On Friday 19 February 2021 the judgment in the final instalment of Uber’s legal battle was handed down, with the Supreme Court unanimously dismissing the ride-hailing app’s appeal. The Supreme Court’s decision was long-awaited and will have implications for the gig-economy and status of ‘workers’.
Across our practice for some time now we have been helping clients deal with issues relating to block chain, bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general. It is surprising to think that bitcoin came into being over 11 years ago now and since then, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology in general have been advancing at a breakneck pace.
On the 26th January we held a webinar to discuss employment law issues arising from the UK’s departure from the European Union. Ignition Consultants Polly Jeanneret, Jemima Coleman and Nicky Cranfield were joined by immigration specialist Kim Vowden. Below we have a video recording for those of you who couldn’t make it on the day.
The life of building a start-up business is intense. You’ve come up with a concept and an idea and invested in developing it into a marketable opportunity. The relationships you develop with your staff and external parties both in the early stages, and then once the business is up and running, are vital to its success.
If you are forced to initiate litigation against a party and ultimately obtain a judgment in your favour, sometimes you have to take steps to enforce that judgment. Following our departure from the European Union, the enforcement of cross-border judgments has now become more complex.
So you’ve been through the initial start-up phase, put in the hours, emotional investment and you have now found yourself in a position of needing somewhere to house your fledgling operation. But where to start? The world of commercial leases and property can be a minefield to the un-initiated fraught with pitfalls and potential for huge financial and legal exposure.
In March 2020, as a result of the emergence of COVID-19, a number of small businesses made claims through their insurance policy providers for loss of earnings. They relied on provisions within those policies that ostensibly covered events of business interruption. The insurers refused to pay for losses claimed on the basis that the policies didn’t cover the unprecedented restrictions arising from COVID-19.
The European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 was given Royal Assent as 2020 came to an end, ushering in new ground and a new trading relationship for the New Year. The Future Relationship Act brings into UK law the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation agreement, UK-EU security of classified information agreement, and UK-Euratom nuclear co-operation agreement.
The draft EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement grants a six-month reprieve to businesses which transfer personal data to and from the EEA.
A combination of economic uncertainty, rising unemployment, changing consumer behaviour and national and regional “lock-downs” have exacerbated existing pressures often experienced by start-ups, including lack of funding. With thin balance sheets, cash flow challenges and (often) debt, many start-ups simply have less capital and resources to fall back on in time of crisis. There are, inevitably, risks of business failure.
Key issues for commercial tenants to consider when the landlord’s ability to forfeit a commercial tenancy for non-payment of rent is reinstated.
