Return To Work During The Coronavirus Pandemic – Navigating Through The Employment Law Minefield – Hardwicke Chambers

‘With the recent announcement that lockdown measures are to be eased, and those who cannot work from home should return to work, we are likely to see a greater proportion of the workplace slowly return to work. The Prime Minister has announced that those in construction and manufacturing, scientific research, logistics and food production should return to work, once their employers have confirmed that it is safe for them to do so and set a “road-map” for the re-opening of shops, restaurants and other venues as well as workplace specific guidance for working safely during coronavirus.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 14th May 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

High Court rules on the effect of confidentiality clause in a settlement agreement – St Ives Chambers

Posted May 18th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, confidentiality, contracts, damages, employment, news by sally

‘In Duchy Farm Kennels Limited v Steels [2020] EWHC 1208 (QB) Alexander PritchardJones appeared in an important case about the effect of breaches of confidentiality clauses contained within settlement agreements.’

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St Ives Chambers, 14th May 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

A patent problem in the global antiviral race? – Counsel

‘Foreign patents could prevent UK citizens accessing treatment for COVID-19, warns Professor Mark Engelman.’

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Counsel, May 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Business transactions, beneficial title and resulting trusts: the meaning of “payment” within the unauthorised payments charge regime – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted May 18th, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, news, pensions, taxation by sally

‘In the recent Court of Appeal (“CA”) decision of Clark v HMRC [2020] EWCA Civ 204 (“Clark”) the Court gave valuable guidance as to the meaning of “payment” for the purpose of the imposition of the tax charge on unauthorised member payments from registered pension schemes under sections 208-210 of the Finance Act 2004 (“FA 2004”).’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 11th May 2020

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

CFA Costs Allowed in second 1975 Act Claim – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted May 18th, 2020 in chambers articles, costs, families, news, part 36 offers by sally

‘Re H (Deceased), SH v NH and KH [2020] EWHC 1134 (Fam) was a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 heard on 24 April and 24 May 2020 before Cohen J. The successful adult claimant was awarded a contribution of 25% to her CFA uplift by Cohen J as part of her claim. Re H was a case heard hot on the heels of Bullock v Denton in which the successful adult claimant in a 1975 Act claim was also awarded a cost contribution as part of her award.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 12th May 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

COVID-19, Care Homes and Contact: BP v Surrey County Council & RP – Pump Court Chambers

‘On 2 April 2020 Hayden J handed down a judgment dated 25 March 2020 in the case of BP v Surrey County council & RP [2020] EWCOP 17 concerning the suspension of contact in a care home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a further written judgment dated 17 April 2020 which serves to clarify the reported judgment in relation to the law of derogation: BP v Surrey County Council & RP [2020] EWCOP 22.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 14th May 2020

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Public Funds Part 1: Public Funds and Coronavirus – Richmond Chambers

‘No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is a condition imposed on an individual’s immigration status in the UK, which prevents them from accessing certain benefits and forms of support. This continues to cause concern and particularly more so now for those whose income has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This article will form part of a series of 3 articles on public funds and the recent developments in light of the Coronavirus outbreak.’

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Richmond Chambers, 15th May 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Personal Protective Equipment and Liability – Thomas More Chambers

‘Prior to the impact of the Covid19 pandemic, the issue of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) at work was a niche health and safety topic for specialists in the field. Today it dominates the media, with report after report of inadequate provision of PPE on the frontline, in hospitals, care homes and other essential places of work.’

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Thomas More Chambers, 13th May 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

Ronan Cormacain: Can I go to the park please Dad? Everyday lessons in legal certainty in the English Coronavirus Regulations – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘This post analyses the changes made on 13 May 2020 to the coronavirus social distancing regulations for England. The criterion for analysis is the basic Rule of Law requirement of legal certainty. Certainty allows us to plan our actions, lets the police know what it is they should be enforcing, and most importantly stops us from inadvertently breaking the law. The very limited case-study is the question posed in many households today – can I go to the park please Dad?’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 15th May 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

The implications for UK financial institutions and the FCA resulting from the EBA’s Report on Inquiry into Cum-Ex – 5SAH

‘The European Banking Authority’s long-awaited inquiry into dividend arbitrage trading schemes (“Cum-Ex/Cum-Cum”) and 10-point action plan to enhance the future regulatory framework – what are the implications for UK financial institutions and the Financial Conduct Authority?’

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5SAH, 13th May 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Should Final Hearing continue remotely? Judgment of Lieven J [2020] EWHC 1086 (Fam) – Broadway House Chambers

‘ The case deals with whether to proceed with lay evidence remotely or to adjourn part heard having heard the medical evidence over a period of 5 days via Zoom. The case concerns an application for a care order for a 4 year child. In April 2019, his two month old sister died at home. The post mortem established that his sister had sustained 65 fractures to her body as well as brain injuries. As a result the child was made the subject of an interim care order in April 2019.’

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Broadway House Chambers, 14th May 2020

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

QC says judge should have recused himself in school friend case – Litigation Futures

Posted May 18th, 2020 in barristers, bias, judges, news, recusal by sally

‘Leading QC Dinah Rose has questioned the decision of a judge not to recuse himself from hearing a case where he had been at school with the director of a defendant company more than 45 years ago.’

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Litigation Futures, 14th May 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Do our buildings make us? Covid-19 and the courts reforms – Counsel

Posted May 18th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, news, remote hearings by sally

‘Are our courts just buildings or something more? What role does the physical courtroom play? Rapid steps towards remote hearings today, while essential during the pandemic, could also inform future decisions on court closures warns Lorna Cameron.’

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Counsel, May 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Practice – Mail’s Strikeout Application – NIPC Law

Posted May 18th, 2020 in chambers articles, copyright, damages, data protection, media, news, privacy by sally

‘This was an application by the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and the Mail Online to strike out certain allegations contained in the particulars of claim and further information of the Duchess of Sussex and later the reply in an action that she has brought against the publisher for copyright infringement, misuse of private information and infringement of her rights under the General Data Protection Regulation. The complaint arises from the newspaper’s publication of a letter from the duchess to her father on 10 Feb 2019.’

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NIPC Law, 17th May 2020

Source: nipclaw.blogspot.com

Interpol Red Notice issued against Anne Sacoolas – is prosecution in the UK possible? – 5SAH

‘Last December, Anne Sacoolas was charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a road traffic accident in which 19-year-old Harry Dunn lost his life. It is alleged that she was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time. Mrs Sacoolas’ husband was employed in some official capacity at a United States Air Force communication station based at RAF Croughton.’

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5SAH, 13th May 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

An Act for the App? Is the NHS contact app bad for your privacy? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Following the publication last week by the Joint Committee on Human Rights of its report on the proposed NHS App and the risk of adverse effects on privacy and human rights, the Committee has drafted a Bill – the Digital Contact Tracing (Data Protection Bill) – and sent it to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 12th May 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Wills in the time of coronavirus: law reform, statutory dispensing powers and a receipe for chili sauce – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted May 18th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, news, wills by sally

‘The Law Society and the Ministry of Justice are understood to be continuing to discuss possible solutions to the difficulties of making wills during the coronavirus pandemic. Although lockdown measures are starting to loosen, concerns about the risks posed by face to face meetings and home visits are likely to persist for some time and the needs of people who are shielding, in hospital, or living in residential care, present a particular challenge when it comes to the process of making and attesting a Will.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 15th May 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

First update on collective consultation: defining the triggers – Littleton Chambers

‘In the first of what is planned to be five updates on collective consultation under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, David Reade QC and Daniel Northall examine the employer’s proposal for redundancy and the start of collective consultation.’

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Littleton Chambers, 11th May 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Inconsistent sentencing of Defendants in cases where sexual activity against children does not actually take place – Park Square Barristers

‘This comment focuses upon two recent Court of Appeal judgments:

R v Privett [2020] EWCA Crim 557 (“Privett”); and R v Manning [2020] EWCA Crim 592 (“Manning”).’

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Park Square Barristers, 12th May 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Contact tracing – breach of data protection? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In the rush to lift the lockdown with safeguards, the government has given a green light to “contact tracing” via bluetooth apps on our smartphones (provided we own them and are willling to take up the app).’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th May 20202

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com