Search results
852 results ordered by
Health and Safety
As the single greatest cause of work-related deaths due to past exposure (according to HSE's Annual health and safety statistics 2024.
Read moreInternational arbitration
The Arbitration Bill received its first and second readings in parliament in July 2024. Having first come before parliament in September 2023 under the UK's then Conservative government, it will once again proceed through the House of Lords and House of Commons, before receiving Royal Assent and becoming law.
Read moreArt & specie
Following reports in 2023 that the British Museum had discovered that around 2,000 artefacts were either lost or damaged, it has this year concluded its internal investigation. The Museum found that it had not been compliant with UK legislation regarding how such artefacts should be kept. The Public Records Act requires all UK museums and libraries to meet basic standards of preservation, access and professional care. The consequences of such failings can mean collections being transferred elsewhere or handed over to the National Archives, although it seems the British Museum may be spared this outcome. The Museum is working with the National Archives to ensure their future compliance. This will include the introduction of new policies, such as defining what comprises its collection, introducing a policy for registering items, and improving its policy for reporting unlocated items.
Read moreIntellectual property
Since our 2021 Review we have returned frequently to Sky v Skykick, a trade mark dispute that has been ongoing since 2016. In November 2024, the Supreme Court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal (see here) finding that an inference of bad faith may be drawn if sufficient evidence exists – as there was in this case – that the applicant had never had any intention to supply or provide certain goods or services for which it sought trade mark protection. Once an inference of bad faith has been drawn, this may prove grounds for a mark to be wholly or partially invalidated.
Read moreAviation
In this this inaugural aviation chapter of the Annual Insurance Review, it would be impossible not to focus on the continuing upheaval wrought by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The aviation industry, which had largely weathered the disruption of the Covid pandemic, has been faced with new challenges since February 2022. Closure of European airspace to Russian aircraft, and of Russian airspace to aircraft from "unfriendly" countries, has forced route networks to adapt. Western sanctions which prohibited the supply of aircraft to Russian airlines have derailed longstanding relationships between Western aircraft lessors and their Russian customers. Prohibitions on the provision of insurance have similarly impacted aviation business models.
Read moreLegal practices
A crumbling regulator? The SRA is facing difficult questions about its effectiveness as a regulator in the wake of the collapse of Axiom Ince, which led to the disappearance of £62million and the loss of around 1,400 jobs. Initially Insurers received a flood of claims totalling around £33million. In an unpopular move, the SRA announced the profession will cover the loss through a 270% rise in contributions to the Compensation Fund.
Read moreLife sciences
COVID-19 continued to dominate life sciences headlines in 2024. The COVID-19 Inquiry has continued in earnest. Module 3, which focussed on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems has recently concluded. Damning evidence has been heard about the immense toll on healthcare staff, and the detrimental impact on NHS waiting times.
Read moreMarine and shipping
Two words are dominating the shipping sector in 2024 – "shadow fleet". The shadow (or "dark" or "grey") fleet is a reference to vessels which transport oil and petrochemical cargoes on behalf of sanctioned countries. Western economies finance, operate and insure the vast majority of the world's merchant fleet. Expansion of US, EU and UK sanctions means that, in general, vessels carrying cargoes from sanctioned countries cannot operate within the usual international shipping infrastructure. They are forced to go "dark" in a far more opaque part of the shipping sector. Until 2022 the shadow fleet was relatively small – restricted mainly to the carriage of Venezuelan and Iranian oil/petrochemical cargoes. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – and the expansion of international sanctions against Russia – has vastly increased the shadow fleet.
Read moreMedia
The Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) introduced a suite of obligations for "user-to-user" services and search engines which target the UK and/or have a significant number of UK users. In 2024, secondary legislation and Codes of Practice published by the regulator, Ofcom, began the process of giving the OSA practical effect.
Read moreWhat 6 key challenges will insurers face in 2024?
Climate change, Artificial Intelligence and ESG top this year's predictions in latest edition of Annual insurance review from international law firm RPC
Read moreAnnual insurance review 2024
Hello and welcome to RPC's Annual insurance review – a look back at the events that shaped the insurance market in 2023 and a look forward towards what to expect in 2024.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2024: Procedure damages & costs
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2024, we look at the main developments in 2023 and expected issues in 2024 for Procedure damages & costs.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2024: Product liability
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2024, we look at the main developments in 2023 and expected issues in 2024 for Product liability.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2024: Construction
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2024, we look at the main developments in 2023 and expected issues in 2024 for Construction.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2023
Hello and welcome to RPC's Annual Insurance Review – a look back at the events that shaped the insurance market in 2022 and a look forward towards what to expect in 2023.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2023: USA
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2023, we look at the main developments in 2022 and expected issues in 2023 for the USA.
Read moreWhat are the 8 key concerns insurers will face in 2023?
Annual Insurance Review from international law firm RPC identifies ESG risks, climate change and cyber-attacks as top challenges.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2022
Welcome to RPC's 2022 annual insurance review – a look back at the events that shaped the insurance market in 2021 and a look forward towards what to expect in 2022.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2021
Welcome to RPC's 2021 annual insurance review. No prizes for guessing what we will be talking about this year.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2020
Hello and welcome to the 2020 edition of RPC’s annual insurance review. Here you will find updates from our experts across a whole range of business classes as well as from around the world. In the articles that follow you will be able to read our take on key issues that have impacted your market in the year gone – and our thoughts on the issues likely to affect you in the year to come.
Read moreTechnology and cyber
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2020, we look at the main developments in 2019 and expected issues in 2020 for technology and cyber.
Read moreRegulatory
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2020, we look at the main developments in 2019 and expected issues in 2020 for regulatory.
Read moreMarine and shipping
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2020, we look at the main developments in 2019 and expected issues in 2020 for marine and shipping.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2019
Welcome to RPC’s Annual Insurance Review
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2018
Welcome to RPC’s Annual Insurance Review for 2018.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2018: Accountants
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2018, we look at the main developments in 2017 and expected issues in 2018 for accountants.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2017
Last year we identified the standout insurance law event of 2015 as the impending introduction of the Insurance Act 2015. Little did we anticipate the tumultuous events of 2016 that would shake up the global economic markets as a whole.
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2016
Landmark insurance law reform and market consolidation
Read moreAnnual Insurance Review 2014
Landmark insurance law reform and dealing with economic recovery which remains gradual
Read moreMargin calls in times of market turbulence
This case serves an illustration of the factors that the court will take into consideration when weighing up the competing interests of confidentiality obligations against the duty of disclosure, here under the rules of the disclosure pilot under PD 51U. The court found that confidentiality obligations owed to the IMF did not override the duty of disclosure. The court took into account both the scope of the confidentiality obligation and the relevancy and contemporaneous quality of the documents.
Read moreRPC traces the trends for LIDW25
With London International Disputes Week 2025 now wrapped up, we are reflecting on what it might tell us about the evolution of the disputes landscape.
Read moreCAT Collective Proceedings - Summer 2025 update
Developments in the UK’s competition collective proceedings regime continue apace with new claims recently issued in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
Read moreCAT approves settlement in Merricks v Mastercard
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has handed down its written judgment on the application for approval of a £200 million settlement with respect to the collective action proceedings brought by Walter Merricks (the CR) against Mastercard, on the interchange fees charged by Mastercard. The aggregate damages were initially estimated in the claim form at around £14 billion. The settlement application was opposed by the CR's funder, Innsworth Capital (the Funder).
Read moreCourt of Appeal decision allows litigation funders to be paid first in collective proceedings
Read moreAnother blow for Italian regional authorities in Italian Swaps saga judgment
Shortly before Christmas, the Commercial Court handed down judgment in another one of the long line of 'Italian Swaps Cases', Dexia SA v Regione Emilia Romagna.
Read moreThe PCR's "heavy responsibility": CAT judgment in Riefa v Apple and Amazon emphasizes the high standards expected of a PCR
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (the Tribunal) recently handed down an important judgment, refusing to certify the proposed collective proceedings in Christine Riefa Class Representative v Apple Inc. & Amazon.com, Inc. After two certification hearings, the Tribunal was not satisfied that it would be just and reasonable for the Proposed Class Representative (the PCR) to bring the proceedings following concerns relating to Professor Riefa's understanding of the PCR's funding arrangements. The judgment reiterates the strict requirements and high standards expected of a PCR.
Read moreGood reason or not? Court of Appeal clarifies rule on non-party access to court documents
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that a non-party does not have a right of access to documents on the court record by default (Derek Moss v The Upper Tribunal). Rather, the non-party must articulate a "good reason" for wishing to obtain the documents, by reference to the principle of open justice, explained in this blog.
Read moreProtecting commercial secrets: High Court allows redaction of documents for non-party access under CPR 5.4C
In WH Holding Ltd v E20 Stadium LLP [2024] EWHC 817 (Comm), the High Court examined the rights of non-parties to obtain copies of statements of case under CPR 5.4C. It decided that the appropriate balance between the interests of individuals and the public interest in the maintenance of open justice could be struck by the redaction of the monetary sums from the claim form should a non-party obtain a copy of the statement of case.
Read moreISDA Master Agreements
Banking litigation partners Simon Hart and Jake Hardy discuss the world of ISDA Master Agreements, close out mechanics and a rather opaque investment bank wheeze involving counter hedging strategies, which counterparties miss at their financial peril.
Read moreExclusive means exclusive: High Court decides that English courts have jurisdiction in Italian swaps dispute
Read moreHigh Court implies contractual terms following LIBOR cessation
The High Court has implied a term into a contract to the effect that where the contract specifies a calculation should be carried out by reference to LIBOR, where LIBOR is no longer published a reasonable alternative should be used.
Read moreD'Aloia – High Noon for Crypto-Tracing
The High Court judgment in D'Aloia v. Persons Unknown and others [2024] EWHC 2342 (Ch) is arguably the most significant crypto judgment of 2024. Critical deficiencies in the claimant's blockchain tracing analysis, evidence presented at trial and pleadings were ultimately fatal to his claims seeking to recover assets misappropriated by fraudsters.
Read moreMyth busting and moving the dial in DEI
This article is a summary of a session delivered by Kelly Thomson (Partner, Employment, Engagement & Equality and ESG Strategy Lead at RPC) and Rachel Pears (Head of Responsible Business at RPC), at the second Annual D&I Conference, in partnership with the British Retail Consortium (BRC). During this particular session, common myths and misconceptions surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) were discussed and different sides of various issues were dissected, drawing out the nuances of seemingly polarised positional statements. Below, we address a handful of these myths, offering a balanced perspective on the complexities of DEI and exploring how to drive meaningful progress in our organisations.
Read moreBanking and Financial Markets Litigation Update - Summer 2024
This update is brought to you by RPC’s top tier banking and financial markets disputes practice in London, with specialists in all areas of financial markets litigation (and arbitration) and a wealth of expertise including frequent involvement in the most complex, high-value, and high-profile disputes in the sphere. Here, we take a look at some of the most important judgments in recent months.
Read moreCAT Collective Proceedings - Summer 2024 update
Developments in the UK’s competition collective proceedings regime continue apace with new claims recently issued in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
Read moreNo objection: When is a party barred from challenging jurisdiction where it continues in the arbitration?
The High Court has provided invaluable guidance on the factors that it will consider when determining when a party is barred from challenging jurisdiction under s. 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act) by failing to raise an objection while continuing to take part in the arbitration.
Read moreEmployer lessons from teacher's menopause bias win
On May 31, a Scottish employment tribunal made its decision in Allison Shearer v. South Lanarkshire Council and awarded a teacher over £60,000 ($77,829) for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, following her dismissal for ill health after a period of long¬term sickness absence.
Read moreCrypto damages quantification: valuation at the date of breach or date of judgment?
In Southgate v. Graham [2024] EWHC 1692 (Ch), the High Court addressed an appeal from the County Court concerning inter alia the appropriate date for assessing damages in a cryptocurrency loan dispute. Initially, the County Court determined that the damages should be based on the cryptocurrency's fiat value at the breach date. Due to the volatility of the cryptocurrency, this decision would have resulted in significantly lower fiat damages award than if the valuation were based on a later date. The High Court allowed the valuation date part of the appeal, directing a further hearing to establish the appropriate date.
Read moreStay connected and subscribe to our latest insights and views
Subscribe Here