Family Law Developments in 2025: Responding to Social and Technological Change
As society continues to evolve, so too does the legal framework that governs family life in the UK. In 2025, family law is undergoing important developments shaped by shifting social norms, digital innovation, and increasing pressure on courts to modernise. From the growing use of technology in family proceedings to the recognition of diverse family […]
UK Implements Key Changes to Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) Under Windsor Framework
Effective 1 January 2025, the United Kingdom has enacted significant reforms to its Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) regime for medicinal products, aligning with the provisions of the Windsor Framework. These changes aim to streamline the regulatory landscape post-Brexit and ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines across the UK, including Northern Ireland. Overview of the […]
UK Supreme Court to Decide on AI Patentability in Emotional Perception Case
The UK Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case that could redefine the boundaries of patent law concerning artificial intelligence (AI). The case, Emotional Perception AI Ltd v Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, centers on whether AI systems, specifically those utilizing artificial neural networks (ANNs), can be patented under UK law. […]
Getty Images v. Stability AI: A Landmark UK Case Poised to Redefine AI and Copyright Law
In a pivotal legal battle set to unfold this summer, the UK High Court will hear Getty Images v. Stability AI, a case that could significantly shape how artificial intelligence (AI) development is treated under UK copyright law. The Core Dispute Getty Images, a leading global visual content provider, is suing Stability AI, […]
UK Government’s AI Copyright Plans Face Growing Backlash from Creative Sector
The UK government is facing mounting criticism from leading figures in the creative industries over proposed reforms to copyright law that aim to support artificial intelligence (AI) development. Following a recent public consultation on “Copyright and Artificial Intelligence,” the government outlined its preferred approach: allowing AI developers to use copyrighted materials for training datasets under […]
Right to Work Scheme to Expand Under Immigration Bill Reform
The UK government has introduced a clause to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill which would expand the scope of the right to work regime. If passed, the changes would require employers and other businesses to carry out right to work checks for individuals engaged under a broader range of working arrangements, including: […]
IoD Publishes Proposed Code of Conduct for Directors
The Institute of Directors has released a consultation document on a proposed Code of Conduct for Directors. The Code aims to serve as a practical tool to aid directors in making improved decisions. It also offers organisational leaders a behavioural framework designed to build and sustain public trust in their business operations. The document was […]
Consultation to Relax Non-Financial Reporting for Medium-Sized Companies
The Government is currently consulting on proposed changes to the UK’s non-financial reporting regime, which aim to reduce the burden on medium-sized companies. A company qualifies as “medium-sized” in a financial year if it meets at least two of the following three criteria: a. Annual turnover exceeding £10.2m but not more than £36m. b. Balance […]
Draft Legislation to Protect Residential Addresses on Companies House
The Government has released draft regulations aimed at enhancing the protection of individuals’ usual residential addresses (URA) from being publicly accessible at Companies House. Under the new regulations, individuals would be allowed to suppress their URA from public view if it has previously been used as a company’s registered office address, a provision not currently […]
Companies House Issues Draft Rules for Director ID Verification
Companies House has unveiled draft rules concerning the identity verification of directors, persons with significant control (PSCs), and others under forthcoming changes. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 amended the Companies Act 2006 and the Limited Partnerships Act 1907, introducing requirements for certain individuals to verify their identity. This applies to individual directors […]
2023 Logbook Pilot Challenges Assumptions
During the summer of 2023, conveyancing solicitors in a working group questioned the belief that introducing a property logbook would streamline the conveyancing aspect of purchasing a home. In response, the Home Buying & Selling Group’s (HBSG) Logbook Working Group decided to initiate a new pilot to address the concerns raised by lawyers and conveyancers […]
Inflation Dips as Mortgage Market Recovers
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that the inflation rate for March was 3.2%, a slight decrease from February’s 3.4%. This update comes after the Bank of England’s (BoE) decision to maintain the interest rate at 5.25%. With inflation showing a downward trend, there is less pressure on the BoE […]
2024 BASPI Update: Enhancing Property Information
Trade and representative organisations from the conveyancing, legal, surveying, estate agency, and property management industries, including the Conveyancing Association, unveiled the latest version of the BASPI—Buyer’s and Seller’s Property Information form on March 28th, 2024. The BASPI is crafted by the upfront information working group within the Home Buyers and Sellers Group (HBSG) and acts […]
Revised TA6 Form Boosts Clarity
The Law Society of England and Wales has introduced a revised TA6 Property Information Form, aligning with the National Trading Standards’ guidelines on essential property information. This updated form includes details recommended by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) for property listings, urging sellers to involve their solicitors early in the […]
UK Inquiry into Conveyancers and Sales Practices
Parliamentarians are set to scrutinise the roles of conveyancers, the provision of upfront information, and referral fees in a comprehensive examination of the property transaction process. The House of Commons’ Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Committee has called for submissions, seeking insights into various facets of property buying and selling mechanics, information availability and delivery, […]
March 2024: New Provisions In Force Under Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
In late October 2023, the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) was enacted, marking a significant reform in company law and the most substantial overhaul in the history of Companies House. The implementation of ECCTA’s measures will be phased and are contingent upon the enactment of secondary legislation. 1. New Provisions Effective From […]
Employment Tribunal Compensation Limits Increasing
Individuals bringing employment tribunal claims in the UK will see a notable increase in the maximum compensation they can be awarded. Under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2024, the following limits will apply from 6 April 2024: Maximum compensatory award The maximum compensatory award rises from £105,707 to £115,115, allowing individuals to potentially […]
Child Maintenance Service Application Fee to be Waived
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to scrap the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) application fee from 26 February 2024. Anyone with children under 16 (or under 20 if they are still in full-time education) can use the government’s CMS to arrange child maintenance payments if a financial arrangement cannot be made by the […]
New Ban on Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes are to be banned in the UK, under new laws proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is already illegal to sell any vape to anyone under 18, but the government said disposable vapes – often sold in smaller, more colourful packaging than refillable ones – are a “key driver behind the alarming […]
Sponsor Licence Renewals Abolished from April 2024
The requirement for UK sponsors to renew their sponsor licence every four years is being abolished from April 2024, under new Home Office rules. In light of the changes, UK sponsor licences expiring on or after 6 April 2024 are now being automatically extended by 10 years. Licences that are automatically extended will not end […]