The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, announced at the Conservative Party conference that the unfair dismissal qualifying period will rise from one year to two years, with effect from 6 April 2012. This announcement will be a welcome one for employers. The Department for Business,... read more

Reports in the press today suggest the government is planning to introduce a new criminal offence of Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving.  The new offence will carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. The current maximum penalty for Dangerous Driving is two years... read more

On 1 July 2011 the Bribery Act 2010 came into force. The Act extends the crime of bribery to cover all private sector transactions, as previously only bribery involving public officials and agents were offences, the Act has created a new strict liability offence where commercial organisations... read more

A London magistrates’ court employee has become the first person to be prosecuted under the new Bribery Act.Munir Yakub Patel, a clerk at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court in Ilford, faces a charge under Section 2 of the 2010 Act for requesting and receiving a bribe intending to improperly perform... read more

The Supreme Court has recently given its judgment in a case that provides an important reminder for businesses who contract – or at least purport to contract – with individuals on a self-employed basis, as opposed to on an employed basis.  Although this case involved car valeters, the... read more