Employment Law Journal
Legal news: Employment update

Aisleen Pugh and Sarah Munro round up recent developments affecting employers and their advisers
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Flexible furlough – an eleventh-hour reprieve

Alison Garrow sets out the key issues for employers and their advisers to consider following the extension of the furlough scheme to 31 March
Brexit: What does the ‘points-based’ immigration system have in store for employers?

Joanna Hunt examines the post-Brexit immigration system, including the key features of the skilled worker route and the position of EEA nationals who arrive in the UK before the end of 2020
Government policies: What to expect in 2021

With IR35 reform and the Employment Bill put on hold in 2020 because of the pandemic, Richard Kenyon considers what the next 12 months may have in store for employers and their advisers
Litigation: The impact of Covid-19 on the employment tribunals

With employment tribunals facing an increasing claims backlog, Jo Broadbent and Katharine Savage examine how the system is adjusting in response to the pandemic and the key practical issues for tribunal users preparing for hearings
Social media: WhatsApp and the virtual water cooler – what are the risks and what can be done?

Joanna Chatterton and Ed Livingstone discuss how employee social media habits have changed since the imposition of lockdown in March, the risks these pose to their employer’s business and how to avoid the main pitfalls
GDPR: Employee personal data – handle with care

Rhodri Thomas and Marianne Hessey discuss the lessons from the €35m fine imposed on H&M for collecting and storing excessive personal information on employees
New legislation: Self-isolate or face the consequences

Employers who knowingly permit a member of staff to come to work when they should be self-isolating could now be fined, warn Emma Burrows and Anna Scott
Employee wellbeing: Domestic abuse – a business issue

Monica Kurnatowska and Hannah Swift examine the cost of domestic abuse for employers and their role in supporting affected staff members
Diversity and inclusion: Key steps to support non-binary employees after landmark ruling

Jennifer Millins, Molly Flood and Morgan Reardon explore the legal and practical ramifications of the Jaguar Land Rover case
Family Law Journal
Public children: Not a foregone conclusion

Natasha Kirk and James Sandiford ask when care proceedings should be withdrawn and highlight that the answer may not be obvious and caution must be taken
Private children: Theory versus reality

Matt Foster says that the enforcement of child arrangements orders requires a pragmatic approach outside the legislative framework
Human rights: Flesh and blood

Andrew Powell and Linzi Bull examine the weight to be given to sibling relationships in public law proceedings
Non-court dispute resolution: Cutting the Gordian Knot

Claire Yorke suggests that a hybrid approach to resolving financial issues on divorce or dissolution may provide a solution even in more complex cases
Variation: Reduced circumstances

Kathryn Cassells considers how the courts may approach an application to vary a lump sum order where the applicant’s disclosure is unclear and their financial woes are of their own making
Scotland: Tips and traps

In the conclusion to a two-part analysis, Fiona Turner and Noel Ferry analyse key differences as to financial provision in Scotland when compared with England and Wales
Marriage: A match made in heaven?

Sarah French looks at the Law Commission’s proposed changes to wedding ceremony requirements
Financial provision: A long shot

Ellie Foster looks at the potential ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic and the likelihood of a successful application based on Barder
Media access: Eyes wide open

Sarah Williams considers an application by a journalist for a disclosure order in the context of steps towards further transparency in the family courts
Variation: To vary or not to vary

Heather Souter summarises the key considerations on an application to vary a financial consent order and the approach of the courts
Property Law Journal
Urban regeneration: Calm before the storm – the post-pandemic urban renaissance
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With the pandemic forcing communities to rethink their need for public spaces and repurposed buildings, Peter Kershaw considers the competing theories underpinning urban regeneration and the role of planning committees and public engagement
Hospitality and Covid-19: New planning considerations

The hospitality sector is having to adapt to an ever-evolving regulatory regime in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Jennifer Ayris and Claire Petricca-Riding highlight some of the issues that arise
Development round-up 2020: Key decisions despite Covid chaos

As business goes on (albeit not necessarily ‘as usual’), Claire Acklam reports on key cases from 2020 which are likely to be of interest or assistance to developers
Case study: A salutary lesson

The recent case of Fishbourne v Stephens demonstrates that conditional option agreements, while a useful development tool, can cause a whole raft of issues if poorly drafted. Julian Greenhill QC, Danny Revitt and George Cohen consider its implications
Construction focus: Amendments to standard forms

Emily Holdstock explains why standard forms are so often amended, through the lens of a developer-client
Frustration: The extent of its applicability

Mark Pawlowski considers the extent to which the doctrine of frustration may operate to terminate rights in land
Covid-19 – residential possession proceedings: An ever-evolving picture

The ban on evictions is currently due to be lifted on 21 February 2021. Josephine Morton reviews the legislative changes that having taken place to date and their implications
The Planning White Paper: Localism 2.0?

Lucy McDonnell considers the successes and limitations of the Localism Act changes, and the ways the system may change again
Commercial landlord and tenant round-up: Key decisions despite Covid chaos

David Manda and Lewis Couth highlight some of the key cases to note
Restrictive covenants: A cynical breach

Oskar Musial and Helena Davies consider the case of Alexander Devine Children’s Cancer Trust v Millgate Developments Limited
Trusts & Estates Law and Tax Journal
Musings from Manchester: May you live in interesting times
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Geoffrey Shindler looks ahead to 2021 and the possibility of a new wealth tax
Wealth Tax Commission: A taxing question

Jo Summers and Ramandip Kaur examine whether it is time for a wealth tax
Proprietary estoppel: An unusual plot

Katie Alsop discusses a proprietary estoppel claim that succeeded despite little documentary evidence and the claimants not being family members
Beneficial ownership: Marring the deal

Context is everything when defining the common intention constructive trust. Aidan Casey QC and Tom Poole discuss recent case law
Trusts: Keeping up with the times

The interests of illegitimate or adopted persons can be problematic when dealing with older settlements. Richard Dew explores an illuminating case
Offshore: Roadtesting the law

Robert Lindley and Wesley O’Brien give the view from the Cayman Islands on how trustees should deal with extraterritorial questions about a trust
Jersey trusts: To submit – or not?

Katherine Neal and Damian Evans investigate whether trustees can take comfort from a recent Jersey decision on involvement in foreign proceedings
Trustees: Going the extra mile

A Cayman court judgment has affirmed the expectations levelled upon a responsible trustee. Lisa Vizia explains
Musings from Manchester: The ‘threat’ from trusts – fake news?
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Geoffrey Shindler crunches the numbers from HMRC which reveal the current state of trusts
Charity: Where duty lies

Matthew Mills considers when members of charitable companies will be subject to fiduciary duties in light of the recent Supreme Court decision in Lehtimäki v Cooper