Owners of luxury brands will welcome a European ruling that they can lawfully stop distributors from selling their goods on third party online platforms, including websites such as Amazon, as this may affect the status of their brand.
Businesses in a registered trade marks dispute should consider whether the ability to prove pre-existing goodwill in the proposed marks created by someone else in a particular locality only, could mean the registration is invalid, and constitute a defence to an infringement claim.
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced proposed increases to statutory benefit payments.
Employers will welcome new Acas guidance to help them determine when and what reasonable adjustments need to be made for a disabled worker.
Parties involved in a private company must comply with any non-contractual arrangements and/or understandings between them, as well as the company's constitution and other formal agreements, or risk a successful claim from an 'unfairly prejudiced' shareholder.
Companies established in the EU should consider a Notice issued by the European Commission that UK companies and their branches in the EU will not necessarily be treated as having legal personality or limited liability by EU member states after Brexit.
Employers should ensure employees are aware of any limits and restrictions on their activities, to reduce the risk of them acting wrongly in the course of their employment so that the employer becomes liable for their wrongful acts, a recent ruling makes clear.
Employers faced with a whistleblowing claim from an employee should investigate the employee's motives for making their disclosure, as disclosures made purely in the employee's self-interest will not amount to whistleblowing.
Employers should ensure they identify reasonable adjustments required for disabled employees, and act on them, when changing their working environment - or risk legal claims.
Following media coverage of harassment in the workplace, employers will welcome new Acas guidance for workers who have experienced this. The guidance will also help employers deal with current and historic allegations from employees.