Updates

A Guide for Owner-Managed Businesses: Choosing the Right Staff Incentive Strategy

Rewarding employees is central to building a committed, high‑performing workforce. A share incentive programme enables employees to participate in the company’s growth, aligning their interests closely with those of the employer. This article provides an overview of key incentive structures available to employers and highlights the practical questions employers should consider when designing a scheme. …
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Schools White Paper: Every child achieving and thriving

The government published its highly-anticipated Schools White Paper and a corresponding consultation on 23 February 2026, setting out major reforms, focused primarily on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  These reforms will affect children and young people aged 0-25, their families and others in the wider education ecosystem including schools and local authorities. Most of …
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Why you should apply now for indefinite leave to remain: The impact of earned settlement proposals

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) provides migrants in the UK with a secure and stable foundation for life, work, and integration into British society. Government proposals for ‘earned settlement’ represent a significant shift in policy, introducing changes that will affect eligibility for ILR and the process of obtaining it. The consultation is now closed, and …
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Search and imaging orders: the new model form and what applicants need to consider

On 6 April 2025 changes to CPR Part 25 came into force, including the introduction of a new model form search and imaging order. In this article, experienced Supervising Solicitors Leticia Jennings, Alex de Jongh and Rob Oakley run the rule over the new model order and consider how it will operate in practice. 1. How …
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Now imminent: UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Regime to Be Fully Enforced from 25 February 2026

As we have written before, the Government will be fully enforcing the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) regime from 25 February 2026, meaning that those who require an ETA but do not have one will be denied boarding. Recap – who needs an ETA? By way of a recap, those visiting or transiting (landside) the UK …
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Bates Wells advises animal rights campaigners on challenge to Public Order Act regulations

On 12 February 2026, new regulations came into force which classify the life sciences sector – including animal testing sites – as “key national infrastructure” under the Public Order Act 2023, alongside transport and energy sites. Protestors who “interfere” with such facilities could face severe criminal sanctions, including up to a year in jail, though …
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Case update: Good Law Project Limited & Ors v EHRC

On 13 February 2026, the High Court rejected a judicial review challenge1 brought by Good Law Project and three individual claimants to the “interim update” that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) published following the Supreme Court’s decision in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers [2025] 2 WLR 879. Background In For Women Scotland, …
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Navigating the Charity Commission’s new fundraising guidance CC20

Earlier this month, the Charity Commission published a significantly revised version of its guidance on charity fundraising. The new guidance contains some helpful clarifications but also introduces some new areas of confusion, because certain sections lack clarity or could be interpreted in misleading ways. We suggest that you treat the new guidance as a broad overview …
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Proscribing Palestine Action a ‘terrorist group’ was unlawful, High Court rules in judicial review challenge

A trio of judges in the High Court, including the President of the King’s Bench Division, have ruled that the ‘ban’ on Palestine Action by the Government in June last year under the Terrorism Act 2000 was disproportionate and unlawful.  The judgment was critical of the group, and ruled that “Palestine Action encourages its members…to …
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Online Safety Act update – Ofcom calls for evidence on content harmful to children

Under the Online Safety Act (the “OSA”), Ofcom must produce a report on content that is harmful to children at least every three years. Ofcom has published a call for evidence to support its first report. Background – duties towards children under the OSA The strongest protections in the OSA have been designed for children. …
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Government announces revised timetable for implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025

On 3 February 2026, the Government published an updated implementation timetable for the Employment Rights Act 2025 (“ERA 2025”), revising its original roadmap which was published in July 2025 and confirmed again in December 2025. (See our articles on this here and here.) Key changes to the implementation timetable include: The new timetable gives no …
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The new charitable ‘soft opt-in’ now in force as of 5 February 2026

Changes to how charities can contact supporters It is not often that new data protection law actually makes it easier to do things. But that is the case with the Data (Use and Access) Act (‘the DUAA’). The legislation makes it easier for charities to contact existing supporters by e-mail and text message by extending …
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