Hotels & Leisure Law
The end of Opco/Propco structures in the hotel industry?
18 February 2019In the UK market, the tax regime has been an important driver behind Opco/Propco structures. Until now, it has normally been tax efficient for the property interest to be held in an offshore company (the Propco) and leased to an onshore operating entity (the Opco) for the simple reason that any growth in value of the underlying property has then escaped UK tax. From 6 April 2019 that is going to change. As from that date, the UK is extending the scope of capital gains tax so that increases in the value of property after that date will fall into charge to UK tax on a sale or other disposal of the land even if the owner of the property is offshore.
Read moreCase Update: Using a franchisor’s name without a franchise agreement
13 December 2018The recent case of Ghias v (1) Grill’O Xpress Ltd (2) Malik considered the compensation payable where a franchise brand is used after the termination of the franchise agreement without the permission of the brand owner.
Read moreNo way, CVA: how to downsize without entering into a Company Voluntary Agreement
3 December 2018The CVA has been this year’s buzzword, but there are other ways to slim down a restaurant estate, says real estate partner Matthew Williams, who was recently invited by BigHospitality to discuss the issues involved.
Read moreMarriott Hotels breach – UK regulators involved
30 November 2018UK data protection regulator the ICO has confirmed that it has received notification from Marriott Hotels regarding the widely reported hack (said to involve 500M consumers) involving the Starwood reservation system. The ICO says only that it is ‘making enquiries’.
Read moreRestrictions in lease agreements: Competition law matters
21 September 2018Alex Haffner, Competition Partner, discusses a recent case in which Heathrow Airport Limited was fined by the Competition and Markets Authority for lease restrictions which restricted a tenant’s freedom to set parking prices on a hotel property. The case is an important reminder that land agreements need to comply with the competition law rules and that parties can easily be caught out by restrictions which haven’t previously been considered from a competition law perspective.
Read moreNo preference for European migrants post-Brexit?
20 September 2018Immigration partner Kelly Whiter discusses the release of the Migration Advisory Committee’s long awaited final report on EEA Migration in the UK.
Read morePartnering with celebrity chefs: How to get it right first time
19 September 2018Hotels have long recognised the value that on-site restaurants can bring to their offering. They are increasingly joining forces with celebrity chefs to forge partnerships aiming to run restaurants of distinction and culinary sophistication. Such ventures work best when they are framed as a genuine partnership, designed to ensure that the joint brand is worth […]
Read moreBuilding safety, flammable cladding, and the Hackitt report
10 August 2018The fire at Grenfell Tower that took place in June 2017 resulted in 71 deaths and a large number of further injuries. Following the fire a number of inquiries and reviews were set up, including an independent review of fire safety and the current Building Regulations. This review was led by Dame Judith Hackitt and […]
Read moreTrespass in the sky
8 August 2018There is a basic principle in English land law that you own the airspace above your property and all of the ground below: ‘up to the heavens and down to the depths’. As a result, anyone entering your airspace (or mining underneath your property) without consent will almost always be committing a trespass. This is […]
Read moreSexual harassment in the workplace: what companies need to know
31 July 2018What constitutes sexual harassment? In England and Wales, it is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of violating the victim’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the victim. The victim also has protection from being treated less favourably because they have rejected or […]
Read more