SRA attacks “disproportionate and unnecessary” money laundering regulations – Legal Futures

‘New anti-money laundering (AML) regulations planned by the Treasury would impose “disproportionate and unnecessary” burdens on law firms, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal lays out Clyde & Co’s “glaring” failures – Legal Futures

‘The failures which led to a record fine for Clyde & Co were “particularly glaring” as it was “a large and, previously, reputable firm”, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has declared in approving the sanction.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 19th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

How tobacco firms flout UK law on plain packaging – The Guardian

Posted April 10th, 2017 in brand names, health, news, regulations, smoking, whistleblowers by sally

‘An insider in the tobacco industry has revealed some of the unscrupulous tactics it is using to avoid new restrictions governing the marketing of cigarettes that come into force next month.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jeremy Lewis on NHS Applicant Whistleblowers: wider implications and mis-steps en route – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 6th, 2017 in consultations, disclosure, employment, health, news, regulations, whistleblowers by sally

‘On 20 March 2017 the Government published draft Regulations with a view to providing whistleblowing protection to applicants for NHS employment [1]. A consultation has been launched. Some two years after the publication of the report by Sir Robert Francis QC into whistleblowing in NHS, Freedom to Speak Up, the draft Regulations aim to implement the recommendation that consideration be given to outlawing discrimination against whistleblowers in recruitment by NHS employers. (Legislation giving power to make these regulations – s.49B of the Employment Rights Act 1996 – has been on the statute book since 6 May 2015).’

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 21st March 2017

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

First ‘snapshot’ of gender pay gap due as reporting requirements come into force – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 5th, 2017 in disclosure, employment, equal pay, news, Northern Ireland, regulations, statistics by sally

‘Large UK employers will begin publishing their gender pay gaps over the coming months, based on the pay which their employees receive within the pay period in which today’s date falls.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 5th April 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Impact of Brexit on legal services “a cause for concern”, justice committee says – Legal Futures

‘The justice select committee has described the impact of Brexit on legal services as “a cause for concern, but not hyberbole”, in a report published today.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd March 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Future-proof growth for the digital economy – Technology Law Update

Posted March 9th, 2017 in data protection, EC law, education, employment, news, regulations, reports by sally

‘Last year, the digital economy accounted for 14.5% of all UK service exports, at around £30bn. The UK remains a leader in digital innovation, and maintaining that status is a Government priority. Coadec, the Coalition for a Digital Economy, has released a detailed report suggesting four areas that for improvement to keep pace in the global race: skills, talent, investment and trade.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 7th March 2017

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Church liability: fall from ladder – Law & Religion UK

‘On 3 March 2017, the Court of Appeal (Civil) Division handed down the judgment in Casson v Hudson & Anor [2017] EWCA Civ 125 in relation to a claim for damages following a fall from a ladder during the painting of a church hall. The case highlights the potential liabilities faced by incumbents and PCCs in relation to persons undertaking work on premises for which they are responsible.’

Full story

Law & Religion UK, 8th March 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

HRA Claims and Concurrent Care Proceedings: Third Party Costs Orders, Statutory Charge Guidance and an Invitation to the Lord Chancellor – Family Law Week

‘Ben Mansfield, barrister of The 36 Group, examines the judgment of Mr Justice Keehan in H (A Minor) v Northamptonshire County Council and the Legal Aid Agency [2017] EWHC 282 (Fam).’

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Family Law Week, 23rd February 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Secession from the European Union and Private International Law: The Cloud with a Silver Lining – Blackstone Chambers

Posted February 21st, 2017 in EC law, international law, legislation, news, regulations, speeches, treaties by sally

‘In the last six months there have been lectures, seminars, evidence-givingsand-takings, reports issued, all over town, in which the future of commercial litigation in England has been discussed. It may not be completely true that these have as their object the utter immiseration of everyone within earshot, but that does appear to be the principal effect. Those who, like me, do not seem to be invited to such gatherings are at liberty to see things rather differently. We have a once-in-a generation opportunity to compare the rules of private international law which we currently have with what we might instead have, and to take stock. When that is done, the path ahead will be seen to be rather clearer and brighter than some others would tell you it is. One certainly hears people suggesting that secession from the European Union is going to have a damaging effect, but for our private international law the truth may well be otherwise. And while the need to deal with these tasks may be an un-looked-for interruption to normal work, for some of us the chance to ask questions challenges us to think about what we would like our rules of private international law to say. My conclusion will be that less will change than most seem to suppose (or, in some cases, seem to hope for). There will be minor changes, certainly, but need be nothing major; and if anything major does change, it will not be a change for the worse. In short, though I am very fearful of sounding like the Daily Mail in human form, private international law has no cause for alarm. I should perhaps say that a fuller and footnoted version of this paper will be available from the Combar website if anyone is interested.’

Full story (PDF)

Blackstone Chambers, 24th January 2017

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Trade Union Act ballot thresholds in force from 1 March, regulations confirm – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 16th, 2017 in elections, industrial action, news, regulations, trade unions by sally

‘Higher ballot thresholds which must be met before trade unions can proceed with industrial action, particularly in relation to ‘important public services’, will come into force on 1 March 2017, the government has confirmed.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 16th February 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Who knows where? – service and the Land Registry – Nearly Legal

Posted February 14th, 2017 in appeals, land registration, news, regulations, service by sally

‘Service of notices, claims etc on ‘last known address’ can be a bit of a thorny issue. Not least the question of the extent of reasonable inquiries to find the missing person before the ‘last known address’ can be relied on for service.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 13th February 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Teacher Misconduct – Education Blog

‘The General Teaching Council for England was abolished by Section 7 of the Education Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). Section 8 of that Act enacted a new statutory code for dealing with misconduct by teachers in England. It did so by inserting Sections 141A to 141E and Schedule 11A into the Education Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”). The new scheme came into force on 1 April 2012.’

Full story

Education Blog, 7th February 2017

Source: www.education11kbw.com

Non-payment of Council Tax – Local Government Law

Posted January 26th, 2017 in appeals, committals, council tax, debts, local government, magistrates, news, regulations by tracey

‘In R (Woolcock) v Bridgend MC (2017) EWHC 34 (Admin) Lewis J quashed a suspended committal order, pursuant to Regulation 47 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, because no proper means assessment had been carried out and the suspension period was manifestly excessive.’

Full story

Local Government Law, 23rd January 2017

Source: www.11kbw.com/blogs/local-government-law

EU data protection compliance – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 23rd, 2017 in brexit, data protection, EC law, news, regulations by sally

‘The General Data Protection Regulation is here to stay: well beyond the date of Brexit. What do you need to know?’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Magistrates struggle (again) with the use of imprisonment for non-payment of council tax – by Sam Genen and Sophie Walker – UK Human Rights Blog

‘There is an exceedingly long line of case law, stretching back beyond the days of the community charge (which was of course better known as the Poll Tax). In those cases, the courts have traditionally quashed custodial orders improperly imposed by magistrates for non-payment of council taxes.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd January 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Disciplinary round-up: fine for firm which failed to make client’s visa application and then lost his passport – Legal Futures

‘A north London law firm has been rebuked for misleading its client into thinking that it had made a visa application on his behalf.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 13th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bookmakers face losing their licence and huge fines over problem gambling The Guardian

Posted January 16th, 2017 in fines, gambling, licensing, money laundering, news, regulations, sanctions by sally

‘Gambling firms that fail to tackle problem gambling and money laundering face heftier fines and a higher risk of losing their operating licence under a tougher regime to be unveiled by the industry’s regulator.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar’s entity regulation “better and cheaper”, claims solicitor – Legal Futures

‘Bar Standards Board (BSB) entity regulation is “significantly cheaper and simpler” for sole practitioners and better for clients, according to a solicitor whose start-up law firm is to be regulated by the BSB.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 29th November 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Parliament notified of Europol opt-in intention – Home Office

Posted November 15th, 2016 in EC law, intelligence services, parliament, police, press releases, regulations, treaties by tracey

‘Explanatory memorandum on intention to exercise right to opt into revised Europol framework published.’

Full press release

Home Office, 14th November 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office