EPS meaning

In this issue: Key developments UK immigration control: how it works Sponsored work Family routes Long residence, discretion and human rights EU law rights and EU Settlement Scheme Challenging immigration decisions and enforcement Preventing illegal working Citizenship applications Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Latest Q&As Key developments Future developments—Immigration calendar Our Immigration calendar highlights key upcoming developments for business immigration advisers. UK immigration control: how it works Home Office confirms eVisas will replace all vignettes in 2026 The Home Office has amended its eVisa guidance to state that from 12 January 2026, most recipients of visit visas and some other routes will get both an eVisa and a vignette. Those issued a valid UK vignette before that date will be able to retrieve their eVisa through their UK Visas and Immigration account. The guidance also confirms that later in 2026, vignettes will be discontinued...

In this issue: EU fundamentals Commercial Competition and state aid Data protection and cybersecurity Dispute resolution Free movement, immigration and employment Financial services Energy Environment Insurance and reinsurance IP Life sciences TMT Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers EU fundamentals European Parliament and Council agree on 2025 EU annual budget The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have struck a deal on the 2025 EU budget, amounting to €199.4bn in commitments. It is designed to advance political priorities, respond to crises, and keep backing flagship programmes such as Horizon Europe. Funding is distributed across innovation, cohesion, the environment, migration, and security. Formal sign-off is anticipated by November 2024. See: LNB News 18/11/2024 for details and reference here European Commission releases November 2024 infringement package The European Commission has issued its November 2024 infringement package, setting out which EU Member...

In this issue: COP29 Air pollution and climate change Energy efficiency in buildings Energy efficiency of products Energy matters for environmental lawyers Environmental assessment Environmental disputes and litigation Environmental enforcement and prosecutions Environmental permits and consents Environmental taxes, reliefs and incentives ESG and sustainability Hazardous substances and chemicals Key updates and developments Nature, biodiversity and habitat conservation Sources of environmental law (UK, EU, international) Producer responsibility for waste Water, flooding and drainage Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers COP29 COP29 round-up—13 November 2024 (World Leaders Climate Action Summit) On 13 November 2024, the World Climate Action Summit (WCAS) carried on within the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). Discussions moved forward on the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) for climate finance, with developing states highlighting the primacy of public funding....

Practice Note This Practice Note sets out the method to be adopted in practice when deciding whether the EU courts have jurisdiction to adjudicate an IP dispute, with principal reference to the scheme contained in Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 (Brussels I (recast)). It carefully examines the overall position across disputes about IP rights and then describes specific, practical questions for patents, trade marks, copyright and design rights, including the dedicated regimes for EU trade marks (EUTMs) in Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and for EU designs in Regulation (EC) 6/2002 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/2822). IP rights are secured on a national or regional territorial basis; however, the character of the subject matter (eg inventions, written works, etc) enables virtually immediate cross-border transmission, particularly in today’s modern digital age. Working out whether a given court has jurisdiction is, accordingly, a potentially intricate and often fact-sensitive issue. This Practice Note also outlines the strategic considerations that parties ought to evaluate when contemplating commencing proceedings. For more information on court jurisdiction and IP...

A limited company may repurchase its own shares, provided the conditions in the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) are met. This is often termed a share buyback or a purchase of own shares. Besides the CA 2006 provisions, further rules apply when a listed company or an AIM company intends to purchase its own shares. Specifically, a listed company must have regard to the UK Listing Rules (UKLRs) and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTRs). An AIM company must consider the AIM Rules for Companies (AIM Rules), although these do not explicitly address buybacks; AIM Regulation has confirmed that, in most situations, adherence by an AIM company to the UKLRs for buybacks would be regarded as best practice. An AIM company is also subject to DTR 5. In addition, both categories of company may follow institutional investor guidance. The CA 2006 restrictions on share buybacks do not apply to unlimited companies. For more detail on this company type, see Practice Note: Unlimited companies...

This Practice Note outlines the requirements and procedural steps for European patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO), covering EPO post‑grant opposition and limitation procedures. It further explains that, once a European patent is granted, the proprietor may lodge a ‘request for unitary effect’ with the EPO to obtain a unitary patent. European patents There are two types of European patents: European bundle patents—often called ‘classic’ or ‘traditional’ European patents, or simply European patents or EPs for short, and European patents with unitary effect—commonly known as unitary patents European bundle patents The European Patent Convention (EPC) created a single route for securing patents in multiple countries from one patent application. The EPC is applied by the EPO, which serves as the executive arm of the European Patent Organisation, an international organisation with 39 member states, including all 27 EU Member States plus certain non‑EU members such as the UK, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. European bundle patents can confer protection...