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Brexit and Beyond panel discussion

Published on 11 Dec 2020.

Top tips for the food and drink sector

Look to the future: Trainees take on 2019

Published on 25 Jan 2019.

The trainees didn't fare too badly with their 2018 predictions. They doubted England's ability to make it past the group stages of the World Cup, but foresaw how Brexit would dominate the news agenda. They over-optimistically predicted the introduction of automated bundling, but came very close on the value of Bitcoin. Read on to see this year's predictions.

Can the WTO assist British trade post-Brexit?

Published on 26 Mar 2018.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been in the press recently perhaps more than it would like, with concerns being raised about whether its rules would be sufficient to maintain British trade in the event of a "hard Brexit". But what is the WTO, and how does it deal with disputes?

Brexit - a legal analysis: Competition

Published on 28 Jun 2016.

The implications for competition law and practice will very much depend on what form of Brexit the UK will end up negotiating. At one end of the spectrum the UK could join the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Area, an avenue that is likely to generate the fewest changes. If the UK were to seek a total exit, falling back on World Trade Organisation (“WTO”) rules to continue trading with the EU, the potential changes would be more wide-ranging as outlined below.

Brexit - a legal analysis: IP rights

Published on 28 Jun 2016.

IP rights in the UK are all influenced and moulded to a greater or lesser degree by European law.

Regulatory Radar: quick takes May 2025

Published on 12 May 2025. By Gavin Reese, Partner, Head of Regulatory

Welcome to the latest edition of our bi-monthly Regulatory Radar: quick takes update, which collates the latest developments from across the UK’s regulators.

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, Head of Commercial

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.

The summer of discontent?

Published on 31 Jul 2020. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Ben Roberts, Partner

What comes to mind when you hear the word "summer"? The unbridled joy of no more school for 6 whole weeks? Buckets, spades and wind-swept beaches? Perhaps the call of a sun-soaked tropical island? For most, summer means taking some time out to recharge and switch off.

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.

A matter of interpretation – the Supreme Court look at contractual interpretation once more

Published on 24 Feb 2023. By Poppy Hay, Associate and Laura Stocks, Partner

In their recent Judgment in Sara & Hossein Asset Holdings Ltd (a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands) v Blacks Outdoor Retails Ltd [2023] UKSC 2 the Supreme Court adopted a commercially balanced interpretation of a lease; rejecting the overly textual approach of the Court of Appeal in favour of reading the relevant clause in the context of the lease as a whole.

No bouncing back for directors

Published on 20 May 2024. By James Wickes, Partner and Adam Craggs, Partner and Catherine Zakarias-Welch, Knowledge Lawyer

Banned! Fraudsters! – Terms used by the Insolvency Service for directors who abused the government backed loan scheme which was put in place to help businesses struggling during the pandemic.

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.

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').

The Work Couch: Navigating trauma in the legal world (Part 2), with Rebecca Norris and Camilla Wells: Implementing a trauma-informed work culture

Published on 28 May 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

The Work Couch: Navigating trauma in the legal world (Part 1), with Rebecca Norris and Camilla Wells: Spotting the signs and understanding the science

Published on 14 May 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

“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 IP & Tech

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 IP & Tech

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 IP & Tech

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 IP & Tech

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 IP & Tech

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’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 IP & Tech

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 IP & Tech

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?

Ten years of the Modern Slavery Act: renewed focus on business responsibility

Published on 08 May 2025. By Patrick Brodie, Partner, Head of Employment, Engagement and Equality and Eve Matthews, Associate

On 24 March 2025, the Home Office published its updated Transparency in Supply Chains (TISC) guidance, offering detailed recommendations to assist organisations in complying with their obligations under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Neonatal Care Leave: What do employers need to know?

Published on 07 May 2025. By Kim Wright, Senior Associate and Joanna Holford, Senior Associate and Brodie Walker, Trainee Solicitor

On 6 April 2025, the long-awaited new statutory right to neonatal care leave came into effect in England, Wales and Scotland. The new right provides employees with up to 12 weeks' leave if their babies spend an extended period in neonatal care.

The Work Couch: Neonatal care leave (Part 2): Managing the process and supporting employees, with Joanna Holford and Catriona Ogilvy

Published on 16 Apr 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

The Work Couch: Neonatal care leave (Part 1): What is the new right, who is eligible, and does the law go far enough? With Joanna Holford and Catriona Ogilvy

Published on 02 Apr 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

What if the CEO asks me about… our exposure to packaging fees under EPR?

Published on 01 Apr 2025. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Harpreet Kaur, Associate

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) (EPR) Regulations 2024 (EPR Regulations) came into force on 1 January 2025. They will affect most businesses that supply packaging in the UK, particularly brand owners of branded packaged products, and those who import branded products into the UK from overseas.

What if the CEO asks me about… the EU's Omnibus Directive?

Published on 19 Mar 2025. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Rosamund Akayan, Knowledge Lawyer and Connor Cahalane, Partner - Corporate and Thomas Jenkins, Of Counsel and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead

On 26 February 2025, the EU Commission published its proposed Omnibus Directive, aiming to simplify EU rules, boost competitiveness and reduce the perceived regulatory burden on businesses, particularly SMEs. Here, we break down the key takeaways for busy in-house teams and discuss what we can expect next from the EU Parliament and Council.

The Work Couch: What to expect at an employment tribunal: appearing as a witness, with Kim Wright and Joseph England

Published on 19 Mar 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

Employment Rights Bill: 10 key amendments explained

Published on 13 Mar 2025. By Patrick Brodie, Partner, Head of Employment, Engagement and Equality and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality

On 5 March 2025, the government published a 200 page amendment paper containing a wide range of amendments to the draft Employment Rights Bill (the Bill). A number of the amendments follow the government's response to various consultations on some of the most significant proposed reforms. We highlight 10 of the key amendments and what they mean for employers.

6 April 2025 - date confirmed for UK consumer protection law regime overhaul

Published on 12 Mar 2025. By Ciara Cullen, Partner, Retail & Consumer Sector Lead and Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) is set to substantially overhaul the UK's consumer protection law and enforcement regime. We now know the date that key consumer protection and enforcement changes will come into force: 6 April 2025.

The Work Couch: Data protection and HR-related challenges (Part 2), with Jon Bartley and Helen Yost

Published on 05 Mar 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

Six steps to AI Literacy (whether legally required to or not)

Published on 27 Feb 2025. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer

At the beginning of February 2025, the AI literacy requirement under the EU AI Act came into force. The effect of this is that certain businesses must take measures to ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy in their staff.

The Work Couch: Preventing sexual harassment - is your business compliant?

Published on 19 Feb 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

The Work Couch: Data protection and HR-related challenges (Part 1), with Jon Bartley and Helen Yost

Published on 05 Feb 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

What impact will the Employment Rights Bill have on the hospitality sector?

Published on 03 Feb 2025. By Patrick Brodie, Partner, Head of Employment, Engagement and Equality and Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Ellie Gelder, Senior Editor Employment & Equality

The Employment Rights Bill (the Bill) - championed as "the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation" - introduces 28 individual employment law reforms. The key changes of relevance to the hospitality sector include the implementation of "day one" rights, including unfair dismissal protection, and the end of zero-hour contracts.

The Work Couch: What's on the horizon for employment law in 2025?

Published on 22 Jan 2025.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast series where we explore how your business can navigate today's tricky people challenges and respond to key developments in the ever-evolving world of employment law.

CMA investigates Ticketmaster for dynamic pricing of Oasis tickets

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

Can dynamic pricing breach consumer protection rules?

European consumer body challenges in-game premium currencies

Published on 10 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner, Technology, Media & Telecoms Sector Lead and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech and Gowri Chandrashekar, Senior Associate

When does the use of in-app and in-game premium currencies pose consumer regulatory issues? Does this consumer complaint herald a tightening by the EU on revenue streams for game and app developers and platforms?

CMA publishes guidance for fashion retailers on environmental claims

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

How best can fashion retailers protect themselves from regulatory action when making green claims?

CJEU rules on pricing display strategies of Aldi Süd

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

UK pricing practices in the spotlight

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

What should businesses take note of recent amendments to the UK’s Price Marking Order and the CMA’s newly published report on loyalty pricing?

News Flash: Timeline for the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act

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

On 24 May 2024, the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) received Royal Assent.

The Work Couch: Disability inclusion at work (Part 3): What does genuine accessibility look like? with Samantha Renke

Published on 03 Dec 2024.

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast series where we explore how your business can navigate today's tricky people challenges and respond to key developments in the ever-evolving world of employment law.