In-house in Focus

The courts are becoming increasingly relaxed about how people sign their contracts. We’ve seen a variety of examples in recent years – a name typed into the bottom of an email, clicking an “I accept” box on a website and identifying information in the header of a SWIFT message. These reflect the realities of modern business, where most communications take place by telephone or electronically, and the people involved are often under time pressure to get things done.

Hot on the heels of our In-house In Focus programme this month focusing on competition law, the Competition and Markets Authority (or CMA) has announced a total of £36 million fines for three construction firms’ breach of competition law. 

The recent WTO decision in the Airbus case reminds us that outside of the EU there exist WTO rules governing the use of taxpayers’ money to support businesses, which will still apply regardless of Brexit.

Despite recent attempts by the opposition parties to block a no-deal Brexit, and the resumption of negotiations with the EU on a revised deal, a Halloween no-deal Brexit remains a real possibility. However, in such an event owners of EU trademarks and designs can at least be certain as to how these rights will be protected.

As our lives become increasingly digital, the need to ensure that online services are accessible for all has moved up the agenda

Disputes have always created uncertainty and disruption for businesses but the absence of a deal on the UK’s exit from the European Union would mean less clarity for litigants over how disputes can be resolved effectively.

Commercial Contracts: English Approach vs the Dutch Approach to contract interpretation. Ruth Andrews from Mills & Reeve and Sonja Kruisinga from Dutch firm Van Benthem & Keulen explain...

This briefing analyses some potential issues relating to data protection and Brexit, particularly with reference to a possible “no deal” scenario. A “no deal” scenario is one where the UK leaves the EU and becomes a “third country” at 11pm GMT on 31 October 2019 without a Withdrawal Agreement and framework for a future relationship in place between the UK and the EU.