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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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In Competition… Competition & Public Procurement Law: September 2026 Update
October 2026Welcome to the fourteenth edition of In Competition. September moved the centre of gravity from the authority to the bidder. The Commission proposed a single procurement Regulation built around a European preference that would let buyers restrict participation by origin. The CMA asked Parliament for access to losing bids and then fined named individuals for… Read More >
Scotland Hits Pause on Hyperscale Data Centres: What Does It Mean for Developers and Contractors?
October 2026In response to growing concerns from rural communities and climate activists, Scotland has become the first UK jurisdiction to impose significant planning controls in relation to hyperscale data centres. We consider how those new planning directions are likely to impact the developing data centre market in Scotland. Scotland’s New Planning Controls Two directions have been… Read More >
Architects Roundtable – September 2026
October 2026On 16 September 2026, Andrew Croft, Michael O’Brien, Michael Salau and Jonathan Booton had the pleasure of hosting the latest edition of Beale & Co’s always-popular Architects’ Roundtable. The roundtable seeks to bring together senior decision-makers to share their views and experiences on key issues affecting the profession and the wider construction industry. As always,… Read More >
Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation – Key changes proposed by RICS in consultation
October 2026Introduction Asset valuation is premised on the economic principle of substitution; that a buyer will not pay more for any given asset than it would cost them to acquire a satisfactory substitute. The challenges in valuing real property lie in both understanding the various attributes which contribute to a particular property’s value and identifying suitable… Read More >
KEY BUILDING SAFETY DEVELOPMENTS TO WATCH
September 2026As the construction sector continues to adapt to the ever-evolving building safety landscape, we consider now to be an opportune moment to take stock of some of the most important recent developments and changes, as well as those anticipated in the remainder of 2026 and beyond. Single Construction Regulator On 9 July 2026, the Ministry… Read More >
Buying on the fly: Drone procurement not just a defence story
September 2026Introduction Public procurement lawyers outside defence have tended to file drones under someone else’s practice area. That is now wrong. Police forces buy uncrewed aircraft to answer 999 calls, the NHS to move pathology samples, and prison services, airports, stadiums and utilities buy counter-drone systems. These are civil buyers spending civil budgets under ordinary procurement… Read More >
UK Fusion Week: the UK-US alliance and the shift from fusion science to commercial delivery
September 2026UK Fusion Week has provided a clear indication of where the fusion market is heading. The conversation is no longer focused solely on whether fusion can be achieved scientifically. The challenge now is how fusion can be commercialised, financed, regulated and ultimately delivered at scale. That shift was evident at the Global Fusion Policy Summit,… Read More >
Building Trust in Insurance Broking Through Chartered Status
September 2026As consolidation continues across the insurance sector, independent brokers are facing increasing pressure to differentiate themselves and demonstrate the value they bring to clients. In this environment, Chartered status is emerging as a key marker of professionalism, providing tangible evidence of high standards, ethical conduct and a commitment to continuous improvement. Its significance extends beyond… Read More >
Broker remuneration in the spotlight following the motor finance cases: is a broker a fiduciary?
September 2026This article revisits the importance of transparency in insurance broker remunerations (first discussed in this article), following the Supreme Court’s judgment on the motor finance commission cases, overturning some crucial decisions made in the Court of Appeal. In particular, we consider the broader impact the final decision has had on intermediaries in the financial sector… Read More >
Harassment – How the Employment Rights Act impacts construction contracts
September 2026The upcoming changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 will strengthen employers’ obligations to prevent harassment in the workplace and expand the circumstances in which liability may arise for the actions of third parties. For businesses operating across complex projects, shared sites and multi-tier supply chains, these developments highlight the increasing importance of effective… Read More >