News

OUT-LAW NEWS

Body stigma and depression content earmarked for stricter UK regulation

Online service providers would have to more closely control the extent to which children can access body stigma or depression content on their platforms, under proposals put forward by the UK’s online safety regulator.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration launches Chinese-language rules

The SCCA has launched Chinese-language versions of its arbitration and mediation rules to broaden access to dispute resolution services for Chinese businesses operating in the Middle East.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Qatari court weighs in on common clauses in construction contracts

A recent decision by Qatar’s highest court on the differences between common clauses in construction contracts will have wide-reaching significance for both contractors and sub-contractors, according to experts at Pinsent Masons.

OUT-LAW NEWS

UK employers weigh commercial relationships against new third party harassment duties

Kieron O’Reilly tells HRNews how employers can identify and manage harassment risks involving customers and contractors, and why boards need to be involved.

OUT-LAW NEWS

UK employers reassess litigation risks as tribunal claim window doubles

Rebecca Sulley tells HRNews how October’s tribunal time-limit changes and January’s unfair dismissal reforms could increase litigation risks for employers.

OUT-LAW NEWS

UK employers review supply chain risks as new Right to Work liability takes effect

Shara Pledger tells HRNews how the extended Right to Work liability rules introduced on 1 October affect supply chains and contractual arrangements.

OUT-LAW NEWS

CIETAC clarifies emergency arbitrator powers following Singapore ruling

The China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) has clarified that parties who agree to CIETAC arbitration will generally be taken to have accepted the institution's emergency arbitrator procedure, unless they expressly opt out.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Consent to drill at Jackdaw gas field granted

Gas from the Jackdaw field in the North Sea is expected to be supplied to properties in the UK this winter after consent for the project was granted by the North Sea Transition Authority to operator Adura on Wednesday.

OUT-LAW NEWS

UK consults on whistleblower rewards as SFO urges early self-reporting

A new consultation proposes revising the UK’s current whistleblowing framework as the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has also published updated guidance for corporates to encourage early self-reporting of serious fraud, bribery and corruption.

OUT-LAW NEWS

FCA guides firms on AI use and anticipates era of agentic finance

UK financial services firms must ensure improved outcomes for consumers, personal accountability within management, and plan for failure, when using AI, a senior regulator has said.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Singapore ruling provides greater certainty for Chinese judgment creditors

A Singapore court's ruling that a Chinese money judgment can still be enforced in Singapore after the debtor applies to reopen the case in China provides greater certainty for businesses seeking to recover debts across borders, experts at Pinsent Masons have said.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Digital duty of care legislation introduced into Australian parliament

The Australian federal government has introduced its digital duty of care (DDoC) legislation into parliament with several significant revisions. Its path through the Senate, however, remains uncertain.

OUT-LAW NEWS

FCA signals need to overhaul UK financial promotions regime

A recent feedback statement issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) points to a growing urgency to realign the UK’s financial promotions regime with other regulatory hurdles, an expert has said.

OUT-LAW NEWS

UK sets out targeted plans to improve transparency and early dispute resolution in SEP ecosystem

The UK government has signalled that targeted intervention in, rather than a complete overhaul of, the standard-essential patents (SEP) licensing ecosystem may be necessary to address longstanding concerns over transparency, licensing complexity and the cost of resolving disputes, experts have said.

OUT-LAW NEWS

UK government employment status reforms could reshape self-employment engagements

Businesses that rely on self-employed contractors may need to reassess their engagement models under proposals unveiled by the UK government that could make it easier for individuals to claim worker status and employment rights, experts have said.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Data shows padel becoming a distinct consumer brand in the UK

New data obtained by Pinsent Masons shows that padel is more than just a sport and is becoming a distinct consumer brand, an expert has said.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Germany seeks social media restrictions for children

Social networking providers operating in Germany will have to demonstrate that their services are “child-friendly” if they want to enable children under 13 years of age to access those services, according to new proposals outlined by the federal government in the country.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Dubai’s VARA tightens expectations for crypto reserve audits

Dubai’s virtual assets regulator has clarified what it expects an independent audit to cover when assessing whether virtual asset service providers (VASPs) are properly safeguarding client assets, in a move aimed at promoting consistent audit practices across the sector.

OUT-LAW NEWS

German court reinforces binding nature of parental leave requests

Germany’s Federal Labour Court (BAG) has clarified that employees are generally bound by a valid request for parental leave.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Bank of America AML failures offer lessons to UK banks

UK banks should take note of a major enforcement action against Bank of America, which demonstrates the regulatory risks that can arise when financial crime controls are calibrated around operational capacity rather than the risks institutions face, experts have said.

OUT-LAW NEWS

PFAS restrictions in footwear, clothing and cosmetics come into force in EU

Businesses supplying consumer products into the EU face new compliance obligations as restrictions on the use of certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in footwear, clothing, cosmetics and other products begin to apply.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Law Commission looks to bring AI within UK product liability regime

The Law Commission has unveiled proposals for a major overhaul of UK product liability law, launching a consultation on reforms including expanding the definition of a ‘product’ beyond tangible goods to cover digital technologies.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Spotlight on managing overlapping workplace investigations

Sarah Munro, Kate Dodd and Zoe Betts explain how employers can manage overlapping workplace investigations, from coordinating HR and health and safety processes to handling legal risks and external investigations involving regulators or the police.

OUT-LAW NEWS

Timing and drafting prove decisive in Hong Kong SAR construction insolvency case

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Court of Appeal ruling that direct payments to subcontractors were not caught by insolvency laws because the contractor had already lost its entitlement to the funds is an important decision for the construction industry.