Blog Post
Commercial Agents Regulations – a key decision in the High Court
Green Deal Marketing Southern Ltd v Economy Energy Trading Ltd & Ors [2019] EWHC 507 (Ch). On 6 March 2019, the High Court issued a decision on the treatment of compensation under the Commercial Agents Regulations 1993 (the "Regulations").
Blog Post
Geo-blocking update
We wrote a blog in March 2018 on the "Geo-Blocking Regulation'" (Regulation (EU) 2018/302). Please click here to read the full blog. In this post we commented that it was unclear how the Geo-blocking Regulation will operate between the UK and the EU after Brexit because much will depend on any bilateral agreement or trade deal between the UK and the rest of the EU.
Blog Post
A place in the sun: online hotel booking sites agree to modify sales practices
We wrote a blog in November 2017 detailing that the Competitions and Markets Authority (the "CMA") had launched an investigation into the sales practices of a number of large hotel booking sites. Further to that investigation and subsequent enforcement action in 2018, the CMA has announced this week that 6 hotel booking sites have voluntarily agreed to change their sales practices by 1 September 2019.
Blog Post
Product Marking in the event of a no-deal Brexit
With a no-deal Brexit looking like an increasingly likely proposition, HM government has drawn up plans to replace the CE conformity safety symbol on consumer products.
Blog Post
Gambling Sector Update – January 2019
There have been a couple of big stories in the last few months for the gambling sector. Firstly, online gambling companies have voluntarily agreed to stop showing betting adverts during live sport. Secondly, the BBC has uncovered serious failings with the effectiveness of self-exclusion schemes such as Gamstop.
Blog Post
Breakthrough in CMA investigation into social media influencer transparency
The CMA has reached an agreement with 16 celebrities following its investigation into social media influencers' failure to properly label their endorsements.
Blog Post
Legalities of Franchising in the UK
Franchisors expanding to the UK need a thorough knowledge of any UK rules and regulations which may affect them, particularly in a post-Brexit Britain, as commercial lawyer Gordon Drakes explains. For any successful international business, expansion into the United Kingdom offers exciting new business opportunities and growth potential. The UK is also often chosen as a base from which to establish a launch pad for further expansion across the European Union.
Blog Post
Selective Distribution and Online Selling in Europe - Commission imposes heavy fine on Guess
Following an 18 month investigation into the distribution agreements and practices of clothing manufacturer and retailer Guess, on 17th December 2018 the European Commission (the "Commission") fined Guess EUR 39,821,000 for anti-competitive practices which included prohibitions on online selling and advertising.
Blog Post
Diamonds are forever – Court of Appeal rules in favour of diamond broker
In the case of W Nagel (a firm) v Pluczenik Diamond Company NV (2018) EWCA Civ 2640, the Court of Appeal has ruled that a diamond broker was entitled to compensation under the Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (the "Regulations"). This decision overturned the first instance judgement by Justice Popplewell in the High Court.
Blog Post
Terminating the right to terminate – UK Government announces measures to protect distressed businesses
The number of CVAs being deployed in the retail sector is on the rise, driven in part by the pressures on margins, increased costs and fierce competition from online sales. However, CVAs themselves are often not enough to save a failing business and this had led to the UK Government deciding to step in and take action