Knowledge

Pensions dashboards are set to make their long-awaited debut as early as next year – and getting ready to connect could be no small task. Find out what this means for schemes in brief here.

Our pensions team provide a quick guide to discretionary death benefits, which covers key points to investigate when dealing with member deaths. From checking scheme rules to unpicking complex family situations, we highlight potential pitfalls and offer solutions to the most common problems.

Euan Murray discusses the UK Government’s recently published draft Procurement Bill, and the changes it has introduced to the current legislation.  

All-Energy 2022, held at the SECC in Glasgow on 11-12 May, was the first time the UK’s largest low carbon energy and full supply chain renewables event had been held since COP26. We reflect on the key takeaways from the sessions chaired by our clean energy lawyers on mobilising finance for decarbonisation projects, and the future of offshore wind.

Joe Fitzgibbon discusses a recent High Court copyright infringement case involving Ed Sheeran, and considers the wider implications for the music industry. 

Iain Drummond considers the recent decision in Van Oord UK Ltd v Dragados UK Ltd and the importance of an adjudicator allowing both parties fair opportunity to comment on points considered significant by the adjudicator, which the parties were not aware of or did not argue.

As environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations become increasingly important for businesses, Fiona McKerrell, discusses why having strong ESG credentials can be essential for organisations in their restructuring strategy.

With reference to Scots law, Alexandra Lane discusses a misleading gift contained in this year’s infamous “Everyone Wins” goody bag.

A new register intended to improve transparency of ownership and overall control of land and buildings became operational on 1 April, 2022. Who does it apply to and what does it mean for farming businesses?

Susie Tweedie discusses the options available to family businesses who are considering their succession planning strategy.

George Frier discusses the Scottish Government’s introduction of a food security task force, and why this measure is essential following the conflict in Ukraine.

With reference to two recent cases, Kevin Clancy discusses what steps landowners and employers should take to ensure health and safety compliance in the agricultural sector. 

With sporting events now welcoming back spectators, organisers must consider their health and safety responsibilities.

As the UK Government continues to lift COVID-19 restrictions, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding businesses that it is continuing to carry out inspections to ensure compliance with the latest guidance.

Tuesday 8 March 2022 will mark International Women’s Day, and the campaign theme this year is #BreakTheBias. Although hashtags are catchy, I was eager to understand what ‘breaking the bias’ means for my colleagues and I in practice. As we strive to build a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination, it occurred to me that often the biggest obstacle we face in our efforts to value and celebrate our successes is an internal bias toward our own capabilities.

With birth and marriage rates falling, the model of the ‘traditional’ family is quickly changing. Justine McCluskey asks whether Inheritance Tax is fit for modern times.