Insights: October 2016

As discussed in recent weeks, the new Electronic Communications Code raises concerns for landowners contemplating demolition and redevelopment projects. But there are other, more hidden problems. Housing minister Gavin Barwell has unveiled new measures last month to speed up housebuilding in his Neighbourhood Development Bill. In his first speech as minister, he outlined the government’s […]

Fladgate LLP has acted for Zurich based client Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI) on an engineering, procurement and construction contract worth in excess of £100m, to deliver an energy from waste (EfW) facility on the outskirts of Edinburgh. A new EfW plant is to be built at the site of the Millerhill Zero Waste Parc, […]

In Pyrrho Investments Ltd v MWB Property Ltd & Ors [2016] EWHC 256 (Ch), the English High Court has recently approved the use of predictive coding in the disclosure stage of High Court proceedings. In a nutshell, predictive coding is the practice of electronic document review carried out by sophisticated computer software rather than by […]

The Telecoms Code is currently in the Public Bill Committee stage in Parliament.  This allows an opportunity for interested parties to submit written evidence to the Committee. The deadline for receiving submissions is 1 November 2016 (extended from the original deadline of 27 October 2016). The link to the relevant site is below, where you […]

Fladgate LLP has advised Otium Real Estate on its first in-town leisure purchase in Milton Keynes, acquiring the Theatre District scheme from UGS MK Limited for £16.75m. The 109,000 sq ft scheme currently comprises 16 units, with a tenant roster that includes TGI Fridays, Bella Italia, Zizzis, Revolution de Cuba and the Slug and Lettuce. […]

Updates for construction professionals

The UK Inheritance Tax (IHT) saving is probably the last reason why anyone would deliberately choose to leave assets to charity in their Will.  However, it is the case that leaving assets to charity is very IHT efficient, for two key reasons.  Qualifying gifts are 100% IHT exempt – the charity will not have any […]

The industry must embrace the technology while investing in resources to protect intellectual property rights Last week, retailer Long Tall Sally, which specialises in clothing for taller women, unveiled a 3D-printed mannequin based on a real customer’s body. Happily for the customer concerned, she need not worry about being the basis for a clone army […]

Fladgate has advised on the acquisition of a shopping centre known as The Harpur Centre in Bedford for Harpur Centre Bedford Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of a Jersey Limited Partnership) from Zurich Assurance Plc.  Tellon Capital LLP was the acting asset manager on the transaction. James Burchell of Tellon Capital commented: “Daniel and his […]

Charles Proctor joins the commentary about the Brexit countdown in The Brief. Kiss tariffs goodbye As the most recent Nobel prize winner did not quite sing at Desert Trip in California last weekend: “It’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard Brexit gonna fall.” Indeed, writes Edward Fennell, there’s a good chance that the […]

A landmark £14bn class action claim against MasterCard was filed in London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) on 8 September 2016.  The claim is the highest value claim to be brought before the CAT and the first major claim to be brought on behalf of multiple UK consumers under the new class action framework introduced by […]

Developments relating to litigation and arbitration in London.