Category: coronavirus

Sign of the times: Debenhams Retail Ltd (in administration): Administrators and furlough arrangements – Exchange Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in administrators, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, employment, insolvency, news by sally

‘It is a sign of the times that there have been two urgent applications to the High Court of Justice for directions by administrators in respect of furlough arrangements in the course of one week. Each application has concerned high profile companies employing vast numbers of people. The financial implications of the issues before the court in each case are significant for both employees and administrators.’

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Exchange Chambers, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk

Seeking Settlement as a Victim of Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic- One Pump Court

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, domestic violence, emergency powers, freedom of movement, immigration, news by sally

‘Covid-19 has created various worries and struggles for society. It has however been a particularly difficult time for victims of domestic violence.’

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One Pump Court, 21st April 2020

Source: onepumpcourt.co.uk

COVID 19 and Business Interruption Insurance – Hailsham Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, insurance, news by sally

‘Given the scale of the damage to the UK economy which the pandemic continues to cause, it is unsurprising that a large number of claims has already arisen. We can expect considerable litigation, not least because individual claims will turn on their particular facts and the precise policy wording employed. Further, the problems associated with these claims place a spotlight on the potential liability of brokers. Nonetheless, certain general points and themes can be discussed at a high level.’

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Hailsham Chambers, April 2020

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

Medical Experts: Expert Neuropsychology Assessments for the Courts During COVID-19 – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, expert witnesses, mental health, news, psychiatric damage by sally

‘The issue of medical experts examining claimants and reporting to the courts during the Covid-19 crisis is a difficult one. Here Consultant Neuropsychologist Daniel Friedland provides some guidance.’

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Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 23rd April 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

COVID 19: Revisiting Frustration in the Context of Leases – New Square Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, landlord & tenant, leases, news by sally

‘Sweeping and unprecedented rules, previously unimaginable, have been enacted by the Government to delay the spread of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Taken together, these changes constitute the most restrictive and draconian laws imposed in England since the Second World War. In particular, The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (‘the Regulations’) were enacted on 26 March 2020 by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock. These Regulations impose severe restrictions mandating the closure of certain types of businesses alongside prohibitions on freedom of assembly and freedom of worship.’

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New Square Chambers, 20th April 2020

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Portal’s Eve – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, emergency powers, news, statutory interpretation by sally

‘On the eve [19 April] of the Scheme going live, David Reade QC and Daniel Northall examine the uncertainties that persist.’

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Littleton Chambers, 19th April 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Account Forfeiture and Freezing Orders (AFFO’s) in the Pandemic – Drystone Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in banking, chambers articles, coronavirus, fraud, news by sally

‘As happens at times of crisis, fraud rises and criminals attempt to take advantage of people’s fears. The situation in the current crisis is made even worse by the fact that the police have other major demands on their time and the courts capacity to deal with matters is severely limited.’

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Drystone Chambers, April 2020

Source: drystone.com

Tribunals & COVID-19 First-tier & Upper Tribunals, and Traffic Commissioners – Henderson Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, live link evidence, news, tribunals by sally

‘Much has been said in relation to the steps being taken to keep the criminal and civil courts going, but what’s going on in the First-tier and Upper Tribunals, as well as before the Traffic Commissioners?’

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Henderson Chambers, 20th April 2020

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A timely and important decision on remote hearings in the family courts – Re P: (A Child Remote Hearings) (2020) EWFC 32 – Garden Court Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in care orders, chambers articles, child cruelty, children, coronavirus, families, family courts, live link evidence, news, remote hearings by sally

‘This is a serious FII case, and concerned care proceedings involving a 7 year old child. It was alleged that the mother had falsely made a number of damaging claims that her child was suffering from a myriad serious ailments and health conditions. This was all hotly disputed by the mother, so the case was fully contested. It had been fixed several months previously for a 15 days fact finding and disposal hearing before a Judge at Guildford Law Courts. Following the lockdown, the Judge had decided the case would proceed as a remote hearing using the Skype video platform.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

The impact of Coronavirus, part 6: sentencing at a time of national emergency – 6KBW College Hill

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, criminal justice, news, sentencing by sally

‘As a result of the restrictions on movement imposed due to the current pandemic, the criminal justice system is operating little more than what might be colloquially referred to as a ‘Saturday service’ at present. Despite this, lower-level offences still work their way through the system, while cases involving more serious offences are adjourned pending the relaxation of the restrictions. This blog post concentrates on a topic that has thus far received little attention: sentencing for offences committed at a time of national crisis.’

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6KBW College Hill, 23rd April 2020

Source: blog.6kbw.com

Judiciary sets up working party to bring back jury trials – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 24th, 2020 in coronavirus, courts, health, health & safety, judiciary, juries, news, trials by sally

‘The prospect of jury trials restarting has come closer with news that the judiciary has set up a working party to consider how they can be brought back as soon as it is safe to do so. The news comes shortly after lord chancellor Robert Buckland said he wanted jury trials back up and running as quickly as possible.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Staying for clarification – Falcon Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession, trespass by sally

‘Covid-19 has had quite an effect on property lawyers in their professional lives. The stay on Part 55 claims imposed by PD 51Z on 27 March 2020 has stayed part of many practitioners’ day to day work. It has also led, however, to numerous questions. Can possession claims still be issued? Can directions still be followed or sought for possession claims already past the first possession hearing and heading towards trial? What are we supposed to do about trespass cases? Trespassers are not people the Government seemed to be keen to protect when it announced its intention to protect certain categories of occupiers from eviction, yet possession claims against trespassers have been caught in the general stay.’

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Falcon Chambers, April 2020

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

ADCS President warns of potential spike in demand and backlog of care applications following COVID-19 outbreak – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 24th, 2020 in care orders, children, coronavirus, families, local government, news, social services by sally

‘It is possible that there will be “huge spikes in demand across the children’s social care spectrum”, a backlog of new care applications and more children needing to come into care as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, the President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services for 2020/21 has warned.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Possessions, Covid-19 and the Decision in UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v MD – 4 King’s Bench Walk

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, hospitals, news, repossession by sally

‘The spread of the coronavirus has caused disruption to our lives and the operation of society in ways that the vast majority of us have never experienced in our lifetime. The drastic measures adopted by the Government in response to the rapid spread of the disease, including putting the country into “lockdown”, required numerous amendments to be made to existing laws; this included those concerning residential and business tenancies and, more specifically, the rules relating to the eviction of tenants. The amendments increase the protections for tenants during the crisis.’

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4 King's Bench Walk, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.4kbw.co.uk

At the front line of Covid-19 – forgotten victims? – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, freedom of movement, health, human rights, news, victims by sally

‘In a sense, we are all “victims” of the 2020-1 Coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have been changed dramatically by its effects at the domestic, community, regional, national and international levels. None of us born since WWII have experienced the restrictions of movement/activity we are experiencing as “lockdown”. There are serious wellbeing issues associated with being confined to the home for the majority of time, and no doubt those suffering domestic strain, let alone abuse, are truly “suffering”. One thinks also of those self-denying or being denied access to treatment for other health conditions because of the necessary concentration of health resources upon Covid-19 patients. All of this without considering the serious economic effects of deprivation of income for many people who really cannot afford any reduction in their already stretched incomes.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 22nd April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

What property remedies are available during the Covid-19 lockdown? – St Philips Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, housing, landlord & tenant, news, practice directions, repossession by sally

‘Practice Direction 51Z, which came into force on 27 March 2020, has imposed a general 90-day stay on new and current Part 55 possession proceedings with (as of 20 April 2020) limited exceptions in a new paragraph 2A.’

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St Philips Chambers, 22nd April 2020

Source: st-philips.com

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – Update – Thomas More Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, news by sally

‘The Coronavirus job Retention Scheme guidance was updated on 15 and, in particular, 17 April 2020. This article identifies the most important updates and, where necessary, explains them.’

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Thomas More Chambers, 20th April 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk

Conveyancers calls on government to extend furlough scheme – Legal Futures

Posted April 24th, 2020 in conveyancing, coronavirus, delay, employment, housing, news, remuneration, stamp duty by sally

‘The furlough scheme should be extended for property businesses, like conveyancers, where income required to pay staff will not be available for months after work is undertaken once lockdown is lifted, the government has been told.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The consequences for administrators of furloughing employees – further clarification: Re Debenhams Retail Limited [2020] EWHC 921 (Ch) – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in administrators, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, employment, insolvency, news by sally

‘In a judgment dated 17th April 2020 in Re Debenhams Retail Limited (in administration) [2020] EWHC 921 (Ch), Trower J determined an application for directions by the joint administrators of Debenhams which concerned the impact of the application of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in administrations and the recent decision of Snowden J in Re Carluccio’s Limited (in administration) [2020] EWHC 886 (Ch). Matthew Weaver considers Trower J’s judgment and its implications in this briefing.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 21st April 2020

Source: radcliffechambers.com

Keep calm and carry on(line) with mediation – Park Square Barristers

Posted April 24th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, dispute resolution, internet, live link evidence, news, remote hearings by sally

‘Whilst the civil courts adapt at short notice to working, by and large, remotely, invariably some hearings will continue for the foreseeable future to be adjourned to dates as yet unknown. In the circumstances, it might seem inevitable, or at least tempting (especially when many parties and their solicitors are faced with the difficulties associated with unexpectedly having to work from home at the same time as home schooling children), simply to wait on the court.’

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Park Square Barristers, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk