All businesses should have robust terms and conditions in place which set out the legal framework for the relationship between the business and its customers. This will help to ensure clarity and protection for both parties involved in commercial transactions.
Concern for the environment is at an all-time high. There is greater awareness, both on an individual and corporate level, of the impact of our daily activities and choices on the environment. ‘Sustainability’, ‘carbon footprint’ and ‘environmental impact’ are topics that now regularly appear on company websites and on their meeting agendas.
The government has recently introduced new laws aimed at tackling corruption, money laundering and fraud involving corporate entities. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (the Act) received royal assent on 26 October 2023, and aims to reform the way in which economic crime is tackled and to improve the transparency over corporate organisations.
Intellectual property (IP) covers ‘creations of the mind’ which can include inventions, designs, symbols and names and logos used in business. It is protected by law (copyright, trademarks, and various other forms), allowing people to earn recognition and/or money from what they create. Like other property, IP can be bought, sold, or licensed. There are different types of intellectual property rights including:
Last week, the UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, announced a ban on certain professional and PR services exports from the UK to Russia. The banned services include management consulting, public relations and accounting. The Foreign Secretary commented that the ban will help to ensure that Putin fails in Ukraine, by cutting off service exports that are fundamental to the Russian economy.
The UK Government recently imposed sanctions on Russia in light of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Asset freezes have been imposed on a number of individuals and entities. More information on individuals and entities subject to an asset freeze (“designated persons”) can be found on the UK Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-sanctions-consolidated-list-of-targets
Ecommerce has seen remarkable growth over recent years, especially during lockdown, and is changing the landscape of how people buy and sell goods and services. The growth in ecommerce is shifting activity away from the high street to digital means, which in turn is changing the way businesses operate. In addition, the popularity of marketplace platforms, such as Amazon and Facebook, has made this growth even more noticeable.
Remember the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that overhauled data protection rules a couple of years ago and required lots of changes to how individuals’ data was stored and processed?
Since the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, UK businesses now have two versions of the GDPR to take into account – the UK GDPR and the EU GDPR.
The EU have published a redacted version of the Advanced Purchase Agreement it entered into with AstraZeneca AB for the supply of Covid 19 vaccine. This article considers the terms of the redacted version of the Agreement in light of the claims made by the EU Commission, the threats made by the Commission and the actions taken by the Commission.
I am a commercial contracts lawyer of over 20 years’ experience who has worked on contracts in the bio medical and pharmaceutical sector, and on Government and EU supply contracts for much of that period. I caveat the contents of this article on the basis that I am an English qualified lawyer and the Agreement is subject to the laws of Belgium. As such, some of this article by necessity is approached from an English law perspective.
It is never too late to sort things out. First published in 2018, this note, now updated, addresses how you may protect your business through your contracts, where border issues cause delays or prices need to be adjusted, and explains the new UKCA Mark.
Some questions you may ask yourself:
What happens if the borders are clogged up and I cannot deliver or receive goods
Who will be liable for tariffs in the event of a hard Brexit
Should I look at amending existing contracts or terminating contracts with a view to issuing new contracts
Will you have to register with a UK authority in place of an EU one?