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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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Ignorance is no excuse: Strict liability introduced into UK sanctions enforcement
June 2022Introduction With effect from 15 June 2022, new changes will take effect in relation to the enforcement against breaches of UK trade sanctions legislation. This coincides with an ever-growing set of sanctions measures issued by the UK Government against the Putin regime, taken in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The Office of Financial Sanctions… Read More >
The SEC Bares its Teeth on ESG
June 2022What is ESG? The focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (‘ESG’) compliance is a business practice which has quickly become commonplace in international and domestic business. Generally speaking, ESG policies should set out how an organisation intends to operate in the community, including its Corporate Social Responsibility (‘CSR’) aims, how it intends to uphold and… Read More >
Elizabeth Line Opens Today
May 2022As the long-awaited Elizabeth Line opens its doors to the public today, it is a momentous day for all those involved in the largest construction project in Europe. The infrastructure project has not been without its issues, least of all the delays and cost overruns, however after 13 years of construction, 42km of new tunnels… Read More >
The critical difference between being “right” or “wrong” and being negligent- Richards v Speechly Bircham LLP [2022] EWHC 935 (Comm)
May 2022Mr Richards and Mr Purves (“the Claimants”) owned a successful IP business. In early 2014 they decided to take on external investment to grow the business with them retaining both shares and management positions in the business, whilst at the same time reducing their risk exposure by realising some capital. They appointed a third-party company called Knight Corporate… Read More >
What must be proven in contribution claims? Percy v Merriman White discussed
May 2022The recent Court of Appeal judgment in Percy v Merriman White[1] considers contribution proceedings brought by a firm of solicitors against a barrister instructed to act in relation to a commercial dispute. The decision provides important clarification on the application of section 1(4) of the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 (“the Act”). The facts In… Read More >
reports from the courts
May 2022Our regular round up of the court decisions of most interest to construction from Andrew Croft and Ben Spannuth examines a case that will interest anyone hoping to invoke force majeure clauses against the background of sanctions against Russia; and another that serves as a reminder that terminating parties must take care to follow contractual termination… Read More >
Building Safety Act 2022: Focus on manufacturers
May 2022The Building Safety Act (“the Act”) received Royal Assent on 28 April 2022, and much of it is already in force or will be from 28 June 2022, including the Sections considered below. The Act marks a significant step in the efforts to resolve the building safety crisis triggered by the Grenfell fire. It implements… Read More >
Global Vantage: Inflation, Inflation, Inflation – London tops list of world’s most expensive places to build
April 2022Arcadis has released its latest International Construction Costs Index (the “Index”), which ranks the costs of construction in 100 locations around world. London takes top spot, with a host of other cities in the UK and Ireland – including Bristol and Dublin – also occupying the top 25. Inflation, rising materials prices and pressures on… Read More >
“Sharing is caring” – Although don’t expect a duty of care to always arise for shared professional advice – McClean and others v Thornhill QC [2022] EWHC 457 (Ch)
April 2022In the recent case of McClean and others v Thornhill QC, the High Court ruled that no duty of care was owed by the defendant tax QC to the claimant investors for professional tax advice shared with the Claimants by the promoters of film financing schemes. The case illustrates that it will only be in… Read More >
Van Oord UK Limited v Dragados UK Limited
April 2022On 7 April 2022, the Outer House, Court of Session delivered the Lord Braid decision in the case of Van Oord UK Limited (“Van Oord”) v Dragados UK Limited (“Dragados”). The “Natural Justice Issue”. In this case, the Scottish Courts considered the validity of a decision made by an adjudicator. In assessing whether the adjudicator… Read More >