REUTERS | Gloabl Creative Services (no copyright)
November 2, 2020

Please! Save us from your mutant algorithms! An Accountability for Algorithms Act?

As the heady clamour of this summer’s exam results algorithm fiasco fades into the darkening evenings of UK winter, the recent proposals for an “Accountability for Algorithms Act” by the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) are pretty timely, to say the least.

The proposals, supported by an op-ed in The Times by David Davis MP, aim for “an overarching, principles-driven approach to put people at the heart of developing and taking responsibility for AI, ensuring it is designed and used in the public interest.” Continue reading →

REUTERS | Maxim Shemetov
October 26, 2020

What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in November 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.

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REUTERS | Jorge Adorno
October 21, 2020

Are there “digital gaps” in our law?

In February 2016 an 18-year-old cyclist, travelling at 18 mph on a fixed-wheel track bike with no front brakes, crashed into and killed a 44-year-old woman as she was crossing Old Street in London. The tragic accident exposed a potential gap in UK criminal law.

The offence of causing death by careless and dangerous driving applied only to “mechanically-propelled vehicles”, which excluded bicycles. The offence of “dangerous cycling” (without causing death or injury) covered only the manner of the cycling, unlike the dangerous driving offence, which covers both the manner of the driving and the state of the driven vehicle.

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REUTERS | Mike Blake
October 8, 2020

The culture and practice of law

Life in the law can be fantastic; many individuals thrive in this fast-paced, high-pressure industry and are very successful and happy. However, that is the not the case for everyone. Lawyers and support staff regularly contact LawCare to talk about feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious and burnt out. We hear about long hours, demanding bosses, incivility from clients, a feeling of never being good enough or getting things done, and the constant dread of making a mistake.

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REUTERS | Louafi Larbi
October 5, 2020

Thomson Reuters’ Mental Health Day: embedding wellbeing into the workplace

2020 has been quite a year. Back in February, few of us could have imagined that we would be spending much of the year grounded – stranded even – at home. We are now living with constant concern for the health and livelihoods of our loved ones, friends and ourselves. The overriding feeling that we are not in control of events is a consistent source of stress and fatigue. Continue reading →

REUTERS | Jason Lee
October 1, 2020

Is public health expertise needed in UK boardrooms?

In August, the dean of Harvard’s school of public health, Michelle Williams, called on companies to appoint public health professionals to their boards and C-Suite to help manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may hang over businesses for years to come. Does such a call apply to UK boardrooms, their structure and the responsibilities of UK non-executive directors (NEDs)?

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REUTERS | Dominic Ebenbichler
September 28, 2020

What’s on the agenda for in-house lawyers in October 2020?

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 Retention Scheme ends on 31 October 2020 and will be succeeded by the Job Support Scheme from 1 November 2020.

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REUTERS | Esam Al-Fetori
September 21, 2020

How to transition to a leadership role with ease

All careers involve transition, but it isn’t always an easy thing to navigate. How can we usefully think about this process and, crucially, how can we ensure that the transition to leadership is as smooth and successful as possible?

Over the years, we will all find ourselves in the midst of serious workplace upheaval. For example:

  • Moving roles.
  • Securing promotions.
  • Changing organisations.
  • Relocating.
  • Taking time off.

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REUTERS | Ognen Teofilovski
September 11, 2020

The Hearing – Episode 60 Radd Seiger (Confluence Crisis Management Services)

Episode 60 of the Hearing has been released and is available here.

In this episode I talk with Radd Seiger, the spokesperson for the family of Harry Dunn, Co-Founder and Principal of Confluence Crisis Management Services, and an old friend and colleague.

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REUTERS | Luke MacGregor
September 7, 2020

Privacy and cybersecurity: Autumn agenda 2020

The traditional quiet time of summer was upended this year. The tumult of COVID-19 and Brexit have scarcely been consigned to the background. However, it is the ECJ’s unexpected decision in Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland and Maximillian Schrems C-311/18 (Schrems II) that has probably stolen the headlines, adding to the unease for those looking after their company’s personal data governance. Continue reading →