The impact of Coronavirus, part 5: the Coronavirus Act 2020 – 6KBW College Hill

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, emergency powers, enforcement, news, proportionality, statutory interpretation by sally

‘As Hippocrates remarked at the height of the Plague of Athens in 430BC, desperate times call for desperate measures. The deadly coronavirus has brought forth desperate measures almost everywhere, and the keystone of this country’s response to the crisis is the Coronavirus Act 2020. This post focusses on some key aspects of it, asking how the new offences relating to “potentially infectious” persons are defined and whether the Act as a whole is necessary.’

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6KBW College Hill, 16th April 2020

Source: blog.6kbw.com

Tommy Robinson accused Syrian teen of attacking girl, judge finds – The Guardian

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in defamation, internet, news, violence, young persons by sally

‘Online comments made by the far right activist Tommy Robinson about a Syrian teenager amounted to accusations that the young refugee had “participated in a violent assault on a young girl” and “threatened to stab another child”, a judge has ruled.’

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The Guardian, 21st April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in law reports by sally

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

The Secretary of State for the Home Department v R (on the application of) Joint Council for The Welfare of Immigrants [2020] EWCA Civ 542 (21 April 2020)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Homes for England v Nick Sellman (Holdings) Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 936 (Ch) (21 April 2020)

Green & Ors v Hurst [2020] EWHC 937 (Ch) (21 April 2020)

T & P Real Estate Ltd v London Borough of Sutton [2020] EWHC 879 (Ch) (21 April 2020)

High Court (Commercial Court)

Province of Balochistan v Tethyan Copper Company PTY Ltd [2020] EWHC 938 (Comm) (21 April 2020)

UK Acorn Finance Ltd v Markel (UK) Ltd [2020] EWHC 922 (Comm) (21 April 2020)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

BVG v LAR [2020] EWHC 931 (QB) (21 April 2020)

Hijazi v Yaxley-Lennon [2020] EWHC 934 (QB) (21 April 2020)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

Muncipio De Mariana & Ors v BHP Group Plc [2020] EWHC 928 (TCC) (20 April 2020)

Source: www.bailii.org

Whiplash reforms delayed until April 2021 – Legal Futures

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in accidents, coronavirus, damages, delay, news, personal injuries, road traffic by sally

‘The whiplash reforms have been delayed until April 2021 due to the coronavirus crisis, the Lord Chancellor announced today.’

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Legal Futures, 21st April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Coronavirus: Custody fight parents told not to exploit lockdown – BBC News

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in children, coronavirus, custody, families, judges, news, parental rights by sally

‘Separated couples exploiting the Covid-19 lockdown to stop an ex-partner from seeing their child could face court action, says a senior judge.’

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BBC News, 21st April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HMT Direction issued on furlough under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – 11KBW

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, government departments, news, practice directions by sally

‘Since announcing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the “Scheme”) in mid-March, the Government has issued several iterations of Guidance which explain the Scheme – not all in the same way. On 15 April 2020, HMT issued the ‘Coronavirus Act 2020 Functions of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) Direction’ (the “Direction”).[1] It is the Direction which finally provides a basis in law for the Scheme and to which close attention should now be paid.’

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11KBW, 20th April 2020

Source: www.11kbw.com

UK ad watchdog bans claims that IV drips can treat coronavirus – The Guardian

Posted April 22nd, 2020 in advertising, communicating false information, complaints, coronavirus, medical treatment, medicines, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The advertising watchdog has cracked down on three companies for implying they could provide immune-boosting IV drips that could prevent or treat coronavirus.’

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The Guardian, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Light Touch’ Administration as a Rescue Tool – 3 Hare Court

Posted April 21st, 2020 in administrators, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, insolvency, news, schemes of arrangement by sally

‘On the 28 March 2020, the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy announced a series of insolvency legislation reforms including a new court based restructing tool modelled on the Scheme of Arrangement and a short business moratorium to protect companies facing the prospect of insolvency as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.’

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3 Hare Court, 20th April 2020

Source: www.3harecourt.com

Use of the Government’s coronavirus job retention scheme by companies in administration: Re Carluccio’s Limited [2020] EWHC 886 (Ch) – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in administrators, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, employment, insolvency, news by sally

‘In a judgment handed down on Monday 13th April 2020 in Re Carluccio’s Limited (in administration) [2020] EWHC 886 (Ch), Snowden J considered the application of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in administrations both as a matter of principle and in respect of the logistics and practicalities involved for office holders. Matthew Weaver considers the judgment and its implications in this briefing.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 16th April 2020

Source: radcliffechambers.com

Covid-19 and the immigration tribunals: a working guide for representatives – 1MCB Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, immigration, news, tribunals by sally

‘The guide provides an overview of some of the key challenges, as well as practical advice for making applications and submissions within the new procedural framework. Summaries of applicable case law and links to guidance and additional resources are also included.’

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1MCB Chambers, April 2020

Source: 1mcb.com

The Impact of Coronavirus on Winding Up Petitions – 3 Hare Court

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, courts, insolvency, live link evidence, news, winding up by sally

‘Coronavirus has affected both the functioning of businesses and the Courts. In these unprecedented times, how are the Courts dealing with the hearings of winding up petitions?’

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3 Hare Court, 14th April 2020

Source: www.3harecourt.com

Covid-19: FAQs on electronic signatures and e-signing – The 36 Group

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, contracts, coronavirus, documents, electronic filing, news by sally

‘An electronic signature is data in electronic form which is attached to or logically associated with other data in electronic form, and which is used by a signatory to sign.’

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The 36 Group, 15th April 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

Litigation funding: a new reality post-Chapelgate – Six Pump Court

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, costs, news, third parties by sally

‘The new reality for litigation funders in the courts in England & Wales is that they must be prepared to pay a defendant’s costs in full if the funded claimant loses.’

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Six Pump Court, 17th April 2020

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Met police face legal action over death of PC Keith Palmer – The Guardian

Posted April 21st, 2020 in bereavement, codes of practice, families, inquests, negligence, news, police, terrorism by sally

‘The Metropolitan police are facing legal action over the death of PC Keith Palmer, murdered during a terrorist attack on parliament.’

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The Guardian, 20th April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge demands “level playing field” on recording medical examinations – Litigation Futures

Posted April 21st, 2020 in accidents, doctors, expert witnesses, judges, medical records, news, personal injuries, psychiatric damage by sally

‘The High Court has insisted that there must be a “level playing field” when it comes to recording medical examinations.’

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Litigation Futures, 21st April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Witnessing an Execution: What Does s1 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 Require Today? – Falcon Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, documents, electronic filing, internet, news, wills by sally

‘There have been two recent thought-provoking articles on whether documents which require a signature to be witnessed (that is, wills and deeds) can be witnessed either “virtually” in real-time (with attestation[1] by the witness on a separate counterpart simultaneously, with the execution being observed online) or after the event (with the execution being witnessed online, and the document then being posted to and subsequently attested by the witness).’

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Falcon Chambers, April 2020

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

ADR – Compromise in COVID-19 Lockdown – Pump Court Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, dispute resolution, news by sally

‘With the courts shutting their doors to the majority of litigants following the outbreak of Coronavirus, now more than ever parties and their lawyers are turning their minds to alternative dispute resolution (ADR). From virtual mediations to remote ENEs and arbitrations, there are plenty of forms of ADR which can be conducted effectively during this crisis. ADR remains a powerful tool for concluding cases swiftly and at comparatively minimal cost which in this time of economic uncertainty is crucial. In this blog we would look at the different forms of ADR and how to they might continue to operate practically during the lockdown and social distancing measures associated with the pandemic.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 14th April 2020

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Challenging immigration detention in the COVID-19 pandemic – Landmark Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, detention, health, health & safety, immigration, news by sally

‘Perhaps the first significant issue arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic to come before the Administrative Court has been the question of the continued legality of immigration detention in the face of the risks and practical difficulties arising from the crisis. The pandemic raises two stark issues affecting the legality of immigration detention; on the one hand, that detainees may face an increased risk of infection by reason of the “congregate” setting of detention centres, and on the other that removals in the short term will be impossible and that the prospects of removal are at best uncertain even in the medium term.’

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Landmark Chambers, 15th April 2020

Source: www.landmarkchambers.co.uk

Contractual rights of disclosed principals (Filatona Trading Ltd v Navigator Equities Ltd) – Henderson Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in appeals, chambers articles, contracts, disclosure, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal addressed in this case the interesting question of when it might be possible to exclude the right of a disclosed principal from enforcing and/or relying on the terms of a contract which does not expressly exclude such a principal from its remedies. The court considered the rare circumstances in which that might be a possibility, noting that they are rare indeed, as there is a strong presumption against finding that a disclosed but unnamed principal has given up their contractual remedies. Written by Adam Heppinstall, barrister, Henderson Chambers.’

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Henderson Chambers, 17th April 2020

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

CV19 and Corporate insolvency – Thomas More Chambers

Posted April 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, insolvency, news by sally

‘On March 28, 2020 the government announced emergency insolvency initiatives to assist businesses through the CV19 lockdown and its aftermath. With UK SME’s (i.e. under 250 employees) facing an unprecedented existential threat from CV19, it is clear that help is needed to enable them to keep trading if they possibly can. The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will clearly help in the short term with employees but what of the underlying business structures? What help is there to keep companies away from the insolvency courts?’

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Thomas More Chambers, 14th April 2020

Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk