Recent Articles

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  15/01/2025

  United Kingdom

  Making progress: Ofgem publishes call for input on long-duration electricity storage cap and floor regime

  In October 2024, the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (“DESNZ”) confirmed its intention to introduce a cap and floor regime (“Regime”) to encourage investment in long-duration electricity storage (“LDES”). This decision was outlined in its response (the “Response”) to its January 2024 consultation (the “Consultation”), which aimed to address the challenges and opportunities associated with investment in LDES. It also announced that Ofgem would administer the Regime. The Response noted that Ofgem and DESNZ intend to publish...

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  15/01/2025

  England

  The Renters’ Rights Bill – More concerns for landlords

  The Renters’ Rights Bill has once more shifted significantly in favour of tenants and increased concerns and uncertainty for professional landlords across the private rented sector.The recent changes introduced to the latest version, including the abolition of advance rent payments which has been heavily criticised by landlord bodies, have been voted through the Third Reading in the House of Commons. Given the political nature of this Bill, such an outcome was not surprising, despite resistance from landlord bodies and Opposition MPs.The Bill will now pass to the House of Lords with the Government...

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  15/01/2025

  China

  2025 – Topics that may Concern You

  Companies doing business in China constantly have to deal with changes in regulations and new laws. This will also continue in 2025.Topics such as the new PRC Company Law, new PRC Tariff Law, PRC Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, network data security management, data transfer, opening up capital markets to foreign investment, and raise of statutory retirement age of employees etc. will continue to be a concern for many companies in China in 2025.Complying with regulatory requirements is one of the key challenges for foreign companies and investors in China, not only in terms of...

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  15/01/2025

  England and Wales

  The Online Safety Act: Outlook for 2025

  The Online Safety Act 2023 (“OSA”), which sets out new laws aimed at protecting children and adults online, received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, however 2025 will be the year that most of its provisions come into force. The OSA places new obligations and duties on user-to-user (including social media) and online search platforms, including requiring them to implement systems and processes to reduce the risk of such services being used in a way that is illegal or harmful for users.Although the OSA was enacted in 2023, many of its provisions are not yet in force and are awaiting...

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  14/01/2025

  Czech Republic

  Changes in the Employment of People with Disabilities

  CZ

  On 1 January 2025, significant changes to Czech law came into force regarding the employment of people with disabilities, especially the obligation to employ a mandatory proportion of disabled employees. The amendment to the Employment Act aims to encourage employers to hire disabled employees and prevent attempts to circumvent existing mechanisms.Mandatory Proportion of Disabled EmployeesThe core obligation for employers with more than 25 employees remains: at least 4% of their workforce must consist of disabled employees. There are alternative ways to meet this obligation:the direct employment...

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  14/01/2025

  Czech Republic

  Lawfulness in Data Processing: Common Pitfalls and Key Takeaways from the Czech DPA’s Decisions, part II

  CZ

  The lawfulness principle means that all data processing must comply with the law and have a valid legal basis, such as fulfilling a contract, complying with legal obligations, protecting someone’s vital interests, or serving the public interest. If none of these apply, the controller must either obtain the data subject’s consent or demonstrate that their or a third party’s legitimate interests override the individual’s right to privacy.Despite clear legal guidelines, mistakes are still very common. Drawing on the decisional practice of the Czech data protection...

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