Legal

3 ways to avoid scam emails, spoof websites and identity theft…By Norman Begg of online security company my1login.

When relationships break down it is natural – and even desirable – that both parties look beyond the immediate break up to a future life which is fulfilling and happy.

Research released by Ofcom has revealed that around half of copyright infringers download content illegally because it is quick, free and easy.

The need to reduce business risk has taken centre stage over the past few years. From financial losses to damaged reputation and corporate failure, there is a growing awareness that unforeseen market forces represent an escalating threat to business. Few organisations, however, recognise the financial implications of litigation until a court case – or threat of a case – arises.

Proposals which will see the introduction of a ‘share for rights’ scheme is a worrying decision which sets a “ dangerous precedent”, a leading employment law expert has warned.

Just under a fifth of SMEs in the UK do not understand what a trade mark is for, according to a recent study.

Most companies don’t give this topic the required attention. Start-up entrepreneurs and successful business leaders are often too caught up in their day-to-day tasks to take a step back and look at important, strategic decisions that could prove vital for their company, such as ways to figure out how to truly secure their businesses’ intellectual property.

At first glance the latest figures from KPMG’s bi-annual Fraud Barometer look positive. There has been a notable decline in the number of high profile super cases of recent years, and with this a sharp drop in the value of fraud.

Where social media is used for business purposes it is essential to safeguard the ownership of contacts when the employee handling the account moves on. Employment law specialist Andrew Lightburn, associate at hlw Keeble Hawson, explains how companies can avoid valuable data being transferred to a rival.

Small businesses are at most risk of being prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter Act, lawyers warn, as figures reveal a massive rise in new cases opened by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The idea of a legal right for employees to take 18 weeks leave is probably quite an alarming one for most employers. Emma Ladley at Lester Aldridge LLP looks at what this right really means and why it may not be such a worry for employers in practice…

You may have heard of the latest global internet dance sensation, ‘the Harlem Shake’. Perhaps you’ve even participated in one of these 30 second dance videos which are proving hugely popular on the social media site YouTube However Jemma Pugh, Solicitor, and Susan Evans, Partner, at Lester Aldridge LLP explain what happens when employers get all shaken up by their staff’s antics.

Government health minister, Anna Soubry, has said that workers eating lunch at their desks is ‘disgusting’ and they should take a full break to properly enjoy their midday meal instead.

Will the introduction of tribunal fees stop disgruntled employees pursuing unworthy claims? It’s just one of many of the new changes to employment law coming in.

Lord Neuberger, the UK’s most senior judge, recently warned that reforms introduced from April 1 – which will scrap legal aid for family matters including financial issues, residency and contact with children – could undermine the rule of law.

The dispute between Lord Sugar and his former employee hit the headlines this week as Ms English’s Claim for constructive dismissal against Lord Sugar’s company was heard in the Employment Tribunal. So what will Ms English need to show, from a legal perspective, in order for her claim to be successful? We asked Susan Evans from Lester Aldridge LLP to explain

The Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services team at Ernst & Young has released research revealing that nearly half of British firms are failing to vet their suppliers for compliance with the UK Bribery Act, and that only 6 per cent would re-tender if they discovered their suppliers were not compliant.

The horse meat scandal has raised crucial questions about the security of our food supply chains and has major implications for business.

With the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) becoming law in May 2012, a series of cuts have been made my government to legal aid being available for those who cannot afford to pay for their own. This will result in £350m being cut per year from the £2.2bn budget.

Driver eyesight is a vital part of health and safety at work but the responsibilities and consequences are often not fully recognised or understood by employers.

The European Court of Human Rights handed down their judgment recently upholding the appeal in case Eweida v. United Kingdom in relation to her claim for religious discrimination and we look at the ruling and what the implications might be for UK business.

The latest episode of snowy weather will leave many employers facing problems around pay and absence caused by the adverse weather. Solicitor Hugh Hitchcock, Managing Partner of DJM Solicitors, says that now is the perfect time to review your ‘bad weather’ and business continuity policies to make sure your business can cope the next time a crisis occurs.

Modern-day Christmas festivities aren’t always the joyous occasion intended: financial pressures are magnified and a somewhat artificial situation is created. Just like during summer holidays, family members who usually pass like ships in the night are thrown together for longer periods of time.

The rise in popularity of ‘electronic cigarettes’ has fuelled workplace smoking rows according to HR and health & safety experts.

You cannot escape intellectual property law in the news at the moment. Recently Cadbury’s won the right to use Pantone 2685C exclusively on chocolate bars and drinks ending an eight-year legal battle against rivals Nestle.