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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.

Whistle-blowing on illegal cartels drops 70% in 5 years

Published on 18 Sep 2023. By Chris Ross, Partner and Arash Rajai, Partner

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently increased award to £250,000 Calls to the CMA hotline have plummeted from 1,442 in 2017 to 427 in 2022

The High Court continues interim anti-harassment injunction

Published on 24 Jul 2024.

At a return date hearing on 12 July 2024, Aidan Eardley KC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) continued until trial or further order an anti-harassment injunction granted to prevent the Defendant from, amongst other things, approaching or contacting the Claimant.

The Supreme Court clarifies the law on the recovery of damages for non-pecuniary damage arising out of a maliciously false statement

Published on 18 Jul 2024.

The Claimant was an employee of the second defendant, LCA, a recruitment agency owned and operated by the first defendant. After leaving LCA, the Claimant was employed by another recruitment agency and began targeting LCA's clients. LCA's owner told two third parties, one of whom was the Claimant’s new line manager and the other a client of LCA, that by doing this the Claimant was in breach of her contract of employment with LCA. In fact, there was no term of that contract (as the owner of LCA knew) which prohibited the claimant from soliciting business from LCA’s clients.

The Model Anti-SLAPP Law: an overview

Published on 25 Nov 2022. By Mafruhdha Miah, Senior Associate

Following the Government's response to the SLAPP consultation in the summer, the UK Anti-SLAPP coalition (a working group that includes English PEN, the Foreign Policy Centre and Index on Censorship, "the Coalition") has this week published a model Anti-SLAPP law, which has been endorsed by a collection of free speech and anti-corruption organisations, journalists, editors and lawyers.

FTT prevents HMRC from having two bites of the cherry!

Published on 22 Oct 2014. By Dan Wyatt, Partner

In Lady Henrietta Pearson v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 890 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') concluded that HMRC had "ignored" its previous decision by seeking to reduce the amount of a VAT refund which it had ordered HMRC make to Lady Henrietta Pearson ('the taxpayer').

Penalty saved by CAS with a little help from English Courts

Published on 06 Jun 2016. By Joshua Charalambous, Partner

Snapshots Winter 2024

Published on 10 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

Snapshots Autumn 2024

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

Snapshots Summer 2024

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

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

Published on 31 May 2024. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, 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.

Snapshots Spring 2024

Published on 17 Apr 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

Ofcom's 'Roadmap to Regulation' underway with its consultation on illegal harms duties under the Online Safety Act

Published on 12 Jan 2024.

In November, Ofcom, as new online safety regulator, published the first of four major consultations under the Online Safety Act ("OSA"), which sets out its proposals for how "user-to-user" ("U2U") services (essentially any online website or app that allows users to interact with each other) and online search services (i.e. Google, Bing and similar) should approach their illegal content duties under the new legislation. The consultation provides guidance in a number of areas including governance, content moderation, reporting and complaints mechanisms, terms of service, supporting child users, and user empowerment.

Snapshots Winter 2023

Published on 12 Dec 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

Snapshots Autumn 2023

Published on 25 Oct 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

The Online Safety Bill is set to become law

Published on 21 Sep 2023. By Rupert Cowper-Coles , Partner, Media and Nadia Tymkiw, Senior Associate

The Online Safety Bill will shortly become law in the UK as soon as it receives Royal Assent. The legislation will introduce a new regulatory regime for online platforms and search engines which target the UK, imposing wide-ranging obligations on in-scope services with serious consequences for non-compliance.

Snapshots Summer 2023

Published on 07 Jul 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

Snapshots Spring 2023

Published on 31 Mar 2023. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

Snapshots Winter 2022

Published on 23 Dec 2022. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

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

All is not (necessarily) lost: Crypto crime recovery

Published on 30 Jun 2022. By Adam Craggs, Partner

With over 2 million people in the UK now holding and using cryptocurrency, and the Chancellor announcing that a government backed non-fungible token ("NFT") is to be issued by the Royal Mint this summer, the market for crypto-assets is expected to continue to grow in the coming months and years; so much so that legislation is planned to implement a new regulatory regime for the crypto market.

Sports Ticker #119: Wimbledon worries, ICC's two-tier cricket and Mike Tyson litigation

Published on 21 Jan 2025. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Simon Williams, Associate

In a fortnight which saw the World Snooker Tour launch a new global streaming service and Adidas enter F1 with a Mercedes partnership, we bring you updates on the legal action against Wimbledon's expansion plans, FIFA's interim transfer rules following the Diarra ruling and the possibility of a two-tier cricket Test system.

Sky trademark ruling suggests strategy tips for brands

Published on 16 Jan 2025. By Joshua Charalambous, Partner

In a judgment handed down in SkyKick UK Ltd. v. Sky Ltd. on Nov. 13, the U.K. Supreme Court held that various trademarks for "Sky" owned by Sky were partially invalid due to their having been filed in bad faith, on the basis that Sky lacked a genuine intention to use the marks in all the classes for which they had been registered.

Sports Ticker #118: Thom Browne v Adidas, Formula E on TV and Q&A with Ben Maher – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 13 Dec 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Simon Williams, Associate

In a fortnight which saw boxing face an ultimatum for its inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, trials of an alternative system to VAR extended by the International Football Association Board and the NBA announce its return to China in 2025, we bring you updates on Thom Browne vs Adidas, AB InBev's partnership with FIFA for the Club World Cup 2025 and an exciting RPC event with Ben Maher on 17 December.

Sports Ticker #117: Padel Cup, Cadillac enters F1 and AI rugby developments

Published on 28 Nov 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw Premier League clubs approve changes to the Associated Party Transaction rules and Thom Browne prevail against Adidas in its long running dispute concerning striped trade marks (further analysis in the next Ticker!), we bring you updates on the newly anticipated global rugby competition, MotoGP's broadcast agreement with TNT Sports and an ex-footballer's professional tennis debut.

Sports Ticker #116: Football Governance Bill, Ashes series and Sela shirts

Published on 15 Nov 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Simon Williams, Associate

In a fortnight which saw Barcelona strike a record €1.7bn kit deal with Nike (ending the 'will they / won't they' debate on Barcelona producing their own kit), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell set his sights on Ireland for an international game and Ferrari sign a multi-year F1 partnership with IBM, we bring you updates on the revived Football Governance Bill, the 2024/25 Women's Sport Investment Accelerator scheme and Sela Sound Shirts for football fans with hearing impairments.

Sports Ticker #115: Wimbledon AI, NSL revamp and Diarra ECJ judgment

Published on 25 Oct 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Simon Williams, Associate

In a fortnight which saw FIFA name Lenovo as an official technology partner, Wrexham AFC secure Meta Quest as the club's back of shirt sponsor (with the players wearing the headsets as they walked out onto the pitch), and New Zealand win the Women's T20 Cricket World Cup, we bring you updates on Wimbledon replacing line judges with AI, the revamped Netball Super League and the recent Diarra ruling in the European Court of Justice.

Sports Ticker #114: Wimbledon expansion, Club World Cup 2025 and F1's LEGO partnership – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 10 Oct 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Simon Williams, Associate

In a fortnight which saw the WRU issue Wales Women’s rugby team with 37 full-time contracts and the announcement of the Green Sport Awards 2024 nominees, we bring you updates on Wimbledon's plans for expansion, Barclays' partnership with the WSL and Women's Championship, and the Global Esports Federation's commitment to the UN Sustainability Development Goals.

Sports Ticker #113 - PL v Man City, Commonwealth Games 2026 and Supreme Court referee ruling - a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 26 Sep 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw the Women's Professional League agree a record £45 million Barclays title sponsorship extension, Friedkin Group reach a deal to buy Everton FC and FIFA extend its partnership with Lay's, we bring you updates on the 'Sports Trial of the Century' between the Premier League and Man City, Glasgow's plans for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and how football referees may qualify as employees.

Sports Ticker #112: Leicester City's PSR appeal, Paralympics success and Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 coverage

Published on 12 Sep 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Simon Williams, Associate

Edition 112 12 September 2024 In a fortnight which saw ParalympicsGB claim second place at the Paris Paralympics 2024, the Scottish government strongly encouraged to back the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, and the French Rugby Federation agree a new supplier partnership with Adidas, we bring you updates on AI-powered translation of sports commentary, Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 on the BBC, and Leicester City's successful appeal of its PSR charge.

Sports Ticker #111: New era for women's football, NFT football trading cards and Twickenham's naming rights deal

Published on 30 Aug 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics come to a close, Andy Murray's retirement from tennis and British Basketball's Manchester franchise acquired by a US-based investment group, we bring you updates on the "New Era" for women's football, the NFL and Sony's new partnership, and Twickenham's new naming rights deal.

Sports Ticker #110: Special Edition - 2024 Summer of Sport - a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which has seen Euro 2024 final heartbreak for England's men and a spectacular (but wet) opening ceremony at Paris 2024, we bring you a very special edition of the Sports Ticker: the 2024 Summer of Sport! Read on for a Ticker roundup of the biggest events this summer: Euro 2024 and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Sports Ticker 109: Wimbledon esports, Euro 2024 sustainability and renaming Old Trafford – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 17 Jul 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw Southgate step down as England manager after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, Alcaraz and Krejcikova win the Wimbledon's singles tournaments, and Tadej Pogačar lead the Tour de France, we bring you updates on a new Wimbledon esports tournament, Old Trafford naming rights and UEFA's sustainability goals.

Sports Ticker #108: football governance, F1 in Asia and AI marketplaces

Published on 14 Jun 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw Real Madrid lift the Champions League Cup once more, a new "Ultimate Championship" athletics event announced and Charles Leclerc win on home soil for the first time in the Monaco Grand Prix, we bring you updates on the now-halted Football Governance Bill, potential Formula 1 expansion into Southeast Asia and record-breaking interest in women's sports.

Sports Ticker #107: football sustainability, AI team selection and new F1 tech – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 22 May 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw Manchester City bag its fourth consecutive Premier League victory, Brazil announced as the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup and Will Smith purchase his own electric powerboat team, we bring you updates on sustainability in football, AI in cricket, and bees in baseball.

Sports Ticker #106: Liverpool's Adidas kit, a new athletics venture and the London Marathon – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 01 May 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw women's Rugby League launch its world-first player-run TikTok account, Ferrari's F1 partnership with HP, and Apple reportedly on the verge of a global broadcast deal for FIFA World Cup, we bring you updates on a new athletics joint venture, Wrexham AFC, and the disqualification of all three medallists in the Beijing half marathon.

Sports Ticker #105: WIPO's esports partnership, MotoGP takeover and Brighton's record profits – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 10 Apr 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw the UK Football Governance Bill introduced to Parliament, TNT Sports and Discovery+ win rights to show the 2024 Autumn Nations Series and rumours of "multiple proposals" to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, we bring you updates on a collaboration between WIPO and the Esports Integrity Commission, MotoGP's takeover and JPMorgan's formation of a specialist sports investment group.

Sports Ticker #104: European sponsorship record growth, Germany's Adidas to Nike swap and Formula E shifts gears – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 28 Mar 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw Pete Distad named as CEO of the new Disney-Fox-Warner Bros sports streaming venture, Nottingham Forest losing four points for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules, and the announcement of a new fan engagement app for Swedish esports organisation Ninjas in Pyjamas, we bring you updates on German football's Adidas-Nike kit supplier swap, steps forward on the new structure for women's cricket and a bizarre bee blitz on Carlos Alcaraz.

Sports Ticker #103: Paralympics' media reach, Super League trade mark, and Red Bull Padel – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 15 Mar 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw Wimbledon recognised as having the highest ad engagement for women's sports events in 2023, the FIA President investigated for alleged race interference, and world No 1 Novak Djokovic knocked out of the Indian Wells tournament by world No 123 "lucky loser", we bring you updates on media deals for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, attempts to register an EU trade mark for "The Super League", and the partnership between F1 and Tommy Hilfiger.

Sports Ticker #102: Giant joint streaming venture, UEFA's environmental efforts and Casemiro's move to Adidas – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 23 Feb 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw the Super Bowl LVIII become the most-watched American TV event since the moon landing, Sir Jim Ratcliffe complete his £1.3bn Manchester United deal, and Emirates announce a multi-year partnership deal with Wimbledon, we bring you updates on UEFA's greenest tournament yet, Casemiro parting ways with Nike, and the upcoming launch of a new sports streaming platform.

Sports Ticker #101: AB InBev's Olympic Gold, UEFA's commercial rights, and Snooker in Saudi Arabia – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 02 Feb 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw F1 owner Liberty Media named the "World's Most Valuable Sports Empire 2024", the 2023 Rugby World Cup confirmed as the most-watched rugby event of all time, and the shock announcement of Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, we bring you updates on AB InBev's Olympic partnership, UEFA's tender process for global commercial rights, and British Cycling's uphill struggle.

Sports Ticker #100: Earps' SPOTY win and shirt sell out, smart ball company raises US$15m, and Unilever sponsors UEFA – a speed read of commercial updates

Published on 21 Dec 2023. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw Mary Earps win the Sports Personality of the Year 2023, FIFA receive three Women's World Cup 2027 bids, and Endeavor invest in Chess.com, we bring you updates on the first Lioness to trade mark her name, the ground-breaking Guinness Six Nations sponsorship, and a multi-year broadcasting deal between TNT and Formula E.

Sports Ticker #99: Golf's big hitters, Women's FA breakaway and tennis elite tour – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 08 Dec 2023. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw the Premier League agree a new £6.7 billion deal with Sky and TNT Sports, France named the preferred candidate for the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and 518 million people watch the ICC Cricket World Cup live through Disney Star, we bring you updates on Trent Alexander-Arnold's £26 million Adidas deal, new rules for golf balls, and a potential F1-style tennis tour.

Sports Ticker #98: Sports Business Awards 2023, Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the brands changing the world through sport

Published on 24 Nov 2023. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw Manchester City post record revenue and profits, Everton receive a points deduction relating to P&S issues, and the League of Legends World Championship become the most watched esports tournament, we bring you updates on the Sports Business Awards 2023, Las Vegas Grand Prix and Kansas City Chiefs' new relationship (no, not that one…).

Sports Ticker #97: Esports World Cup 2024, the increasing value of women's sports and European Super league

Published on 10 Nov 2023. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw DAZN secure exclusive F1 rights in Spain until 2026, Jude Bellingham become the first England player to win the Kopa Trophy for best performing under-21 player in the world, and FIFA ban Luis Rubiales for three years from all football activity, we bring you updates on Saudi Arabia's new Esports World Cup, planned increases in investment in women's sports and the marketing value of influencer athletes.

Sports Ticker #96: Russia's Olympic suspension, FIFA's five time zones and 2023's most marketable athlete – a speed-read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 26 Oct 2023. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw the first female referee of a men's international match at Wembley, Saudi Arabia launch its World Cup 2034 bid and NZ's All Blacks named the world's most valuable rugby team, we bring you updates on the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, the return of UK professional netball and the potential five time zones of the FIFA World Cup 2023.