header-logo header-logo

Employment law brief: 12 January 2007

11 January 2007 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7255 / Categories: Features , Employment
printer mail-detail

Ian Smith explains why 2006 went out with a bang

If only to make Christmas and New Year a time of even greater gloom and unremitting misery for the average Harvey-editor-in-the-street, 2006 insisted on going out with something of a bang. An element of judicial desk clearing led to a flurry of case law on important topics, right up to the close of play before the break. The timing of this was only topped by those awfully nice people at HM Revenue & Customs who managed once again to include in the very last post their Merry Christmas missive with its customary demand for money with menaces.

In among this recent case law, three cases stand out and are considered here. The first is a decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) under Mr Justice Elias (President) giving guidance to tribunals on the thorny question of when a long-serving agency worker transmutes into a direct
employee of the client; the gist of this guidance is to be much more cautious than previous

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

Constantine Law—Alex Finch & Rebecca Tester

Constantine Law—Alex Finch & Rebecca Tester

Firm launches business immigration practice with dual partner hire

Freeths—Jane Dickers

Freeths—Jane Dickers

Scottish offering strengthened with dispute resolution partner hire in Glasgow

NEWS
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Lawyers can no longer afford to ignore the metaverse, says Jacqueline Watts of Allin1 Advisory in this week's NLJ. Far from being a passing tech fad, virtual platforms like Roblox host thriving economies and social interactions, raising real legal issues
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
back-to-top-scroll