Policy meaning

Checklist This Checklist summarises the issues an employer should evaluate when shaping a career break and/or sabbatical policy, and when setting the arrangements to support such leave. The expressions ‘career break’ and ‘sabbatical’ carry no fixed legal definition, and the title used for the break does not dictate its legal character. In practice: ‘Career break’ commonly denotes a longer spell of unpaid absence during which the employment contract may remain in place, though more frequently it does not; and ‘Sabbatical’ typically refers to a shorter period of leave, usually unpaid but potentially paid or partly paid, during which the contract does continue. For detailed information on career breaks and sabbaticals generally, see Practice Note Career breaks and sabbaticals...

In this Checklist, the following defined terms are relevant: application programming interface (API) refers to an application programming interface API Data means any data or other content on the Platform reached by the Application or the API Licensee, and/or sent from the Platform to the Application via an API API Licensee means a provider of an Application that connects to the Platform/API API Licensor means the provider of a Platform/API Application means an application of an API Licensee that uses an API Platform means a platform of an API Licensor that is accessed through an API An API is a source code-level interface that enables applications (specifically, software components) to communicate with one another. It is the outward-facing element of an application that sets the rules for how that application will interact with other software. A developer does not need to grasp the entire codebase of an application to build something compatible with it. So long as the software...

This timeline shows key developments relating to the UK securitisation regime from January 2024 onwards For earlier milestones, see EU and UK Securitisation Regulations—timeline [Archived]. On 1 November 2024, Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 (the UK Securitisation Regulation) no longer applied in the UK, and new securitisation rules issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) came into effect. For insight into the revised UK framework, see Practice Note: The UK securitisation regime. 2026 17 February 2026 — PRA/FCA CP2/26 – Reforms to securitisation requirements; CP26/6: Rules for reforming the UK Securitisation Framework; Applying the FSMA 2000 model of regulation to the Capital Requirements Regulation The PRA and FCA have opened consultations on changes to the UK securitisation framework. The FCA suggests simplifying reporting, disclosure and due diligence obligations. The PRA intends to lessen firms’ compliance load by making the regime less prescriptive and adjusting the capital treatment of loans under the Mortgage Guarantee...

Does the business maintain a due diligence policy that covers every party to a commercial relationship, including the company’s supply chain, agents, joint ventures, intermediaries, or any comparable or similar arrangement? Has this policy been rolled out and properly enforced in all of the markets in which the company trades and operates? See Precedent: Anti‑bribery and corruption policy The company must know who it is engaging with to carry out an effective risk assessment. It should use a due diligence information form that the contracting party completes and signs, so the due diligence information supplied can be reviewed and assessed by the company...

This outlines the steps to follow when enhancing a process within your legal department. It draws on the Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control (DMAIC) framework for continuous improvement and highlights Precedents you may employ to support you at each stage involved effectively...

Is the risk assessment overseen at the highest level in the company? To demonstrate commitment from the top to anti-bribery controls, a company officer or a member of the Board should be designated to supervise the anti-bribery and risk assessment process. See Practice Note: Anti-bribery and corruption policy. Consider: Do senior management or the Board hold ultimate responsibility for the risk assessment process? Have duties for anti-bribery and corruption been delegated; if so, to whom and on what basis? How is this recorded? Has the company allocated bribery risk assessment to employees (for example, a compliance officer) who report directly to the Board? How has the company ensured the risk assessment is fit for purpose and able to withstand scrutiny?...

Competition policy Commission publishes report on enforcement of EU antitrust and merger control rules in the pharmaceutical sector between 2018–2022 The Commission has issued a report on competition enforcement—covering antitrust and merger control—in the pharmaceutical sector, outlining the activities undertaken by the Commission and national competition authorities during 2018 to 2022. It updates an earlier 2019 report that examined the period from 2009 to 2017. Alongside a broad overview of enforcement in pharmaceuticals, the report describes the sector’s key features that guide competition assessments and, through concrete and practical examples, clearly demonstrates how competition law action protected undertakings and consumers, including in the course of the Covid-19 crisis...

Antitrust Court of Justice issues judgment in national reference from the Netherlands proposing that parity clauses are not ancillary restrictions for the purposes of EU competition law The Court of Justice has delivered its judgment in Case C- 264/23 Booking,com BV and Booking.com (Deutschland) GmbH v 25hours Hotel Company Berlin GmbH and Others, concerning a Dutch reference seeking clarification on whether wide and narrow parity clauses are ancillary restraints under Article 101(1) TFEU. The reference seeks guidance on their classification within EU competition rules under Article 101(1) of TFEU. Background Booking.com BV runs an online hotel reservation platform. Up to 2015, its agreements contained wide price parity obligations that stopped hotels from advertising cheaper room rates via their own direct channels and any other outlets, including rival online travel agencies (OTAs). Thereafter, Booking.com moved to narrow price parity undertakings, which bar hotels from offering lower prices through their direct sales channels; the Federal Court of Justice of Germany nonetheless held these also restrict competition. Booking.com and other...

Competition policy The Commission has issued a Competition Policy Brief concerning legal professional privilege in competition law investigations, restating its position that this protection should not be widened to encompass in-house lawyers, and confirming that LPP should not extend to company-employed legal advisers either...

For many years, virtually every disagreement about agricultural tenancies was sent to arbitration at the outset. The rationale was that questions concerning agricultural holdings often have a strong practical dimension, so arbitration was thought a more suitable forum than the courts. This reflected the earlier assumption that practical considerations predominated in such cases, making a court reference less apt back then. Over time, however, matters of considerable legal intricacy also came before arbitrators. With the enactment of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 (AH(S)A 2003), policy shifted, and the main route for resolving disputes about agricultural tenant issues is now referral to the Scottish Land Court. At the same time, arbitration procedures were streamlined, and alternative processes, eg mediation, were enabled. Although the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991 (AH(S)A 1991) still sets out distinct mechanisms for dispute resolution, AH(S)A 2003 has substantially reshaped them, so that the arrangements for resolving disputes under 1991 Act Tenancies are, in large part, aligned with those for 2003 Act Tenancies...

Resource Note This Resource Note signposts key commentary, analysis and materials to aid interpretation and offer practical direction on using Chapter 2 of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR 2). Where relevant, it draws on: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook FCA Knowledge Base—Procedural and Technical notes (formal guidance binding on the FCA) FCA consultation and discussion papers, policy and feedback statements, and warnings Primary Market Bulletins and other FCA publications legacy UKLA technical and procedural notes and the UKLA’s newsletter List!, where still pertinent assimilated EU legislation EU Directives and EU Regulations, where helpful to construing a provision Lexis+® UK analysis and resources Setting the scene What it covers: DTR 2 prescribes the framework for issuers to disclose and manage inside information, supporting timely and even-handed release of market-sensitive information. It also identifies specific situations permitting a delay to public disclosure of inside information, together with the safeguards required to keep such information...

This Resource Note spotlights commentary, analysis and materials to aid interpretation and give practical guidance on applying Chapters 1, 1A, 1B and 1C of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules: DTR 1, DTR 1A, DTR 1B and DTR 1C respectively. Materials referenced here include, where pertinent: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook FCA Knowledge Base guidance—Procedural notes and Technical notes (constituting formal guidance and binding on the FCA) FCA consultation papers, discussion papers, policy statements, feedback statements and warnings Primary Market Bulletins and other FCA publications former UKLA technical and procedural notes and the UKLA newsletter List!, where still relevant to interpreting or applying a provision assimilated EU legislation EU Directives and EU Regulations, where relevant to interpreting a provision Lexis+ UK analysis and resources Setting the scene What it covers: DTR 1 sets out the Disclosure guidance, explaining its scope and purpose; DTR 1A sets out the transparency rules with their scope and purpose;...

Insert the following definitions as new definitions into clause 1 of Precedent: Share purchase agreement—pro-seller—individual sellers—unconditional—long form: 1 Definitions and interpretation Sanctioned Activity • any conduct subject to sanctions set by a Sanctioning Body; Sanctioning Body • the UK, USA, EU and any other relevant authority imposing/administering sanctions; Sanctioned Entity • any person or entity that is, or is owned/controlled (directly or indirectly, per Sanctions Laws) by, a party sanctioned or listed by a Sanctioning Body; Sanctions Laws • all applicable law on Sanctioned Activities binding any Party or this Agreement’s performance; Sanctions Policy • the Sellers’ sanctions policy in Appendix [ insert Appendix number ], as updated and notified to the Buyer; 1.2 The Sellers and the Group Companies, as at the date of this Agreement and throughout its term: are not Sanctioned Entities; have not been notified of any investigation into a Sanctioned Activity; are unaware of Business circumstances that could give rise...

Insert the following definitions as new definitions into clause 1 of Precedent: Share purchase agreement—pro-buyer—corporate seller—conditional—long form: 1 Definitions and interpretation Sanctioned Activity: activity subject to a Sanctioning Body’s sanctions. Sanctioning Body: United Kingdom, United States of America, European Union, and any other authority administering sanctions. Sanctioned Entity: any person or entity that is, or is owned or controlled (directly or indirectly) by one that is, sanctioned or on a designated list of a Sanctioning Body; ‘owned or controlled directly or indirectly’ has the meaning in Sanctions Laws. Sanctions Laws: all law on a Sanctioned Activity binding either Party or the Agreement’s performance. Sanctions Policy: the Seller’s sanctions policy in Appendix [insert Appendix number], as updated and notified to the Buyer. is not a Sanctioned Entity; has not been notified of any Sanctioned Activity investigation; is unaware of Business circumstances likely to prompt such investigation; shall comply with Sanctions Laws and the Sanctions Policy; ...

1 Introduction 1.1 This policy explains how [ insert name of organisation ] (the Company) will handle the statutory entitlement that permits employees to take unpaid time away from work to organise or provide care for a dependant with a long-term care need, and sets out the steps you should follow if you need to request this leave. 1.2 [ This policy applies solely to employees. It does not extend to agency workers, consultants [ , contractors ] [ , volunteers ] [ , interns ] or casual workers. OR This policy applies to all employees, officers, agency workers, consultants [ , contractors ] [ , volunteers ] [ , interns ] and casual workers. ] 1.3 This policy has been [ agreed OR introduced following consultation ] with [ [ enter name of relevant trade union(s) ] OR [ enter name of works council ] OR [ enter name of staff association ] ]. 1.4 In some circumstances, you may have the right to take...

Safeguarding (and promoting the welfare of children) is defined in the Government’s statutory guidance: Working together to safeguard children as: keeping children safe from maltreatment averting impairment to children’s health and development making sure children are raised in conditions that align with safe and effective care acting to ensure every child can achieve the best outcomes There is no specific obligation on an employer providing work experience to young people under 18 to introduce a safeguarding policy...

If a business claims to hire and remunerate an individual with a wage to reduce the tax burden of the business itself or a director/shareholder, while the individual in reality undertakes no work and supplies no services, this would appear to constitute tax evasion. Where a solicitor knows this is happening, they should adhere to the procedures prescribed in the firm’s policy on preventing the facilitation of tax evasion in such circumstances...

As a broad principle, nothing bars a creditor from setting any supply preconditions they consider suitable, save for statutory carve-outs (typically concerning consumer credit, public policy, and unlawfulness). Acceptance of those preconditions by a third party (in your scenario an individual or another business) rests on commercial bargaining, and will be agreed or declined through negotiation between parties. See: Guide to dealing with a distressed business—overview, and Practice Note: A creditor’s guide to dealing with a company in financial difficulty...