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Luxury today - go green or go home?

Published on 09 May 2023. By Chloe Shum, Legal Manager (pending admission)

"Sustainability" is the new buzzword in marketing.

Navigating the Future of Cybersecurity

Published on 09 Apr 2025. By Cai Pugh, Paralegal Apprentice

For UK businesses within scope, the upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill signifies an increased focus on reporting, supply chain security, and digital resilience, and is anticipated to align with the Network and Information Security (NIS 2) framework established in the European Union (EU).

Breaking the 'old boys club': financial services face cultural overhaul amid regulatory shifts

Published on 05 Sep 2024. By Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor

The financial services sector, a cornerstone of the UK economy, is facing growing scrutiny over its entrenched 'old boys club' culture. This long-standing environment not only hampers diversity and inclusion efforts but also risks triggering increased regulatory intervention.

Generating competition: What is driving competition regulators to focus on AI?

Published on 14 Aug 2024. By Nicholas McKenzie, Associate

It would be an understatement to say that AI has grown in popularity for businesses and consumers alike and this evolving technology is now expected to contribute an eye-watering $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

What might the new Labour government mean for UK business?

Published on 18 Jul 2024. By Emily Snow, Trainee Solicitor

On 4 July 2024, the Labour party won a landslide general election victory – its first since 2005. In the run up to the election, Labour billed itself as the party of "wealth creation", with Keir Starmer hailing this his "number one mission." Starmer stated that his plan for growth was “pro-worker and pro-business”.

Las Vegas of the East – Navigating Challenges and Embracing Economic Diversification in Macau

Published on 29 May 2024. By Abbie Cheung, Associate

Digital nomads: the world is your oyster?

Published on 08 May 2024. By Samantha Cheng, Trainee Solicitor

Imagine seeing the world while you work, without having to take time off. That's quite the dream, isn't it?

Trainees take on 2024

Published on 06 Feb 2024. By Dominic Barnes, Trainee Solicitor and Tom Butterfield, Associate and Victoria Lawman, Trainee Solicitor and Abigail Pipkin, Trainee Solicitor and Nicholas McKenzie, Associate and Michael Miles, Trainee Solicitor and Emily Snow, Trainee Solicitor and Emily Twomey, Trainee Solicitor and Mars Yeung, Associate

2023 was a year of change, with the Coronation of King Charles III, COVID-19 finally losing its pandemic status and continued economic and political instability across the globe.

Rumble in the concrete jungle – London as a disputes powerhouse

Published on 23 Jan 2024. By Lucas Johncey, Trainee Solicitor

"London is the most attractive centre for commercial litigation and international arbitration" according to the Law Society's International Data Insights Report 2023.

Advertising Video on Demand – To AVOD or avoid?

Published on 15 Sep 2023. By Niamh Greene, Associate

As most movie and TV streamers can attest to, Subscription Video on Demand services (or 'SVODs') continue to multiply. No need to put the kettle on while the adverts play; SVODs offer consumers an instant, ad-free escape to worlds unknown at just a click of a button.

Listing reforms in the UK: to market, to market?

Published on 19 Jul 2023. By Ali Chowdhry, Associate

The Financial Conduct Authority is proposing wide ranging reforms to the UK's Listings Rules to entice more high growth companies to list in London

Next-gen AI: Disrupting your business?

Published on 11 Apr 2023. By Nicholas McKenzie, Associate

It’s no secret the tech sector is going through a tough time at the moment with the large swathes of layoffs seen in 2022 continuing into 2023. So much so that bespoke trackers now actively monitor the 167,004 (and counting) tech jobs already lost this year.

Trainees take on 2023

Published on 02 Feb 2023. By Lauren Butler, Associate and Tom Butterfield, Associate and Ella Green, Associate and Rory Graham, Associate and Lewis Manning, Associate and Nicholas McKenzie, Associate and Emily Snow, Trainee Solicitor

2022 was a year of extremes, with focus on our longest-reigning Monarch alongside our shortest-serving Prime Minister (and a lettuce).

TGI…Thursday?

Published on 04 Jan 2023. By Megan Grew, Associate

What would you say if I offered you 100% of your salary and you only had to work four days a week? For the employees of 70 companies across the UK, this was their reality for the second half of 2022.

Myth busting and moving the dial in DEI

Published on 20 Aug 2024. By Kelly Thomson, Partner, ESG Strategy Lead and Rachel Pears, Head of Responsible Business 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.

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: 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 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, Head of Public Companies and Thomas Jenkins, Senior Associate 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 and Oliver Bray, Senior Partner 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 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 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 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 and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

UK pricing practices in the spotlight

Published on 10 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner 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 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.

The Work Couch: Disability inclusion at work (Part 2): Narratives, reasonable adjustments, and the business case for accessibility, with Samantha Renke

Published on 27 Nov 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.

A new era for sustainability consumer products: the EU’s new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

Published on 20 Nov 2024. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate, Environment and Climate Change Practice Lead and Sophie Parkinson, Associate

On 18 July 2024 the ESPR entered into force setting a framework for new ecodesign rules in the EU. It will have significant impacts for retailers and consumer brands selling products in the EU. It will introduce new minimum ecodesign requirements for specific product categories (with an initial focus on textiles), make digital product passports mandatory and set rules on the destruction of unsold products. Companies face the risk of fines, consumer claims and reputational damage for non-compliance.

The Work Couch: Disability inclusion at work (Part 1): The lived experience, with Samantha Renke

Published on 20 Nov 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.

The Work Couch: How to tackle seven tricky disciplinary issues, with Joanna Holford

Published on 06 Nov 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.

Product liability and safety legislative refurb

Published on 05 Nov 2024. By Gavin Reese, Partner, Head of Regulatory and Sally Lord, Knowledge Lawyer Manager

The current legislation governing product safety is the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), but its shortcomings, especially on tech, are evident.On 13 December 2024 the EU will be replacing the GPSD with the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), and the latest King’s Speech indicated it will be replaced in the UK by a Product Safety and Metrology Bill.Separately, EU Member States are rolling out a revised Product Liability Directive (PLD) which captures the provision of software, digital services and online marketplaces.

The EU Compliance headache you don't know you have? A priority primer on the European Accessibility Act

Published on 31 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Hettie Homewood , Senior Associate

It is now less than a year until the EU Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force, which will require businesses to ensure a range of products (eg smartphones and computers) and services (eg e-commerce services, consumer banking services, and ebooks) are accessible for persons with disabilities.