Expert Analysis

• EPO Decision Significantly Relaxes Patent Priority Approach

  

  In a welcome development for patent applicants, a recent European Patent Office decision redefines the way that entitlement to priority is assessed, significantly relaxing the previous approach and making challenges to the right to priority in post-grant opposition proceedings far more difficult, say lawyers at Finnegan.

• Landmark EU Climate Case May Shape Future Disputes

  

  The European Court of Human Rights' recent hearing in its first-ever climate change case Agostinho v. Portugal, concerning human rights violation claims due to countries' failure to curb emissions, may develop the law on admissibility and guide future climate disputes before domestic courts, say Stefanie Spancken-Monz and Leane Meyer at Freshfields.

• Bias Claim Highlights Need For Menopause Support Policies

  

  The recent U.K. Employment Tribunal case Rooney v. Leicester City Council, concerning a menopause discrimination claim, illustrates the importance of support policies that should feed into an organization's wider diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strategies, say Ellie Gelder, Kelly Thomson and Victoria Othen at RPC.

• UK Case Offers Lessons On Hiring Accommodations

  

  The U.K. Employment Appeal Tribunal recently ruled in Aecom v. Mallon that an employer had failed to make reasonable adjustments to an online application for an applicant with a disability, highlighting that this obligation starts from the earliest point of the recruitment process, say Nishma Chudasama and Emily Morrison at SA Law.

• Shifting From Technical To Clear Insurance Contract Wordings

  

  Recent developments on insurance policies, including the Financial Conduct Authority's new consumer duty, represent a major shift for insurers and highlight the importance of drafting policies that actively improve understanding, rather than shift the onus onto the end user, say Tamsin Hyland and Jonathan Charwat at RPC.

• A Case For The Green Investment Regime Under The ECT

  

  The EU and U.K.'s potential plans to exit the Energy Charter Treaty, which has been criticized as protecting fossil fuel investments to the detriment of energy transition, ignore the significant strides taken to modernize the treaty and its ability to promote investment in cleaner energy forms, say Amy Frey and Simon Maynard at King & Spalding.

• How Employers Can Support Neurodiversity In The Workplace

  

  A recent run of cases emphasize employers' duties to make reasonable adjustments for neurodiverse employees under the Equalities Act, illustrating the importance of investing in staff education and listening to neurodivergent workers to improve recruitment, retention and productivity in the workplace, say Anna Henderson and Tim Leaver at Herbert Smith.

• What's In The Plan To Boost Germany's Commercial Litigation

  

  Lawyers at Cleary discuss Germany's recent draft bill, which establishes commercial courts and introduces English as a court language in civil proceedings, and analyze whether it accomplishes the country's goal of becoming a more attractive venue for commercial litigation.

• What To Consider When Making Brand Sustainability Claims

  

  A recent KMPG report shows that while consumers are actively seeking out sustainable products, most will also avoid brands caught misleading customers about their sustainable credentials, meaning companies must walk a fine line between promoting and exaggerating sustainability claims, says Iona Silverman at Freeths.

• Retained EU Law Act Puts Employment Rights Into Question

  

  The recent announcement that the equal pay for equal work provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU would not be repealed by the U.K. Retained EU Law Act has created uncertainty as to whether key employment rights will be vulnerable to challenge, say Nick Marshall and Louise Mason at Linklaters.

• In Balancing Commerce And Privacy Interests, Consent Is Key

  

  Although the European Commission's recent adoption of the EU-U.S. data privacy framework will make the use of tracking services with pixels easier, it highlights the significance of website visitor consent and the need for enterprises to provide users with complete and transparent information while adhering to all data protection regulations, say Áron Hegyi and Máté Dura at Schönherr.

• UK Mozambique Ruling Will Have Int'l Ramifications

  

  The recent U.K. Supreme Court judgment in Mozambique v. Privinvest considered for the first time stay proceedings under the Arbitration Act, offering guidance on whether claims are a "matter" within the scope of an arbitration clause, which could become a point of reference for foreign courts in the future, say lawyers at Herbert Smith.

• Recent Trends In European ESG-Related Shareholder Activism

  

  New ESG reporting standards in the European Union, as well as recent climate change, board diversity and human rights cases, illustrate how shareholder activism may become more prominent in years to come as regulation and investor engagement continues to strengthen, say lawyers at Debevoise.

• Employer Due Diligence Lessons From Share Scheme Case

  

  The Scottish Court of Session recently confirmed in Ponticelli v. Gallagher that the right to participate in a share incentive plan transfers to the transferee, highlighting the importance for transferee employers to conduct comprehensive due diligence when acquiring workforce, including on arrangements outside the employment contract's scope, say lawyers at McDermott.

• Construction Ruling Clarifies Key Payment Mechanism Issue

  

  The English Technology and Construction Court's recent decision in Lidl v. Closed Circuit Cooling, clarifying when construction contracts' payment mechanisms must be fixed as a set period of time, should encourage both paying parties and payees to ensure that their contracts' payment deadlines are unambiguous, say Rebecca Williams and Jack Moulder at Watson Farley.