Publications

Mills & Reeve hosted this event looking at the future of healthcare estates with the Institute of Healthcare Management.

On 8 March 2019, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed that, as from 1 April 2019, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) cap will increase to £350,000. The new award limit will come into force at the same time as the extension of the service to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (“FOS”) has recently published its Q3 2018 complaints data. This shows an increase in Sipp complaints between Q2 and Q3 2018. We examine the latest data, and considers the current risks which are facing the Sipp arena in the coming year.

Should a SIPP provider should be expected to undertake due diligence on its clients’ underlying investments, or if it is investors themselves who should take responsibility for their own investment decisions?

Where a cause of action commences on the stroke of midnight – exactly at the start of a new day – does the limitation clock start ticking on that day or the following one?

The Court of Appeal recently addressed two linked appeals in Bresco Electrical Services v Michael J Lonsdale and Cannon Corporate v Primus Build. The issue in both was whether insolvent companies can commence adjudications. This is significant due to the interim nature of adjudications and the uncertainty surrounding an insolvent company’s ability to repay any awards. However, the court also dealt with an important point on waiver and reservations of rights to raise jurisdictional challenges.

The high quantum claim in Arcadis Consulting (UK) Ltd v AMEC (BCS) Ltd, with its complex factual background, volumes of documents, and resulting 28 page judgment from the Court of Appeal, boils down to application of contractual rules of offer and acceptance. Which contract was the work performed under, and which terms were incorporated into that contract? As often is the case, the ultimate answer might be considered reasonably simple.

The case of Aspen Insurance UK Ltd and Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Limited v Sangster & Annand Ltd highlights the importance for insured contractors to be aware of the limits and requirements of their public liability cover, and the potential implications for employers in circumstances where their contractors fail to comply with those requirements.

The case of Burgess v Lejonvarn highlights some fundamental points in relation to basic principles of contract information, and the importance for construction professionals to ensure that they are always careful when giving professional advice, even when those services are given free of charge to friends!

Increasing access to capital for early stage, innovative businesses has been on the agenda for UK Government for several years. As the strategy develops from broad brushstrokes to more detailed policy, what concrete proposals are being considered, and how effective are these likely to be?

The UK remains at the forefront of European tech investment, despite the challenges and uncertainty of Brexit.

The Court of Appeal has handed down judgment in the PAG case and the decision is in favour of the ratepayer.

As the UK prepares to leave membership of the European Union, we review the UK Industrial Strategy, which was set out in the Government’s White Paper in November 2017 – Building a Britain fit for the future – and consider the importance of the role played by the UK higher education and research sector.

We've brought together a round-up of some recent litigation cases that may be of interest.

Local Norwich radio presenter Alan Partridge is back on our screens and has an unusual approach to getting to know his guests. In a similar vein, a Norwich Pharmacal disclosure order is a dynamic means to get to know a fraudster that has stolen funds. It is one of the most powerful and invasive tools available in English law, and is routinely deployed by our dedicated Civil Fraud and Asset Recovery team.

A defendant faces a stale claim where the claimant has done nothing to progress it for months, perhaps years. Can they apply to strike it out, confident of success, or do they risk tickling the sleeping dragon and kick-starting the claim, with an adverse costs order to boot?

For those who just cannot get enough Brexit-related news and analysis, the High Court in Canary Wharf (BP4) T1 Limited v European Medicines Agency recently provided an interesting, if perhaps unsurprising, take on the doctrine of frustration as it applies to leases.

Following a consultation towards the end of 2018, the OfS has now set ambitious targets for the higher education sector which are to eliminate the gaps in access and student success within the next 20 years, we look at the legal and regulatory landscape in higher education.