Enhanced protection meaning

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived and is no longer maintained. UCITS is the acronym for undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities. The expression derives from Directive (EC) 85/611 concerning the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (the Original UCITS Directive), which was adopted in 1985. The purpose of the Original UCITS Directive was to establish a single market for open-ended retail investment funds that offered enhanced protection for investors. The UCITS framework has been updated on several occasions, with the Management Company Directive 2001/107/EU adopted in 2002 and the Product Directive 2001/108/EU implemented in 2005 (together referred to as UCITS III); followed by implementation in 2011 of Directive 2009/65/EC (the UCITS Directive, also called UCITS IV), which repealed and replaced the Original UCITS Directive; and Directive 2014/91/EU (UCITS V), which was transposed into national law on 18 March 2016...

The requisite period to bring an unfair dismissal claim is two years. For additional general guidance, refer to Practice Note: Qualifying period for unfair dismissal. That said, no qualifying period applies if the reason, or principal reason, for the dismissal is among those specified as set out in the table below...

In this issue: Medical devices Data protection and life sciences Pharmaceuticals—regulatory framework Research and development Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers Useful information UK medical devices regulation—where are we now? Life Sciences analysis: As expected, 2025 has become a pivotal year in the UK’s shift towards a new post‑Brexit medical devices regime (see our earlier updates here and here). The Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (MMDA 2021) grants broad powers to the Secretary of State to set provisions that amend or supplement existing requirements. Although we are still awaiting the draft core regulations, some reforms are already in force. Freshfields’ Life Sciences team sets out recent highlights stemming from a series of consultations by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), indicating the direction of travel. See News Analysis: UK medical devices regulation—where are we now? MedTech Europe responds to European Commission call for evidence on Innovation Act...

In this issue: Cybersecurity Data protection LexTalk®Information Law: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts Cybersecurity DSIT unveils Cyber Security and Resilience Bill policy statement and scope The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has outlined plans for the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, due to reach Parliament in 2025. The proposals will oblige around 1,000 providers—spanning data centres, managed service operators and critical suppliers—to adhere to tougher cyber security obligations. The Bill also provides regulators with enhanced oversight powers and permits the Technology Secretary to adjust regulatory frameworks in line with emerging risks. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) managed 430 cyber incidents in the year to September 2024, 89 labelled nationally significant. The legislation seeks to counter threats that cost the UK economy an estimated £22bn each year between 2015 and 2019. See: LNB News 01/04/2025 22 and News Analysis: UK to single out cybersecurity vulnerabilities under new Bill. NCSC releases new principles...

Domestic CBI publishes first edition of Payment and E-Money Newsletter The newsletter aims to deliver updates on significant regulatory developments across the payments and e-money sectors and to signpost relevant forthcoming changes. Topics featured in the newsletter include: Safeguarding thematic inspection — the CBI shares findings from a thematic examination of safeguarding across payment institutions (PIs) and e-money institutions (EMIs). The assessment considered the operational effectiveness of safeguarding procedures and the robustness of control frameworks within those firms Customer service — following an evaluation of customer experience through the lens of complaints, the CBI sets out its expectations for customer service, including in the context of the updated Consumer Protection Code (CPC) Fitness and probity — the CBI reminds PIs/EMIs: of the obligation to appoint a designated responsible person to the PCF-56 Head of Safeguarding role following changes to the list of pre-approval-controlled functions (PCFs) in November 2025, with further details to be issued by the CBI...

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE 2006), SI 2006/246, confers extra protection on employees when a dismissal arises in the context of a transfer. EU‑sourced legislation, including much of TUPE 2006, enacted to give effect to the UK’s obligations under EU law (for example, Directive 2001/23/EC, the Acquired Rights Directive (ARD)), and still applicable in the UK at the end of the Brexit transition period/IP completion day, continues in force as assimilated law. For further information, see Practice Note: Assimilated law. Enhanced protection against dismissal An individual benefits from this enhanced protection only if they can pursue an unfair dismissal claim—meaning they must be an employee (see Practice Note: Employee status) with the required two years’ continuous employment. For further information, see Practice Note: Entitlement to claim unfair dismissal...

THIS PRACTICE NOTE RELATES TO REGISTERED PENSION SCHEMES By means of Schedule 4 to the Finance Act 2016 (FA 2016), the government brought in an allowance protection regime designed to sit alongside the cut in the lifetime allowance from £1.25m to £1m on 6 April 2016. Termed fixed protection 2016 (FP 2016), it mirrors earlier fixed protection regimes respectively launched on 6 April 2012 (fixed protection 2012, or simply ‘fixed protection’) and 6 April 2014 (fixed protection 2014). This Practice Note focuses on FP 2016, which is the subject of this Practice Note. The original purpose of FP 2016 was to give transitional protection to people who, before 6 April 2014, had already accumulated pension savings above £1m, or who expected to do so on the basis that the lifetime allowance would be maintained at no less than £1.25m. Although the lifetime allowance was removed with effect from 6 April 2024, FP 2016 still delivers limited transitional safeguards regarding an individual’s rights to (i) the lump sum allowance, (ii)...

Updated in December 2025 Introduction Germany stands as Europe’s strongest economy and ranks among the largest worldwide. Its central position across the continent underpins a tightly knit infrastructure network. The country presents excellent business conditions and enjoys strong regard from overseas investors. Far-reaching structural reforms, together with restrained growth in unit labour costs, have markedly enhanced the competitiveness of German enterprises. Outstanding infrastructure and a highly qualified workforce further underpin long-term commercial success. The Federal Government has recently expanded public spending to unprecedented levels, with a particular focus on infrastructure investment. In addition, the legislature has widened depreciation allowances and resolved to lower corporation taxes. There are numerous options for structuring a venture in Germany. The purpose of this Practice Note is to flag key issues a new business should address before commencing operations in Germany. This Practice Note is not intended to be a comprehensive manual, and tailored German legal advice should always be obtained before establishing and running a business in Germany. Finally, be aware...

The Contract comprises the completed Standard Building Contract With Approximate Quantities 2016 published by the JCT subject to the following amendments: This Contract adopts JCT SBC/AQ 2016 with extensive modifications to reflect design responsibility, building safety and commercial controls. Recitals: Contractor to provide a master programme and Schedule of Information Requirements; confirms site due diligence and accepts full CDP design liability. Articles: Dutyholder Regulations added; Tender Price covers Principal Contractor duties; arbitration removed; Schedule of Amendments prevails; strict protection of Third Party Agreements. Definitions/governance: new and revised terms (Building Safety Regulator, HRB, Practical Completion, Copyright Material, Design Sub‑contractors, Dutyholder Regulations); several deletions; English court jurisdiction. Design/materials/information: skill‑and‑care design and coordination; only new, compliant, non‑deleterious materials; golden thread storage; monthly programme reporting; site risks at Contractor’s risk. Procedures/controls: tighter instruction, testing, defects and as‑built duties; enhanced confidentiality and IP licences; HRB assistance; CDM/Dutyholder competency confirmations. Sub‑contracting/rights: prescribed sub‑contracts, insurances and delivery of collateral warranties/third‑party rights; limits on assignment. Payment/commercial: 28‑day final...

Background to this thought leadership Precedent This Precedent originated from a Data Protection Intelligence Group thought leadership project in October 2021, with later updates by Lexis+® UK in February 2022 and again in early 2026. It is designed as a launch point to support organisations and stimulate development of thinking about this privacy expectation across the market. The Precedent will continue to adapt as fresh guidance, market practice and engagement emerge. It supplies a basic text template that can be reshaped for a cartoon, video and/or audio, along with other features (eg a message with emojis) to engage children in a way that suits the app provider’s branding and service. It should be: supported by appropriate just-in-time notifications and warnings (eg if a child changes a setting), and enhanced with suitable functionality enabling users to easily gain an overview and navigate between topics For further guidance on adapting the basic text, see Practice Note: Conveying privacy information to children aged 6...

[ Insert name and address of client ] Private and confidential Dear [ insert name ] New data protection privacy notices for job applicants [ Further to our recent conversation[s], ] please find enclosed: a draft data protection privacy notice (also referred to as a ‘data protection notice’ or ‘fair processing notice’) for job applicants; and a draft covering letter to send with the notice when issuing it to applicants during the recruitment process Impact of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) for employers UK GDPR introduces: a consent standard that substantially narrows when consent can be relied upon as a lawful basis for processing, especially in the employment context; and enhanced rights for data subjects, including expanded notification duties requiring employers to provide employees and applicants with clearer details about the purpose(s) and lawful basis for collecting their information. This ‘right to be informed’ places a duty on controllers to supply...

Disability discrimination Under section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) and EqA 2010, Sch 1, Pt 1, a diagnosis of cancer is treated, without further proof, as a disability for EqA 2010 purposes. See Practice Note: Disability. Attention must be given to the various forms of discrimination and other banned conduct contained in EqA 2010, as set out within that legislation and provisions therein. See the part of Practice Note: Disability discrimination headed ‘The basic types of discrimination and other prohibited conduct’, together with the fuller Practice Notes cited there and cross-referred within that section. For EqA 2010 purposes, a ‘dismissal’ also covers situations where an employee’s employment ends (and is not immediately renewed on identical terms) because a particular period has run out, or a particular event has happened, or a particular circumstance has arisen; this includes the ending of fixed-term contracts (EqA 2010, s 39(7)–(8)). Accordingly, the requirement to make reasonable adjustments binds employers when they are considering dismissing an employee; that is, dismissal will...