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Lucasfilm did not benefit in any way at Tyburn Film Productions Ltd's expense, counsel said to the appeals court there on 3 December 2025, in part because it already possessed rights over Cushing's likeness and an agreement and consent from the Cushing estate to 'resurrect' him as Grand Moff Tarkin. Tyburn contends it earlier made an agreement with the late actor then, at the time, granting the company a veto over any use of his image prior to his 1994 death. That contract concerns a TV series titled 'Heritage of Horror', which never aired. Tyburn further asserts the deal permits it to effectively 'resurrect' Cushing using stand-ins and CGI to ultimately finish the programme then if the actor were to die whilst filming remained in progress...
Irish telecom operator Eircom’s damages lawsuit against BT Group over a public-sector contract must be carefully managed to trial to deal with confidentiality issues and other matters, a UK judge told the parties today. At the High Court in London today, a judge said Eircom’s damages action against BT over a public-sector contract needs tight case management through to trial to address confidentiality and related concerns. Eircom brought the claim after Ofcom in 2020 penalised BT for its behaviour during a tender. Speaking to both sides, Judge Adam Johnson urged them to resolve any confidentiality flashpoints themselves and signalled he had no wish to step in unless it became unavoidable. He also expressed confidence that parties would do everything possible to keep confidential designations to a minimum, noting this was necessary to maintain control over the conduct of the trial. He framed this as the
The following document is attached: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/274 dated 5 February 2026, revising Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1981, establishing a final anti-dumping levy on imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware produced in...
Justice Richard Arnold granted AstraZeneca leave to appeal and permitted lorries carrying about 175,000 packs of Glenmark’s generics to move on to wholesalers, provided they did not reach pharmacy shelves while the case continued at any point during those interim proceedings. In this way, Glenmark could keep its first-to-market advantage, while causing only minimal detriment to AstraZeneca should the Court of Appeal later be persuaded to issue an injunction against supply. The judge said this approach maintained the status quo with the least possible prejudice to Glenmark’s position overall. The hearing was arranged at short notice, just days after the High Court refused AstraZeneca an injunction to block the diabetes generic from sale while the court considered whether the patents supporting the branded medicine were valid in law. Glenmark, Generics (UK) Ltd and Teva Pharmaceuticals have each begun proceedings in the UK to set...
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Hydrogen What were the key developments in 2024? The direction of hydrogen policy in 2024 was largely shaped by several notable releases from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ( DESNZ) in December 2023, namely: Hydrogen Strategy Delivery Update Hydrogen Production Delivery Roadmap Hydrogen Transport & Storage ( T& S) Networks Pathway market engagements on the assessment criteria for the first allocation rounds of the Hydrogen Transport Business Model ( HTBM) and Hydrogen Storage Business Model ( HSBM) an updated version 3 of the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard ( LCHS) the outcome of the first Hydrogen Allocation Round ( HAR) ( HAR1) for the Hydrogen Production Business Model ( HPBM), together with the launch of the second HAR ( HAR2) On 2 January 2024, the HPBM hit a major milestone when DESNZ formally appointed the Low Carbon Contracts Company Ltd ( LCCC) as the...
Mergers The Commission conditionally approved the proposed takeover of Ansys, Inc....
Competition policy Government publishes terms of reference regarding review of Northern Ireland Protocol ( Windsor Framework) On 9 January 2025, Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, issued a written statement to Parliament confirming he had commissioned an independent review into how the Northern Ireland Protocol ( Windsor Framework) is operating. The statement further noted: On 10 December 2024, the Northern Ireland Assembly voted on whether Articles 5 to 10 of the Protocol should continue to apply in full......
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......
Doorstep Dispensaree Ltd v Information Commissioner [2024] EWCA Civ 1515 What are the practical implications of this case? This ruling reinforces under the UK GDPR that controllers bear ultimate accountability for compliant personal data processing; engaging subcontractors does not shift or dilute those duties. It further shows that the mandate for penalties to be “effective, proportionate and dissuasive” in Article 83(1) requires a case-by-case balancing of the Article 83(2) factors. In the FTT appeal, the tribunal underscored aggravating circumstances, including the particular vulnerability of the data subjects and the seriousness of DDL’s infringements of the UK GDPR. Although DDL’s financial difficulties were recognised as a mitigating consideration, they did not justify removing the fine altogether. Five years after the penalty was imposed, the enforcement landscape has altered markedly, with a new Commissioner in post and updated ICO guidance on data protection penalties. Over the past couple of...
What are the practical implications of this case? The challenge stumbled at the outset when the Court concluded the claimant had no standing. Section 31(3) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 stipulates that a claimant must show a ‘sufficient interest’. The Court therefore had to decide whether this membership body cleared that bar. The claimant was a registered company, with Mr Bains serving as its sole director. It was described as existing to supply guidance to its landlord members on landlord/tenant issues and licensing enquiries. Although, as individuals, those members would have been directly affected by the proposed licensing scheme, the proceedings were issued by the collective entity. ‘ Associational standing’ is engaged where an association seeks to sue on behalf of members who share a common interest in the matters raised in the claim and in the litigation overall......
The Kingdom of Spain v The London Steam- Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Ltd and The French State v The London Steam- Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 1536 What are the practical implications of this case? The Court of Appeal’s ruling makes clear, as a matter of principle, that English public policy bars recognition and enforcement in England of foreign judgments that cannot be reconciled with arbitral awards. That said, where a contradictory judgment is to be enforced overseas, the court and arbitrators have generally circumscribed powers to restrain such steps in practice in ‘conditional benefit’ scenarios. Under the conditional benefit principle, a non‑contractual party invoking rights under a contract that includes an arbitration clause bears an equitable obligation to pursue its claim in arbitration to the exclusion of other fora. Although the rule is settled, the relief for...
EU AI Act could drive a rise in M& A arbitration activity As the EU Artificial Intelligence Act ( EU AI Act) begins to take hold, parties that prefer arbitration for resolving disputes in their M& A agreements would be well advised to weigh how that choice can function as a tool for risk management and mitigation in practice. Accordingly, deal participants selecting arbitration in their M& A deal agreement should take time to consider its use as a means of risk management. EU AI Act The long-awaited EU AI Act entered into force on 1 August 2024, with the bulk of its rules commencing in August 2026. The legislation is wide in scope and broadly affects EU-based companies that use or supply AI systems anywhere, international companies operating in the EU, and any company producing AI content that is used within the EU. The Act sorts AI...
Draft political statement In a preliminary political text, EU countries urge the Commission to assess whether certain online platforms should face additional rules as part of the forthcoming AVMSD review, scheduled to conclude by 2026. A revision does not automatically require amendments to the legal framework; nonetheless, the Commission has already signalled its intention to reopen the AVMSD and has requested input from EU countries. The paper, dated 6 January 2025 and seen by MLex, is the first draft prepared by Poland, currently holding the Council of the EU's rotating presidency, drawing on bilateral talks with other Member States, and national representatives will debate it on 16 January 2025. At a Brussels conference in December 2024, Anna Herold, head of the Commission's Audiovisual Policy Unit, said the exercise would concentrate on the creators' economy, ensuring a level playing field with other...
The changing economic environment Broadstone reported a sharp fall in the value of pension redress since early 2022, when the typical compensation package exceeded £150,000. The size of any award following poor pension advice is shaped by movements in yields on UK government bonds, commonly referred to as gilts. As gilt yields increase, the present value of future pension liabilities declines, leading, in turn, to significantly smaller lump-sum redress settlements from advisers. This relationship directly lowers the cash value of compensation now available to those seeking redress......
In this issue: Medical devices Intellectual property Research and development Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers Useful information Medical devices UK medical devices regulatory reform—where are we now and what’s next for 2025? The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s ( MHRA) post- Brexit overhaul of the medical devices regime is solidifying, marked by new Post Market Surveillance ( PMS) regulations laid before Parliament in October 2024 and an additional government consultation focused on selected aspects of the forthcoming core rules. 2025 is set to be decisive, with the cornerstone draft ‘core’ legislation expected. By Harriet Hanks, counsel, Andrew Austin, partner, Emily Bloxsome and Honor May, associates, and Charlotte Case, trainee, Freshfields LLP. See News Analysis: UK medical devices regulatory reform—where are we now and what’s next for 2025? MDCG updates guidance on IVD...
In this issue: Public procurement Governance Social housing Education Children’s social care Social care Healthcare Planning Environmental law and climate change Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Public procurement Welsh Government introduces new Health Service Procurement Regulations for Wales The Welsh Government has presented the draft Health Services ( Provider Selection Regime) ( Wales) Regulations 2025 to Senedd Cymru. Replacing a withdrawn 2024 draft, this instrument sets up a new approach to procuring NHS health services in Wales under the Health Service Procurement ( Wales) Act 2024. It will apply to ‘relevant authorities’ as set out in the National Health Service ( Wales) Act 2006, and will switch off the UK Government’s Procurement Act 2023 for Welsh health service procurements. If approved by the Senedd, the measures will commence on 24...
Antitrust AG delivers opinion on Belgian reference urging that an exclusive distributor be shielded from active sales in its territory by all the supplier’s other purchasers Advocate General Medina has presented her opinion in Case C-581/23 Beevers Kaas, a reference from Belgium addressing the interpretation of Article 101 TFEU and the former vertical agreements block exemption ( Regulation 330/2010). The focus is whether an exclusive distribution arrangement accords with the parallel imposition requirement, under which a supplier must ensure its exclusive distributor is safeguarded against active selling into the protected territory by all the supplier’s remaining distributors or buyers. The opinion considers how these rules apply where exclusivity is granted and parallel obligations are expected across the supplier’s network to prevent targeted incursions into the exclusive...
Key features of the SIAC Rules 2025 The SIAC Rules 2025 present a wide array of procedural mechanisms that users can tailor to what best serves their particular dispute. These comprise: Emergency arbitration to secure urgent interim or conservatory measures before the tribunal is formed, together with a newly introduced ability to seek a ‘protective preliminary order’ without prior notice to the other parties Streamlined and expedited procedures for lower-value claims, employing a simplified arbitration process and a sole arbitrator Options for consolidation of arbitrations and joinder of parties A newly added facility to coordinate arbitrations, where the same tribunal is consolidated and there is a common question of law or fact The tribunal is also vested with extensive powers to promote a fair, swift, and cost‑effective resolution of the dispute and to support the...
In this issue: Key DR developments Claims and remedies Cross-border disputes Case management New content Dates for your diary Useful information Lex Talk®Dispute Resolution: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts Key DR developments Update to the Guideline Hourly Rates The Master of the Rolls announces an update to the Guideline Hourly Rates: An update to the Guideline Hourly Rates has been confirmed by the Master of the Rolls. Courts in England and Wales rely on these figures for the summary assessment of costs. The revision supplies fresh benchmarks across grades A– D and all geographical bands, including London 1–3 and National 1–2. Levels turn on the fee earner’s experience and location, with the peak figure set at £566 per hour for Grade A solicitors in London 1. These changes are designed to reflect...
In this issue: Key developments and horizon scanning Leasing property Environment, energy and buildings Statutory compliance Property development Transferring property Property taxes Property in Scotland Additional property updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers New Q& As Key developments and horizon scanning Snapshot of key property developments to look out for in 2025 We deliver a concise overview of several significant property developments to watch for in 2025. See News Analysis: Snapshot of key property developments to look out for in 2025. Leasing property Electronic Communications Code and assignment of pre-28 December 2017 licence agreement AP Wireless II ( UK) Ltd v ON Tower UK Ltd [2024] UKUT 429 ( LC) was an appeal to the Upper Tribunal ( Lands Chamber) (the UT) from a First-tier Tribunal ( FTT) decision concerning how the...
In this issue: General IP Copyright & associated rights Patents Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information General IP Intellectual Property cases to watch in 2025 Law360, London: While 2025 may see fewer UK IP actions, specialists are still eyeing headline disputes — from how current copyright claims against artificial intelligence ( AI) models unfold, to the ongoing drift between European and English courts over the next year. See: Intellectual Property cases to watch in 2025. The biggest UK IP rulings of 2024 Law360, London: Throughout 2024, courts across Britain and Europe delivered some of the most prominent IP decisions in years, with the UK Supreme Court resolving a major trade mark case and lower courts addressing unfair advantage and fair licensing in relation to essential patents. See: The biggest UK IP...
In this issue: Advertising, marketing and sponsorship Consumer protection Contracts International Public procurement Sale and supply of goods Lex Talk®Commercial: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q& A Advertising, marketing and sponsorship High Court assesses damages following termination of licence to use software ( THJ Systems v Sheridan) The High Court determined damages after a software licence was brought to an end, showing its method for quantifying loss in commercial disputes of this kind. It stresses the need for compliance, robust and credible evidence, and careful separation of distinct claims, delivering practical guidance for lawyers in England and Wales. Written by Helen Hart, senior knowledge lawyer at Lewis Silkin LLP. See News Analysis: High Court assesses damages following...
In this issue: Key developments and materials Members and benefits Public sector schemes Daily and weekly news alerts Dates for your diary Trackers Key developments and materials Themes and considerations on the pensions radar for 2025 The core storylines for 2025 in pensions are consolidation and a governmental drive to boost investment in the UK economy, though legal and systemic hazards are on the horizon for the sector. The move to build new pension megafunds with the heft to channel a further £80bn into domestic infrastructure and start-ups sits within the Labour government’s Mansion House programme over 2025. In parallel, the Prudential Regulation Authority ( PRA)—the watchdog said to oversee the Bank of England—will roll out an ‘enhanced’ life insurance stress test in January 2025, with outcomes anticipated in the third quarter for publication. The PRA’s exercise will gauge the financial robustness of insurers that have vowed to deploy up to £100bn after...
What is the background to the proposal? Since estate duty arrived in the late nineteenth century, agricultural reliefs have been central to limiting upheaval and enabling farmers to make long-term commercial and environmental choices in this vital, often multi-generational, industry over successive generations. Farmers who are asset-rich yet commonly cash-poor are especially exposed to inheritance tax ( IHT), and, without full agricultural property relief ( APR) and business property relief ( BPR), many would be compelled to dispose of land, fragmenting long-standing family enterprises to settle the tax due. In recent times, however, APR has been viewed as something of a loophole, with many ultra-wealthy individuals acquiring farmland to sidestep IHT. Facing a £22bn gap in the public finances, the government has therefore unveiled changes to both APR and BPR with effect from 6 April 2026, asserting that the IHT regime will be fairer and more...
Popular documents
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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