Latest insights

Our dashboard breaks down what’s in the Employment Rights Act, showing how these reforms will transform employment law.

The EU's Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network has launched coordinated action involving nine video games companies to strengthen...

The long-awaited consultation on reforming employment status is finally out. The current three categories of employment status will stay put, but more people will be brought into worker status, with some limited additional rights for the self-employed.

We’re pleased to present you with the sixth edition of our IP Horizon Scanner for Chinese businesses, which highlights the key developments and anticipated changes over the coming months and their specific impact on Chinese businesses.

As AI becomes part of everyday working life, questions about how it affects legal professional privilege are coming up more often. Our practical Q&A guide answers key questions on AI and privilege, and sets out clear, practical steps that legal and business teams can take now to keep their privileged material protected.

Ryanair has started judicial review proceedings challenging information notices issued by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in...

The Law Commission of England and Wales has proposed potentially far-reaching reforms of product liability law to bring it up to date for...

On 1 October 2026, the Home Office issued the finalised Employer's guide to right to work checks, replacing the 11 September 2026 draft....

The Home Office has confirmed that from 6 October 2026, eGate-eligible passengers will be able to use new contactless technology when...

The government has announced plans to limit non-compete clauses in employment contracts. We look at what may be changing and what's still unclear.

When setting yourself up as an employer in Great Britain it is important to ensure that you understand and follow all the relevant rules.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has convened the Creative Industries AI Summit, a one-day event to be held this Friday in Manchester, forming...

On 2 October 2026, the Hong Kong Government announced that the minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong will be increased by 2.35 per cent, from HK$5,100 to HK$5,220 per month.

Level 2 users will lose access to the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) from 8 March 2027. Sponsors should review arrangements for...

Last month saw the publication of the government’s response to the consultation on improving access to flexible working. Acas has now published an updated draft Code of Practice on handling flexible working requests. The draft gives the first indication of what employers will need to do to show that refusing a request is reasonable under the Employment Rights Act 2025. We look at what’s new.  

How can employers safeguard confidential information in the age of AI, and what should they do when an employee's use of AI tools puts that information at risk?

We are pleased to share our Technology Law Report: Autumn 2026. The report includes the key things that we are seeing right now in the market, together with our perspectives on what that means for your business.

From the commencement of the failure to prevent fraud offence to the reforms in the Crime and Policing Act 2026, corporate criminal liability in England and Wales has expanded significantly, and enforcement looks set to rise. Our guide explains the key developments of the past year and what they mean in practice for organisations.

We’re pleased to present you with the latest edition of our IP Horizon Scanner. In this edition, we spotlight the most significant developments and anticipated changes in the coming months, with a particular focus on their impact on Japanese businesses.

Employees are increasingly turning to unauthorised AI tools at work - and the data protection and compliance risks for employers are...

Why buy-and-build financing should be structured for the strategy, not just the first deal Buy-and-build remains one of the most popular...

In this episode, Geraint Lloyd-Taylor and Brinsley Dresden discuss the fast-tracked DMCCA subscription regime, recent less healthy food advertising rulings and the latest developments on green claims. They explain what the changes mean for businesses and the practical steps advertisers should take now.

The Premier League is the most watched football league in the world, attracting the best talent not just on the pitch, but in the dugout...

Last month, the House of Lords Liaison Select Committee published a report recommending a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising. With...

The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into work-based immigration, looking at how migration links to skills...

“Humans are lazy,” said technologist Rob Price. That’s a problem when we’re supervising AI, including agentic AI, because it means we’re poor at staying in the loop: we lose focus, skip alerts and rubber-stamp outputs. So organisations have to work out how to govern agentic AI responsibly and ethically. They also have to keep people watching closely enough that agents don’t ‘go rogue’.

The Labour Department has changed the Heat Stress at Work Warning (“HSWW”) system following concerns that its thresholds did not adequately reflect severe conditions.

What are the legal risks when AI use crosses the line into intellectual property infringement and how do we advise clients who are building or using AI-generated outputs to manage those risks?

On 16 September 2026 we hosted the AI Agenda – an exclusive event delving into the opportunities and challenges of AI integration, commercialisation and innovation.

At our recent panel discussion on AI in advertising at the AI Agenda, Lewis Silkin partner Geraint Lloyd-Taylor was joined by Guy Parker, Chief Executive of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and Hayley Fletcher, a Senior Director for Consumer Protection at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), to discuss how regulators are responding to the rapid adoption of AI across advertising and marketing.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces one of the most significant packages of employment law reform in decades, with measures taking effect at different points over the coming years. Employers therefore need to keep a close eye on the implementation timetable.

With tech leaders publicly urging a slowdown in AI development until adequate safety guardrails are in place, the question is no longer whether artificial intelligence needs governing - but how, and how to do it well.

Good AI governance may not be glamorous, but it could determine which organisations make the most of AI. That was one of the key messages from Kate Jones, CEO of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), in her keynote speech at our recent AI Agenda conference.

In September, we hosted AI Agenda 2026, bringing together senior leaders, legal experts and innovators to explore what it takes to adopt AI safely, strategically and at scale. The conversation has moved beyond what AI might do to how organisations are actually using it, and this edition reflects the themes and discussions that emerged throughout the day.

Does a business restructure or TUPE transfer have any immigration or employment permit implications? The answer is yes: where a restructure involves a TUPE transfer, liability for employing foreign nationals without valid immigration permission will transfer to the new employer, and both parties will need to address their post-transfer notification obligations under the Employment Permits Act 2024.

In May, we published an article asking whether the Sporting Events Bill – the UK government's new modular framework for protecting...

This month's highlights include insights on leading successful AI transformations, the global gender gap, and why entry-level roles matter more than ever. We also explore how organisations can unlock GenAI's potential, the hidden cognitive costs of AI, and what the future of jobs looks like.

On 3 September 2026 the Home Office published its Autumn Immigration Rules update. Key changes include new protections for Skilled Worker...

Listen here for the latest developments and essential practical takeaways (short enough to fit into a quick coffee break!). Lawyers from our IHELC team will discuss key developments in employment law with our usual pragmatism and insight, a touch of humour and a sharp focus on the in-house lawyer’s perspective.

Despite its reputation for softness, a particular kind of optimism is the most useful thing a leader can bring to bear in times of uncertainty. 

Germany's highest civil court has held that the use of an unlicensed sample of Kraftwerk's 1977 track "Metall auf Metall" in a German hip...

As organisations move from AI experimentation to implementation, the questions they face are equally changing: decisions about which tools to test or where AI might create efficiencies quickly become questions about how work should be organised, who should make decisions, where accountability sits and how people experience the change. At the same time, the longer-term impact of AI on jobs, skills and organisational structures remains uncertain, leaving leaders with important choices about how that transformation should unfold.

Much of the debate about AI and work has traditionally focused on capability: what the technology can do, which tasks it can automate and how quickly organisations can adopt it. But as organisations move from adoption to embedding, and from pilots to integration, the most important questions are shifting from what AI can do to what organisations choose to do with it. 

The UK's cryptoasset regulatory framework continues to take shape, with HM Treasury and the FCA publishing further material on the future...

On 30 September 2026, the Information Commissioner's Office formally becomes the Information Commission. It is the most significant...

As AI-powered robots move from factory floors into shared workplaces, employers face a new wave of legal and compliance challenges at the...

With only six months to go before the increased standard becomes a requirement from 26 March 2027, intending applicants should review...

In this special episode of our In Conversation podcast recorded live at our AI Agenda event, Lucy is joined by four expert panellists, Alexandria Lutz, General Counsel at Summize, Oliver Loach, Group People Director at Mitie, Samantha Schlimper, Managing Director at Randstad Enterprise and Tim Flagg, CEO and Co-Founder of UK AI.

From 1 October 2026, the UK's illegal working regime is getting a major overhaul. The new rules are complex, and they bring about significant changes to who needs to conduct ‘right to work’ checks and when. But beyond the immigration and employment headlines, these rules will have a major impact on commercial contracts – particularly where services are being subcontracted through supply chains, and for intermediary platforms that match workers with clients.

On 16 September 2026, the Chief Executive delivered his 2026 Policy Address – and there's plenty in it for employers to take note of. From new protections for delivery workers and implementing measures to accommodate for the city’s ageing population, these measures signal where the Government is heading. Here's our take on the key changes and why they matter.

Slovakia has made history. On 15 April, Slovakia's National Council adopted the Equal Pay Act, becoming the first EU Member State to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive into national law. The new law will enter into force on 7 June 2026, the exact date of the Pay Transparency Directive's transposition deadline, making Slovakia the only country, so far, to cross the finish line on time. 

Few expected Malta to meet the 7 June 2026 deadline for transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive. With elections having recently taken place, there was little sign that legislation was imminent. Yet on 5 June, Malta published the Equal Pay (Transparency and Reporting) Regulations 2026 – with most of the requirements of which taking effect immediately with no transitional period.

Greece transposed the EU Pay Transparency Directive on 6 July 2026, making it the fifth EU Member State to finalise transposition.

The Home Office released an updated draft Employer's guide to right to work checks on 11 September 2026. This indicates engagement with...

From 1 October 2026, the right to work scheme will extend beyond traditional employment relationships, bringing more people within scope of right to work checks. This means that sports clubs may, in some cases, have compliance responsibilities even where they are unaware that a particular individual is carrying out work for them. Read on to learn more.

On 15 September 2026, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood MP, appeared before the Home Affairs Committee to give oral evidence on the...

The timing has been pushed back and some details clarified, as our article explains.

The House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the use of regulatory sandboxes in UK...

The government has set out how the new right to bereavement leave (including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks) will work once it comes into force in April 2027.

From 1 October 2026, the time limit for bringing an employment tribunal claim will increase to six months for all claims, including unfair dismissal and discrimination claims.

The Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) of the European Patent Office issued its decision in referral G1/25 earlier this month, as we reported...

The FCA has published its Feedback Statement on tokenisation in UK wholesale financial markets, following the joint FCA and Bank of...

In September 2026, we welcomed senior leaders, legal experts, compliance professionals and technology decision-makers to AI Agenda 2026 at 180 Studios in London. 

We are pleased to share with you our Consumer law revolution: autumn 2026 update, the second edition of our twice-yearly report designed to keep you at the forefront of the evolving UK consumer law landscape.

Cross-border working between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is creating serious compliance risks that many employers don’t see coming.

This Inbrief guide explains the new right for trade unions to access the workplace from 30 October 2026, including how the process works, what employers need to do, and what access terms look like in practice. It also covers the main exceptions and how access agreements are enforced.

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for the EU KIDS Act, aimed at strengthening children's online safety across the EU. The...

English Whisky has secured protected Geographical Indication (GI) status. English Whisky now joins Scotch, Welsh and Irish whiskies as a...

It may come to light that an employee who once had the right to work in Ireland may no longer have such permission. For example, they may have forgotten to apply for a renewal of their immigration permission before it expired or they may not be able to provide evidence of their immigration status during a repeat right to work check. These scenarios may produce a heart-in-mouth moment for a manager or HR.

The government has now responded to the consultation on improving access to flexible working, confirming that there will be a new mandatory process for employers to follow if they are considering refusing a request. The changes are intended to take effect in autumn 2027.

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that vicarious liability owed to third parties does not transfer under TUPE. We explore the impact for both transferors and transferees.

More than 100 new organisations can now support researchers under the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) endorsement, and a new design...

Employers should prepare for more joined-up and proactive state enforcement of employment law in the UK, as the new agency gets up and running.

As millions of children across the UK head back to school this autumn, they're returning to a digital landscape that is starting to look...

The new subscription contract rules under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act) are coming - and after a...

The Employment Rights Act 2025 will make employers liable for third-party harassment unless they can show they took all reasonable steps to prevent it, with this new expanded duty expected to take effect in October 2026. This article considers why effective investigations will be central to demonstrating compliance with the new duty, and the challenges of investigating allegations involving individuals outside the organisation.

On 4 September 2026, a director of Grace (Asia) Group Limited and CY Medical Aesthetics Limited was sentenced at Fanling Magistrates' Courts to 120 hours' community service after the companies wilfully and without reasonable excuse failed to pay three employees’ wages within seven days after their wage periods ended and their employment contracts were terminated, in breach of the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) (“EO”).

Despite years of debate, consultations, summits and promises from successive governments, the UK remains without a comprehensive legislative framework for regulating artificial intelligence.

The European Commission has proposed a new European Innovation Act, intended to strengthen Europe's innovation ecosystem and help...

This Inbrief provides an overview of the Employment Tribunal process, from making a claim to the outcome of the final hearing. It is deliberately brief and does not cover every aspect of tribunal procedure, so do seek specific advice on your own circumstances if you are involved in a claim. This applies to England and Wales only, as the process in Scotland and in Northern Ireland is a bit different – do contact us if you need more information about this.

The government’s new plan to simplify how stakeholders are consulted has sound principles but raises serious concerns. Here’s our view.

To maintain a statutory excuse against liability for an illegal working civil penalty in the context of a less straightforward follow-up...

With regulators in the UK and EU continuing to sharpen both the framework for online safety and expectations on age assurance, child...

The Government's draft legislation for a new Securities Transfer Tax (STT), published on 13 July 2026, was a bit of a landmark.  Tax...

In our previous articles, we described employment law and immigration law as two siblings who usually get along fine but occasionally get in each other's way, and right to work checks as the playroom, where both siblings have to play nicely together.

Next has successfully appealed some (but not all) of a landmark equal pay decision from two years ago, providing some useful clarification on when market forces can be used to justify unequal pay.

The Football Governance Act 2025 (the "FGA") has created an entirely new regulatory landscape for English football. From the 2027/28...

In this episode, George Hannah is joined at the (virtual) fireplace by Abigail Wise, Partner at Lewis Silkin, for an honest chat about what it really takes to build a career in law when you don't come from a traditional background, and don’t take a traditional route into law.

The General Court was a thorn in the side of this particular rose, when it dismissed an action brought by Rose Bikes GmbH against the...

When I first heard of the restaurant chain 'Popeyes', I assumed that their core menu item would be tinned spinach, the culinary delicacy...

Article originally published in Issue 3 of ThoughtLeaders4 Middle East Magazine, co-authored with Martin Khoshdel, Barrister, 33...

Recently, a Chinese multinational tech giant dismissed a Project Manager after screenshots of his seven-figure compensation package were circulated online. The package was reportedly worth over RMB 3 million (about US$470,000). The company dismissed the individual on the basis that he had disclosed sensitive corporate information and permanently blacklisted him from future employment at the organisation. The screenshots went viral on Chinese social media and sparked nationwide discussion on compensation packages and pay confidentiality.

Whether you're a rights holder trying to protect your pricing and distribution networks from parallel imports and the second-hand market, or a business that resells, repackages or parallel imports genuine third-party goods, you need to understand IP exhaustion.

As we've previously reported here and here, the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) at the EPO has been grappling with a big question in case...

Big changes are coming to how benefits in kind are taxed. This article explains what’s changing and how to prepare.

A recent Hong Kong decision provides a useful warning for employers which run satellite offices with significant local autonomy. The case shows how quickly risk can build where one senior individual effectively controls day-to-day operations, payroll decisions, employment records and communications with head office, without any meaningful independent oversight.

Privilege rules vary significantly across jurisdictions, so it’s important not to assume your home country position “travels”.

This session at our MIW conference last month offered a dynamic overview of the major legislative changes and employment law developments shaping the Asia Pacific landscape.

At the opening session of our Managing an International Workforce conference, Sean Dempsey, Colin Leckey, Hannah Price and Sophie Maes explored the developments redefining the global workplace: from major reforms in the UK, India and beyond, to the EU's evolving regulatory agenda, pay transparency and the growing influence of AI.