Alerts
Alerts archive 2009

Property update - October 2009

Wragge & Co's real estate experts bring you the latest property law issues. Read their comment on these issues and take note of any action points that will help you and your organisation.

A guide to health, safety and other prosecution risks - part 7. Fit for work: the impact of 'fit note' proposals upon accidents in the workplace

172 million days were lost in 2007 due to sickness absence in the UK - equating to about 2.6% of working time. Of those days, 34 million were lost due to work-related illness.

A guide to health, safety and other prosecution risks - part 6. Guilty without trial: the scourge of Enforcement Notices

The possibility of a prosecution for breach of regulations is at the forefront of every employer's mind when under investigation.

Banking update: report and review on recent cases and issue

Unfair relationships due to secret commission, costs penalties for failing to disclose relevant documents, claiming damages from the Court Service and contempt of court, the latest on the cases and issues affecting the lending industry.

Where litigation meets arbitration: freezing legal proceedings

The High Court has held that it has no power under section 33(2) of the Supreme Court Act 1981 or rule 31.16 of the Civil Procedure Rules to grant pre action disclosure where the relevant agreement between the parties was subject to an arbitration clause.

CRC - are you in or out?

The Carbon Reduction Commitment - the UK's new carbon emissions trading scheme - is almost upon us. The scheme, which is now known as the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, officially starts in April 2010.

Arbitration agreements - wording required to exclude a right of appeal on a point of law

A recent decision in the Commercial Court considered the extent to which the words "final, conclusive and binding" can be construed as excluding a right of appeal on a point of law under section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 ("the 1996 Act").

Directors' duties

There is no doubt that during difficult economic times, one consequence is inevitable: more regulation of company directors.

A far-from-lazy summer

Hopes for a laid-back summer appear to have had no place in the pensions landscape.

A guide to health, safety and other prosecution risks - part 5. Pollution - spills do not lead to thrills

Pollution can arise from the most innocuous of situations and strike without any warning. The consequences can be severe, not just for the environment and any creatures or habitat affected by the pollution, but also for those found to be responsible.

Does non-compliance with section 77(1) extinguish a creditor's rights?: Phillip McGuffick -v- The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc

In Phillip McGuffick v The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc the Commercial Court held that non-compliance with section 77(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Act) did not extinguish a creditor's rights.

Personal accounts and auto-enrolment - what does this mean for you? (Pensions)

Pension scheme trustees and managers need to be ready for big changes in workplace pension provision, due to arrive in 2012, as reforms a decade in gestation finally come to fruition.

Business rate supplements

The Business Rate Supplements Act 2009 provides levying authorities with a discretionary power to impose a business rate supplement (BRS) of up to two pence per pound of rateable value to fund certain projects that promote local economic development.

Personal accounts and auto-enrolment - what does this mean for you? (Employment)

Employers, human resource managers and financial directors need to be ready for big changes (and big costs) in workplace pension provision due to arrive in 2012 as reforms, a decade in gestation, finally come to fruition.

A guide to health, safety and other prosecution risks - part 4. Accident investigation - learning from the error of your ways

We all know that accidents do happen from time to time. Immediately after an accident or near miss there is a perfectly natural desire to understand what happened, why and how it can be prevented from happening again.

Tender information not covered by FOIA commercial interest exemption - Information Tribunal

The Information Tribunal has overturned a decision by the Information Commissioner, ordering the Central Office of Information (COI) to disclose information relating to tenders from businesses interested in providing it with reprographic services

Business Rate Supplements - who's next after Crossrail?

The Lyons Inquiry into local government in March 2007 recommended the introduction of a power for local authorities to levy a business rate supplement.

Supreme Court replaces House of Lords: practical points to note

On 1 October 2009 the Supreme Court will assume the judicial role of the House of Lords. New rules governing the practice and procedure to be followed in the Supreme Court have been published in the Supreme Court Rules 2009.

Business rates and tenants in administration

Where a landlord forfeits its lease, subject to any available relief or exemption, the landlord is liable to business rates in respect of the premises.

ORR consults on proposal to introduce freight customer access contracts

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has published a consultation paper setting out its proposal to introduce a model freight customer access contract.