Public Sector

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The public sector continues to face significant challenges – it’s a difficult mix of a drive for budget reductions and constraints on financing, whilst being under pressure to deliver improved services and infrastructure and meet demanding targets. We want to help you to navigate those challenges the best you can, whilst maximising the benefit of anyopportunities which might arise.

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Recent Articles

  •  
    13/03/2024
    United Kingdom

    Court of Appeal rules that defence of illegality in civil claim is not available if not guilty of criminal offence by reason of insanity

    In Lewis-Ranwell v G4S Health Services (UK) Ltd and others [2024] EWCA Civ 138, the Court of Appeal recently held, by a majority of 2 to 1, that where a person has committed a crime, but has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, the defence of illegality will not prohibit them from claiming damages from those who were responsible for assessing their mental wellbeing at the relevant time.Whilst these circumstances are unusual, they are not novel. This Judgment is particularly important for providers of mental health services and their insurers.Background – Criminal ProceedingsOn 10...
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    12/03/2024
    Ukraine

    Ukraine launches official website of the Register of Damage

    On 4 March 2024, the official website of the Register of Damage for Ukraine was launched. The website sheds light on the forthcoming modes of operation of the Register of Damage and outlines the general requirements for claims to be accepted.The Register of Damage will record claims filed by individuals, entities, and the Ukrainian state for compensation for damage, loss, and injury resulting from aggression by the Russian Federation. The Register will also receive and keep the supporting evidence of these claims.The Register of Damage will only accept claims filed digitally through the Ukrainian...
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    11/03/2024
    Middle East

    Introduction of New Federal Law on Regulation of PPPs

    Introduction On 1st December 2023 in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Federal Law No.12/2023 – On the Regulation of the Partnership Between the Public and Private Sectors (the “New PPP Law”) – came into force. Until this point, public-private partnerships (“PPPs”) have been administered predominantly at an Emirate level.While Emirates such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai have their own frameworks for PPPs, the New PPP Law seeks to regulate and boost collaboration between federal entities and the private sector in the UAE, as well as encourage private...
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  •  
    08/03/2024
    EU

    Practical guidance on how to assess the existence of aid for risk financing measures

    FR
    On 26 January 2024, the Commission adopted practical guidance for Member States on assessing the existence of State aid for measures aimed at facilitating access to financing for certain businesses.Risk financing measures are particularly important as they enable States to support innovative start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle-sized enterprises (mid-caps) in the early stages of their development, to make the most of their growth potential, and to lead ecological and digital transitions.These aid may be considered compatible with the internal market under the General...
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  •  
    07/03/2024
    United Kingdom

    University’s Duties towards Disabled Student - The University of Bristol v Dr Robert Abrahart [2024] EWHC 299

    This judgment concerns the tragic case of a second-year physics student at the University of Bristol (the “University”) who ended her own life in April 2018. She had been diagnosed with depression and social anxiety disorder, which qualifies as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 (the “Act”). As part of her course, she was required to present orally, with other students, the findings of an experiment they conducted and to answer questions about the experiment and the relevant underlying principles of physics. It was accepted as a fact that the cause of her death was...
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  •  
    23/02/2024
    Scotland

    Scottish wildcat group’s challenge to windfarm permission unsuccessful

    Wildcat Haven, a community interest company, sought to challenge the decision of the Scottish Ministers to grant permission for construction of a new wind farm at Clashindarroch Forest in Aberdeenshire. The Court held that Wildcat Haven had failed to establish that the decisions were attended by any error of law and there was therefore no scope for intervention by the court.In June 2023 Vattenfall’s application for the construction of a new wind farm in Clashindarroch Forest was granted under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by the Scottish Ministers. The petitioners, Wildcat Haven,...
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