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NLJ this week: COVID fears & unfair dismissal, time limits & evidence

20 January 2023
Issue: 8009 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Disciplinary&grievance procedures , Covid-19
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From COVID fears in the workplace to claims submitted one day out of time, barrister and lecturer Ian Smith presents another of his always-popular Employment Law Brief, in this week’s NLJ.

Smith covers the latest caselaw, teasing out the most pertinent points and spelling out their practical implications. His latest Brief includes the legal dilemma of whether unfair dismissal provisions protect an employee dismissed for refusing to return to work for fear of COVID-19 infection.

He also covers recent caselaw on just and equitable extension of time limits in discrimination claims and on the admissibility of evidence.

Read the full January Employment Law Brief here.

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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