United Kingdom: Corporate/Commercial Law

Antonia and Jonny Philp transformed a painful personal experience into a purpose-driven skincare company that supports healthcare professionals facing the same challenges. Through their innovative business model, they've delivered hundreds of thousands of months of free hand care to NHS workers while building a family and a brand with genuine impact.

Rothera Bray's Commercial Property team has successfully advised Emmanuel House Support Centre on the purchase of its Nottingham city centre premises, marking a significant milestone as the homelessness charity celebrates 50 years of service. The acquisition provides the charity with long-term security to continue supporting vulnerable individuals facing housing insecurity and homelessness.

The Charities Aid Foundation's World Giving Report reveals that two-thirds of charities are experiencing increased demand for services while facing significant funding challenges. With restricted funding streams and depleting reserves, many organizations struggle to maintain operations, raising critical questions about the sector's long-term sustainability and the need for more flexible funding approaches.

Sam Tidswell-Norrish, Partner at Access Holdings, shares his journey from founding team member at Motive Partners to leading fundraising and investor relations across London, Baltimore and New York. With extensive experience in alternative investments and financial technology, he discusses building strong investor relationships, supporting portfolio growth, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people rather than treating your career as a single player game.

Traditionally, a period of international instability and low business growth is not good for investor confidence, with the result that prices and deal volumes drop; but that is not what we are seeing.

The Commercial Court has ruled that fraud cannot be established by combining knowledge from multiple employees in a breach of warranty case. In Veranova Bidco LP v Johnson Matthey Plc, the court held that proving fraud requires demonstrating that a single executive possessed complete knowledge of the false warranty, understood its relevance, and acted with dishonest intent or reckless indifference to its truth.

The UK Government has withdrawn its initial draft Code of Practice on tipping after facing criticism from trade unions, launching a fresh consultation on revised rules that aim to give workers greater input into tip distribution. While the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces new consultation requirements for tipping policies, the timeline for implementation has been pushed back, leaving employers in a state of uncertainty about future compliance obligations.

Stewarts Law Firm provides its expert response to the Department for Transport and Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles consultation on safety principles. The firm's submission addresses critical regulatory considerations for the future of autonomous vehicle deployment in the UK.

The Financial Conduct Authority has identified a significant protection gap in the UK market, with 59% of adults never having considered financial protection products. This comprehensive regulatory update examines the FCA's integrated programme of remedies, alongside critical developments in audit standards and vulnerable consumer support requirements that will reshape how financial services firms operate through 2027.

Sam Tidswell-Norrish, Partner at Access Holdings, shares his journey from founding team member at Motive Partners to leading fundraising and investor relations across London, Baltimore and New York. With extensive experience in alternative investments and financial technology, he discusses building strong investor relationships, supporting portfolio growth, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people rather than treating your career as a single player game.

The latest Investing in Women Code Annual Report 2026 reveals significant progress in funding access for female entrepreneurs, with signatories directing 32% of venture capital to teams with at least one female founder—more than double the wider market rate. While women-led businesses now achieve equal loan approval rates to male-led businesses, they still apply less frequently and request smaller amounts, highlighting persistent gaps in funding confidence and scale.

The UK's first-time equity investment market has experienced a significant resurgence in 2025 and H1 2026, with more companies securing external funding than at any point in the last four years.