Key decision definition

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Digital Planning in England

Digital Planning in England Note that this Practice Note was last updated in April 2025. Introduction In October 2023, the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) gained Royal Assent and became the first legislation to seek to define data standards and data software. Since then, the intersection of planning and digitisation has only increased in scale and scope. In the last four months, the government has published the ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’, has issued a policy statement on the Data Use and Access Bill, while the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will have digital implications for energy and transport networks and smart city initiatives. The inexorable progress towards automation and digitisation has many benefits: diverting human resources to where they are most useful, extending the reach of the planning process and improving participation, and helping to understand and mitigate environmental issues. It also challenges existing norms on issues including equalities, human rights, public sector decision-making and probity in planning. Given the scale and scope of coming changes, it...

Pitching for business

Pitching for business Pitching for business has increased in significance. Many clients have limited funds for instructing lawyers and want to achieve ever lower prices and better value. As a result, law firms have to be more competitive and willing to offer more to win new clients and new business. The growing use of procurement managers has enabled commercial, institutional and public sector clients to implement challenging processes that achieve better value for money. With more clients going out to tender and competition intensifying, pitches need to be smarter than ever. This Practice Note sets out a framework for pitching for business and highlights best practices required to succeed in a competitive market. Requests for proposal and invitations to tender Opportunities to pitch for business come in two main forms. Requests for proposal (RFPs) tend to be general in scope and not very prescriptive. Typically an RFP is used for more complex procurement projects or where creative solutions may be required. Invitations to tender (ITTs) tend to be...

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Letter to client—what happens at a mediation and preparing for it

Letter to client—what happens at a mediation and preparing for it PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL [Insert name and address of client] [Insert date] Dear [Insert name of client] [insert case heading] As you know, we have agreed with [insert name of the other side] to seek to mediate [the above dispute OR your claim]. This letter sets out a summary of what you can expect to happen at the mediation which will take place on [insert date] at [insert location]. It also covers what steps we have to take now to prepare for the mediation. Practical arrangements The following arrangements have been agreed so far: [complete as appropriate] The mediator: [insert name of mediator] [ [The pupil mediator: [insert name of pupil mediator]] ] The venue: [insert venue location with full address and any specific arrangements for access and/or parking, as appropriate]; Length of the mediation: [insert anticipated duration of the mediation, suitably caveated as appropriate]; Terms of the mediation agreement: [you may wish to include here...

Risk management—code of ethics

Risk management—code of ethics Risk is part of everything we do. Managing risk improves the way we deliver our business and plays a key role in helping us achieve our strategic objectives and avoid unwelcome surprises. Good risk management should be an integral part of everyday business. Risk is not easily defined but generally it is the possibility of an adverse or unwelcome outcome. This could be a financial loss but it could also be something less quantifiable, such as damage to [insert organisation's name]’s reputation. Risk management is not about avoiding risk or being risk averse (it is often said that the reward for risk is profit), nor should it be performed simply as a tick box compliance activity. We encourage innovation and the taking of considered risks as ways to improve our business. This involves: • creating a no-blame risk environment • implementing a standard approach to risk management across the

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What practical tips are there for conducting a remote mediation?

What practical tips are there for conducting a remote mediation? Practical tips for the mediator • never move a participant without being in the room with them, and announce the move clearly so they can acknowledge it. Being moved without adequate notice can be disconcerting • don’t rush the process. As parties get to grips with video mediation, progress can seem slow but in reality it is usually quicker with moves between rooms and settlement agreement drafting in particular being much quicker • get the mediation agreement signed in advance so you aren't spending time on the day agreeing the terms and sending to the parties and getting signatures etc Practical tips for the lawyer • recognise that you are going to have to do much more planning around the shape of the mediation • consider whether the mediation should be conducted over a number of conversations over a number of days, with a long stop • as external counsel prepare the client as you won't be in the same physical room. Decide how to...

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UK Ombudsman seeks to fend off Barclays judicial review of car finance mis-selling decision

MLex: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is seeking to block Barclays application for judicial review of a key decision on car finance mis-selling, with potential implications for an ongoing Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) probe.

Managing cybersecurity breaches as a law firm

Practice Management analysis: Following a spate of high-profile cyber security breaches there have been some reports that law firms are not sufficiently equipped to deal with cyber security and other newer technology-related threats. Tom White, partner at Clyde & Co examines the challenges for law firms and says lawyers should conduct due diligence and remember foremost their professional duties to protect confidentiality, particularly in respect of sensitive data they are entrusted with.