Reasonable Adjustments and Recording Tribunal Proceedings: Bella v Barclays Execution Services Ltd & Ors [2024] EAT 16 – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘The Claimant/Appellant applied to the Employment Tribunal to be allowed to record a three-day preliminary hearing. The Employment Judge declined to grant the application as he was not satisfied with the evidence in support or that there was any significant disadvantage to the Appellant. In reaching his decision, the Judge did not refer to the guidance provided on this question in Heal v University of Oxford [2020] ICR 1294. Although the guidance in Heal is not mandatory, is in important in considering an application to record proceedings and by not referring to it, the Judge then failed to take into account factors material to the assessment of the Appellant’s application. The Judge should therefore have granted the application and it was right to make a declaration that the decision not to do so was unlawful.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 27th February 2024

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Navigating the New UK Unmarried Partner Visa Rules – Richmond Chambers

Posted March 8th, 2024 in chambers articles, cohabitation, families, immigration, news, visas by sally

‘To enter the UK as a “partner” under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules (“FM” being short for “Family Member”), there are three possible ways to qualify as a “partner”. First, as a “spouse”. Second, as a “civil partner”. Third, as an “unmarried partner”.’

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Richmond Chambers, 28th February 2024

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Unlawful Act Manslaughter or Gross Negligence Manslaughter? – St Pauls Chambers

‘On 29th November a jury sitting at Stafford Crown Court (Calver J) acquitted the defendant of unlawful act manslaughter and convicted him of gross negligence manslaughter.’

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St Pauls Chambers, 28th February 2024

Source: www.stpaulschambers.com

Coroners’ death reports reveal rise in NHS warnings – BBC News

Posted March 8th, 2024 in coroners, government departments, health, hospitals, news, statistics by sally

‘Coroners in England and Wales sent 109 warnings to health bodies and the government in 2023 highlighting long NHS waits, staff shortages or a lack of NHS resources, the BBC has found.’

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BBC News, 8th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Is There a Place for Law to Regulate Menopause in the Workplace?”- by Eugenia Caracciolo di Torella and Pascale Lorber – UK Labour Law Blog

‘Questions are being raised about the role of the law in dealing with issues associated with the menopause in the workplace following the recent publication by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) of the Guidance on the Menopause for Employers. The Guidance refers to the possibility of using discrimination law, in particular the disability provisions, to help women request adjustments in the workplace, and claim harassment if they are subject to unwelcome comments or behaviours because of the symptoms they are experiencing. This blog considers how the current legal framework needs some rethinking and adaptation given the number of workers affected by the menopause and the types of issues that have been raised in the workplace as a result.’

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UK Labour Law Blog, 8th March 2024

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

When is Relief Not Relief? – Pump Court Chambers

‘Relief from Sanctions applications continue to take up a disproportionate amount of court time both in the lower Courts and on appeal. It is rare for a week to go by without some aspect of CPR 3.9 and Denton and others v TH White Ltd and another [2014] EWCA Civ 906 (Denton) being the subject of scrutiny. The all-pervasive nature of Denton has led to such applications being made when arguably it was unnecessary or erroneously applied.’

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Pump Court Chambers, 13th February 2024

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

Lives at risk due to Clare’s Law delays – daughter – BBC News

‘The daughter of a woman who was murdered by her ex-partner has said she fears more people will be killed because of “poor” handling of an abuse prevention scheme set up in her mother’s memory.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Profession disappointed with slim Budget pickings – Legal Futures

‘The legal profession yesterday expressed disappointment at the lack of attention given to the justice system in the Spring Budget, which will see the Ministry of Justice’s expenditure fall next year by half a billion pounds.’

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Legal Futures, 7th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

An interesting sentencing exercise – St Pauls Chambers

‘On 4.2.24 CLOWES was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years for gross negligence manslaughter.’

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St Pauls Chambers, 28th February 2024

Source: www.stpaulschambers.com

Afghanistan: Judge hunted by Taliban wins court case against UK government – BBC News

Posted March 8th, 2024 in Afghanistan, asylum, government departments, immigration, judges, news by sally

‘An Afghan judge who has been forced to go into hiding from the Taliban was wrongly refused relocation to the UK, the High Court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man who called Tory MP Mike Freer’s office saying ‘I’m coming for you’ is sentenced – The Independent

‘A 46-year-old man who called the office of Tory MP Mike Freer and said “I’m coming for you” has been given a community order.’

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The Independent, 6th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bar Council warns regulator over plans for chambers – Legal Futures

Posted March 7th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, mergers, news, standards by sally

‘The Bar Council has warned the Bar Standards Board (BSB) not to go too far in its oversight of chambers and said its idea of encouraging smaller sets to merge is “inappropriate”.’

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Legal Futures, 7th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“All the world’s a stage” – or perhaps not: Omooba – Law& Religion UK

‘In Omooba v Michael Garrett Associates Ltd (t/a Global Artists) & Anor [2024] EAT 30, Ms Seyi Omooba, an actor, was cast as Celie in a stage production of The Color Purple. Celie is regarded as an iconic lesbian role and the announcement that Ms Omooba was to play it led to a social media storm about an earlier Facebook post in which she had expressed her belief that homosexuality was a sin. As a result, her contracts with the theatre (the second respondent) and her agency (the first respondent) were terminated.’

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Law & Religion UK, 7th March 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 7th, 2024 in legislation by tracey

SI 2024/298 – The Recall Petition (Petition Officers’ Charges) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/297 – The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Local Returning Officers’ and Police Area Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2024

SI 2024/294 – The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/290 – The Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order 2024

SI 2024/289 – The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/287 – The Income Tax (Exemption of Social Security Benefits) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/285 – The Single Trade Window (Establishment, Operation and Information) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/265 – The Charities Act 2022 (Commencement No. 3, Consequential, Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/264 – The Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave and Shared Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/243 – The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2024

SI 2024/242 – The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2024

SI 2024/236 – The Principal Office Address (Rectification of Register) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/302 – The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

SI 2024/301 – The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Order 2024

SI 2024/300 – The Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) Order 2022 (Continuation) Order 2024

SI 2024/284 – The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order 2024

SI 2024/296 – The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Rwanda bill: House of Lords inflicts further defeats on government plan – BBC News

Posted March 7th, 2024 in asylum, bills, deportation, immigration, news, parliament, Rwanda by sally

‘The government has suffered five further defeats in the House of Lords over its Rwanda bill.’

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BBC News, 6th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Talking Pensions Ep14 – Dominic Harris – Pensions Barrister

Posted March 7th, 2024 in news, ombudsmen, pensions, podcasts by sally

‘In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in January 2024), Paul talks to the Pensions Ombudsman, Dominic Harris. They discuss Dominic’s background in pensions, the work of the Ombudsman, the recent cyber-incident and the key issues likely to emerge in the future.’

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Pensions Barrister, 7th March 2024

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

Lawyers and the misuse of NDAs – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Legal Services Board has published its report on the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). It focuses on the conduct of lawyers and forms part of the LSB’s Reshaping Legal Services strategy, which centres on the delivery of high-quality legal advice with strong professional ethics.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th March 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Joshua Jacques: Serious failings in probation supervision – report – BBC News

Posted March 7th, 2024 in drug abuse, murder, news, probation, release on licence, reports by sally

‘There were “serious failings” in the probation supervision of a quadruple murderer, the chief inspector of probation has said.’

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BBC News, 7th March 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Family Drug and Alcohol Court model suitable for domestic abuse cases even where no substance misuse, says judge – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 7th, 2024 in alcohol abuse, domestic violence, drug abuse, family courts, news by sally

‘A judge sitting in the Family Court has highlighted the successful use of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) model in a case where the main presenting difficulty was domestic abuse.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th March 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Shein UK breaches company law by failing to disclose human owner – The Guardian

Posted March 7th, 2024 in company law, disclosure, financial regulation, news by sally

‘The UK business of the fast-fashion company Shein has failed to disclose its ultimate ownership, a breach of company law that could disrupt the firm’s reported plans to consider listing in the UK.’

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The Guardian, 6th March 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com