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Snapshots Autumn 2023

Published on 25 Oct 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.

Snapshots Summer 2023

Published on 07 Jul 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill opens door for stricter regulation of news platforms

Published on 07 Jul 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

How might the proposed Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the Bill) affect news reporting by digital platforms?

Snapshots Spring 2023

Published on 31 Mar 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.

DCMS publishes new Code of Practice for app developers and app store operators

Published on 31 Mar 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

What do app developers and app store operators need to do to comply with the new Code of Practice published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)?

New Metaverse regulation proposal to be discussed by EU Commission

Published on 31 Mar 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

How does the European Commission (EC) intend to regulate the Metaverse?

Online Safety Bill: Latest amendments increase focus on children safety

Published on 31 Mar 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

What is the focus of the latest round of amendments proposed to the Online Safety Bill and how will these impact online platforms?

Snapshots Winter 2022

Published on 23 Dec 2022. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.

Green claims update: June 2025

Published on 26 Jun 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead

Welcome to our round-up of the key legal and regulatory developments relating to green claims.

Parliamentary 'wash up' – which Bills made it through?

Published on 31 May 2024. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Shahil Goodka, Trainee Solicitor

On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a General Election will take place on 4 July 2024. Parliament was then prorogued on 24 May 2024 which allowed a mere 2 days for 'wash up' - the process by which outstanding bills may be rushed through the parliamentary process.

'What if the CEO asks me about… the Employment Rights Bill?'

Published on 07 Aug 2025. By Patrick Brodie, Partner, Head of Employment, Engagement & Equality and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality

The Employment Rights Bill is set to transform the UK employment landscape, introducing sweeping reforms to individual and collective employment law rights. The Bill's remodelling of our employment laws is far-reaching and complex. This article highlights four key areas of importance for retail and hospitality CEOs, which will have profound implications for risk, compliance and workforce management. We also explain what remains unclear and flag the relevant implementation and consultation dates.

Coming to a bank near you? How "investment AI" could transform financial mis-selling claims

Published on 09 Nov 2023. By Daniel Hemming, Partner

Living under a rock is probably the only way anyone might have escaped the media attention given to ChatGPT and generative AI in recent months. Beyond the (considerable) hype, this technology could have a profound impact on financial mis-selling claims where financial institutions and fund managers turn to the new technology to help them select investments and products.

“Ronan’s Law” to impact retailer and online platform liability for knife sales

Published on 09 May 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

How will the UK’s proposal to crack down on the online sale of knives impact retailers?

EU “ecodesign” product regulation lands, together with new digital product passport

Published on 09 May 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

What does the EU’s new regulation on ecodesign and sustainability mean for products and those who manufacture, import, deal and distribute them?

EU proposals to make online marketplaces liable for unsafe or illegal goods and collection of taxes

Published on 09 May 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

How concerned should online marketplaces be about new EU rules on e-commerce imports?

EU Online Dispute Regulation Platform discontinued!

Published on 09 May 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

The EU Online Dispute Resolution Platform (ODR Platform) was set up in 2016 under the Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 (Regulation), as an alternative route to court for disputes arising from online sales or service contracts

CJEU considering liability of App Store providers for unlawful loot boxes

Published on 09 May 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

Should intermediary service providers (eg app stores) be held liable for the supply of games containing unlawful loot boxes to consumers in breach of local gambling legislation?

CMA guidance on unfair commercial practices under the DMCCA

Published on 09 May 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

What practical guidance is given by the CMA on unfair commercial practices under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA)?

CMA’s enforcement road map for the new DMCCA plus consumer protection priorities

Published on 09 May 2025. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of Disputes

Where will the CMA focus its new enforcement powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 (DMCCA)? And what are the CMA’s consumer protection priorities?

The Times recognises RPC among Best Law Firms 2024

Published on 30 Oct 2023.

International law firm, RPC, has been recognised by The Times in its Best Law Firms 2024 report, an annual ranking of the top 250 law firms in England and Wales.

UK tech cases warn of liability clause drafting pitfalls

Published on 21 Sep 2023. By Helen Armstrong, Partner

Excluding and limiting liability is a vital part of any commercial contract. The irony, though, is that despite its importance, almost any exclusion or limitation of liability — if pored over to the nth degree — will have some ambiguity in the face of complex and often unforeseen consequences of breach.

Thirty minutes in Decentraland: A metaverse adventure

Published on 14 Jun 2023. By Christopher Whitehouse, Of Counsel and Becky Baker , Associate

Decentraland is one of the best known 'metaverses' that currently exist. It is a giant virtual world where users can create 'avatars' (a digital representation of yourself) and interact with one another. Users can also buy and develop virtual land, the mechanics of which involve purchasing an NFT (non-fungible token) connected with the relevant land plot. Users can then develop their land and build unique 3D environments.

Myth busting and moving the dial in DEI

Published on 20 Aug 2024. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Rachel Pears, Associate Director, Responsible Business & Employment Counsel and Katie Horn, DEIB and Responsible Business Manager (Market Facing)

This article is a summary of a session delivered by Kelly Thomson (Partner, Employment, Engagement & Equality and ESG Strategy Lead at RPC) and Rachel Pears (Head of Responsible Business at RPC), at the second Annual D&I Conference, in partnership with the British Retail Consortium (BRC). During this particular session, common myths and misconceptions surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) were discussed and different sides of various issues were dissected, drawing out the nuances of seemingly polarised positional statements. Below, we address a handful of these myths, offering a balanced perspective on the complexities of DEI and exploring how to drive meaningful progress in our organisations.

Employer lessons from teacher's menopause bias win

Published on 17 Jul 2024. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality

On May 31, a Scottish employment tribunal made its decision in Allison Shearer v. South Lanarkshire Council and awarded a teacher over £60,000 ($77,829) for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, following her dismissal for ill health after a period of long¬term sickness absence.

Menopause discrimination: Where are we now?

Published on 16 Nov 2023. By Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Victoria Othen, External Consultant

October heralded an important legal first when a Leicester employment tribunal began hearing the case of Rooney v Leicester City Council. It is the first case where a person's menopausal symptoms have been deemed by an appeal court to potentially amount to a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.

Adjusting your recruitment process for a candidate with a disability: What is reasonable?

Published on 18 Sep 2023. By Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality and Charlotte Reid, Senior Associate

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that a failure to make enquiries into a job applicant's disability amounted to a failure to make reasonable adjustments.

Recent judgment on ad hoc admission of overseas counsel tells of wider COVID-19 story

Published on 10 Dec 2021. By Samuel Hung, Partner and Jennifer Leung, Associate and James Lee, Associate

Applications for ad hoc admission, pursuant to section 27(4) of the Ordinance, are fact dependent and the relevant legal principles are well-established.

Disputes Yearbook 2021: Retail disputes

Published on 04 May 2021. By Jeremy Drew, Partner

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

Construction and Engineering Law 2025

Published on 07 Aug 2025. By Alan Stone, Partner and Tom Green, Partner and Arash Rajai, Partner

We are delighted to have contributed once again to ICLG's Construction and Engineering Law guide for 2025. The comprehensive guide delves into the multifaceted world of construction and engineering law, providing an essential reference for understanding and comparing the handling of common legal challenges across various jurisdictions.

What is a foundational model?

Published on 11 Jun 2025. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Rory Graham, Associate

Part 1 - UK AI regulation

Published on 11 Jun 2025. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

There has been consistent messaging from the UK Conservative-led government that the UK has decided to adopt a light touch approach to regulating AI. This was evident in the AI white paper published in March 2023 which outlined a principles based framework (see ['The Ethics of AI – the Digital Dilemma'] for more information about the principles themselves and see here for additional coverage of the AI white paper). The UK government held a consultation on the AI white paper in 2023 and published a response on 6 February 2024 that adds slightly more flesh to the bones of the UK framework.

The Role of AI in Disputes

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Daniel Hemming, Partner and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate and Joshy Thomas, Senior Knowledge Lawyer

While lawyers have had various forms of AI available to them for years, it is generative AI and the development of large language models (LLMs) which is likely to represent a fundamental shift for dispute resolution. This technology now offers language capabilities that have never been seen before, and is likely to transform the way lawyers conduct proceedings.

Generative AI – Addressing Copyright

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Joshy Thomas, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Rory Graham, Associate

When it comes to the interaction of AI and IP rights, bar a flurry of activity surrounding the inevitable outcome by the courts in the Thaler, Dabus case (see here) and the Court of Appeal's ruling on the potential for exclusion from patentability of artificial neural networks in the Emotional Perception case, most attention has been focused on copyright issues. There are three main potentially thorny issues and all have been extensively covered by the mainstream media.

AI and Privacy – 10 Questions to Ask

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Jon Bartley, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer

We set out in this section 10 key questions to ask yourself at the outset when developing or deploying AI solutions in your business.

The Ethics of AI - The Digital Dilemma

Published on 10 Jun 2025.

This is Part 6 of 'Regulation of AI – raising the trillion dollar bAIby'

Part 6 – Practical Considerations

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer

AI focussed actors and providers have been focussing on their forthcoming AI obligations and on governance for some time, but it is now prudent for the majority of organisations to assess how their use of AI will come within the scope of regulation in key territories and become familiar with each regime (and devise a means to keep up with the anticipated fast moving changes). Planning for the costs of compliance and for AI governance including systems and procedures for data retention and record keeping should also be part of current business strategy together with building expertise on AI internally and identifying trusted advisors from the "noise" of what is being offered externally.

Part 5 – AI Regulation Globally

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

On 30 October 2023 the G7 published its international guiding principles on AI, in addition to a voluntary code of conduct for AI developers. The G7 principles are a non-exhaustive list of guiding principles aimed at promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI and are intended to build on the OECD's AI Principles, adopted back in May 2019.

AI-as-a-service – key issues

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Tom James, Associate

Artificial Intelligence-as-a-Service (AIaaS), in the same vein as Software-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service, refers to cloud-based tools that allow businesses to gain access to an AI model hosted by a third party provider.

Procuring AI – commercial considerations checklist

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Paul Joukador, Partner

Many companies will no doubt be considering using AI within their business to take advantage of the massive opportunities for increased productivity and cost efficiencies promised.

Regulation of AI - introduction

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

As with any new technology, existing data protection and privacy, intellectual property, competition, product liability, data security and consumer laws apply to its application in each jurisdiction. This has thrown up a number of important and newsworthy issues and considerations for AI developers and providers, legislators, consumers and rights holders. There are also several sets of high profile legal proceedings both decided and ongoing in several jurisdictions. These issues and legal proceedings are discussed in other sections of this AI Guide.

What is AI and why is it topical?

Published on 10 Jun 2025. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Helen Armstrong, Partner and Charles Buckworth, Partner and Caroline Tuck, Partner

Whilst there is no universal definition of what constitutes artificial intelligence, at its core, AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. This encompasses the ability to reason, learn from experience, understand complex concepts, interact with their environment and look to solve problems.

Securing electricity for development projects

Published on 14 May 2025. By Arash Rajai, Partner and Claire Wilmann, Senior Associate

Developers are facing significant delays in securing a point of connection, offer from a Distribution Network Operator (DNO), to reserve power on the grid for a new development site. In a challenging market, a development site that might be sold off with planning permission is more marketable if it benefits from reserved power.

Part 3 - AI regulation in the US

Published on 03 Mar 2025. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

Back in October 2022, the White House published federal guidance – a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights identifying five principles aiming to guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems. It was designed to operate as a roadmap to protect the public from AI harms and was followed in October 2023 by the US President's Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. The Executive Order sets out eight "guiding principles and priorities", detailing how those principles and priorities should be put into effect, and reporting requirements

Part 2 - AI regulation in the EU

Published on 03 Mar 2025. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

The EU AI Act, the main elements of which are covered in our previous article, entered into force on 1 August 2024. Most provisions apply from August 2026 but some apply earlier, or later.

New Standard Contractual Clauses for data importers outside the EAA but subject to the GDPR

Published on 10 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

Are the EU’s Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) needed if a data importer is located outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and already directly subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR)? In other words, where third party controllers and processors are based outside the EAA but subject to the GDPR, do you still need the SCCs to enable a lawful international transfer to them?

The UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Bill

Published on 10 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

What does the UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Bill (the Data Bill) mean for businesses?

EDPB’s new publications on the ePrivacy Directive, processors and legitimate interests

Published on 09 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

What are the key takeaways for organisations processing personal data set out in the recent Guidelines and Opinions adopted by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB)?

ICO Statement on Generative AI Model Training

Published on 09 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

What position does the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) continue to take on Generative AI Model training?

ICO reprimands Sky Betting and Gaming for using non-essential cookies without users’ consent

Published on 09 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead

What proactive steps should website operators take to ensure that their use of cookies complies with UK data protection law? Put another way, are you sure personal data is not being collected by your website’s advertising cookies before users have consented to their deployment?