March 2014

Drones and robots: liability for designers, manufacturers and insurers | Shook, Hardy & Bacon

The beginning of 2014 saw the launch of a plethora of smart technology. Amazon grabbed the headlines with the news that they were considering the use of drones for package deliveries. Our prediction (IHL211, June 2013) that driverless cars would be with us sooner than thought came true with an announcement that Milton Keynes is …

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Electricity market reform: an update on contracts for difference | Burges Salmon

The Energy Bill, legislating for the government’s electricity market reform (EMR), finally became the Energy Act in December 2013. The government initially announced its proposals back in December 2010. This legislation, three years in the making, is central to the government’s energy policy and its stated aims of keeping the lights on, keeping energy bills …

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The Scottish Government’s approach to tax avoidance | Brodies

It is now just over a year until April 2015 when the first devolved taxes will come into effect in Scotland. The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) will replace Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on transactions involving land in Scotland, and the Scottish Landfill Tax (SLFT) will start to be levied on landfill in …

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Are your retention of title provisions effective? | Druces LLP

Retention of title clauses are found in most contracts for sale of goods. The concept of retention is a simple one whereby the supplier of goods protects itself against non-payment by retaining ownership of goods until payment is received from the customer. The concept arises from the Sale of Goods Act 1979. The Sale of …

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The UK and the European Union | Magrath Sheldrick LLP

Numerous reports in the media concerning the relationship between the UK and Europe suggest that 2014 will be an eventful year for UK immigration and our participation in the European Union (EU). 


Parents and their partially owned entities and joint ventures: some compliance issues | Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP

Under EU competition law, parent companies will, as a rule, be responsible for the behaviour of their wholly owned subsidiaries. That is not surprising, as the parent has the ability and is presumed to 
in fact oversee and direct the activities of its subsidiaries, so-called exercise of decisive influence.

The rise and rise of arbitration | Falcon Chambers

We may not be surprised by reports of litigation taking many years and costing between £60,000 and £70,000. However, were we told that the reports in question stem from 1852, and that such sums in real terms today would be many millions of pounds, we would perhaps agree with Dickens’ statement regarding the Chancery Court …

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