It has become increasingly common in international arbitration for some aspects of the procedure to be conducted remotely, with some or all participants attending by video or telephone. Prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, parties and arbitrators would often agree to conduct some aspects of a case remotely for a variety of reasons, including convenience, cost savings or other efficiencies, or out of necessity (when, for example, a witness was unable to attend a hearing in person). Remote hearings by telephone or video-conference also are used in emergency arbitrator proceedings and in cases proceeding under expedited procedures rules. During the pandemic, many arbitrations proceeded with fully remote hearings, where most or all participants are located physically in different locations. This Practice Note is intended to provide guidance on the conduct of remote hearings in international arbitration. It describes: • remote hearing options • potential benefits of remote hearings, as well as potential concerns • legal issues that may arise in connection with remote hearings, and • practical issues to be addressed

Law360: A London court has allowed insurers to make claims under reinsurance contracts for business interruption losses claimed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, saying that the outbreak of an infectious disease constitutes a 'catastrophe' under the policy wording.

Law360: A group of hospitality and farming businesses have sued the National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Ltd for around £10.5m to cover losses the companies allegedly suffered from closures during the coronavirus pandemic.

If you are in scope of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017), SI 2017/692, as amended, you must comply with the statutory requirements at all times, irrespective of your working arrangements. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated a shift to remote working, and it has remained widely adopted since, however, identifying your client and verifying their identity is still just as important and a key part of the client due diligence (CDD) process. Criminals continued to operate during the pandemic, and some sought to take advantage of the situation. Remote and hybrid working arrangements that have continued beyond the pandemic mean many of the CDD challenges first considered during that time remain relevant, as criminals continue to try to take advantage. You should consider the risks associated with acting for clients without meeting them in your firm-wide risk assessment (FWRA). This in turn will need to cascade through to policies, controls and procedures you put in place to manage the risks you

Law360, London: A medical equipment company linked to Conservative peer Baroness Mone must repay the government £122m after it provided unsafe surgical gowns during the early days of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a court ruled on 1 October 2025.

Law360, London: The operator of the Dirty Martini cocktail bar chain has settled its £4m claim against a Maltese insurer for losses it claimed to have suffered during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Law360, London: Almost 70 cosmetics clinics, including tattoo studios and a flotation therapy centre, have sued two Lloyd's of London syndicates managed by Beazley for losses they claimed to have incurred after temporarily closing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Unlike company general meetings and annual general meetings, there are no provisions in the Companies Act 2006  regulating board meetings or prescribing who can call a board meeting or any notice period that has to be given to directors when convening a board meeting. Instead, the procedure for calling and conducting board meetings is usually set out in the articles. For comprehensive information on the convening and holding of board meetings under normal circumstances see Practice Notes: • Directors’ board meetings—fundamentals • Directors’ decision-making—convening board meetings • Directors’ decision-making—conduct at board meetings • Directors’ decision-making—written resolutions and decisions by sole directors On 26 March 2020, compulsory measures (the 'Stay at Home Measures') prohibiting, among other things, public gatherings of more than two people were passed into law in England

1 Introduction 1.1 This policy sets out an overview of the Company’s arrangements for ensuring workers stay healthy and safe while they are working in the Company’s premises during the coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic. The government guidance states that COVID-19 is expected to be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others. It supplements, but does not replace, the Company’s health and safety policy. 1.2 This policy does not form part of any contract of employment and the Company may amend it at any time. 1.3 This policy applies to all employees, workers and contractors. 1.4 The main way of spreading coronavirus is through droplets and aerosols that come into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth, or can be breathed in by another person, or passed on via surfaces or touch. In general the risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 is highest when you are physically close to the other person. Current government guidance recommends: 1.4.1 getting vaccinated; 1.4.2 meeting outdoors where possible, and letting fresh air into enclosed spaces;

Where multiple dwellings relief (MDR) applies to a transaction a buyer can choose whether to claim MDR or pay stamp duty land tax (SDLT) calculated on a standard basis (for which, see Practice Note: Rates of SDLT). Depending on the particular circumstances of the transaction, a claim for MDR may or may not result in less SDLT being due. For more details

Section 78 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (CA 2020) facilitated postponement of elections and by elections, together with relaxation of procedural prescriptive requirements in relation to local authority meetings through the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/392, which came into force on 4 April 2020. Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 (LGA 1972) provides: ‘ ...if a member of a local authority fails throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of his last attendance to attend any meeting of the

Law360, London: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has rejected an application by a law firm and a group of hospitality sector trade groups to extend the deadline for business interruption claims linked to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.