Donoghue v Stevenson & the Doctrine of Negligence
Almost a century on, the case of Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 remains an important landmark decision in English tort law. This case established the modern doctrine of negligence as we now know it, including what’s widely referred to as the ‘neighbour principle’. Donoghue has not only provided a memorable read for generations of […]
UK Government Plans Data Protection Reform
Reform of the UK’s data protection regime is being planned, according to Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden. The UK Government is pledging to overhaul existing rules, including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to “allow information to flow more freely and drive growth in the digital economy” now that the UK has left the EU. […]
Partnership Agreement (Terms to Include)
Before entering into a business partnership, you should ensure the terms of the partnership are agreed and documented. Written partnership agreements are typically complex documents, containing a broad range of terms and clauses to cover all manner of eventualities which may not seem conceivable in the early days of the business, but a well-drafted agreement […]
Protecting Your Image Rights
Image rights are an extremely valuable and lucrative commodity for celebrities and personalities of all kinds, from entertainers to online influencers and sports professionals. While the law in the UK currently does not offer a specific ‘right to image’, in this article, we consider a number of legal options which may be available to protect […]
What is Freedom of Speech in the UK?
Freedom of speech forms a fundamental part of our democracy. The UK public and press enjoy some of the greatest freedoms of anyone in the world to express their opinions and ideas. The following guide on the rules relating to freedom of speech in the UK examines the legal basis of this right, including the […]
Current Law on Squatting
What is squatting? Squatting is where someone has entered a property without first obtaining permission from the owner, and then stays there, or intends to stay there. The current law on squatting varies, depending on whether the building or land being occupied is residential or non-residential. Squatting in a residential property In 2012, it became […]
Gagging Orders: Everything You Need to Know
What are gagging orders? A gagging order, or non-disclosure order, is a type of injunction used to protect the someone’s right to privacy and confidentiality. It is issued by the court, usually on an interim basis pending a full hearing of the legal and factual issues, to restrict the publication and dissemination of private or […]
Sentencing Reforms See Teenage Killers Face Longer Jail Terms
Teenage killers are to face longer jail sentences, under reforms announced by the justice secretary, Robert Buckland. Older teenagers in murder cases could see sentences almost doubled to up to 27 years. ‘Ellie’s law’ comes as part of wider criminal reforms which were introduced to Parliament on 9 March 2021. Ellie’s law follows a campaign […]
Death Penalty: A History of UK Capital Punishment
A History of Capital Punishment in the UK Capital punishment, the use of the death penalty by the state, originated in the Anglo-Saxon era and continued until 1965 when the death penalty was abolished. Initially, the primary way to carry out the sentence was by a primitive form of hanging, placing a noose around the […]
Right to Repair Law to be Introduced this Summer
A new law is due to be introduced this summer giving consumers in the UK the ‘right to repair’ on the electronic goods they buy. The new law aims to extend the lifespan of appliances such as fridges, TVs and washing machines by up to ten years and to make them cheaper to run through […]
Statutory Declaration: A Complete Guide
Despite their historic origins, dating back almost two hundred years, statutory declarations are still commonly used to allow an individual to declare something to be true for the purposes of satisfying some legal requirement or regulation, often when no other evidence is available to prove the matter in question. The following guide examines the nature […]
Guide to UK Obscenity Laws
The obscenity laws in the UK are not limited to a single piece of legislation, nor indeed any one criminal offence. Following the introduction of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 — the first statute to criminalise the publication of obscene material — there are now a number of obscenity-related offences under several different pieces of […]
How to Get a Non Molestation Order
For victims of domestic abuse, a non molestation order can be used to prevent your abuser from harassing you further. In this article, we explain how to apply to court to get a non molestation order and what to do if you need to make an emergency application. What is a non molestation order? A […]
UK Immigration Rules: Upcoming Changes Announced
The Home Office has published a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 1248. The majority of the amendments affect UK work and study visas under the points-based system, with most due to take effect on 6th April 2021, unless otherwise stated. Graduate route From 1 July 2021, student visa holders in the UK […]
Stamp Duty Holiday Extended Until 30 June
The UK Chancellor has confirmed in his Budget today that the £500,000 threshold for stamp duty will remain in place until 30 June. Under the temporary rules, homebuyers in England and Northern Ireland can continue to benefit from a higher threshold for stamp duty on house purchases. The tax break can see some homebuyers save […]
Furlough Scheme Further Extended to September
The UK Chancellor has confirmed in the 2021 Budget that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be further extended until September 2021. The furlough scheme has been subject to earlier extensions. Most recently, it had been scheduled to end in April, following a planned phase out as government contributions were set to decrease gradually in the […]
8 New Freeports Set to Launch in England in 2021
Eight new freeport sites are to be launched later this year in England. The sites will be at East Midlands Airport, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Humber, Plymouth, Thames, Teesside, and Solent. Freeports are international gateways offering a number of benefits to businesses operating on the sites, including “more generous tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and wider government […]
Supreme Court Rules Uber Drivers Are ‘Workers’
The Supreme Court has upheld earlier courts’ rulings in a landmark decision that confirms Uber drivers are ‘workers’ and not self-employed subcontractors. The Court unanimously upheld a 2016 Employment Tribunal decision that said drivers are in a “position of subordination and dependancy to Uber“. While the decision relates to a limited number of drivers who […]
Bad Weather Policy (Employer Tips)
Extreme weather conditions can be hugely disruptive to business operations, if employees are snowed in at home, while others arrive several hours late due to travel disruption. Living in the UK, with its unpredictable and varied climate, it makes sense for employers to have a bad weather policy. This will help to minimise operational impact […]
Latest UK COVID travel restrictions
What are the latest COVID travel restrictions affecting arrivals into the UK? Travel corridors closed All quarantine-free travel corridors for people arriving into the UK have been closed indefinitely, and all arrivals from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man must now present a negative Covid-19 test issued no more than […]