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27 January 2012 / Michael Salter , Chris Bryden
Issue: 7498 / Categories: Features , Tribunals , Employment
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All change for employment law?

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Chris Bryden & Michael Salter predict a year of transformation

This article touches upon a few of the changes and reforms that will come into force this year, and considers in brief some of the more radical proposals that may make their way into law. It is impossible to cover all of the forthcoming changes in 2012, so this article discusses those areas of most likely interest to employment practitioners at the beginning of a year of change.

Awards, costs, expenses & fees

First, for claimants, the good news. The annual increases in the sums that tribunals are able to award in those areas to which compensation caps apply come into force next month (1 February 2012). The upper limit on compensation for awards of unfair dismissal will rise to £72,300 (from the present £68,400). The maximum week’s pay figure increases to £430 from £400 (see the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2011 (SI 2011/3006)). These increases are in line with established policy.

Proposed

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—Nathan Evans

Birketts—Nathan Evans

Commercial and technology team in Cambridge strengthened by partner hire

Andrew & Andrew Solicitors—Shikha Datta

Andrew & Andrew Solicitors—Shikha Datta

Hampshire firm appoints head of new family department

Latham & Watkins—Sarah Lightdale

Latham & Watkins—Sarah Lightdale

Firm strengthens securities practice with partner return

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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