Draft Business Rates Announced
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has published the draft rateable values for commercial properties that will be used by local authorities to set business rates from April 2017. The VOA has provided an online tool
Self-Employed IFAs Sued for Alleged Breaches of Restrictive Covenants
Companies are entitled to protect their trading position by insisting that their former workers desist from joining competitors for a reasonable period after their departure. However, balancing such contractual rights against the liberty of workers
Ethereal Internet Businesses as Hard to Pin Down as the Cheshire Cat
Internet businesses operate in the ether and many of them call no country home. In one case involving an alleged online gambling fraud, a High Court judge observed that tracking down their centre of operations
New Enquiry Into Corporate Governance
The focus on corporate governance, always a matter of considerable public interest, has been amplified by events leading up to the recent collapse of retailer BHS and what many see as excessive executive pay. The
The Public Has a Right to Expect Officials to Answer the Phone Promptly
Officials work under pressure but members of the public who they serve have the right to expect that they will answer the phone promptly. A tribunal made that point as it upheld a company’s challenge
British Gas Smart Meters Roll-Out Survives Patent Infringement Claim
Patent infringement claims can come out of the blue and it is vital before embarking on a business venture to make sure that your plans do not conflict with others’ rights. In a case that
Supermarket Cash Voucher Machines Win VAT Exemption
Thousands of machines have in recent years appeared on supermarket premises which shoppers can use to change the contents of their piggy banks into redeemable vouchers. In an interesting case for the financial services industry,
Workers Caught in Middle of Park and Ride Bus Service Dispute
The termination of a subsidised park and ride bus service and its replacement by a fully commercial, unsubsidised, alternative on the same route, gave rise to a tribunal decision which provided important guidance on the
Rules of Natural Justice Breached in £30 Million Contract Adjudication
It is essential that contract adjudicators must not only act, but be seen to act, fairly. In one case involving a contract to install a £30 million airport baggage handling system, the High Court ruled
New Mother Given Fresh Hope in Sex Discrimination Claim
It is a fundamental tenet of the English legal system that those on the losing side in litigation are entitled to know the reasons for their defeat. In a case which underlined that principle, a