The legal industry

Student Lockdowns: Imprisoned unfairly or isolated by necessity?

Student Lockdowns: Imprisoned unfairly or isolated by necessity?

What has just happened?

Students at certain UK universities are being made to isolate within their university halls, but without access to essential facilities – food, exercise, and without freedom. Some students are attempting to claim that this action by Universities is false imprisonment.

Is Privacy In Cloud Zoom Meetings Becoming Foggy?

Is Privacy In Cloud Zoom Meetings Becoming Foggy?

What just happened?

With the world bracing itself for a second wave of coronavirus there is much speculation that the economic downturn is here to stay. Unemployment is at a record high and many small businesses are facing the reality of foreclosures and are being challenged in unprecedented ways.

New Look VS Landlords: A New image for the High Street.

New Look VS Landlords: A New image for the High Street.

The fourth and final quarter of the year is often where fellow shopaholics find the biggest and best bargains. Stocking up on seasonal promos, flashing the cash in the Black Friday sales and of course the post-Christmas ‘let’s spend even more of a fortune’ Boxing Day sales. People usually don’t think twice about nipping into their local shopping centre or high street stores, however now that’s not as easy as it sounds.

How to Resolve Corruption in a Country- Malaysia

How to Resolve Corruption in a Country- Malaysia

What’s just happened?

During 2020, Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index score rose from 41 to 51 out of 180 countries, showing improvement in the country’s corruption problem. [[1]] However, Malaysians are still not satisfied, blaming a lack of substantial change on the economic downfall that has happened recently.

Remote hearings - is justice still being served?

Remote hearings - is justice still being served?

As a result of Covid-19 restrictions, the judiciary in England and Wales has published a slew of measures to promote remote hearings in order to reduce the backlog of cases. The Lord Chief Justice set the tone in March by urging for an increased use of telephone and video technology. This was quickly followed by the Coronavirus Act 2020, which legislated for a broader range of audiovisual court proceedings.

Medical Negligence Claims for COVID Patients?

Medical Negligence Claims for COVID Patients?

What has happened?

Questions are being raised about the right of patients to claim for clinical negligence in relation to a healthcare worker’s ‘negligent’ actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NHS has introduced an ‘additional indemnity coverage’ scheme. This scheme is available for cases whereby healthcare professionals have carried out activities related to COVID-19. This is in accordance with clauses 10-12 Coronavirus Act 2020.

Do Sustainable Initiatives Have Better Long Term Profitability?

Do Sustainable Initiatives Have Better Long Term Profitability?

What Just Happened?

It was largely suspected that the pandemic would be the end of the corporate sustainability initiative as they focus on more immediate problems. So far, the opposite has proven to be the case with many companies re-doubling their efforts to increase sustainability in the long run

Increased Protection for Whistleblowers

Increased Protection for Whistleblowers

The Public Interest Disclosure (Protection) Bill is a new bill being proposed by the Scottish National Party’s Dr Philippa Whitford. The bill aims to provide protection for whistle-blowers, by establishing an independent body that would set, monitor and enforce standards on how whistle-blower cases are handled.

Growing Investment Opportunities within the ASEAN Network

Growing Investment Opportunities within the ASEAN Network

Within the emerging economies of the ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam), the pandemic has shined a light on their investment potential. This has also highlighted investment areas that could both speed up the economic recovery in these countries and lay the foundation for extended growth.

Brexit divorce proceedings: UK’s Bill has broken the EU’s trust

Brexit divorce proceedings: UK’s Bill has broken the EU’s trust

What just happened?

On Thursday 10 September, Michael Gove met with European Vice President, Maros Sefcovic.[1] This emergency meeting was scheduled after the UK has proposed controversial legislation to override parts of the Withdrawal Agreement which was signed last year. The proposed Internal Market Bill, proposed on the 9 September, aims to ensure that goods continue to move easily between the UK’s four nations post-Brexit.

Breaking Up With Tiffany: Analysis of the Failed Deal

Breaking Up With Tiffany: Analysis of the Failed Deal

What just happened?

Last year, the global conglomerate, LVMH announced that it would be going ahead with the acquisition of Tiffany, however, in September 2020, LVMH backtracked and decided against the 16.2-billion-dollar acquisition due to the ongoing trade war between their home state of France and the United States.

Crimes Against Humanity in Venezuela: Are we really living in the 21st Century?

Crimes Against Humanity in Venezuela: Are we really living in the 21st Century?

What just happened?

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela published its first report on 16 September 2020. In this, it recognised the numerous cases of extrajudicial executions, torture, excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions et al under the regime of Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela.

Fools Gold Rush?

Fools Gold Rush?

What has just happened?

The world is currently experiencing a Gold rush, as prices rocket to $2,000 per troy ounce. While we are experiencing a global pandemic, Gold has experienced a 36% price increase which is a figure greater than any other stock index so far in 2020.

Reforms in police education throughout the U.S. could significantly reduce the need to use excessive and unnecessary force

Reforms in police education throughout the U.S. could significantly reduce the need to use excessive and unnecessary force

What just happened?

On August 23rd, 2020, Jacob Blake, an unarmed black man was shot multiple times by Rusten Sheskey, a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The shooting occurred two months after the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (2020), a civil rights bill aimed at combatting racial bias, police misconduct, and the use of excessive force.

A Free Press and the Right to Freedom of Speech in the UK at Serious Risk?

A Free Press and the Right to Freedom of Speech in the UK at Serious Risk?

What has just happened?

The Council of Europe has just issued the UK government with a Level 2 “media freedom alert”, for threatening press freedom after it blacklisted a group of investigative journalists and denied them access to information. It follows a similar warning issued in May this year and the exclusion of ‘The Independent’ from a technical briefing in February.

Libel Claim: Johnny Depp Sues and holds The Sun Liable.

Libel Claim: Johnny Depp Sues and holds The Sun Liable.

What has just happened?

Mr. John Christopher Depp, brought an action for libel over articles published by The Sun, branding Mr. Depp a “wife-beater” and making false allegations of verbal and physical abuse, contrary to the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. According to Depp’s barrister David Sherbourne, the article made “defamatory allegations of the utmost seriousness”.

Furlough Fraud Feared by HMRC

Furlough Fraud Feared by HMRC

What just happened?

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as the furlough scheme launched in March had paid out £35 billion and has been used by 1.2 million employers enabling 9.6m jobs to be furloughed. The UK tax authority has claimed that UK may have paid out up to £3.5 billion in furlough money on fraudulent or mistaken claims.