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Moving forward

06 May 2011 / Michael Salter , Chris Bryden
Issue: 7464 / Categories: Features , Employment
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Michael Salter & Chris Bryden report on the recent flurry of reforms introduced to UK employment law

April and October are traditionally busy months for business, and therefore for employment lawyers, with new legislation, guidance and regulations being issued and coming into force. April 2011 was no different, with a wide range of areas of employment law being affected by the zeal of government for reform.

Areas from termination payments to the duties of public authorities under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) fell to be altered by the latest series of innovation. This article highlights a cross-section of the most important reforms that affect employment lawyers and business.

Default retirement

The most significant alteration in the sphere of employment law is likely to be felt by employers in the realms of retirement as, after much discussion about the wording of the transitional provisions, last month saw the end of the well-known but not well-loved default retirement age of 65.

Following the reforms that have now come into force, employers will only be able

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
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
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
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
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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
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