Absolute zero definition

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Protecting your business from fraud—law firms

Protecting your business from fraud—law firms Fraud is the deliberate use of deception or dishonesty to deprive, disadvantage or cause loss (usually financial) to another person or party. Regardless of a firm's size, all firms are at risk of becoming a victim of fraud; this can have an adverse impact on not only the financial health of a business but also its image, its reputation and staff morale. A firm's reputation depends on its ability to protect itself from fraudulent activities and ensuring any incidents are handled effectively. If a firm is the victim of fraudulent activity it is unlikely to remain an issue just between the firm and the authorities involved—the damage could include negative publicity and even a criminal investigation. There are various ways fraud can occur internally and externally. In view of the ever-changing tactics and increasing sophistication of frauds, solicitors and all member of staff should keep their fraud prevention knowledge up to date. Awareness is often the best defence against fraud, this Practice Note gives a brief overview of the different types of workplace frauds which can occur and provides both guidance and practical steps firms can take in order to protect against them. Different types of fraud The main fraud risks to law firms are: • property and mortgage fraud • bogus law firms • client account fraud • employee fraud Property and mortgage fraud Property fraud takes many forms. It

Shipping emissions—regulation

Shipping emissions—regulation Brexit 11 pm (GMT) on 31 December 2020 marked the end of the Brexit transition/implementation period entered into following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. At this point in time (referred to in UK law as ‘IP completion day’), key transitional arrangements came to an end and significant changes began to take effect across the UK’s legal regime. Merchant Shipping and Other Transport (Environmental Protection) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 The Merchant Shipping and Other Transport (Environmental Protection) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, SI 2019/311 makes amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008, SI 2008/2924 to update references to Directive (EU) 2016/802 and, effective on IP completion day, to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. Some of these changes include: • substituting the definition of ‘Certifying Authority’ to refer to the Secretary of State or any person authorised by the Secretary of State in accordance with regulation 4 (certifying authorities) of the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2015 • adding references to the United Kingdom • making changes to Schedule 2A (sulphur oxides) to ensure in trials of emission abatement technologies that the Secretary of State must at least six months before an intended trial begins, give notice of

Sustainable business—decarbonisation and net zero

Sustainable business—decarbonisation and net zero Climate change and the global need for net zero A warming climate poses many risks. The world is already 1°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, and we are experiencing extreme and unpredictable weather events attributed to this changing climate. A warming of 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels would significantly increase the risk of floods, drought, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people, alongside decreased biodiversity and species extinctions within the natural world. The Paris Agreement set out a global framework to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Numerous climate scenarios investigate differing socio-economic pathways to achieve this goal. The most cited all require the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, coupled with GHG removal strategies, to achieve overall net zero GHG emissions at least by the end of this century, if not by 2050. The UK, through its section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008 and the EU, through the Climate Neutrality Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, have committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, with interim targets on the path to 2050. For more information, see Practice Notes: • Climate change—emissions targets, carbon budgets and net zero • The Paris Agreement 2015—snapshot • The Climate neutrality regulation (EU)—snapshot Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable

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Environment weekly highlights—16 September 2021

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes an update on the UK’s accession to the Lugano Convention, Chatham House’ paper on climate change risk assessment, the National Audit Office’s report on the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme, and details on the fourth round of the Contracts for Difference scheme. In addition this week, the Department for Transport confirmed it will back an absolute zero target for international shipping emissions by 2050, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced it will invest £24m into the UK fishing industry, and the European Commission published its sustainability and competition policy brief in support of the European Green Deal.

Banking and Finance weekly highlights—16 September 2021

This week's edition of Banking and Finance weekly highlights includes: (1) the introduction of the Critical Benchmarks (References and Administrators’ Liability) Bill which aims to reduce uncertainty and litigation by clarifying that references to LIBOR in contracts include LIBOR published as synthetic LIBOR ; (2) the Insolvency Service announces that temporary insolvency restrictions are being lifted including the restrictions on winding-up petitions; and (3) HM Land Registry enables a pilot of Qualified Electronic Signatures with a small number of firms.

Environment weekly highlights—13 February 2020

This week's edition of Environment weekly highlights includes analysis from Ben Stansfield, Planning & Environment partner at Gowling WLG, of the key provisions of the Environment Bill 2020 following its first reading. Also discussed is the history of the bill and its future in Parliament. We also include analysis from Maria Connolly, partner at TLT Solicitors, relating to the Energising Our Electric Vehicle Transition report, published by the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce, in which she analyses the various proposals and strategies which are intended to facilitate the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) while minimising the impact on the UK’s electricity system. We also include other Brexit developments, including a UK statement on Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations; publication of guidance on how to comply with fluorinated gases (F gas) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS) regulations from 1 January 2021 and how businesses can continue to trade and deal in F gases and ODS in the UK and EU during the transition period;and a practical guide to retained EU law and analysis from Sylvia de Mars, senior researcher in international affairs and defence at the House of Commons Library, as to the role the Court of Justice of the European Union will play in the UK during the post-Brexit transition period and beyond. In addition this week the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld complaints against a series of ads by Ryanair Ltd that featured both text and voice-overs stating that the airline’s flights had low CO2 emissions, and efforts to achieve the net zero target have been debated by the House of Lords. We have also launched several new subtopics in our hazardous substances module.

Local Government weekly highlights—13 February 2020

This week's edition of Local Government weekly highlights includes: analysis of the public procurement decisions in Tim SpA—Direzione e coordinamento Vivendi SA v Consip SpA and Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze; case analysis of Al Ahmed v Mayor and Burgesses of Tower Hamlets London Borough in relation to late homelessness appeals; analysis of R (EL and JB) v First-tier Tribunal and Surrey County Council) in relation to the First Tier Tribunal’s power to review their own decisions; analysis of Re A and Others on informing wider family members as to the existence of a concealed child in public children proceedings. It also includes details of the Housing Ombudsman’s guidance for landlords on investigating complaints, statements and new legislation aimed at protecting the public from the Coronavirus, details of guidance from the Cabinet Office on countering fraud in the public sector, together with the latest updates in Brexit, governance, healthcare, education, social care, social housing, planning, environment, and highway updates.

Environment Weekly highlights—17 October 2019

This week's edition of Environment Weekly highlights includes the introduction of the Environment Bill, and other environmental issues arising from the Queen’ speech including the government’s pledges regarding infrastructure, the Fisheries Bill and Agriculture Bill. This edition also includes the launch of BEIS’s consultation seeking comment on how to achieve 2030 energy efficiency target, the government’s proposals to tackle climate change in its response to recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change, launch by the UK Green Building Council of a consultation seeking comment on proposals for energy performance targets for commercial offices and the latest Brexit updates including a report which discusses the legal and practical implications of a on a no-deal Brexit. In addition this week Ofgem has launched a consultation into its proposed changes to methodologies for calculating electricity and gas supply volumes under the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2018 (ECO3), SI 2018/1183, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published a consultation seeking views on the final design of the £315m Industrial Energy Transformation Fund and the Welsh Government has opened a consultation to inform new guidance on developing areas at risk of flooding and coastal erosion. We have published a new Practice Note this week: Energy Company Obligation (ECO)—key features of ECO3 and we have updated our Practice Note on Brexit—environmental law implications.