Updates

Legal Update: New Office for Students requirement on harassment and sexual misconduct protections now in force for higher education providers

The Office for Students (OfS) has introduced a new ongoing condition of registration (the New Condition) for higher education providers (HEPs), aimed at protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct. Published in July 2024, the New Condition came into full effect on 1 August 2025. These changes were introduced under the Higher Education (Freedom of …
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What should not-for-profits consider when carrying out legal activities?

The last decade has seen a steady increase in strategic litigation, with individuals and organisations seeking to use legal cases to drive change in relation to a host of social issues. As noted in our guide to using the law to create change, these kind of challenges can be a powerful tool in a not-for-profit’s …
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Transgender pool player loses gender reassignment discrimination claim in first application of For Women Scotland judgment

On 1 August 2025, the Canterbury County Court reached its decision in the case of Harriet Haynes v The English Blackball Pool Federation; finding that Ms Haynes (a transgender woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate (“GRC”), who plays pool at county level) had not been discriminated against on grounds of gender reassignment by the English …
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A reflection on The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: What’s next for education law and policy?

As another busy academic year winds down for the summer holidays, we take a moment to reflect and look ahead to key legal developments expected in the education sector this autumn. When the new school year begins, we can expect a white paper setting out the government’s approach to SEND reform, the final report from …
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Charity legacies and indemnities: what you need to know

Charities receiving legacy income may be asked to provide an indemnity before the legacy is released to the charity. Below, we explore the possible implications for your charity, and how you can respond. What is an indemnity and why is it relevant to legacies? An indemnity is a legally binding promise by one party to …
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Evaluating claims to charitable legacies: sorting substance from speculation

Charitable legacies are a vital source of income for many organisations, often forming a significant part of their funding. For a charity named as a residuary beneficiary to a Will, claims against the estate can therefore create delay and uncertainty. While certain claims against estates may be well-founded and deserving of careful consideration, it is …
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UK B Corps & the EU’s directive on empowering consumers for the green transition: using the B Corp logo in EU markets

The Directive on empowering consumers for the green transition (“ECGT”) creates new provisions within EU consumer protection law that, among other points, prohibit businesses from making unsubstantiated generic claims about their environmental performance and requires them to provide certain information to consumers, to enable consumers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions. The ECGT also prohibits …
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Failure to address employee complaints led to ‘last straw’ in constructive dismissal

“Constructive dismissal” is something periodically referred to by disgruntled employees, and generally disregarded as a realistic threat by employers. To claim constructive dismissal an employee has to resign, and establish that they have done so in response to a repudiatory (fundamental) breach of contract, as a result of the employer’s conduct. It is up to …
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High Court considers the impact of procedural deficiencies in a disciplinary process on an employee’s mental health

In Woodhead v WTTV Limited [2025] EWHC 1128 (KB) the High Court has provided guidance on the handling of private information disclosed as part of a complaint about a colleague, and on how the mishandling of a disciplinary process can amount to a breach of an employer’s duty of care to an employee. Background A …
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Ofcom sharpens online safety tools to meet ever-evolving threat

Ofcom has set out a series of proposals for ‘additional safety measures’ as part of its most recent consultation launched to strengthen the protections contained in the Online Safety Act (the Act). The Act places duties on providers of user-to-user or search engine services to identify, mitigate and manage the risk from illegal content and …
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Football Governance Act becomes law

The Football Governance Act has received Royal Assent, making it onto the statute book before the new football season kicks off in August. Fair Game CIC – which Bates Wells worked with on amendments to the legislation – described its passage into law as “a victory for fairness, sustainability, and the future of football. It’s …
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Employment Rights Bill: Government announces implementation roadmap and further changes

On 1 July 2025, the Government published its “Implementation Roadmap” for the Employment Rights Bill, setting out a broad-brush timetable for the phased implementation of the Bill’s provisions. Implementation is due to start in late 2025, with further provisions coming into force in April 2026, October 2026 and then during the course of 2027. The …
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