News
Feb
2
Performing Rights Licences
Licensees will be pleased to know that an attempt by Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL) to increase by up to 200 per cent the cost of licences to play music in public places has failed because the court ruled that the proposed increases were not reasonable. As a result, holders of PPL licences will see increases of around the 10 per cent... Read More »
Feb
1
Taking Pension Early Can Mean Reduction
The Court of Appeal has overturned what was to many a surprising decision of the High Court and confirmed that when a company pension scheme member takes benefits early (at 60 rather than 65), the benefits may be subject to an actuarially-calculated reduction for the pension income taken early. The Court ruled that the earlier decision meant those who took pensions early would benefit from a ‘windfall’ that was unfair on the company and the other pension scheme... Read More »
Jan
4
Miller Rosenfalck recruits new senior lawyer
We are happy to announce the recruitment of Claus Andersen who will be joining our commercial team and Danish... Read More »
Nov
2
Freezing Orders
As anyone who has ever tried to collect a debt knows, there is a big difference between obtaining a judgment on the debt and obtaining payment. In difficult cases, one of the ways a debtor can be encouraged to pay is by obtaining a freezing order against his or her assets: this is a court order which prevents the subject of the order from disposing of assets or removing them from the country. It is often described as a ‘nuclear option’, because of the effect it has on the subject of the... Read More »
Nov
2
Insider Dealing – New Regime
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced that it is cracking down on insider dealing. The FSA, which levied fines of more than £28 million in the year to 31 March 2009, is appointing 30 new inspectors and tripling the level of fines it can levy. Individuals can face fines of up to £100,000 for insider dealing and companies fines of up to £50 million. Insider dealing is also a criminal offence, which means that the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) applies. Under POCA, assets... Read More »
Nov
2
New Supreme Court Replaces House of Lords
When the new legal year starts on 1 October 2009, a new Supreme Court for the United Kingdom replaces the House of Lords as the highest appeal court in the land. It will act as the final court on points of law for the whole of the United Kingdom in civil cases and for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in criminal cases. Previously, the Law Lords were able to become involved in the debate and subsequent enactment of Government legislation (although, in practice, they rarely did so). The... Read More »