councils

Inbrief

15 December 2016

European Works Councils are becoming increasingly common as a forum to negotiate pan-European issues.

Corporate manslaughter

Inbrief

15 December 2016

Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (the Act), an organisation is guilty of an offence if the way in which its activities are managed or organised by senior management causes a death and this amounts to a gross breach of duty of care owed by the organisation to the deceased.

Image rights

Inbrief

27 November 2016

Famous sportspeople, entertainers and other celebrities derive substantial incomes from allowing themselves to be commercially associated with brands. It is big business, very big business, and because of this celebrities are faced with two very different problems.

Sexual orientation discrimination

Inbrief

25 November 2016

Sexual orientation is a particularly sensitive personal issue, and also involves the right to privacy under the Human Rights Act 1998. An added complication is that individuals can choose whether or not to be ‘out’ in the workplace, so employers are unlikely to know the sexual orientation of all of their employees.

Corporate immigration to the UK

Inbrief

24 November 2016

The UK remains an attractive business destination.

Alternative dispute resolution in the workplace

Inbrief

24 November 2016

Workplace disputes are disruptive and, in many cases, expensive for businesses, particularly if they result in litigation.

Any more BIDs

Inbrief

20 November 2016

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are partnerships between local businesses and local authorities which aim to improve defined commercial trading areas by providing additional services funded collectively by business rate payers.

Converting to an LLP

Inbrief

18 November 2016

Originally conceived as a vehicle for use by professional practices to obtain the benefit of limited liability while retaining the tax advantages of a traditional partnership, limited liability partnerships (LLPs) have a far wider use as is evidenced by their increasing popularity as an alternative business vehicle in a wide range of sectors.

An introduction to trade marks in the UK

Inbrief

17 November 2016

A trade mark registration provides the most effective form of protection against improper use of a business name, brand, logo or slogan by a competitor.

Immigration basics for retail, hospitality and leisure

Inbrief

17 November 2016

Employers in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries are under particular scrutiny from the Home Office.

Visa applications for entrepeneurs and investors - November 2016 update

Inbrief

17 November 2016

The 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.

Sponsoring migrant workers

Inbrief

17 November 2016

The process and requirements for sponsoring non-EEA national workers in the UK are complicated. At the same time, the rules are strict, and the consequences of noncompliance could be detrimental to both the employer and its sponsored migrants.