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R (Greyhound Board of Great Britain Ltd) v Welsh Ministers [2026] EWHC 670 (Admin) What are the practical implications of this case? The ruling reinforces the constitutional divide between the courts and the legislature. It explains that the scheme and framework of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (GWA 2006) embody that separation of powers, and that any judicial attempt to recognise and enforce a common law obligation on Welsh Ministers to consult prior to introducing legislation in the Senedd would trespass upon that boundary. This is not a departure from established principle; case law has already upheld comparable rules for lawmakers in Scotland and at Westminster. However, this is the first express confirmation of the position for Welsh lawmakers, and the first time this dimension of the GWA 2006 has been analysed in such depth. The court examined earlier
The solution arrived through the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), a quasi‑judicial body handling mass claims, created under UN Security Council Resolution 687. By addressing environmental harm—most notably via its ‘F4’ claim class—the UNCC set a seminal benchmark shaping how international law and contemporary arbitral panels allocate financial responsibility for wartime ecological devastation. With present-day wars in areas such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East bringing dam breaches, strikes on chemical facilities, and the burning of farmland, the UNCC’s legacy endures as an essential reference point for states, global investors, and companies engaged in post‑conflict arbitration. The F4 claims: Quantifying the unquantifiable Prior to the 1990s, mechanisms in international law for war reparations overwhelmingly favoured property loss, foregone earnings, and bodily injury. The natural world was commonly treated as a mute, non-compensable victim of armed hostilities...
Understanding the farming business as a business Many farms still use long-standing structures that arose by habit, not strategy. Sole traders, informal partnerships and outdated partnership deeds are common. While once effective, such setups can cause major issues around succession, tax planning and involving the next generation. A corporate team can take a fresh, business-led view of the farm, asking: Who owns the land and other critical assets? Who manages daily operations? Who carries the risk and who enjoys the return? What is the enduring plan for succession? From this review, the team can confirm whether the current setup is fit for purpose or if an alternative — for example an updated partnership agreement, a company, a limited liability partnership, or a blended model — would better meet the family’s aims. Tax efficiency through joined-up advice Tax sits at the centre of most
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EU Law analysis This News Analysis reviews legislative and policy shifts in EU Law during 2024, highlighting effects across Banking and finance, Commercial, Data protection and cybersecurity, Employment, Financial services, Energy, Environment, IP, Life sciences, and TMT, and flags what to expect in those fields in 2025. Further information on forthcoming measures will follow once the European Commission releases its 2025 Work Programme. Banking and finance—2024 review Key 2024 banking and finance developments are summarised below: Regulation ( EU) 2024/2809, part of the EU Listing Act package, took effect on 4 December 2024, amending the EU Prospectus Regulation. Certain amendments applied immediately, offering reliefs and consolidating existing guidance and supervisory practice. Others carry 15 or 18–month transition periods, i.e. from 5 March 2026 and 5 June 2026. These later reforms are more material, reshaping the format, content, scrutiny, and approval of the prospectus. See Practice Note: The EU...
Morais v Ryanair DAC [2025] EWCA Civ 19 The Court of Appeal confirmed earlier employment tribunal decisions backing 29 pilots who alleged Ryanair placed them on a “prohibited list”, holding that the tribunals had rightly concluded that striking workers fall within the scope of the Employment Relations Act 1999 ( Blacklists) Regulations 2010 ( Blacklisting Regulations 2010), SI 2010/493. Writing for a three-judge panel, Justice David Bean stated that it is unlawful to blacklist an employee for engaging in trade union activities, which includes industrial action organised or endorsed by a trade union. The pilots, all members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association ( BALPA), took strike action in summer 2019 and said Ryanair then threatened to withdraw concessionary travel benefits. The 29 claimants pursued tribunal proceedings and succeeded. Ryanair contended that the tribunals had misread the phrase “activities of trade unions” in the...
Abel Estate Agent Ltd and others v Reynolds [2025] EAT 6 This news analysis refers to the ET Rules 2013, which were in force until 5 January 2025 and were the rules applying at the relevant times in this case. For details of the ET Rules 2024, which came into effect on 6 January 2025, see: Employment tribunal rules of procedure 2024—destination table [ Archived]. What are the practical implications of this judgment? This detailed judgment examines the consequences of a claimant’s non-compliance with the EC requirement. Firstly, Swift J found that the employment tribunal had, regrettably, not been taken to the Court of Appeal’s decision in Clark and, in consequence, erred by rejecting the claim at a late point in the proceedings, rather than adopting the correct procedural route. Clark makes clear that, where a tribunal has not rejected a claim in...
In a non-binding opinion, EU Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou contended that the European Parliament and the Council of the EU lack the competence to legislate on minimum wages, recommending that the Court of Justice annul Directive ( EU) 2022/2041 (the Minimum Wage Directive). He noted that while the Parliament and Council may regulate working conditions under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( TFEU), a central constitutional instrument of the EU, ‘pay’ is expressly carved out of that mandate, the adviser said. In his view, the term ‘pay’ should be understood to cover every aspect of Member States’ wage-setting frameworks, including the methods or procedures......
In this issue: Horizon scanning Pay Tax Europe— EU Dates for your diary Trackers New Q& As Employment resources on Lexis+® Daily and weekly news alerts Horizon scanning WEC report says there is an overwhelming case for bereavement leave for those who miscarry during pregnancy In a freshly published report, the Women and Equalities Committee ( WEC) contends that paid time off should be available to all women and partners who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. The Committee plans to table amendments to the government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill in the name of WEC’s Chair, Labour MP Sarah Owen, urging ministers to support or adopt those changes. In brief, the report’s conclusions and recommendations include: a baby loss certificate alone is insufficient and should be underpinned by statutory support sick leave is neither...
Appiah v (1) Tripod Partners Ltd (2) Home Office ( Case number 2302929/2023) Employment Judge Paul Housego found that Tripod Partners Ltd acted unlawfully by taking money from Michelle Appiah's wages to cover its employer's NIC liability, so her unlawful deduction from wages complaint was upheld. The decision concluded she remained an agency worker, notwithstanding that her engagement with the Home Office operated via a personal service company ( PSC). Appiah had been engaged by Tripod to provide services as an independent social worker to the Home Office......
In this issue: Horizon scanning Status and worker categories Cross-border, international and jurisdictional issues Prohibited conduct protection at work Diversity and gender pay gap Employee rights to be informed and consulted Financial services and banking: employment issues Unfair dismissal Employment Tribunals Employment law in Scotland Europe— EU Immigration New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers New Q& As Employment resources on Lexis+® Daily and weekly news alerts Horizon scanning Domestic Abuse ( Safe Leave) Bill The Domestic Abuse ( Safe Leave) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Labour MP Alex Mc Intyre, would confer a right to 10 days’ paid ‘safe leave’ for employees who are victims of domestic abuse, enabling them to address abuse-related needs, including housing and health matters, and to attend court...
Afshar and others v Addison Lee case numbers 3306435/2020, 2207566/2021, and 2203454/2021 to 2203455/2021. Approximately 700 drivers represented by Leigh Day are now able to seek compensation for backdated holiday pay and minimum wage payments. The sums will vary by each driver’s length of service, yet Leigh Day has projected that awards could surpass £20,000 per driver, reaching up to £14m overall. Judge Oliver Hyams, in a tribunal decision on 7 January 2025, also determined that drivers who own their cars qualify as workers, but they are working for Addison Lee only when undertaking a specific driving assignment. Addison Lee removed financial penalties for rejecting jobs in 2021; however, Judge Hyams found this ‘added nothing material’, since drivers had always been free to reject a job......
EAT overturns decision to re-engage Paul Sellers The EAT set aside an order that Paul Sellers be re-engaged as a county director, or in an equivalent role, at the British Council after concluding the Employment Tribunal had gone wrong in law. The ET considered whether the investigation’s conclusions on his alleged misconduct were fair, when it should only have assessed whether the organisation’s belief was genuinely held, according to a ruling issued on 3 January 2025. The EAT stated that the question before the ET was whether, as a matter of fact, re-engagement was likely to be practicable where the respondent had accepted a report characterised as “competent… and… transparently independent”. The charity, which promotes English language and culture overseas, dismissed Sellers after allegations that he sexually assaulted a British Embassy employee at a Christmas party in Italy in 2018, identified only as ZZ, the...
The Kingdom of Spain v Lorenzo [2024] EWCA Civ 1602 The Court of Appeal determined that the discrimination alleged by Lydia Lorenzo, a dual British and Spanish national working as a translator at the Spanish Embassy in London, was not a sovereign or governmental act and therefore did not attract state immunity. Giving the leading judgment for a three-judge panel, Lord Justice David Bean dismissed the notion that whatever a senior diplomat says or does at an embassy is automatically a sovereign act. He noted that, if the legislature had intended to prevent foreign states being sued by anyone employed at their embassies for matters said or done by a diplomatic agent under an employment contract, it would have been straightforward to say so. In December 2023, the Employment Appeal Tribunal likewise ruled that Spain could not invoke diplomatic or state immunity to...
Concerns have been raised that sections of the Employment Rights Bill intended to create a right to guaranteed minimum working hours, and to pay for shifts cancelled or shortened at short notice, lack essential specifics, which ministers say will be set out in regulations. Uncertainties include who will be covered—the measures are aimed only at those engaged on ‘low hours’, but the threshold has yet to be determined. Analysts also note that rules for establishing workers’ usual hours and what will constitute ‘reasonable notice’ of shifts are absent. Darren Newman, of Darren Newman Employment Law, has identified 15 distinct matters relating to the right to guaranteed hours that must be prescribed in regulations. ‘ That leaves it almost immune to criticism because, when you ask how it will function, the reply is “ It depends”,’ Newman said. The Bill does include an...
Letter from ET Presidents to members of the ET ( E& W) and ET ( Scotland) national user groups (18 December 2024) What do these developments mean for you?......
In this issue: Horizon scanning Status and worker categories Cross-border, international and jurisdictional issues Benefits Prohibited conduct (discrimination etc) TUPE and asset purchases Bribery, modern slavery, tax evasion and fraud Employment Tribunals Immigration IRLR Highlights— January 2025 Dates for your diary Trackers New Q& As Employment resources on Lexis+® Daily and weekly news alerts Employment Highlights 2024/2025 Horizon scanning Employment Law—looking back at 2024 and ahead to 2025: The Lexis+® Employment team provide a concise overview of the standout employment law changes across 2024 and signpost what to watch in 2025, including movement on the Employment Rights Bill, the forthcoming employer duty to prevent sexual harassment, the Equality ( Race and Disability) Bill, plus other impending legislation and significant cases. See News Analysis: Employment Law—looking back at 2024 and ahead to...
The Court of Appeal ruled on 11 December 2024 The Court of Appeal decided on 11 December 2024 that HSBC must face Carmen Chevalier- Firescu’s allegations of sex discrimination and victimisation over its failure to appoint her as a director in 2018. The appellate court concluded the employment tribunal judge had not sufficiently explained why Chevalier- Firescu could not obtain an extension of time to issue her claim in 2020. Writing for a panel of three justices, Justice Elisabeth Laing stated that the claims should be remitted to a different employment tribunal to consider whether to use its discretion to extend time for bringing any of them. HSBC had assessed Chevalier- Firescu for a 2018 position and interviewed her, but chose not to hire her. In the judgment, she alleged the process was cut short on the basis of “false, derogatory and...
What were the key developments in 2024 The Employment Rights Bill The Employment Rights Bill 2024 ( ERB), unveiled on 10 October 2024, consolidates a suite of rights and policy measures pledged by the Labour government within its ‘ New Deal for Working People’ and the Labour Manifesto. For comprehensive information, consult the Practice Note: Employment Rights Bill—tracker......
The Court of Appeal ruled that England was 'clearly and distinctly the appropriate forum' Overturning the High Court’s earlier view that proceedings belonged in Malaysia, the appellate judges found that England is where the dispute should be tried. The claimants assert Dyson failed to act on reports that they had been trafficked and mistreated at a plant producing parts for its goods. Delivering the three-judge panel’s ruling, Justice Andrew Popplewell concluded the court below was wrong to treat the matter as closely tied to the Southeast Asian jurisdiction. He determined the case belongs in England because Dyson’s British company is ‘the principal protagonist’. He added that the pleaded breach— Dyson UK not ensuring policies were carried out in Malaysia, and not responding adequately to information about the abuse, whether known or reasonably knowable—concerns lapses by management in England and is said to have...
Judgment published on 10 December 2024 The Employment Tribunal ( ET) concluded that a mistake in the agreed statement of facts did not disturb its determination that refusing Majorj Charles Milroy access to the armed forces’ pension scheme, as a part-time worker, constituted less favourable treatment. In a reconsideration decision issued on 20 November 2024, Employment Judge Frances Eccles stated that, despite the inaccuracy, the interests of justice did not require the tribunal to amend or overturn its original ruling. The ET also recorded that the initial statement of facts was wrong to imply that mobilised reservists were eligible to join the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975, known as the AFPS 75. The panel found that the AFPS 75......
Margaret Beels, director of Labour Market Enforcement, and Elysia Mc Caffrey, chief executive at the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority ( GLAA), are set to see their organisations wound up once the new agency is created. Even so, both praised the government’s pledge to form a single enforcer for employment rights—an idea many in the profession have backed for years. The body will not be up and running before 2026 at the earliest. Meanwhile, those tasked with folding multiple regulators into a lead authority remain unclear about its operation, its priorities, and whether resources will match ministers’ ambitions. “ What I’ve been told is, ‘ It’s about investment, not cost-cutting,’” said Mc Caffrey. “ But we’ve had no further detail on funding or headcount.” The Fair Work Agency ( FWA) will unite current enforcement of labour standards, employment agencies, and the minimum wage. It will also...
In this issue: Horizon scanning Taxation Prohibited behaviour (discrimination, etc) Equality and the gender pay gap Maternity, parenting and carers Whistleblowing Data protection and workforce information Financial services and banking—employment matters Unfair dismissal Redundancy Employment Tribunals Northern Ireland New and refreshed content Dates for your calendar Trackers New Q& As Employment resources on Lexis+® Daily and weekly news briefings Horizon scanning Webinar: Employment Rights Bill— What’s in store for employers? We recently convened an engaging webinar examining several of the most significant reforms within the Employment Rights Bill ( ERB). Cathy Hoar, a professional support lawyer in the Lexis+ UK Employment team, was joined by Stephen Ratcliffe, a partner in the Employment and Compensation team at Baker & Mc Kenzie. Together, Cathy and Stephen explored what is...
According to the Association of British Insurers ( ABI), the share of women in senior management or board‑level posts at member firms edged slightly higher from 32% in 2022. The sector, long dominated by men, has grappled in recent years with reputational issues amid widespread claims of pervasive sexual harassment and bullying. Our latest figures indicate ongoing progress across the insurance and long‑term savings industry towards a more diverse, inclusive workforce, said Yvonne Braun, the ABI’s director of policy. The FTSE 350 of the UK’s......
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When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...
This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...
Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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