News and Insights

Welcome to our News and Insights section. Here we’ll talk about the latest legal developments with our articles and videos. You can browse or search by practice area or sector. We’ll also let you know about changes at our firm including the expansion into new practice areas, sectors and locations.




23 Oct
2020
The future has arrived: post-Brexit immigration rules published

This article was written by Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams with support from Associate Partner Talitha...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


22 Oct
2020
The future has arrived: new immigration rules published

On 22 October 2020 the Home Office published the last pieces of the puzzle, the rules for sponsored worker visas replacing...

Webinar | Immigration


20 Oct
2020
What businesses need to do to prepare for the end of the post-Brexit transition period and the future immigration system

You may be concerned about your European staff or bewildered about planning for recruitment in line with the changes to...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


15 Oct
2020
Employment law – 5 tips for October Redundancy focus

This month we are focusing on some redundancy issues that have come up with particular reference to furlough but also to throw...

Article | Employment Law | Brexit


5 Oct
2020
Brexit EUIPO Update

EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) becomes an office of second filing for WIPO Digital Access Service for...

Article | Brexit


5 Oct
2020
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa and exceptional entry options

A special UK visa for those with British National Overseas (BN(O)) status in Hong Kong will be available from January 2021. The...

Article | Immigration | Private Client | Brexit


2 Oct
2020
The Job Support Scheme

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Job Support Scheme (JSS) on 24 September 2020 as part of the Winter Economy Plan. The six...

Article | Employment Law


30 Sep
2020
Future sponsorship advantages for shortage roles in the UK

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its recommendations on what jobs should be included on the Shortage...

Article | Immigration


29 Sep
2020
Delay claims in all their glory: A guide to dealing with delay in construction projects

Delay is a common feature of all construction projects globally. But how should a contractor successful navigate its way where...

Webinar | Construction & Engineering


29 Sep
2020
EEA family permits vs EU family permits

What is the difference between an EEA family permit and an EU family permit? Immigration and Global Mobility team members Samar...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


29 Sep
2020
Sponsored workers' roles in the future immigration system

What roles will be eligible for sponsorship in future? Car mechanics, electricians, plumbers and more! Immigration and Global...

Article | Immigration


17 Sep
2020
Insolvency within the supply chain in the construction industry and what to do about it - Part Five

Part Five   Introduction This week we look at what steps the Employer may take once a Contractor becomes insolvent. It...

Article | Insolvency & Restructuring | COVID-19


17 Sep
2020
Hong Kong – UK bridge: planning for coming to the UK webinar

Please join us for our ‘Hong Kong – UK bridge: planning for coming to the UK’ webinar. With the backdrop of political...

Webinar | Immigration | Real Estate | Private Client


17 Sep
2020
EU Settlement Scheme - Deadlines and Right to Work

When should you register for the EU Settlement Scheme? Now! In this video, our Immigration and Global Mobility team members...

Video | Immigration


17 Sep
2020
EU Settlement Scheme - Absences

In this video, Samar Shams and Talitha Degwa summarise residence requirements for Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme...

Video | Immigration


14 Sep
2020
The new Student route which replaces the current Tier 4 route

The government have announced that the current Tier 4 route will be replaced with the new Student and Child Student categories,...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


10 Sep
2020
Update - Home Office covid concession in relation to exceptional assurance.

Talitha's latest video takes a look at visa holders who intend to leave the UK but have not been able to do so and have a visa...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


4 Sep
2020
Update on Coronavirus and UK immigration

This update highlights the available policy information, the problems posed for visa holders and their employers and what they can do...


Webinar | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


4 Sep
2020
Updated Home Office Covid Concession

Take a look at our latest video from Talitha Degwa, Associate Partner - Immigration talking about the updated Home Office Covid...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


2 Sep
2020
The latest update on the Identity Verification App

Take a look at the latest update on the Identity Verification (IDV) App which the Home Office introduced to allow eligible...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


30 Aug
2020
Representative of Overseas Business

This video is for those interested in the Representative of Overseas Business visa. It covers the June 2020 changes to this...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


29 Aug
2020
The Innovator visa

The Innovator visa, for entrepreneurs wishing to set up and run a business in the UK, requires endorsement of a business plan,...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


28 Aug
2020
Global Talent

The Global Talent visa is more attractive than ever. Watch this short video for an overview with a focus on digital tech. Get...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


27 Aug
2020
Sponsoring skilled workers

The Government’s planned changes to sponsorship and the Tier 2 General visa, in particular, are summarised here by Samar...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


17 Aug
2020
Immigration updates

Had enough of trying to keep up to date with the fast-paced changes in the world of UK immigration? We highlight below the main...

Video | Immigration | Brexit


12 Aug
2020
Insolvency within the supply chain in the construction industry and what to do about it - Part Four

Part Four   Introduction This week in our series on insolvency within the supply chain in the construction industry, we...

Article | Insolvency & Restructuring | COVID-19


29 Jul
2020
Insolvency within the supply chain in the construction industry and what to do about it - Part Three

Part Three   Introduction This week we take a look at what practical and legal steps an Employer or Contractor can take to...

Article | Insolvency & Restructuring | COVID-19


27 Jul
2020
Employment law Tips for July 2020

This month we include some Coronavirus issues, but also a useful case in interpreting TUPE. 1. 88% of employees would be...

Article | Employment Law


17 Jul
2020
Insolvency within the supply chain in the construction industry and what to do about it - Part Two

Part Two   Introduction As part of this series, last week we looked at what we mean by “insolvency” as defined by the...

Article | Insolvency & Restructuring | COVID-19


14 Jul
2020
Details published on the UK’s future immigration system

‘The UK’s future immigration system’ is not a new immigration system. Rather, the government proposes further changes to...

Article | Immigration | Brexit


13 Jul
2020
Insolvency within the supply chain in the construction industry and what to do about it - Part One

Part One   Introduction The following statement appeared in Construction News (2 June 2020): “a total of 35...

Article | Insolvency & Restructuring | COVID-19


26 Jun
2020
The Court awaits trial of cover in respect of the Coronavirus

To date, a number of blogs have touched upon the Coronavirus and its effect on contested cover. There is no doubt that the...

Article | Insurance | COVID-19


23 Jun
2020
Remote control: Checking right to work documents for employees working from home

The Spencer West immigration team has been fielding a lot of queries about checking right to work documents whilst employees...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


19 Jun
2020
Concerning the interpretation of the Coronavirus on policy wordings

The Coronavirus was confirmed as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March 2020. As of 16 June 2020, deaths in...

Article | Insurance | COVID-19


12 Jun
2020
Let's get a reinsurer in....

I reported last week on the sensible initiative spearheaded by the FCA and lawyers for insurers aimed at sample trials of...

Article | Insurance | COVID-19


12 Jun
2020
Back to the Future of Work

A stellar panel of experts guided us through the trickiest return to work issues, including discrimination and staff refusals....

Article | Employment Law | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


11 Jun
2020
Is the expedient of competitive interviewing a fair method of selection for redundancy? - the decision in Gwynedd Council v Barrett

I longed for a way to write anything in the current situation without mentioning a certain horrible virus, but….. Business as...

Article | Employment Law | COVID-19


5 Jun
2020
Latest legal developments and business interruption policies

It is 7 a.m. and the radio alarm has spluttered into action. “Coronavirus” is the first word to be heard although much of...

Article | Insurance | COVID-19


5 Jun
2020
Sense and screenability: an analysis of the UK’s quarantine plan

In this article, Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams summarises the UK’s quarantine plan. She considers the...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


18 May
2020
UK recovery depends on skilled migrants

If you think that increased unemployment in the UK means that there is less need for work visas for overseas nationals, think...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


14 May
2020
Return to Work : Refusal and Discrimination

So, the PM has announced an ‘easing’ of the lockdown. Suffice to say that the measures have hardly been met with universal...

Article | Employment Law | COVID-19


14 May
2020
Immigration issues arising in the context of the return to work

Immigration status is not a protected characteristic, but employers of overseas nationals must navigate part-time work, right...

Article | Immigration | COVID-19 | Brexit


29 Apr
2020
After COVID-19: As a Contractor - are you prepared?

Our online panel discussion considered the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction industry in the UK. ...

Webinar | Construction & Engineering | COVID-19


16 Apr
2020
IR35 rules to be applied as of next year

In the UK Parliament on 17 March 2020, a deferral of the changes to IR35 has been announced (the off-payroll working law) in...

Article | Tax | COVID-19


16 Apr
2020
Announcement of tax measures by the UK authorities for the support of businesses and individuals

The UK government has announced financial support measures, including tax measures, to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 to the...

Article | Tax | COVID-19


8 Apr
2020
Senior Managers & Certification Regime ("SMCR"): Financial Crime and CASS

Introduction The SMCR is now the fertile ground from which CASS and Financial Crime should be considered. As the FCA themselves...

Article | Financial Services | COVID-19


7 Apr
2020
Watch our Webinar: COVID-19, immigration and employment - government policies and HR best practice

Listen to immigration expert Samar Shams and employment law expert Fudia Smartt on their engaging, interactive webinar on the...

Article | Employment Law | COVID-19


6 Apr
2020
COVID-19 Job Retention (“Furlough”) Scheme - Questions Answered Based on HMRC Guidance

1. Who can claim the furlough rebate? Any entity which has created and started PAYE payroll on, or before, 28 February 2020,...

Article | Employment Law | COVID-19


3 Apr
2020
Furlough Leave - update and what we now know that we didn’t a few days ago

  *We intend to keep this page up to date with the latest developments on Furlough leave, please bookmark it and check...

Article | Employment Law | COVID-19


2 Apr
2020
Dealing with Restrictive Covenants

1. Introduction A land owner who transfers some land, either by disposing of the freehold or by granting a lease, can by...

Webinar | Real Estate