The Pensions Regulator is targeting employers suspected of not complying with their workplace pension duties with in-person spot checks on a more regular basis for the first time since the start of the pandemic ...
Aaron Harlow and Ian Hardman examine the tough new measures that are being taken to force the real estate industry to pay to remove cladding - protecting leaseholders from costs. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has requested that residential property developers fund and undertake all necessary remediation of buildings over 11m that they have had a role in developing. This includes buildings both 11-18m and 18m+ ...
With those operating in the living sector now facing the risk of older assets becoming stranded – obsolete to funders and residents - Liz Sweeney and Liana Di Ciacca examine the journey to retrofitting stock and embracing ESG. The use of sustainability linked loans grew rapidly in the real estate finance market during 2021 ...
Michael Bennett and Amber Wright explain the importance of reducing embodied carbon in construction - putting forward the case for legislative reform and how new technologies, methods and contracts are supporting the living sector’s move to net zero. To date much of the government’s focus to meet its net zero targets has been on creating more energy efficient homes and buildings ...
Dan Hargreaves and Andrew Millar outline potential joint venture models, the opportunities for both the private and public sector, and key considerations before entering an agreement. Local authorities continue to face significant pressure on budgets, and many are continuing to explore a more entrepreneurial approach to deliver transformational developments or regeneration projects ...
Charles Arrand considers the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, with a focus on both the potential business and human costs of failing to discharge obligations under the Order. Fire safety is regulated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Order), which applies to almost all buildings, places and structures other than individual private homes ...
Building on Shoosmiths’ recent insight paper, unlocking net zero strategies for business, James Wood-Robertson charts the routes to decarbonisation, while discussing the role of collaboration and partnerships in achieving net zero. After the much-anticipated COP26 climate summit, where governments across the world made their net zero commitments in a bid to tackle the challenge of limiting global warming, the prospect of setting targets became even more crucial ...
John Cleaveley and Amber Wright explore the economic and market headwinds currently impacting the construction industry, with analysis of how living sector operators and developers can mitigate risk in a volatile environment. The construction industry is operating in testing market conditions with economic uncertainty persisting into 2022 ...
Following the first reading of the Procurement Bill in the House of Lords, Shoosmiths considers how this will change public procurement as we know it. The Government has recently taken the next step in its plan to transform public procurement, by publishing the Procurement Bill (‘the Bill’). The first reading in the House of Lords took place on 11 May 2022 and we can now start to consider the changes this Bill will bring ...
Yesterday was closing submissions day for “Wagatha Christie”, aka Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney. While we await Mrs Justice Steyn’s verdict, Kath Livingston, a Shoosmiths partner in dispute resolution & litigation, gives her thoughts and reflections on the trial, with more to follow after judgment ...
In two 30-minute webinars in May we highlighted a number of key changes which the Charities Act 2022 will introduce (into the amended Charities Act 2011) on a staggered basis in three tranches over the coming 18 months ...
Local authorities will be given rights to let vacant high street premises under new powers contained in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Background The government wants to regenerate local high streets as part of its levelling up agenda. A key element of its proposals is to give local authorities the right to let vacant premises on their high streets following a rental auction process ...
The proposed planning reforms in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill are many and varied. However, there are a number of themes that run through the proposals. Ambition The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill aims to reverse geographical disparities between different parts of the United Kingdom by spreading opportunity more equally ...
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has issued guidance on ads for cryptoassets following an increase in the number of Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) complaints about crypto ads. What are cryptoassets? Cryptoassets are defined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as: “cryptographically secured digital representations of value or contractual rights that use some type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and can be transferred, stored or traded electronically ...
The recent COVID-19 Inquiry's public consultation on its draft terms of reference has captured a substantial amount of public engagement; balancing the representation of all affected groups and avoiding lengthy delays looks like a real challenge. Baroness Hallett’s draft terms of reference (draft terms), published on 11 March, requested the views of individuals and organisations by 7 April on the scope of the COVID-19 Inquiry ...
A summary of the key takeaways from a recent webinar on reducing scope 3 transportation and distribution emissions. Shoosmiths is delighted to be sponsoring United Nation Global Compact Network (UNGC) UK’s series of webinars on ‘Reducing Scope 3 Emissions’ ...
The COVID-19 Public Inquiry presents a key growth area for litigation in the medium to long term. Here, Matthew MacLachlan considers key litigation risks, potential parties and emerging themes ...
Dan Stowers, Partner and Lauren Bowkett, Principal Associate in the Regulation, Business Crime and Compliance Division explore the powers enacted under the new Economic Crime Act 2022 and what this means for those involved ...
Whilst recognised dates of celebration are an important way to encourage discussion and awareness, everybody should feel free to be their authentic selves at all times. Events such as International Women’s Day, LGBT History Month and Black History Month are all important dates to observe and, as you will see from our timeline of dates below, recent months have provided lots of reason to celebrate ...
As organisations start to rebuild post pandemic, many will be considering the introduction or reintroduction of bonuses to their employees. However, when it comes to payment of bonus to those who have had time away from work, employers need to take care ...
Amy Leech, employment law associate and Shoosmiths’ mental health and wellbeing champion, considers the benefits of having an employee led mental health champion network within your business. As an employer, you will have lots of opportunities to look after your employees’ mental health. However, many organisations are still just paying lip service to it ...
Following the Grenfell Tower disaster, we have seen changes to how cladding is regulated in Scotland. The most recent change comes into force on 1 June 2022 in terms of the Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022. The Grenfell Tower disaster changed the lives of local residents and their families forever. It also brought the use of cladding and what lies beneath the external aesthetics of a building into sharp focus ...
The new off-payroll working rules (‘OPWR’) for the private and third sector came into effect on 6 April 2021, but what impact have the changes had so far? Here we focus on HMRC’s approach to the new rules and some recent tax tribunal decisions ...
To coincide with Shoosmiths’ ‘The anywhere office - friend or foe to flexible working?’ event on Wednesday 4 May, we speak with Jessica Chivers, CEO at The Talent Keeper Specialists, on the process of returning to work after a period of long leave ...
The UK is currently dealing with rises in the cost of living and the impact of world events leading to availability issues and price increases across numerous sectors. It is not surprising that we are seeing queries from clients asking us for practical advice on what they should do if they have won a tender and have discovered that their original pricing does not stack up before signing the formal contract. There are lots of factors to consider in this situation ...
