Updates

What do awarding organisations need to know about the new failure to prevent fraud offence?

From 1 September 2025, many awarding organisations across the UK will face a new compliance obligation under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA): the corporate offence of failure to prevent fraud. This legislation is designed to hold certain organisations accountable when individuals acting on their behalf commit fraud intended to benefit the …
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When is an adjustment reasonable? Lessons from Hindmarch

In the recent case of Hindmarch v North East Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust [2025] EAT 87, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) looked at the question of whether an adjustment requested by a disabled employee will be reasonable if it does not alleviate or avoid the substantial disadvantage faced by them in the workplace. Mr Hindmarch, …
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Changing your governing document – top tips for professional membership bodies

Professional bodies, learned societies, and Royal Colleges should regularly review their governing documents to make sure they are up to date. Sometimes organisations grow or change, and it’s important that your governing documents are accessible, user-friendly, and up to date for your organisation and members. Take a look at our quick checklist to see if …
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The EU’s proposed Omnibus reforms to the CS3D: A lost opportunity to leverage human rights and climate litigation for a more sustainable economy?

Earlier this year, the European Commission published the ‘Omnibus I’ directive proposal (the Omnibus): a ‘package’ of measures aimed at simplifying key sustainability-related EU legislation, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D). The CS3D creates a due diligence duty upon large companies to address certain adverse human rights and environmental impacts in their operations …
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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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