New biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements are set to be enforced in November 2023, giving developers and the wider real estate industry less than 12 months to prepare. The legislation will require all new developments in England, bar a few exceptions, to deliver at least 10 per cent BNG – impacting commercial and residential developers. The requirements form part of the Environment Act 2021, which received Royal Assent in November 2021 ...
With office attendance down and face to face events less frequent, the ability to meet and network with industry peers has been somewhat stymied in recent years. This is particularly true for the in-house lawyer community who, having worked through a period of sustained legislative, societal, economic and regulatory change, have arguably been one of the groups to have suffered the most from the inability hear how other IHLs across the industry have managed these challenges ...
As we take stock on 2022, and look forward to 2023, let’s briefly reflect on some of the topics that are current with our Living sector teams and clients ...
The UK’s purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector remains resilient despite months of economic and political uncertainty. “The fundamentals of the operational market in PBSA are very strong. I don’t think anyone is sat there saying that we don’t have great universities, we’ve got great occupancy and we’ve got growing demand,” outlined Alex Pease, executive director at Watkin Jones Group, at a recent Shoosmiths’ roundtable ...
Google LLC v. Hammond Development International, Inc., Appeal No. 2021-2218 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 8, 2022) In the only precedential patent decision this week, the Federal Circuit issued a decision concerning the effect of collateral estoppel in an inter partes review (IPR) based on a previous IPR decision ...
From gyms, pools, gardens and co-working spaces to group litter picking, charity fund raising and book clubs, the build to rent (BTR) sector is founded on the provision of social value and community. The over-arching purpose of BTR is to create thriving communities of tenants whose willingness to utilise space and engage with neighbours goes beyond the mere occupation of a building ...
The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) received Royal Assent in April 2022. Its aim is to improve building safety across the built environment, with a focus on the residential sector. The BSA is being implemented in stages and a number of areas within the living sector fall under its regulatory umbrella. The government recently confirmed its intention for purpose-built student accommodation to be subject to the new regulatory regime ...
Kudun and Partners’ real estate practice team continues to take part as the author for the Thailand Chapter of The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides, published in December 2022 to provide an overview of the industry’s latest applicable laws and regulations in Thailand ...
The Supreme Court will decide if historic holiday pay claims can be brought where there are gaps of three months or more between a series of underpayments. The outcome could have significant implications for employers across the UK ...
The American Bar Association (ABA) has issued its second formal opinion concerning Model Rule 4.2 in as many months. The so-called “no-contact rule” prohibits a lawyer from having contact with a represented party about the subject of the representation. The Rule does not, however, account for the “reply all” function in email communications ...
This is a question that arises with some regularity in trust administration, and one to which the English Court has offered a very welcome answer in the recent case of Sarah Butler-Sloss & Others v Charity Commission [2022] EWHC 974. This case has potentially wide-ranging implications and in this article we will focus on those relevant to trustees of Guernsey-law trusts ...
As previously discussed, the federal district court deciding Christian Bruckner’s lawsuit to enjoin the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s set-aside of 10% (around $37 billion) of transportation funding for “small business concerns” owned and controlled by “socially and economically disadvantaged individuals” issued an order directing (1) the parties to submit supplemental briefing describing the “administrative and implementation of the DBE p
In the decision in 9058-4004 Québec inc. c. 9337-9907 Québec inc.1 rendered on October 21, 2022, the court granted compensation to a subcontractor for its extrajudicial fees further to a general contractor?s unfounded contestation of its claim as part of a hypothecary action. The facts In May 2019, Portes de garage Citadelle Ltée (?Citadelle?) and general contractor 9337-9907 Québec inc ...
In the Autumn statement, the chancellor confirmed that “despite the economic pressures we face, we remain fully committed to the historic Glasgow Climate Pact agreed at COP26 including a 68% reduction in our emissions by 2030”. The construction industry has a big role to play in achieving this target by making buildings more energy efficient and reducing embodied carbon emissions during a building’s lifecycle ...
Shoosmiths has been ranked as a recommended firm in the newly published Legal 500 Green Guide UK. The Guide recognises firms with a clear focus on sustainability, climate change mitigation and supporting the green transition. Shoosmiths is recognised for the pre-eminent legal expertise its team are providing to clients, as well as the firm’s internal practices and net zero ambitions ...
The Insolvency Practitioners Bill (‘the Bill’) is at its second reading in Parliament. The Bill is intended to partially transpose EU Directive 2019/1023 (‘the Directive’) on preventive restructuring frameworks, on discharge of debt and disqualifications, and on measures to increase the efficiency of procedures concerning restructuring, insolvency and discharge of debt ...
Alternative Dispute Resolution in Jersey In Jersey the courts do not experience the same delays as the English system. This year, in Jersey the family court has moved to a new location at International House – which has been specially designed to encourage parties to settle their matters outside the court. The new court provides various comfortable meeting rooms and parties are encouraged by the Registrars to attend court early to see if a resolution can be found ...
Recent upheavals sweeping the globe, including significant changes in social and familial structures and technological, political and economic shifts, have quite obviously also stoked the fire of underlying family tensions with incendiary results. Often the next generation fails to conform to the expectations of the wealth-originating generation and their goals and ambitions can diverge quite significantly ...
Kudun and Partners, Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC) and MDD Forensic Accountants hosted a panel discussion on “Successful startups – how to avoid common pitfalls and manage disputes in Thailand”. The panel was moderated by Emi Rowse Igusa, partner and Head of Japan Practice at Kudun and Partners, and included Kongkoch Yongsavasdikul, Partner and Co-head of the Startup practice at Kudun and Partners ...
Fundamental changes to the housing law regime in Wales took effect on 1 December 2022 when the Renting Home (Wales) Act 2016 comes into force. New form of rental agreement The Renting Home (Wales) Act 2016 (the “Act”) introduces a new form of rental agreement for residential property in Wales known as an “occupation contract” ...
A landmark decision has been handed down by the Court of Appeal in O G Thomas Amaethyddiath v Turner & Ors [2022] EWCA Civ 1446 (further info here), a case concerning the validity of a notice to quit. The Court of Appeal applied the test set out in Mannai Investment Co v Eagle Star Life Assurance [1997] AC 749 and overturned both the decision at first instance and at first appeal ...
How can investors, developers and the public sector find value in an ever-changing environment? This was the big central question forming the basis for EG’s recent Scottish Cities Live event, of which Shoosmiths was a sponsor ...
Dear valued clients, colleagues and friends, The Firm successfully defended the prominent e-commerce platform operator, Shopee Mobile Malaysia Sdn Bhd, in a suit filed by A & M Beauty Wellness Sdn Bhd after a full trial on matters pertaining to trademark infringement, unlawful interference of trade and obligation to disclose users’ data. Click here to read more ...
