Practical Law

Publication of the government’s Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is the key development this month. In-house lawyers will be evaluating the impact of the 28 employment law reforms contained within it and considering whether to the respond to the four six-week consultations arising from proposals in the ERB, which are due to close in the first … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in November 2024? →

I recently attended the Thomson Reuters Legal Innovation Summit 2024, and I’ve published a short article that focuses on the key themes discussed at the event.  These included navigating GenAI regulation, developing AI literacy, tips on implementing AI in both small and large legal departments, law firms’ approach to AI adoption and concerns about AI.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, will deliver the new government’s first budget update on 30 October 2024. In-house lawyers should also be aware of the publication of the FRC’s annual review of corporate reporting, a Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill and a Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, judgement in an important climate litigation … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in October 2024? →

A second report on the quality of corporate governance reporting by private companies following the Wates Corporate Governance Principles for Large Private Companies, a discussion paper on opportunities for future UK digital reporting, and the outcome of a consultation on a draft “Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill” are among the key developments for in-house lawyers … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in September 2024? →

Several Bills contained in the King’s Speech will be of interest to in-house lawyers, including the Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, and the Employment Rights Bill. Publication of the final UK Listing Rules and the EU AI Act are also noteworthy this month. Read more [subscription required].

The general election is on 4 July 2024 and the various manifestos published ahead of that date contain some statements that will be of interest to in-house lawyers. Other noteworthy developments include the publication of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, a consultation on a new code of conduct for directors, and a … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in July 2024? →

Rishi Sunak’s surprise announcement of a general election on 4 July 2024 is the key agenda item for in-house lawyers this month. Other developments to keep track of include the adoption by the Council of the EU of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, publication of a government White Paper on smarter regulation and new market … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in June 2024? →

Sustainability and artificial intelligence are among the key themes for in-house lawyers this month. Noteworthy developments include the European Parliament’s formal adoption at first reading of the final text of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the TUC’s publication of a draft Artificial Intelligence (Employment and Regulation) Bill. Read more [subscription required].

The headline development this month is the SRA’s publication of a suite of draft guidance to clarify the role of in-house solicitors. Another high-profile development is the European Parliament’s publication of the Artificial Intelligence Act. Read more [subscription required].

The Spring 2024 Budget is on Wednesday 6 March 2024. Publication of guidance on the 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code, the launch of a consultation on digital assets and the government response to its AI White Paper consultation are also noteworthy. Read more [subscription required].

Highlights this month include the publication of a new version of the UK Corporate Governance Code and a call for views on a draft Cyber Governance Code of Practice. The government has also published a Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy. Read more [subscription required].

The Financial Reporting Council is expected to publish a revised UK Corporate Governance Code in January 2024. In-house lawyers are also likely to be interested in the UAE Consensus, the main outcome of COP 28, and recent developments in greenwashing and artificial intelligence. Read more [subscription required].

Corporate reporting is a big theme this month, with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) publishing an update on its consultation on revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code and its annual review of corporate governance. In-house lawyers will also be digesting the implications of the 2023 Autumn Statement and the King’s Speech. Read more. [subscription … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in December 2023? →

The Chancellor will deliver the 2023 Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023. In-house lawyers should also take note of the withdrawal of the draft Companies (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, publication of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and consultations on non-financial reporting, regulatory reform, audit reform and atypical working.

The latest Centre for Legal Leadership webinar, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters, focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Jenny Block, General Counsel and Board Secretary at Ofwat, the economic regulator of the privatised water and sewerage industries, offered a regulator’s perspective. Christy Baker, General Counsel and Data Protection Officer at the multinational … Continue reading ESG: views from a regulator and a regulated business →

In-house lawyers are likely to be taking stock of the impact on their organisations of the significant changes to the UK government’s net zero targets and commitments this month. Two reports on the development of artificial intelligence and the imposition of a large fine by Ireland’s data protection regulator for a breach of the GDPR … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in October 2023? →

In September, the FRC consultation on proposed revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code closes and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is expected to publish its final disclosure framework. In-house lawyers should also take note of the launch of a consultation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on its draft guidance on biometric … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in September 2023? →

Publication of the draft Companies (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 and the first two IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards are among the most noteworthy recent developments. The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill has also received Royal Assent and in-house lawyers should be aware of two related consultations on flexible working arrangements.

A consultation on the UK Corporate Governance Code is the most high-profile development to keep track of this month. In-house lawyers should also be aware of a call for evidence for the non-financial reporting information review and another on the role that lawyers’ conduct can play in the misuse of non-disclosure agreements.

The latest Centre for Legal Leadership webinar, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters, focused on how to build and lead an in-house legal team. The discussion touched on a variety of topics, including client focus, collaboration, teamwork, recruitment, career development and hybrid working.

Consultations launched by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), on significant reform proposals to the UK listing regime, and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), on the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models, will be of interest to in-house lawyers. The High Court’s decision to refuse ClientEarth permission for its derivative claim against … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in June 2023? →

Publication of climate change guidance for solicitors and a statement on post COVID-19 AGM practices and shareholder rights are among the key developments this month. In-house lawyers should also be aware of a consultation on the Data Protection and Digital Information (No 2) Bill.

The Thomson Reuters Institute’s 2023 State of the Corporate Law Department report examines law department leaders’ key priorities for this year. The findings are the result of 1,569 interviews with professionals from corporate law departments of companies with more than $1 billion in global revenue.

Diversity on boards is a key theme this month due to the recent publication of reports by the FTSE Women Leaders Review and the Parker Review Committee. Developments in the electronic execution of documents and UK Immigration Rules are also noteworthy.

In this year’s first Centre for Legal Leadership webinar, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters, the speakers discussed their experiences of working in-house, both in government and in large multinational organisations, and also provided some tips on how to build a successful career as an in-house lawyer.

The Alternative Legal Services Providers 2023 Report, published by the Thomson Reuters Institute, the Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law, and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, reveals an evolving market in which the boundaries between alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), law firms, corporate law departments, and even … Continue reading Key trends from the Alternative Legal Service Providers 2023 Report →

The Spring 2023 Budget is on Wednesday 15 March. In-house lawyers should also take note of two developments in the High Court initiated by environmental NGO, ClientEarth, and progress of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill.

The progress of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, a review into the government’s net zero target, two employment-related consultations and an investigation into greenwashing are among the key developments for in-house lawyers to track this month.

HM Treasury’s Edinburgh Reforms, and in particular how the government will make its proposed changes to the existing prospectus and public offers regime, are likely to be of interest to many in-house lawyers. Publication of directives on corporate sustainability reporting and the gender balance of boards of listed companies are noteworthy too.

Crisis management has been a feature of many in-house lawyers working lives in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This year’s final Centre for Legal Leadership webinar, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters, focused on an in-house lawyer’s role in handling a crisis. Themes raised during the discussion included the … Continue reading The role of the in-house lawyer in handling a crisis →

The Thomson Reuters Institute has published the 2022 edition of the Legal Department Operations (LDO) Index report. The data in the report includes real-world legal spend analytics gathered from Thomson Reuters’ Legal Tracker and sourced from 1,500 corporate law departments. It is complemented by responses from 107 law departments to a Thomson Reuters survey conducted … Continue reading Thomson Reuters Institute: 2022 Legal Department Operations Index →

Practical Law has published a report on the key trends from the 2022 reporting and AGM season. The report considers, among other things, the format of AGMs over the past year, workforce engagement methods, diversity on boards and shareholder and board-proposed climate resolutions. It also contains a section on trends within the AIM UK 50, … Continue reading Annual reporting and AGMs 2022: What’s Market practice? →

Corporate governance is a hot topic this month, with several noteworthy announcements. In-house lawyers should also keep an eye on developments in executive remuneration, women on boards and climate change.

Thomson Reuters was the lead sponsor of The Economist’s 19th annual General Counsel (GC) Summit, where risk, resilience and leadership were the headline topics for discussion. Here are my thoughts on the themes from across the day.

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has confirmed that an Autumn Statement, rather than a “Medium-term Fiscal Plan”, will be delivered in November. This month, in-house lawyers should also keep track of the progress of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, and climate change and data protection developments.

How to design and deliver a valued legal service to your organisation was the topic of conversation at the latest Centre for Legal Leadership webinar, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters. This post summarises the key talking points.

LawCare held its inaugural conference, Building a Better Life in the Law, at the end of September. Speakers and panellists from across the profession gave their thoughts on how to make the law a happier place to work. Here are my key takeaways.

This month, in-house lawyers will be assessing the impact of the announcements made in the government’s “Growth Plan 2022”. They should also take note of the publication of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, and two reports by the FRC Lab.

An emergency budget is likely in September due to the forthcoming change in leadership of the Conservative Party and therefore the country. In-house lawyers should also take note of recent developments in relation to climate change, digital assets and employment law.

Over the summer, in-house lawyers should keep abreast of developments across a range of areas, including climate change, data protection, sanctions, employment discrimination and artificial intelligence.

Publication of the government’s response to the BEIS consultation on restoring trust in audit and corporate governance is likely to be of interest to many businesses. In addition, the FRC has published a consultation on public reporting of audit firms’ firm-level audit quality indicators and updated its guidance on the strategic report.

The Centre for Legal Leadership’s latest webinar, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters, focused on strategies for progressing your career. This post highlights the key talking points from the session.

Last month I attended my first Alternative In-house Technology Summit. One of the aims of the event is to help GCs and heads of legal operations build the internal business case for technology investment by gathering success stories from their industry peers. Here are some themes that resonated with me.

Several Bills included in the Queen’s Speech are likely to be of significance to in-house lawyers. They may also be interested in a bribery case brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and recent developments in narrative reporting.

This month in-house lawyers should keep an eye on developments in corporate reporting, changes to the UK Immigration Rules, guidance on reducing the spread of respiratory infections (including COVID-19) in the workplace, and consultations on improving mental health and wellbeing.

The Thomson Reuters Institute has recently published its 2022 State of Corporate Law Departments report. The report captures the experiences of more than 2,000 senior in-house and private practice lawyers globally. One of the headlines from the report is that 43% of those corporate law department leaders surveyed said that they expect their departments’ total … Continue reading Thomson Reuters Institute: 2022 State of Corporate Law Departments report →

The crisis in Ukraine (and the associated developing regime of sanctions against Russia) remains at the top of the agenda for businesses this month. In-house lawyers should also keep track of developments in economic crime, corporate transparency and corporate governance.

The Centre for Legal Leadership’s first webinar of 2022, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters, considered how in-house lawyers can be influential within their organisations, why this is so important and why it is sometimes difficult to achieve.

In March, in-house lawyers will need to be keep abreast of the crisis in Ukraine (and the associated regime of sanctions against Russia), together with developments related to COVID-19, ESG and women on boards.

Following the government’s removal of its work from home guidance, many businesses are likely to be organising another return to the office push in February. This month, in-house lawyers should also take note of the forthcoming introduction of mandatory climate-related financial disclosures and consultations on corporate taxation and environmental protection.

COVID-19 returned to the top of the business agenda this month, with the possibility of further restrictions on commercial activity in January. In-house lawyers should also take note of two significant fines for anti-money laundering failings and a large fine for a data breach.

The Centre for Legal Leadership’s final webinar of 2021, hosted in conjunction with Thomson Reuters, considered working effectively across the organisation. This post highlights the themes raised by the panellists and via questions from the audience. Understand the business Get out into the business so that you can really understand it. Your aim as an … Continue reading Working effectively across the organisation →

In-house lawyers should be aware of several key climate change announcements made during COP26 and of the publication of the Environment Act 2021. In addition, this month there have been noteworthy developments in diversity and inclusion, and corporate governance.

At the beginning of the month, I attended The Economist’s General Counsel (GC) summit in London, which brought together a cross-section of senior in-house counsel from a range of industry sectors. Here are some of the themes discussed across the day.

The Centre for Legal Leadership’s latest webinar, hosted in conjunction with Practical Law, looked at leading and managing in-house legal teams. This post highlights the main themes covered in the discussion. Leadership is a mindset Being a leader is about more than simply being a manager; it’s a mindset. Leaders need to be curious and … Continue reading Leading and managing in-house legal teams →

Key developments for in-house lawyers this month focus on climate change, with the 26th conference of the parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held in Glasgow on 1-12 November 2021. In advance of COP 26, the government has published its long-awaited Net Zero Strategy.

Last week I attended Legal Geek and, embracing the new hybrid working world, my first day was online and the second was at the venue in Brick Lane, London. Although Legal Geek continues to focus on legal tech, and in particular start-ups, this year there were some interesting sessions that examined the legal industry more … Continue reading Legal Geek 2021 →

The Autumn 2021 Budget will be delivered on 27 October, while changes to the Immigration Rules come into force on 1 October and the extended deadline for gender pay gap reporting ends on 5 October. The government has also published a consultation proposing reforms to the current right for employees to request flexible working.

Last week The Centre for Legal Leadership hosted the latest in its series of webinars in conjunction with Practical Law on building your resilience, reputation and personal networks. This post discusses the key themes that were covered during the session.

Businesses will be continuing to digest the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report, which highlights the urgency for companies to achieve a net zero transition. In-house lawyers may also be interested in responding to two consultations by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on data protection and a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultation on diversity … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in September 2021? →

This month, in-house lawyers should be aware of consultations on the National Security and Investment Act and the UK prospectus regime. They should also take note of the government’s response to the consultation on workplace sexual harassment.

At the end of June, The Centre for Legal Leadership hosted the third in a series of webinars in conjunction with Practical Law on developing your career in-house. This post explores some of the themes that the panellists discussed during the session and that were raised in questions from an online audience.

Businesses will be anticipating England’s expected move from Step 3 to Step 4 of its roadmap out of lockdown on 19 July 2021. In-house lawyers should also take note of the Law Commission’s recently-launched consultation on corporate criminal liability.

Last month, The Centre for Legal Leadership hosted the second in a series of webinars in conjunction with Practical Law on structuring and resourcing your legal team. This post highlights some of the themes discussed.

The government hopes to remove all legal limits on social contact in England from 21 June 2021, at the earliest. In May a new data sharing code of practice was laid before Parliament and, in the absence of any objections, will come into force after 40 sitting days. In-house lawyers may also be interested in … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in June 2021? →

A further relaxation of lockdown restrictions in England are expected on 17 May 2021 and the first repayments under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme are also due in May. Aside from COVID-19, in-house lawyers should also take note of the publication of the UK’s 6th carbon budget, which will require greenhouse gas emissions to be … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in May 2021? →

Lockdown restrictions are expected to be eased in England from 12 April 2021. Restart Grants will be available in England from 1 April and, from 6 April, the Recovery Loan Scheme will open to all UK businesses and most changes to the Immigration Rules will come into force.

At the start of the month, The Centre for Legal Leadership hosted the first of a series of webinars in conjunction with Practical Law on ethics and the in-house lawyer. Here is a summary of the key themes that were discussed at the event. What are legal ethics? In the “standard conception of legal ethics”, … Continue reading Ethics and the in-house lawyer →

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will deliver the Spring 2021 Budget on 3 March 2021 where, among other things, he is expected to announce the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Many businesses will be eagerly anticipating today’s announcement of the government’s plan for exiting the lockdown restrictions in England and how it will affect their … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in March 2021? →

Earlier this month I chaired a meeting of the Practical Law In-house Consultation Board where the topic of conversation was how COVID-19 has affected the management of legal teams. Here are some of the key points from that discussion. Dealing with the move to remote working The sudden move to remote working in spring 2020 … Continue reading Managing legal teams during the COVID-19 pandemic →

Current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are likely to continue throughout February and many businesses affected by the restrictions will be interested in the recent Supreme Court decision concerning business interruption insurance. In-house lawyers should also keep their eye on recent developments in corporate governance and climate change.

Despite the impending end of the Brexit transition period, negotiations between the UK and the European Union over a trade deal are still ongoing. As no agreement is in place, a no-deal Brexit remains a possibility. COVID-19 restrictions will continue to have a major impact on commercial activity in January and beyond, particularly in the … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in January 2021? →

The Brexit transition period will end at 11.00 pm on 31 December 2020. In addition, England’s 28-day lockdown ends on 2 December 2020, and the majority of the upcoming changes to the immigration rules will take effect on 1 December 2020.

Further COVID-19 related restrictions were introduced in October and more restrictions on commercial activity during November are possible. The COVID-19 Job Support Scheme opens on 1 November 2020, while Brexit negotiations are also likely to continue throughout the month.

COVID-19 will continue to be at the top of the agenda in October. The reintroduction of measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus is expected to hit businesses in the hospitality sector particularly hard and there is no guarantee that further controls will be not be imposed in the future. The Coronavirus Job … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in October 2020? →

Further changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme come into effect from 1 September 2020. Organisations will also need to continue to assess the impact of the European Court of Justice’s decision invalidating the EU-US Privacy Shield.

Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme come into effect from 1 August 2020, while two Brexit-related consultations close this month too. In-house lawyers will also need to consider the impact of the ECJ decision on the EU-US Privacy Shield.

Many businesses will benefit from the further relaxation of the lockdown restrictions in England that will take effect from 4 July 2020. From 1 July 2020 employers can also bring furloughed employees back to work while still being able to claim under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in relation to hours not worked. Brexit-wise, progress … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in July 2020? →

The government’s publication of its COVID-19 recovery strategy, together with guidance on working safely during the pandemic, has at least provided business with a starting point for planning a return to work. However, companies in many industry sectors remain unsure when and how they will be back in business. Brexit has been understandably overshadowed recently … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in June 2020? →

COVID-19 continues to be the only topic of conversation this month, with businesses anxious to learn when and how the government will start to lift the lockdown restrictions.

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will dominate the agenda for all businesses in April 2020 and the months ahead. Separately, in-house lawyers should also take note of a raft of employment law changes that take effect this month.

Key items on the agenda for in-house lawyers this month include the 2020 Budget, and developments on Brexit (particularly business immigration), climate change and artificial intelligence.

The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) hosted its third annual event in London last week attracting over 400 attendees from more than 25 countries. Although legal operations is not as well established here as it is in the United States, the size and scale of this event highlights its growing significance in the UK legal … Continue reading CLOC: building resilient teams →

The UK will leave the EU at 11pm (UK time) on 31 January 2020. Brexit planning will remain at the top of the agenda for in-house lawyers in February, and for the remainder of the year, as they prepare for the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.

Following the Conservative Party’s decisive general election victory, the likelihood is that the UK will leave the EU on 31 January 2020 with a withdrawal agreement. This month, in-house lawyers should also keep an eye on developments on the future of audit, climate change and artificial intelligence.

In addition to the general election on 12 December 2019, this month in-house lawyers should also be keeping an eye on developments in corporate governance and climate change reporting, data protection and cyber security.

Thomson Reuters hosted its second Legal and Technology Procurement Conference last week. Here are some key takeaways from a panel session on how lawyers can overcome the challenges of digital disruption and adoption. Understand the problem you are trying to solve Writing a detailed problem statement is a vital first step. You need to focus … Continue reading Digital disruption and adoption: overcoming challenges for lawyers →

Legal Geek once again provided plenty of food for thought for in-house lawyers. To my mind, this year’s key themes centred around innovation, collaboration and client-focus. Empathetic lawyers; not robot lawyers “Behave like a robot and you will be replaced by one. Work like a robot and you should be replaced by one.” This quote, … Continue reading Key themes for in-house lawyers from Legal Geek 2019 →

As well as the ongoing uncertainty around Brexit, this month new SRA regulations come into force and Thomson Reuters hosts its second Legal & Technology Procurement Conference.

With the UK due to leave the EU on 31 October 2019, Brexit planning remains top of the agenda for in-house lawyers this month. Other developments of note concern the supply of statutory audit services and Good Work Plan proposals to help working parents.

Despite the Parliamentary recess, Brexit still dominates the agenda as the new Prime Minister grapples with his role and sets out his strategy. The deadline of 31 October 2019 is fast approaching, with many analysts indicating that a no deal is now more likely than ever. As such, no deal planning remains the key risk … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in September 2019? →

In addition to “no deal” Brexit planning, key items on the agenda this month include the large fines imposed for breaching the GDPR, some climate change developments, and consultations on the future of audit and gender equality.

With the announcement of a new Prime Minister due in July, Brexit remains at the top of the agenda for businesses. This month there are also some corporate governance developments to keep an eye on and Thomson Reuters is hosting its annual GC Leadership Summit.

In addition to Brexit, key focus areas for in-house lawyers this month include climate change, corporate transparency and smart contracts.

The key Brexit development this month was the agreement reached on 11 April 2019 between the European Council and the UK government to extend the Article 50 period for a second time.

This month, beyond Brexit, in-house lawyers should be keeping track of developments in audit, executive remuneration reform, cyber security and artificial intelligence.

On 29 March 2019, the House of Commons voted against a government motion for the approval of the withdrawal agreement (but not the political declaration). This means that the UK is now due to leave the EU on 12 April 2019 without a deal. No-deal Brexit planning guidance continued to be published throughout March.

Continued uncertainty surrounding the date of Brexit ensures it remains at the top of the agenda for in-house lawyers this month. Other areas of focus include corporate governance reform and a consultation on the use of confidentiality clauses in situations of workplace harassment or discrimination.

On 26 February 2019, the Prime Minister gave a statement to the House of Commons (HoC) in which she confirmed that a second meaningful vote on her Brexit deal would take place no later than 12 March 2019. Guidance on no-deal Brexit planning continued to be published throughout February.

With the UK scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, Brexit planning remains paramount for in-house lawyers this month. Nevertheless, they should also be keeping abreast of developments in corporate governance, environmental reporting and gender pay gap reporting.

The House of Commons (HoC) delivered the biggest parliamentary defeat of any Prime Minister in British history as MPs emphatically rejected Theresa May’s Brexit deal on 15 January 2019. No-deal Brexit planning continued throughout the month.

Brexit remains at the top of the agenda this month but in-house lawyers should also be keeping track of reforms to corporate governance, audit and employment law.

The week before Christmas saw several developments in relation to the UK audit market, including publication of the final report of the Kingman review. Meanwhile the government announced extensive employment law reforms following the Taylor Review and published a White Paper on the UK’s future skills-based immigration system. The Court of Appeal also gave judgment … Continue reading What you may have missed over the festive break →

Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to defer the meaningful vote on her Brexit deal in December and the vote will now take place during the week commencing 14 January 2019. In another key development, the ECJ gave hope to the anti-Brexit lobby by ruling on 10 December 2018 that the UK could unilaterally revoke … Continue reading Brexit: December 2018 round-up →

In addition to Brexit planning, this month in-house lawyers should also be aware of new initiatives on corporate governance, tackling poor payment practices, and improving reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing.

November was a pivotal month for Brexit negotiations with the publication  of the full text of the draft UK-EU withdrawal agreement, and the political declaration on the framework for the future UK-EU relationship (the deal). The House of Commons will debate and vote on a motion to approve the deal over five days, with the … Continue reading Brexit: November 2018 round-up →

Earlier this month I attended Practical Law’s inaugural Legal and Technology Procurement Conference. Many of the themes highlighted in my Legal Geek 2018 post were again hot topics of debate and there were engaging sessions on legal procurement strategy, improving operational efficiency and overcoming the challenges of implementing legal tech. Here are my top ten takeaways.

Brexit planning dominates the agenda this month but in-house lawyers should also keep an eye on corporate governance reforms,  new regulations introducing personal liability for  directors for unlawful direct marketing, and two consultations on the future of audit.

Legal Geek 2018 attracted more than 2,000 people from over 40 countries and this year the event included a second stage aimed at the in-house market. It hosted some thought-provoking speakers and lively panel discussions, and one of the overarching themes was how customer behaviour is driving change and making digital transformation necessary for every … Continue reading Legal Geek 2018: key takeaways for in-house lawyers →

The key agenda items this month include changes to the UK Immigration Rules, and the launch of consultations on further measures to tackle late payment of smaller businesses and mandatory ethnic pay reporting.

This month the government published the second and third tranches of technical notices giving guidance to UK businesses and citizens on how to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. The Migration Advisory Committee also published its recommendations for the UK’s post-Brexit work immigration system.

Key items on the agenda for in-house lawyers this month include digesting the second tranche of no deal Brexit technical notices, the launch of a consultation on electronically executed documents, and a key decision on litigation privilege in internal investigations.

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include a consultation on a new Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, the launch of an independent review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, a report on gender pay gap reporting and publication of revised guidance on the strategic report.

The most significant developments in July were the publication of two government white papers: the first on the future UK-EU relationship, and the second on legislating for the withdrawal agreement between the UK and EU.

This month, in-house lawyers will be continuing to digest the new version of the UK Corporate Governance Code, which was published in July, together with the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) revised version of its Guidance on Board Effectiveness.

Key developments in June included the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 being given Royal Assent and the government’s publication of a UK proposal for an Ireland border backstop option in the withdrawal agreement.

The revised Corporate Governance Code and updated Guidance on the Strategic Report are  due in July. Other key items on the agenda this month include consultations on personal liability for directors for nuisance calls, and on periodic financial information and inside information. Thomson Reuters is also hosting its annual GC Leadership Summit on 3 July … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in July 2018? →

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19 completed its passage through the House of Lords this month. The Department for Exiting the European Union and the European Commission also jointly published a document setting out the topics for discussion in the negotiations on the framework for the future UK-EU relationship.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became directly applicable across the EU today. Companies will be continuing to digest the raft of new and updated guidance on the GDPR that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published in the run-up to the implementation date. Other items on the agenda for businesses this month include the expected … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in June 2018? →

The most significant Brexit developments this month centred around the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19, which reached the Report Stage in the House of Lords.

By far the most significant developments this month surround data protection and privacy. On 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) (GDPR) will become directly applicable in all EU member states.

The key development this month was the publication of a revised version of the draft Article 50 withdrawal agreement, which highlights the areas on which the European Commission and the UK government now agree.

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include the due date for publication of the first gender pay gap reports and the continuing countdown to implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) (GDPR).

The most significant development in February came right at the end of the month when the European Commission published a draft text of the UK-EU withdrawal agreement.

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include the countdown to implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) (GDPR) and the government’s response to the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices.

Several Brexit-related Bills continued their passage through Parliament during January, including the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19, the Trade Bill 2017-2019 and the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill. Near the end of the month, the General Council (Article 50) adopted a Council Decision and supplementary negotiating directives for the Brexit negotiations, which set out the … Continue reading Brexit: January 2018 round-up →

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include the expected publication of secondary legislation on corporate governance reform and the deadline for responses to the FRC consultation on proposed revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code.

The breakthrough in Brexit negotiations which enabled the European Commission to recommend that sufficient progress had been made to proceed to the next phase of Article 50 negotiations was by far the most significant development in December.

“Although automation is having an impact on legal services, LawTech is lagging behind other sectors, such as FinTech and RegTech.” This was one of my key takeaways from a recent AI for professional services event that helped contextualise the progress that the legal sector has made in adopting new technology.

Corporate governance remains near the top of the agenda for businesses following the FRC’s publication of its consultation on proposed revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code. Companies will also be interested in the publication of the new UK Anti-corruption Strategy and upcoming changes to the UK Immigration Rules.

Two key Brexit-related Bills were introduced into Parliament in November: the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill 2017-19 and the Trade Bill 2017-2019. David Davis also announced that a Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill (which will implement into UK law the major policies in any withdrawal agreement agreed between the UK and the EU) will be brought … Continue reading Brexit: November round-up →

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include responding to the FRC’s review of the UK Corporate Governance Code, maintaining a focus on improving gender diversity at leadership level and continuing to prepare for the GDPR.

The European Council’s conclusion that sufficient progress had not yet been achieved in Brexit negotiations on withdrawal matters to move on to discussing the framework for the future relationship and transitional arrangements was the most significant development in October.

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include helping your organisation take action to improve ethnic diversity at leadership level, considering whether to make a voluntary modern slavery statement and continuing to prepare for the GDPR.

Theresa May’s Brexit speech in Florence and the fourth round of negotiations between the UK and the EU were the key developments in September. Earlier in the month, the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19 received its second reading in the House of Commons.

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include assessing the government’s proposals on corporate governance reform, continuing to prepare for the GDPR and several changes to intellectual property legislation.

The UK government published a flurry of Brexit position papers in August, including papers on continuity in availability of goods and confidentiality, and access to documents; the exchange and protection of personal data; cross-border civil judicial cooperation; and enforcement and dispute resolution.

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include the expected publication of the Data Protection Bill, the coming into force of the corporate offence of failure to prevent facilitation of tax evasion and dealing with the implications of the Supreme Court’s judgment on employment tribunal fees.

The key developments this month were the government’s introduction of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19 and publication of a joint UK-EU technical note on citizen’s rights.

The key developments this month were the formal start of Brexit negotiations and the publication of several Brexit-related Bills in the 2017 Queen’s Speech.

Key items on the agenda for businesses this month include digesting the implications of the new Bills and proposals announced in the Queen’s Speech, reviewing a report on directors’ remuneration voting trends and continuing preparations for GDPR.

The key event this month is the general election on 8 June. In-house lawyers may also be interested in new research highlighting an increase in legal cases against FTSE100 companies and the expected publication of the Taylor review on modern employment practices.

The Conservative Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrat Party have published their manifestos for the General Election on 8 June 2017. They contain several policy statements of interest to in-house lawyers.

Key developments in April included the European Council’s adoption of EU negotiating guidelines for Brexit and the publication of a report by the House of Commons Exiting the European Union Committee on the UK government’s negotiating objectives.

Theresa May’s announcement of a general election on 8 June 2017, and the accompanying period of “purdah”,  will have an impact on several issues that in-house lawyers have been tracking recently, in particular the various proposals on corporate governance reform. Other notable developments this month include final guidance on gender pay gap reporting and two consultations … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in May 2017? →

Key developments in March included the government triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union and publication of the government’s White Paper: Legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Key items on the agenda for businesses in April include the start of the first reporting periods for large companies on payment practices and performance, the countdown to go-live for the Small Business Commissioner’s complaints function and data gathering in anticipation of the first gender pay gap reports. April is typically a busy month for … Continue reading What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in April 2017? →

Alternative suppliers comprise a new and fast-growing sector of the legal market. According to a study by Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, The Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at Georgetown University Law Center and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) now account for $8.4 billion … Continue reading Alternative legal service providers study: key points for in-house lawyers →

Key developments in February included publication of the White Paper setting out what the UK government seeks to achieve in negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU and the progress of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill 2017 through Parliament.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in March include corporate governance, guidance on audit tendering, the launch of the National Cyber Security Centre and the spring Budget.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in February include a consultation on the reform of corporate criminal liability, guidance on the duty to report on payment practices and performance, and assistance with complying with the General Data Protection Regulation.

There have been several important Brexit developments in the past few weeks, including the Supreme Court’s decision on triggering Article 50 and publication of the government’s European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in January include the government’s Green Paper on corporate governance reform, the duty to report on payment practices and performance and the rise of the “gig economy”.

The High Court has applied the controversial Court of Appeal decision in Three Rivers (No 5) holding that certain employees of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) did not form part of the “client” for the purposes of legal advice privilege.

This round-up summarises the developments that generated the most interest from in-house lawyers in the past three months, including government proposals on corporate governance, preparing for the GDPR, the EU-US Privacy Shield, Brexit and several interesting High Court decisions.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in December include government proposals on corporate governance reform, reports on improving board diversity, ending quarterly reporting and continuing preparations for GDPR. There are also some developments to look out for which are expected in early 2017.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in November include the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, evaluating the first international anti-bribery management system standard and reviewing the Criminal Finances Bill. All in-house lawyers should also be aware that the new CPD regime will become compulsory on 1 November.

This round-up summarises the employment-related developments that generated the most interest from in-house lawyers in the past three months, including the delay of the gender pay gap reporting regulations, the introduction of the illegal working offence and the implications of Brexit on employment law in the UK. It also highlights several key employment cases.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in October include a likely consultation on a proposed Criminal Finances Bill, an inquiry into corporate governance and new minimum wage rates.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in September include reviewing revised directors’ remuneration reporting guidance, analysing the issues for boards to consider in the light of Brexit and keeping track of EU-US Privacy Shield developments.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in August include dealing with the aftermath of the EU referendum result, managing the compliance requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and implementing guidance on the Market Abuse Regulation.

This round-up summarises the developments that generated the most interest from in-house lawyers in the past three months, including Brexit, the formal approval of the General Data Protection Regulation, the implementation of the Market Abuse Regulation, the anti-corruption summit, the first compensation order for workers kept in modern slavery, and a number of interesting commercial … Continue reading In-house round-up: Summer 2016 →

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in July include dealing with the implications of the EU referendum result, the introduction of the new EU market abuse regime and the publication of the Briggs review of the civil courts structure.

Key themes and developments on the agenda for businesses in June include the EU referendum, responding to announcements made at the anti-corruption summit, changes to company filing requirements and starting preparations for the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation.

I recently read Tom Bangay’s blog post on how the UK arm of international energy company E.ON reduced its pool of external legal advisors from around 40 to just one: Pinsent Masons. The post highlights four key themes that will resonate with businesses.

Key developments on the agenda for businesses in May include the approval of a new EU Trade Secrets Directive, a consultation on the E-Privacy Directive and changes in the recruitment industry.

This round-up summarises the developments that generated the most interest with in-house lawyers in the first three months of 2016, including the new PSC register requirements, Brexit, gender pay gap reporting, EU and US privacy shield and the 2016 Budget.

Key developments on the agenda for businesses in April 2016 include the introduction of the PSC register and the national living wage, and the adoption of a new directive on trade secrets. The adoption of the new General Data Protection Regulation is now not expected until the summer.

Key developments on the agenda for businesses in March 2016 include the publication of gender pay gap regulations, the start of modern slavery reporting and the UK Budget.