Category: Legal

Research released by Ofcom has revealed that around half of copyright infringers download content illegally because it is quick, free and easy.

The need to reduce business risk has taken centre stage over the past few years. From financial losses to damaged reputation and corporate failure, there is a growing awareness that unforeseen market forces represent an escalating threat to business. Few organisations, however, recognise the financial implications of litigation until a court case – or threat of a case – arises.

Just under a fifth of SMEs in the UK do not understand what a trade mark is for, according to a recent study.

Most companies don’t give this topic the required attention. Start-up entrepreneurs and successful business leaders are often too caught up in their day-to-day tasks to take a step back and look at important, strategic decisions that could prove vital for their company, such as ways to figure out how to truly secure their businesses’ intellectual property.

At first glance the latest figures from KPMG’s bi-annual Fraud Barometer look positive. There has been a notable decline in the number of high profile super cases of recent years, and with this a sharp drop in the value of fraud.

Where social media is used for business purposes it is essential to safeguard the ownership of contacts when the employee handling the account moves on. Employment law specialist Andrew Lightburn, associate at hlw Keeble Hawson, explains how companies can avoid valuable data being transferred to a rival.

Small businesses are at most risk of being prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter Act, lawyers warn, as figures reveal a massive rise in new cases opened by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The idea of a legal right for employees to take 18 weeks leave is probably quite an alarming one for most employers. Emma Ladley at Lester Aldridge LLP looks at what this right really means and why it may not be such a worry for employers in practice…

You may have heard of the latest global internet dance sensation, ‘the Harlem Shake’. Perhaps you’ve even participated in one of these 30 second dance videos which are proving hugely popular on the social media site YouTube However Jemma Pugh, Solicitor, and Susan Evans, Partner, at Lester Aldridge LLP explain what happens when employers get all shaken up by their staff’s antics.

The dispute between Lord Sugar and his former employee hit the headlines this week as Ms English’s Claim for constructive dismissal against Lord Sugar’s company was heard in the Employment Tribunal. So what will Ms English need to show, from a legal perspective, in order for her claim to be successful? We asked Susan Evans from Lester Aldridge LLP to explain

The Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services team at Ernst & Young has released research revealing that nearly half of British firms are failing to vet their suppliers for compliance with the UK Bribery Act, and that only 6 per cent would re-tender if they discovered their suppliers were not compliant.