Criminal Record Checks – Rules Relaxed
A new system has come into force which relaxes the rules regarding the disclosure of past convictions and cautions when checks are carried out on job applicants by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) –
Supreme Court Rules on Scope of English Arbitration Clauses
In an important ruling to those engaged in overseas trade, the Supreme Court has underlined the long-standing and well recognised jurisdiction of the English courts to restrain foreign proceedings brought in violation of contractual clauses
Employment Tribunal Fees Coming Soon
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has confirmed that from Monday 29 July 2013 bringing an employment tribunal (ET) claim will no longer be free of charge. The fee structure for single claims to the ET
Judicial Review is Only Available as a Last Resort
In emphasising that judicial review is a remedy of last resort, the Court of Appeal has ruled that a judge was ‘plainly wrong’ to entertain a challenge to findings made against a bank’s finance director
Foreign Princes Refused Sovereign Immunity from Suit
In a guideline case, two Middle Eastern princes who are facing claims in an unfair prejudice petition under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 have failed to convince the Court of Appeal that they
Teacher Triumphs In Criminal Record Disclosure Dispute
In a case which highlighted the difficult balance to be struck between child protection and the rights of the individual, a police force has been criticised by the High Court for its ‘blinkered’ treatment of
Corporate Veil Can Be Pierced in Big Money Divorce Cases
In a ruling of enormous significance to family and commercial practitioners, the Supreme Court has ruled in the context of a ‘big money’ divorce case that it is in certain very limited circumstances legitimate for
Open University Triumphs in £21 Million VAT Rebate Claim
The Open University (OU) is due a £21 million tax rebate, plus interest, after the First-Tier Tribunal accepted that payments it made to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over a 16-year period should have been
Authorship of Software Does not Equal Copyright
In resolving a dispute as to the ownership of intellectual property rights in respect of software that formed the ‘crown jewels’ of a highly successful investment business, the High Court has ruled that authorship does
Territoriality of Unregistered Design Rights
In dismissing an action in respect of alleged unregistered design rights in a range of plastic microwave containers, the Patents County Court has emphasised that such rights are territorial in nature and that a claim