‘I lost my father to Covid-19. Now I’m taking legal action against the UK government’ – The Guardian

‘Dr Minesh Talati wants accountability not just for his father’s death, but the other coronavirus victims who didn’t need to die.’

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UPDATE: Halliburton v Vedanta: Performance Bonds and COVID-19 – Atkin Chambers

Posted June 4th, 2020 in contracts, coronavirus, damages, India, injunctions, news by sally

‘Shourav Lahiri revisits the case of Halliburton v Vedanta where a differently constituted bench of the Delhi High Court has just reversed its previous decision and discharged its injunction against the call on performance bonds. This update also examines some related issues that could arise as a consequence of COVID-19.’

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Atkin Chambers, 2nd June 2020

Source: www.atkinchambers.com

Remote hearings for family courts ‘horribly cruel’ – BBC News

Posted June 4th, 2020 in coronavirus, family courts, news, remote hearings by sally

‘Court hearings held remotely in lockdown disadvantage vulnerable people and should not be used longer term, lawyers and charities have said.’

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BBC News, 4th June 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar students urge online exams rethink – Legal Futures

‘Bar professional training course (BPTC) students have told the Bar Standards Board (BSB) that its plans for online examinations risk discriminating against women, carers and the disabled.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

36 Emergency Powers Group Newsletter – The 36 Group

‘1. Knowing Your R’s from Your Elbow: Wrongful Convictions in the Time of Coronavirus – Arthur Kendrick & Tom Parker
2. “Repugnant to Ordinary Notions of Fairness”? The Burden of Proof in the ‘Leaving Home’ Offence – Catherine Rose
3. Beyond the Emergency Legislation: Offences of Deliberate Infection – Michael Haggar
4. To Derogate or Not to Derogate: Are the Lockdown Restrictions Compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights? – Nadeem Holland
5. Landlord and Tenant Rights in the Pandemic – Karen Reid
6. Immigration Appeals in the Age of Corona – Tom Wilding’

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The 36 Group, 2nd June 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

Covid-19 Update: CPR PD51Z Applies to Appeals – Becket Chambers

‘This article seeks to provide a further update from my colleague Paul Tapsell’s article on residential possession and lease forfeiture proceedings during Covid-19.’

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Becket Chambers, 1st June 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

Environmental Law Podcast – Six Pump Court

‘This month the Podcast partners with the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA), to bring you a COVID-19 special where we hear from environmental regulators on how the pandemic is affecting operations.’

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Six Pump Court, 19th May 2020

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Solicitor and wife witness client’s will via WhatsApp video – Legal Futures

Posted June 3rd, 2020 in coronavirus, executors, news, solicitors, telecommunications, wills by sally

‘A solicitor and his wife have used WhatsApp video to witness a will made by a man who was very ill with Covid-19, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd June 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The New Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill – A Summary of the Key Provisions – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted June 3rd, 2020 in bills, chambers articles, company law, coronavirus, insolvency, news by sally

‘This summary gives a short overview of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill, which was first read in the House of Commons
on 20 May 2020 and is intended to proceed to the House of Lords following its final stages in the House of Commons on 3 June 2020. This Bill represents the biggest reforms to the UK’s insolvency framework since the Enterprise Act in 2002. The aim is to allow more tools to rescue struggling companies as a going concern and help more businesses weather the COVID-19 storm and avoid entering an insolvency process.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 26th May 2020

Source: radcliffechambers.com

Prison visits could resume in July in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Families and friends are expected to be able to visit prisoners from July as part of a wider Covid-19 recovery plan for jails in England and Wales, which have been placed under a severely restrictive regime for nearly three months.’

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The Guardian, 2nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Coronavirus and Employers’ Liability for PPE – Part 4: Liability Under EU Directive by Jack McCracken and Sarah Hopkinson – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted June 3rd, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, EC law, employment, health, health & safety, news by sally

‘Employers who meet the definition of being an ‘emanation of the state’1 may be liable to employees for breach of EU Directives under the doctrine of “direct effect”.’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 11th May 2020

Source: www.ropewalk.co.uk

A case law update- a selection of the non-COVID-19 cases published during the pandemic – St Ives Chambers

Posted June 3rd, 2020 in adoption, chambers articles, children, coronavirus, families, family courts, news by sally

‘The Covid-19 pandemic has produced a number of new cases which tie together the guidance produced by the senior judiciary and are essential reading for all practitioners in this new world of remote working.’

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St Ives Chambers, 27th May 2020

Source: www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Who Is Exempt from the 14 Day Coronavirus Quarantine Period? – Richmond Chambers

Posted June 3rd, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, fines, freedom of movement, news, transport by sally

‘As part of the public health measures to guard against a second wave of coronavirus infection, from 8 June 2020, most travellers to the UK, including British citizens, will be required to spend 14 days in self-isolation. A breach of self-isolation will be punishable with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England or potential prosecution and unlimited fine. But who is exempt from the 14 day coronavirus quarantine period?’

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Richmond Chambers, 26th May 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Parents fight in court over whether children should return to school in England – The Guardian

‘Separating parents are fighting each other through the courts over whether their children should return to school as lockdown is eased, a leading family lawyer has revealed.’

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The Guardian, 2nd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lockdown rules: what is allowed in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – The Guardian

‘The latest coronavirus rules, from Monday 1 June, are plentiful and complicated. This is your ultimate guide.’

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The Guardian, 3rd June 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mitigating Covid-19 – Church Court Chambers

Posted June 2nd, 2020 in coronavirus, criminal justice, imprisonment, news, prisons, sentencing by sally

‘The coronavirus pandemic (“Covid-19”) has significantly affected people across the world, in a seemingly indiscriminate fashion, with the devastating impact well publicised. However, one area that has not featured heavily in the mainstream media, is the impact that Covid -19 may have had on the sentencing exercise for Defendants. To that end, as the nation remains in lockdown, are the current conditions in the UK prison system a factor which should be considered by a tribunal when considering the appropriate sentence to impose? This article will outline and discuss the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the R v Manning [2020] EWCA Crim 592 (“Manning”) and seek to answer that question.’

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Church Court Chambers, May 2020

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

Guidance on making staff take holiday during the Coronavirus outbreak – Cloisters

Posted June 2nd, 2020 in contract of employment, coronavirus, EC law, holidays, news, working time by sally

‘In this article, Declan O’Dempsey considers the implications of the Guidance issued by the government on 13 May 2020 on holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (Covid-19) and urges employers to use considerable caution in seeking to follow the Guidance ordering workers to take annual leave on dates specified by the employer. Employers who choose to order staff to take holidays on specific dates within the Coronavirus outbreak shut down may face contractual or tribunal claims later. Further, the legal uncertainty may mean that they will face claims for penalising those who assert a right to take annual leave at a non-Covid 19 affected time or who refuse to take the leave as annual leave.’

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Cloisters, 19th May 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Covid-19 and its effect on contractual obligations – Devereux Chambers

Posted June 2nd, 2020 in chambers articles, contracts, coronavirus, news by sally

‘The simple effect of the Covid-19 lockdown announced on 23 March 2020 was that life, and business, changed for everyone. People and organisations could no longer do things they had planned or intended to do, and in many instances, difficult decisions had to be made, and some were made hastily, without thinking through the ramifications. As time goes on, many will be faced with the question of whether steps they took, or didn’t take, mean that they are in breach of a contractual obligation; on the other side of the coin, others will be wondering whether they have a remedy for not having received goods or services they expected to on time, or at all.’

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Devereux Chambers, 15th May 2020

Source: www.devereuxchambers.co.uk

Did Dominic Cummings act “Responsibly and Legally”? – Doughty Street Chambers

Posted June 2nd, 2020 in civil servants, coronavirus, news, police, regulations by sally

‘Coronavirus has struck in different ways. As well as the devastation it has reaped in taking people’s lives it has exposed an emasculated criminal justice system and political governance clamouring to justify law and guidance applying differently to those close to power from those outside.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 24th May 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

The Pendulum Pub Licence Revoked at Summary Review Hearing for Breaking Lockdown Regulations – Francis Taylor Building

Posted June 2nd, 2020 in coronavirus, licensed premises, licensing, news by sally

‘In one of the first cases of its type, The Pendulum pub in Pendeford, Wolverhampton has had its premises licence revoked in summary review proceedings brought by West Midlands Police for breaking the coronavirus lockdown provisions.’

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Francis Taylor Building, 20th May 2020

Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk