Category: coronavirus

CVAs, COVID-19 and Rescue Culture – 3 Hare Court

Posted November 10th, 2020 in company law, coronavirus, insolvency, news by sally

‘Businesses across the United Kingdom are facing treacherous times. The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent restrictions have caused many businesses to suffer a pronounced drop in income, turnover and profits whilst still being liable to pay overhead costs such as rent to landlords. When businesses start to re-open, they will need to find a way to pay the overhead costs accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as ongoing costs.’

Full Story

3 Hare Court, 2nd November 2020

Source: www.3harecourt.com

Second Coronavirus Lockdown – The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No.4) Regulations 2020 – 33 Bedford Row

Posted November 10th, 2020 in coronavirus, freedom of movement, news, regulations by sally

‘Further to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s televised statement to the nation on Halloween and his statement to Parliament on 2nd November, The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 were laid before Parliament on 3rd November (pursuant to s.45C(1) of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984).’

Full Story

33 Bedford Row, 5th November 2020

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Getting off the hook: A guide to securing release from contractual obligations and varying public contracts in light of COVID-19 – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted November 10th, 2020 in amendments, contracting out, contracts, coronavirus, news, regulations by sally

‘Given the current challenging economic circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, which the authors fear may worsen over the coming months as employers are weaned off the Government’s furlough scheme, contracting authorities and their contractors may want to be released from obligations under existing contracts (and/or to protect their position having already defaulted on their obligations). Similarly, contracting authorities may want to vary existing contracts going forward. However, for obvious reasons, notably the time and cost involved, the appetite for undertaking a new procurement exercise is likely to be limited. This article therefore provides a guide to the available options for achieving these objectives.’

Full Story

39 Essex Chambers, 16th October 2020

Source: www.39essex.com

The Self-Isolation Regulations: Implications for Employers – Henderson Chambers

Posted November 10th, 2020 in coronavirus, employment, health, news, penalties, regulations by sally

‘The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/1045 (“the Self-Isolation Regulations”) are the latest in a series of statutory instruments which have, since March 2020, been introduced by UK Government Ministers under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (“the 1984 Act”) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This Alerter highlights the implications for employers.’

Full Story

Henderson Chambers, 9th October 2020

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Reducing Family Law Cases Backlog: Is Arbitration the Answer? – 33 Bedford Row

Posted November 10th, 2020 in arbitration, coronavirus, delay, dispute resolution, family courts, news by sally

‘Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the pandemic has led to delays in the court system, hearings being adjourned and a substantial backlog of all types of cases but especially family cases. Parties wanting speedy justice are resorting to out of court processes such as mediation and arbitration as a means to resolve disputes efficiently to overcome this time-lag.’

Full Story

33 Bedford Row, 30th October 2020

Source: www.33bedfordrow.co.uk

Tens of thousands made homeless despite UK ban on evictions during pandemic – The Guardian

Posted November 9th, 2020 in coronavirus, government departments, homelessness, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, repossession, statistics, young persons by sally

‘Tens of thousands of people have been made homeless since the start of the pandemic despite a ban on evictions, the Guardian has found, with charities warning that younger people are falling through the gaps.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Homeworking now a “reasonable adjustment” for disabled lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted November 9th, 2020 in coronavirus, disability discrimination, disabled persons, employment, employment tribunals, equality, flexible working, law firms, Law Society, news, solicitors by sally

‘Employment tribunals may in future need to recognise that homeworking has become an established “reasonable adjustment” to working practices for disabled people, including lawyers, a webinar heard last week.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 9th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Covid-19 prompts UK call for statutory paid bereavement leave – The Guardian

Posted November 9th, 2020 in bereavement, bills, charities, coronavirus, employment, families, news by sally

‘People who lose a close relative or partner should be entitled to two weeks’ statutory paid bereavement leave, the Sue Ryder charity has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 9th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Covid-19: Assisted dying travel allowed during lockdown, says Hancock – BBC News

Posted November 6th, 2020 in assisted suicide, coronavirus, emergency powers, foreign jurisdictions, freedom of movement, news by tracey

‘People travelling abroad for the purpose of assisted dying will not be breaking coronavirus travel rules, the health secretary has said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lockdown 2: how does it affect child contact? – Family Law

Posted November 5th, 2020 in children, contact orders, coronavirus, news, regulations by tracey

‘No sooner had clarity been obtained as to how child contact would work within and across the tier system, than the government announced its suspension in England. From 5 November 2020, a 4-week lockdown will begin. Thankfully though, the position on child contact is very much clearer this time around.’

Full Story

Family Law, 4th November 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Covid: Watchdog probes racial inequalities in healthcare – BBC News

Posted November 5th, 2020 in coronavirus, equality, health, minorities, news by tracey

‘An inquiry is under way into why lower-paid health and social care workers from ethnic minorities are at greater risk from coronavirus.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High court rejects legal challenge over Dominic Cummings breach – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2020 in coronavirus, Crown Prosecution Service, emergency powers, freedom of movement, government departments, judicial review, news, police by tracey

‘The high court has rejected a legal bid to challenge a decision not to investigate Dominic Cummings’s journey from London to Durham at the height of the first coronavirus lockdown. Max Hill, the director of public prosecutions, said any decision to investigate Cummings must be made by the police. He did not have the power to interfere.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coronavirus: Priti Patel bans demonstrations during England’s lockdown – The Independent

Posted November 4th, 2020 in coronavirus, demonstrations, emergency powers, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, human rights, news by tracey

‘Demonstrations of more than two people are to be banned during the month-long lockdown in England, after ministers removed an exemption that has allowed protests to take place in recent months.’

Full Story

The Independent,3rd November 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Covid-19 and False Imprisonment – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted November 3rd, 2020 in coronavirus, false imprisonment, freedom of movement, news, regulations, ultra vires by tracey

‘The Cambridge Private Law Centre last week hosted its annual Freshfields lecture. Lord Sumption addressed us on “Government by decree—Covid-19 and the Constitution”. This lecture has received considerable media attention and already been mentioned on this blog.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 3rd November 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

‘Like zero-hours workers’: barristers lash out over ‘unsafe’ courts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 3rd, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, courts, health & safety, news by tracey

‘The government is treating criminal barristers like “zero-hours workers” and is endangering court users, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said, demanding a national risk assessment for court buildings.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 3rd November 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Courts backlog ‘tipping point’ for justice system – BBC News

Posted October 30th, 2020 in coronavirus, county courts, criminal justice, delay, news, trials by sally

‘The number of criminal cases waiting to be dealt with by Crown Courts threatens to overwhelm the justice system in England and Wales, a study suggests.’

Full Story

BBC News, 30th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid services are on brink of collapse, lawyers tell MPs – The Guardian

Posted October 30th, 2020 in budgets, coronavirus, criminal justice, inquiries, law firms, legal representation, Ministry of Justice, miscarriage of justice, news, select committees, solicitors by sally

‘Legal aid services are on the brink of collapse due to successive cuts and the disruption wreaked by Covid-19, say lawyers.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 29th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Structural racism led to worse Covid impact on BAME groups – report – The Guardian

Posted October 29th, 2020 in coronavirus, equality, minorities, news, racism, reports by sally

‘Structural racism led to the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, a review by Doreen Lawrence has concluded.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Robert Craig: Coronavirus Regulations Case reaches the Court of Appeal – Hearing Dates 29-30 October 2020 – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 29th, 2020 in coronavirus, judicial review, ministers' powers and duties, news, regulations by sally

‘Litigation challenging the vires of the Coronavirus Regulations has been rumbling along over recent months. On 6 July 2020, Mr Justice Lewis refused permission in the Simon Dolan judicial review case.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 28th October 2020

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Campaigners launch judicial review challenge over decision by council that petition on changing governance arrangements was invalid – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 29th, 2020 in coronavirus, judicial review, local government, news, referendums, regulations by sally

‘A London borough is facing a judicial review challenge over its decision that a petition calling for a referendum on changes to its governance arrangements was invalid.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk