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Thinking - Blog

Arbitration awards and fraud revisited

Published on 10 May 2018.

The English Court of Appeal has rejected a further attempt by the buyers of goods to set aside enforcement of a CIETAC arbitration award on grounds of fraud.

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Thinking - Blog

FSCS – reviewing the funding of the fund of last resort

Published on 09 May 2018. By Sarah Dowding, Senior Associate

In its third consultation paper on this topic, the FCA has recently confirmed that: - FSCS claims in respect of investment advice will benefit from an increased compensation cap, from £50,000 to £85,000; - product providers will have to start making contributions to FSCS funding for insurance and investment advice claims; and - it proposes new rules to prevent personal investment firms' insurers excluding cover for claims where the firm or a third party becomes insolvent.

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Thinking - Blog

Life After Death…

Published on 04 May 2018. By Natalie Drew, Senior Associate

How was a baby born four years after the death of his parents? And what does this mean for IVF providers in the UK?

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Thinking - Blog

Professional negligence adjudication – it's all part of the Protocol

Published on 04 May 2018. By Will Sefton, Partner and Head of the Lawyers Liability and Regulatory Group

On 1 May 2018, an amendment to the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol saw a further attempt to encourage parties to use the professional negligence adjudication scheme first devised as a pilot scheme in February 2015.

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Thinking - Publication

Cryptocurrency pre-ICO funding – a regulatory overview

Published on 04 May 2018.

The FCA has issued a discussion paper targeted at the non-workplace pension market. The paper marks the start of the FCA's work looking at whether there is harm in the non-workplace pension market and to better understand the potential presence, nature, extent and cause of any harm.

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Thinking - Publication

General liability newsletter April 2018

Published on 30 Apr 2018. By Gavin Reese, Partner, Head of Regulatory

Employees owe a duty to their employers to carry out their work with reasonable care so as to avoid accident and injury. Employers are vicariously liable for the negligence of their employees but are entitled to claim a contribution or indemnity from their negligent employee in appropriate circumstances.

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Thinking - Blog

The FCA publishes its 2018/19 Business Plan

Published on 23 Apr 2018. By Charlotte Thompson, Associate

On 9 April 2018 the FCA published its Business Plan for 2018/19, demonstrating its continued focus on culture and governance in firms, tackling financial crime and the role of technology in the financial services industry.

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Thinking - Blog

Home is where you hang your medical test

Published on 20 Apr 2018.

At-home medical tests can be useful diagnostic tools, but this carries risks for patients or insurers. Medical malpractice and product liability insurers need to plan for the future.

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Thinking - Blog

Court of Appeal's history lesson for claimants bringing personal injury claims

Published on 20 Apr 2018.

Healthcare providers and manufacturers of medical products will welcome a judgment from the Court of Appeal that found against a claimant for failing to give notice of funding in time.

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Thinking - Blog

Unregulated cryptocurrencies – an end in sight?

Published on 18 Apr 2018. By Matthew Watson, Partner

Since their creation, cryptocurrencies have been somewhat of an enigma. Decentralised digital currencies such as Bitcoin have remained unregulated, despite becoming more prevalent in our day-to-day lives. That could be about to change with the FCA announcing plans to include them as part of their other regulated products or services.

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Thinking - Blog

FCA success in the High Court: Compensation of £16.9m awarded to misled investors

Published on 16 Apr 2018.

A five-year court battle between the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") and Capital Alternatives Limited concluded on 26 March 2018 when the High Court used its restitution powers under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to award compensation to investors who lost money invested with Capital Alternatives.

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Thinking - Blog

The future of the NHS: Concerns and comparisons

Published on 29 Mar 2018.

New poll suggests greater concerns over cuts to NHS funding than terrorism threat.

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Thinking - Blog

ESMA cracks down on the sale of binary options and CFDs to retail investors

Published on 29 Mar 2018.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has announced its intention to prohibit the sale of binary options to retail investors and to place restrictions on the sale of contracts for difference (CFDs). This is the first use of ESMA's new intervention powers under MiFID II.

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Thinking - Blog

FCA reviews approach to enforcement and penalties

Published on 28 Mar 2018. By Sarah Dowding, Senior Associate

The FCA has announced plans in its recent consultation paper on enforcement to review how it applies penalties which have gone from record highs to record lows over the past 5 years.

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Thinking - Blog

Using data to bring innovative products to the market … and keep them there

Published on 22 Mar 2018.

There are now more and more opportunities to collect and use health data to innovate, improve efficiency and improve care. The same data could prove very useful in responding to the threat of litigation too

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Thinking - Publication

Enhancing the cross-border distribution of collective investment funds

Published on 16 Mar 2018.

The European Commission has published a draft Regulation and Directive on the cross-border distribution of investment funds. The aim is to establish a genuine internal capital market by addressing fragmentation and removing regulatory barriers (namely Member States’ marketing requirements, regulatory fees and notification and administrative requirements), which can all prevent the cross-border distribution of investment funds in the European Union.

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Thinking - Blog

Frederick & Others v Positive Solutions Limited – a win for principals on vicarious liability

Published on 14 Mar 2018. By David Allinson, Partner

The Court of Appeal has reinforced the idea that liability will only attach to a principal in cases where a tort committed by an agent can be shown to have been completed as an integral part of the business activities of the principal. Furthermore, all elements composing the tort must take place within the course of the agency. The case thickens the lines defining what conduct of an agent could lead to recovery from the principal.

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Thinking - Blog

Could Cannabis be the Cure?

Published on 07 Mar 2018. By Natalie Drew, Senior Associate

With the upsetting case of Alfie Dingley dominating news headlines, the UK Government is being asked to reconsider its approach to medicinal cannabis. But what would this mean for manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and, most importantly, potential patients?

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Thinking - Blog

An aspirin a day…

Published on 02 Mar 2018. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate

Discusses research that suggests aspirin can reduce risk of colon cancer in patients with Lynch Syndrome

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Thinking - Blog

Changes on the horizon - FCA consults on non-workplace pensions

Published on 22 Feb 2018. By Rachael Healey, Partner

The FCA has issued a discussion paper targeted at the non-workplace pension market. The paper marks the start of the FCA's work looking at whether there is harm in the non-workplace pension market and to better understand the potential presence, nature, extent and cause of any harm.

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Thinking - Blog

Bad news for litigants in person?

Published on 21 Feb 2018.

When a litigant in person fails to correctly serve a claim form they can expect the courts to take a firm approach, following the Supreme Court's decision in Barton v Wright Hassall

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Thinking - Blog

Fixed Recoverable Costs: When lawyers come 'cap' in hand

Published on 21 Feb 2018. By Ella Shanks, Senior Associate

Working group developing a cap on recoverable costs for lawyers in clinical negligence claims

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Thinking - Blog

A game changer for concussion injuries? New study investigating CTE creates a potential headache for defendants and their insurers

Published on 16 Feb 2018.

A new study shows that repeated hits to the head, not concussions, cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the neurodegenerative disease experienced by American football players, boxers and other athletes.

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Thinking - Blog

Brexit chess game to be played out at Chequers

Published on 15 Feb 2018.

The Life Sciences industry demands certainty over the Government's approach to regulation after Brexit. It is hoped that Government meetings this month will achieve that.

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Thinking - Blog

Mr Justice Langstaff to chair contaminated blood inquiry

Published on 13 Feb 2018. By Emma Kislingbury, Senior Associate

Mr Justice Langstaff will lead the public inquiry into how contaminated blood transfusions infected thousands of people with HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 80s

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Thinking - Blog

Insuring Cryptocurrency risk, and why a duck might not actually be a duck

Published on 13 Feb 2018.

Cryptocurrencies have dominated headlines with their soaring value and accelerating use. Their regulation has remained somewhat of an afterthought, however. This blog post looks at some of the pitfalls and the larger implications for financial professionals and the insurance industry that the risks of cryptocurrency present.

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Thinking - Blog

Sabotage at sea - The LADY M

Published on 13 Feb 2018.

In The LADY M, the English Commercial Court held that shipowners could rely on the Hague-Visby Rules fire defence even when the fire was set by the crew (without owners’ knowledge). In so doing, the admiralty concept of barratry received rare consideration by the Courts.

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Thinking - Blog

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Published on 06 Feb 2018. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate

Implications for humans and animals of the recent successful cloning of monkeys by Chinese researchers

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Thinking - Blog

Duty calls: What information should be provided to patients following treatment?

Published on 31 Jan 2018. By Florence Page, Senior Associate

Summary of the High Court's recent decision in a case concerning the duty to inform a patient of treatment outcomes and the requirement for follow-up, further treatment, or monitoring.

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Thinking - Blog

Organ donation: have your say

Published on 26 Jan 2018. By Emma Kislingbury, Senior Associate

Organ donation is, for some, a difficult topic of conversation, but a Government consultation is encouraging us to think about it and share our views.

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Thinking - Blog

ESMA to use new powers to attack the sale of CFDs and binary bets to retail investors

Published on 25 Jan 2018.

ESMA has launched a public consultation on measures to protect retail investors investing in contracts for difference (CFDs) and binary bets. Potential changes include wide-ranging restrictions on the marketing and sale of CFDs, and a complete prohibition on the sale of binary bets to retail investors. An intervention would mark ESMA's first use of its new powers under MiFID II, which came into force on 3 January.

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Thinking - Blog

FOS consultation on SME access to Ombudsman service

Published on 23 Jan 2018. By David Allinson, Partner

The FCA is currently consulting on proposed new rules to allow larger small and medium sized enterprises to refer complaints to the FOS.

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Thinking - Blog

Commodity specification breach – can I reject?

Published on 23 Jan 2018.

A common question which arises in day to day commodity trading is whether a buyer can reject goods which do not meet the specifications set out in the contract. This blog discusses the factors which commonly come into play in determining that question.

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Thinking - Blog

To each his own: which papers belong to the solicitor?

Published on 12 Jan 2018. By Claire Revell, Partner

Although it has previously been established that clients don't necessarily own all of their solicitors' file, clients don't always appreciate this when making a file request. Some recent case law provides support to solicitors when dealing with such requests.

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Thinking - Blog

The FCA pledges to take action against providers of contracts for difference

Published on 12 Jan 2018.

The FCA has concluded that consumers are at "serious risk of harm" due to the poor practices of some providers and distributors of CFDs. The regulator will take further action against at least one firm in its latest crack-down on these "complex, high-risk" products.

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Thinking - Blog

Name and Shame: HM Land Registry to publish list of worst offenders

Published on 09 Jan 2018. By Claire Revell, Partner

HM Land Registry has announced plans to publish a list of the top 500 entities responsible for the highest number of applications and ranking them by their track record of correctly completing Land Registry forms and applications.

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Thinking - Blog

Unauthorised introducers, the Pension Ombudsman and SSASs

Published on 04 Jan 2018. By Rachael Healey, Partner

The Pension Ombudsman has rejected a complaint against a SSAS provider in relation to investments in carbon credit investments made on the instigation of an unauthorised introducer. In contrast to FOS decisions we have seen, the Pension Ombudsman appeared to put the onus and risk on the consumer for engaging with an unauthorised introducer.

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Thinking - Blog

Initial Coin Offerings – the digital financing process under global scrutiny

Published on 08 Dec 2017. By Rachel Ford, Partner

In an era of social media platforms and the like, the technological world creeps into its corporate counterpart of today. Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) storm the corporate world by force, but what does the future hold for the new phenomenon?

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Thinking - Blog

Independent inquiry launched into malpractice of Ian Paterson

Published on 07 Dec 2017. By Ella Shanks, Senior Associate

The Department of Health has announced the launch of an independent inquiry into the circumstances and practices surrounding the activity of convicted breast surgeon Ian Paterson.

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Thinking - Blog

Engagement news

Published on 29 Nov 2017.

Manufacturers and insurers may have missed Prince Harry's news on Monday in the general excitement surrounding the Government's Industrial Strategy, announced on the same day.

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Thinking - Blog

Bereavement Damages incompatible with European Convention on Human Rights

Published on 29 Nov 2017. By Genevieve Isherwood, Senior Associate

Consideration of the Court of Appeal decision in Smith v Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation and others that restriction on awards for bereavement damages under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Thinking - Blog

A step closer

Published on 27 Nov 2017. By Matthew Griffith, Partner and Neil Brown, Partner

Matthew Griffith and Neil Brown explore Lloyd's SPAs as an alternative for new market entrants to standalone syndicate formations and M&A

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Thinking - Blog

Broken bonds - the FCA clamps down on firm promoting mini-bonds

Published on 21 Nov 2017. By David Allinson, Partner

According to a recent article in Citywire, the FCA has ordered a firm promoting mini-binds to "cease all regulated activity" following a series of losses being incurred by investors in respect of mini-bonds.

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Thinking - Publication

The FCA turns its attention to the wholesale insurance sector

Published on 13 Nov 2017.

After indicating its intention to conduct a wholesale insurance market study in its 2017/18 Business Plan, the FCA has now announced the launch of its wholesale insurance broker market study and set out its terms of reference. This is an important development for brokers and insurers operating in this sector, and also for their clients.

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Thinking - Blog

Schemes and offers where drags don't work

Published on 06 Nov 2017. By James Mee, Partner and David Wallis, Partner

James Mee and David Wallis detail the statutory solutions available when drag-along rights are either ineffective or non-existent for the sale of private companies with a large employee shareholder base

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Thinking - Blog

FCA revisits FSCS funding proposals, and abandons plans for significant changes to professional indemnity insurance requirements

Published on 01 Nov 2017. By Robert Morris, Partner

The FCA has published a second consultation paper on the thorny subject of FSCS funding. Although not widely reported so far, the new consultation makes it clear that the FCA will not, after all, consult on significant changes to personal investment firms' professional indemnity insurance requirements.

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Thinking - Blog

A Shift in Vicarious Liability (Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council)

Published on 01 Nov 2017.

Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council [2017] UKSC 60. A review of recent case law extending Vicarious Liability and the impact this will have on organisations and their insurers.

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Thinking - Blog

FCA allows confidential report to be scrutinised by Treasury Select Committee

Published on 31 Oct 2017.

The FCA has allowed the Treasury Select Committee to review its s.166 report into RBS' Global Restructuring Group (GRG) and has published an interim summary of the report. It is possible that the threat of publication will play on the minds of firms subject to s.166 reports, which may reduce cooperation with skilled persons and therefore the efficacy of this investigatory power.

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Thinking - Blog

Liability for commencement of approach voyage under voyage charters - absolute?

Published on 25 Oct 2017.

A recent judgment of the Commercial Court examines a novel point in respect of the obligation on an owner under a voyage charter to get the vessel to the load port when the charter contains a cancelling date but no expected readiness to load date or load port ETA.

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Thinking - Blog

The FCA makes clear its expectations of financial advisers

Published on 18 Oct 2017. By Charlotte Thompson, Associate

FCA, regulatory, financial services

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