Employment Law and Labour Law

The Court of Appeal's decision in Burger v Wetherspoons reinforces established principles on vicarious liability and contractor independence. When a security guard employed by a contracted company assaulted a patron, the court examined whether the pub chain could be held liable for the contractor's employee's actions. The case offers critical insights into how businesses can maintain clear boundaries with contractors and effectively transfer risk through outsourcing arrangements.

Legal budgets are expanding in 2027, yet the gains are being consumed by compensation costs, escalating law firm fees, and unfunded AI initiatives. In-house legal teams face a paradox of growth without capacity, forcing strategic pivots toward insourcing, alternative legal service providers, and adaptable operational frameworks designed for sustained performance.

In-house legal teams are rapidly expanding their scope of work, driven by AI capabilities and rising law firm costs. But as the perimeter of what they handle grows faster than their budgets and capacity, many are discovering that bringing work in-house creates new challenges around workload management and sustainable operations. The question isn't whether to insource more work—it's how to build the flexible, AI-enabled operating model needed to handle it effectively.

As organisations continue to navigate their responsibilities under the Building Safety Act, understanding competence, organisational capability and governance has never been more important. This video explores how expectations around competence have evolved since the introduction of the Building Safety Act and what organisations should be doing to meet their legal obligations, covering both individual and organisational competence requirements.

Workplace falls remain a significant cause of injury across all sectors, with HSE data revealing that slips, trips and falls on the same level account for 30% of employer-reported non-fatal injuries, while falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatal workplace accidents. Understanding the common hazards—from wet floors and obstructed walkways to unsafe ladders and unprotected edges—is essential for employers seeking to meet their legal duties and reduce the risk of serious harm.

The family of an 81-year-old Carnforth man who died from mesothelioma after working as an electrical engineer in the 1960s is seeking former colleagues to provide crucial information about asbestos exposure at a Lancaster factory. Witnesses who worked at Jas Williamson & Son Limited or Nairn-Williamson Limited during that period, particularly those with knowledge of industrial ovens and maintenance work involving asbestos insulation, could help establish how Tony Allen contracted the fatal disease that rema

Employment tribunals are seeing a sharp rise in interim relief applications, with monthly filings now matching what used to be annual totals. These applications can force employers to continue paying dismissed employees' salaries and benefits for months while awaiting a final hearing, creating significant financial exposure even when the employee isn't working.

The FCA's latest enforcement data reveals a dramatic shift in regulatory priorities, with over 75% of enforcement operations now concentrated on financial crime. This analysis examines the breakdown of these investigations, the rising influence of whistleblowing disclosures, and what this strategic realignment means for firms navigating an increasingly focused regulatory landscape.

A recent investigation has uncovered serious allegations of patient safety failures at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, including claims of inadequate incident reporting, suppressed whistleblowing, and systemic governance problems. Staff describe patients allegedly dying in overcrowded emergency departments, delayed diagnoses, and concerns that serious incidents are being downgraded or closed without proper investigation.

The Pensions Regulator has published its finalised enforcement approach with high-level principles for proportionate, risk-based regulation, while PASA releases operational readiness guidance for schemes preparing for guided retirement requirements expected from summer 2029. A&O Shearman's upcoming Pensions Academy Online sessions will feature a legal update and an exploration of AI's impact on UK pension schemes with TPR's Cliodhna Judge.

Pensions are often overlooked during divorce proceedings, particularly by women who may trade their interest in valuable pension schemes for the family home. This comprehensive guide explores the three main approaches courts take when dividing pensions—pension sharing orders, pension attachment orders, and offsetting—and examines critical considerations including taxation implications, utility discounts, and the role of pension experts in ensuring fair settlements.

This comprehensive weekly roundup examines the FCA's proposed streamlining of investment fee disclosures, exploring whether standardized cost reporting will enhance consumer confidence or introduce new complexity. The bulletin also covers Companies House's intensified identity verification enforcement, PASA's concerns about the new defined benefit surplus regime, and the FCA's research revealing widespread misconceptions about AI-generated investment advice among young investors.