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16 October 2026 / Louise Price , Jennifer Leeder
Issue: 8181 / Categories: Features , Employment , Non disclosure agreements
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The end of NDAs in settlement agreements?

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© Getty images

Non-disclosure agreement reforms could slow down settlements & add cost & complexity, write Louise Price & Jennifer Leeder

  • Covers the reforms to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), which have been consulted on and are likely to come into force next year.
  • Considers scope of ‘excepted agreements’, the question of whether employers can suggest the possibility of an NDA, regulatory requirements for solicitors and barristers, and next steps on NDA reforms.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are once again under the legislative gaze. Following years of being in the political spotlight and a wave of regulatory activity, the UK government published a formal consultation on 15 April 2026 setting out how it intends to restrict the use of NDAs in cases of workplace harassment and discrimination.

With the consultation closing on 8 July 2026 and new rules expected to come into force in 2027, is this a pivotal moment for employers, workers and the legal professionals advising them?

From #MeToo to legislative reform

The movement to restrict NDA

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