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Our lawyers contribute regularly to industry and legal journals in addition to writing legal briefings, newsletters and case reports for clients and contacts. All of our articles are free to read and download here.

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Dillon v Irish Life: Irish Supreme Court Clarifies Procedure for GDPR Distress Claims

On 24 June 2025, the Irish Supreme Court delivered its judgment in Dillon v Irish Life Assurance plc[1]. The appeal was taken directly from the High Court under the “leapfrog” procedure after the High Court upheld a decision of Dublin Circuit Court that a claim under Article 82 of the GDPR and Section 117 of… Read More >
Social value in UK public procurement: a new era under the Procurement Act 2023

Introduction The UK’s public procurement landscape has undergone a significant transformation with the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 23). An important element of this change is the greater significance placed upon social value and public benefit. Whilst even before the introduction of the PA 23, sustainability considerations were increasingly being pursued in procurement,… Read More >
UK Government consults on ending retentions

In December 2024 we reported on new legislation requiring large companies in the construction industry to report on certain payment practices and policies, specifically the proportion of retention sums withheld from suppliers. This was one of several government measures introduced to improve payment practices in the UK and increase transparency, benefiting the supply chain. On… Read More >
DOWNSTREAM SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS – SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT FOR ENERGY AND SECURITY & NET ZERO

In June 2024, the Supreme Court in R (on the application of Finch on behalf of the Weald Action Group) (Appellant) v Surrey County Council and others (Respondents) [2024] UKSC 20 (‘Finch’) found that a decision to grant planning permission for an onshore oil development project at a site in Surrey was unlawful in circumstances where… Read More >
Construction disputes – avoiding conflicts with the NEC4

The delivery of any modern construction project is fraught with the risk of disputes between the parties involved. Regardless of their roles and contract values, the complex nature of project scheduling and commercial management means that even the smallest missing puzzle piece from a single party can have significant impacts to cost and completion dates,… Read More >
One Canadian Economy Act – a landmark Bill to fast-track national projects

Background Bill C-5, officially titled the ‘One Canadian Economy Act’ (“the Act”), received royal assent on 26 June 2025. This landmark legislation enables the federal Cabinet to streamline approvals processes and bypass certain provisions of federal laws for major projects that could potentially boost the economy. The legislation does not prescribe specific projects, but Prime… Read More >
Agentic AI: navigating legal risk

Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, with innovative technologies emerging on a regular basis. One of the most significant developments is agentic AI. Unlike traditional AI tools that operate within defined parameters, agentic AI systems can pursue goals, make autonomous decisions and interact dynamically with the world. Below are several practical examples of how agentic AI… Read More >
How the UK’s new procurement rules affect Irish and Canadian businesses

Introduction This article is written mainly for businesses in Ireland and Canada, outlining the changes to the rules in the UK on exclusion from public tendering for corporate misconduct and criminality. It gives an outline of the new regime and explains its relevance. It also makes comparison with the rules on exclusion in those jurisdictions. … Read More >
Competition & Public Procurement Law: June – July 2025 Update

Welcome to the first of our regular updates on developments in the field of Competition and Public Procurement Law. We have picked out recent cases, judgments, consultations and legislative developments which we think will be of most interest to our readers. In this update, we will be covering the key goings on over June and… Read More >
The Arbitration Act 2025 comes into force today

In June, Beale & Co released an article on the new Arbitration Act 2025, outlining an in depth review of the changes coming into force by the new 2025 Act (which can be found here). Today, the 2025 Act has come into force in the UK, introducing amendments to the long-standing Arbitration Act 1996, with… Read More >