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.



Topic

Type



Immigration: In with the old

In this article, Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams discusses how the government’s 2022 immigration changes...


Press | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 9 Jun 2022



Monkeypox – Judith Rhule outlines issues for employers

As cases of monkeypox increase in the UK and around the world, how should employers react? Our employment partner Judith Rhule...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 27 May 2022



Amanda Lennon discusses how to negotiate a pay rise with Mirror

National newspaper The Mirror explores how employees should approach asking for a pay rise. The article includes contributions...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 20 May 2022



Anne Mannix comments on supporting employees with rising inflation

Inflation is at the highest level in 40 years and the cost of living crisis is starting to bite for many households. Leading HR...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 19 May 2022



Amanda Lennon discusses Goldman Sachs unlimited holiday policy with GB News

Investment bank Goldman Sachs has said its senior staff will be allowed to take as much holiday as they want, in a new...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 18 May 2022



Redeploying older workers - legal issues to consider

Many older workers are remaining in the workplace for longer and employers are keen to retain their skills and experience,...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 13 May 2022



Emma Gross discusses politics and workplace discrimination with HR Director Magazine

World politics can lead to heightened emotions at work, which may lead to claims of bullying or harassment. Our employment...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 10 May 2022



Amanda Lennon discusses HR implications of HRT shortage

The HRT shortage in the UK could mean that many women will experience debilitating perimenopause and menopause symptoms, which...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 5 May 2022



New right to work check processes

Is your organisation ready for the changes to right to work checking? Immigration and Global Mobility expert Samar Shams...


Webinar | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 3 May 2022



Tech Case Study: Belgian Data Protection Start-up

The Client The client is a Belgian start-up in the Data Protection support sector. The founders are two very young and bright...


Article | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 1 May 2022



Tech Tips: Legal safeguards for start-ups & scale-ups – protect your digital assets

Why do I need legal safeguards? Businesses pre and post-seed funding looking to grow and scale will need to attract and...


Article | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 1 May 2022



Tech Tips: Convertible loan note funding – Investor/Start-up pros and cons

What is it?  This is a method of funding for start-ups increasingly being used by business angels and other investors....


Article | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 1 May 2022



Video Bytes: An Introduction to Confidentiality Agreements

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Video | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 1 May 2022



Tech Case Study: PropTech Start-up

The Client The client is a well-funded start up in the Estate Agency support sector and the lead founder is an experienced and...


News | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 1 May 2022



Fudia Smartt welcomes proposals to record employment tribunals

Employment tribunals that are conducted remotely could soon be recorded. HR Magazine covers the story, and our employment...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 27 Apr 2022



Register of Overseas Entities owning UK land

Foreign investment in UK property continues to be a political hot topic, this time catalysed by the war in Ukraine. Legislation was rushed through Par...


News | Real Estate | Commercial Real Estate and Property
Posted: 20 Apr 2022



Anne Mannix discusses one year of IR35 with tech publication UKTN

IR35 – the off-payroll working rules – have been in force for a year. Tech news site UKTN considers the impact on tech...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 19 Apr 2022



Making Britain a global hub for cryptoasset technology and investment

This week the government announced moves that will see stablecoins recognised as a valid form of payment as part of wider plans...


Article | Financial Services | Technology & Telecoms | Commercial | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 7 Apr 2022



What will the introduction of no-fault divorce mean?

The new ‘no-fault divorce’ law comes into force TODAY, removing the need for couples to blame each other for the breakdown...


Article | Family Law
Posted: 6 Apr 2022



Set up in the UK with a Skilled Worker visa

Please note that the information provided below should not be taken as legal advice. Please contact Samar Shams, Partner –...


Article | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 31 Mar 2022



Edmund Probert discusses potential for new EU-US Privacy Shield with Compliance Week

Legal uncertainty has surrounded the transfer of data between the EU and US since the legal ruling in 2020 which struck down...


Press | Commercial | Intellectual Property | Information Technology
Posted: 28 Mar 2022



Dhana Doobay discusses how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is impacting telecoms with Mobile Europe

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is already having a major impact on telecoms. Mobile Europe considers the issues and our head of...


Press | Technology | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 28 Mar 2022



Hilesh Chavda comments on Dividend Tax increase in Daily Express

Our private client partner Hilesh Chavda discussed the Chancellor's Spring Statement with the Daily Express. An increase in the...


Press
Posted: 28 Mar 2022



Digital News Bytes March 2022

In Brief: Cyberattack preparedness: Google Cloud bolsters cybersecurity offering UK Telecoms (Security) Act 2021 in force – Ofcom’s prop...


Article | Technology | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 24 Mar 2022



Justin Murray discusses neurodiversity and hybrid workplaces

Hybrid working is now widespread due to extended periods of remote working during the pandemic. While the flexibility is...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 17 Mar 2022



The Rule is Change: New Immigration Rules published 15 March 2022

In this article, Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams explains the main upcoming changes to Immigration Rules...


Article | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 16 Mar 2022



Sponsor duties: It’s all fun and games until someone loses the right to work

Sponsoring non-UK nationals to work in the UK is popular as UK businesses compete for talent. Immigration and Global Mobility...


Webinar | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 14 Mar 2022



Prepare your organisation for changes to right to work checks

This article was published on 17 February 2022 and updated on 14 March 2022. A number of changes to right to work checks will...


Article | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 14 Mar 2022



Bryony Irvine joins Law Society Gazette discussion on hybrid working during the pandemic

When the first lockdown started in March 2020 the world of work changed overnight. Remote working impacted workers in diverse...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 14 Mar 2022



Edmund Probert discusses NY Times’ acquisition of Wordle with PC Pro

The lockdown word game phenomenon Wordle was bought by the New York Times for a reported £3 million in January. Our...


Press | Commercial | Intellectual Property | Information Technology
Posted: 14 Mar 2022



International Women’s Day and the gender pay gap

Businesses with a gender pay gap that shared posts about International Women’s Day were targeted by a twitter bot, which...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 14 Mar 2022



SRA guidance on law firm culture

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) recently published guidance on workplace environments in law firms which highlights...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 10 Mar 2022



Amanda Lennon discusses how to ask for a pay rise with Daily Mirror

International Women’s Day has again shone a light on the issue of the gender pay gap, and an article in the Daily Mirror...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 10 Mar 2022



Flexible working – the way forward

During the course of the last 2 years, while dealing with the restrictions and lockdown caused by the pandemic, we, as office...


Article | General
Posted: 9 Mar 2022



Hilesh Chavda discusses NFTs in Money Marketing

The non-fungible token (NFT) market is booming, but legislation has not caught up.   Our private client partner has...


Press
Posted: 8 Mar 2022



How will rising fuel costs due to the Ukraine conflict affect UK construction?

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in increased sanctions against Russia and exposed the vulnerability of the European...


Press | Construction, Engineering & Projects | Corporate & Commercial
Posted: 8 Mar 2022



London tube strike: Amanda Lennon outlines what HR teams need to know

Commuters in London have faced disruption this week due to a strike involving 10,000 tube workers. Issues like this require a...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 4 Mar 2022



COVID-19: changes to risk assessments, testing and self-isolation

COVID-19: Self-isolation requirements revoked from 24 February 2022, with a number of additional changes expected on April 1,...


News | Employment Law
Posted: 2 Mar 2022



Succession advice for entrepreneurs

Orchid Lee shares her advice on succession planning for entrepreneurs in an article for Just Entrepreneurs. Orchid explains:...


Press
Posted: 2 Mar 2022



Turning Strangers into Friends

Juliana Barbedo Carvalho from the Madrid office of Spencer West Spain is a multidisciplinary and international attorney with...


News | ESG
Posted: 2 Mar 2022



SRA Guidance on Workplace Culture

The SRA recently published guidance on workplace environments in law firms[1] (the ‘Guidance’) which highlights some of the...


Article | Employment Law
Posted: 28 Feb 2022



Digital News Bytes February 2022

In Brief: “Levelling up” - UK push for 5G/4G cell site access versus scaled-back gigabit broadband target? Spanish Government to target...


Article | Technology | Technology, Media, Telecoms
Posted: 25 Feb 2022



Employment Partner Dr John McMullen assumes new trustee role

Our Employment Partner Dr John McMullen has been appointed a trustee of Halifax Opportunities Trust. This is an example of...


News | Employment Law
Posted: 24 Feb 2022



A Culture of Community

Raquel Valle Sánchez, ESG Intern at Spencer-West, comes from a Spanish town with a strong community culture, so her commitment...


News | ESG | General
Posted: 23 Feb 2022



Emma Gross comments on HR and legal implications of career breaks

Career breaks are in the news after Jo Whitfield, the CEO of Co-op Food confirmed she was taking a career break this year to...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 21 Feb 2022



Sonya Bedford MBE interview – championing solar and wind energy

Spencer West Partner Sonya Bedford MBE has been flying the flag for sustainable energy for more than twenty years. She tells...


News | Energy & Natural Resources | ESG
Posted: 16 Feb 2022



Employment law partner Dr John McMullen’s new book on Redundancy Law and Practice receives a rave review from HR Director Magazine:

Our Employment law partner Dr John McMullen’s new book on Redundancy Law and Practice (now in its 4th edition) has received a...


News | Employment Law
Posted: 15 Feb 2022



Samar Shams offers advice to French speakers interested in UK visas

French speakers interested in UK visas will appreciate Immigration and Global Mobility Partner Samar Shams’s contributions to...


Press | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 14 Feb 2022



Samar Shams writes for People Management on labour shortages and immigration

The UK’s labour shortages were a major issue in 2021, affecting employers across many sectors. The shortages were caused by...


Press | Immigration & Global Mobility
Posted: 10 Feb 2022



Amanda Lennon writes for People Management on alcohol at work following government ‘partygate’ scandal

Following comments in Sue Gray’s report about Westminster’s culture of excessive drinking, our employment partner Amanda...


Press | Employment Law
Posted: 9 Feb 2022