The Cabinet Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have announced measures to allow local authorities to reserve below-threshold public contracts for local suppliers. The draft Local Government (Exclusion of Non-commercial Considerations) (England) Order 2026 disapplies section 17(5)(e) of the Local Government Act 1988 (LGA 1988) to allow councils, police and fire authorities in England to reserve below-threshold contracts to UK-based or local area suppliers. The draft Order uses powers under section 19 of the Local Government Act 1999 and section 95 of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) to remove restrictions preventing local authorities from considering contractor location when awarding below-threshold public contracts. Under the amended rules, authorities in England will be able to reserve below-threshold contracts to UK-based suppliers and suppliers in a defined local area. The defined local area may include the authority’s own administrative area, plus neighbouring counties and London boroughs bordering the authority. Where an authority sits entirely within a single county or London borough, it can designate that entire county or borough as its local area. The Order disapplies the restriction in LGA 1988, s 17(5)(e) in relation to the award of below-threshold contracts only (as defined in PA 2023, s 5(5)). Authorities using the reservation powers must clearly advertise this in tender notices, specifying whether contracts are reserved for UK-wide or local area suppliers and defining the geographical boundaries where applicable.

This Precedent is based on a precedent found in Inheritance Act Claims: Law, Practice and Procedure Precedents by Andrew Francis (available subject to subscription). IN THE [HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE] CLAIM NO. HC [...] [CHANCERY DIVISION] [BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES] [PROPERTY, TRUSTS AND PROBATE LIST] IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF [INSERT NAME] DECEASED IN THE MATTER OF THE INHERITANCE (PROVISION FOR FAMILY AND DEPENDANTS) ACT 1975 BETWEEN: 1 [INSERT NAME] Claimant 2 [INSERT NAME] (the personal representative of the deceased) and

Employment news analysis: The Senior President of Tribunals, Sir Keith Lindblom, has published his response to the consultation on panel composition in the Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). Accompanying the response is a draft of the Practice Direction which he intends to issue, taking effect on 29 October 2024. The Presidents of the Employment Tribunals are currently consulting with members of the National User Groups (NUG) on Presidential Guidance on panel composition.

The Draft Revised Code of Practice on Fair and Transparent Distribution of Tips, laid before Parliament on 29 June 2026, was withdrawn on 9 July 2026. No official reason has yet been published. The timing suggests that the government may be reconsidering or correcting the draft following stakeholder criticism, including from union Unite which has called for the draft Code to be withdrawn, arguing that it left employers with too much control over the distribution of tips and did not provide workers with sufficient decision-making power. The withdrawal does not affect the existing statutory tipping regime, but it creates uncertainty over whether the planned October 2026 implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) reforms will proceed on schedule.

_____________________________________ [DRAFT ]SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (for settling disputes post-commencement of proceedings) [WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND SUBJECT TO CONTRACT [SUBJECT TO SIGNATURE BY PARTIES AND/OR SUBJECT TO COURT APPROVAL]][CONFIDENTIAL] _____________________________________ This Agreement is made the day of 20[insert year] Parties: 1 [insert name of party], a company registered in England and Wales (registered number [insert company number]), whose registered office is at [insert address] (‘Party A’)[ and] [;] 2 [insert name of party], a company registered in England and Wales (registered number [insert company number]), whose registered office is at [insert address] (‘Party B’). together the ‘Parties’ Whereas 1 On [insert date], [insert name of claimant] commenced court proceedings in the [insert level of court, eg, High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division] (under claim number [insert claim number], against [insert name of defendant] for [insert details summarising the claim] (the ‘Claimant’s Claim’). 2 By a Defence [and Counterclaim ]dated [insert date] (the ‘Defence and Counterclaim’), [insert name of defendant] denied the Claimant’s Claim[, and counterclaimed against [insert name of claimant] for [insert details summarising the counterclaim]]. The Claimant’s Claim and Defence [and Counterclaim] [and any other statements of case served] are hereinafter referred to together

_____________________________________ [DRAFT ]SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT—pre-action settlement [WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND SUBJECT TO CONTRACT [SUBJECT TO SIGNATURE BY PARTIES AND/OR SUBJECT TO COURT APPROVAL]][CONFIDENTIAL] _____________________________________ This Agreement is made the day of 20[insert year] Parties: 1 [insert name of party], a company registered in England and Wales (registered number [insert company number]), whose registered office is at [insert address] (‘Party A’)[ and] [;] 2 [insert name of party], a company registered in England and Wales (registered number [insert company number]), whose registered office is at [insert address] (‘Party B’). together the ‘Parties’ Whereas 1 [Set out the background to the dispute; for example, if the dispute arises in connection with a contract, set out the purpose and date of that contract, and a summary of the parties’ obligations therein eg, ‘Pursuant to [insert type of agreement, eg, a distribution agreement] dated [insert date of agreement] between [insert party names], [Party A] agreed to [insert obligation, eg, to provide services....] to [Party B] on the terms set out therein. Further in consideration of the provision by [Party A] of those services, [Party A] is entitled to receive, and [Party B] agreed to pay, a fee on the terms set out in that agreement”.]

The UK Government and the European Commission have published a draft UK–EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar. The draft text has been released while legal teams complete the final legal review and translation, and in the UK the final version will be laid before Parliament for scrutiny before ratification in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The UK Government says it worked closely with the Government of Gibraltar in advance of the agreement.

This Precedent is based on a precedent found in Inheritance Act Claims: Law, Practice and Procedure Precedents by Andrew Francis (available subject to subscription). [Indorsement as to party making statement, date etc as in CPR 32.17] IN THE [HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE] CLAIM NO. HC [...] [CHANCERY DIVISION] [BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES] [PROPERTY TRUSTS AND PROBATE LIST] IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF [INSERT NAME] DECEASED IN THE MATTER OF THE INHERITANCE (PROVISION

This Precedent is based on a precedent found in Inheritance Act Claims: Law, Practice and Procedure Precedents by Andrew Francis (available subject to subscription). [Indorsement as to party making statement, date etc as in CPR PD 32, para 17] IN THE [HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE] CLAIM NO. HC […] [CHANCERY DIVISION] [BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES] [PROPERTY

Note: • this Practice Note gives specific guidance on matters proceeding in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) under the provisions set out in CPR 60, CPR PD 60 and the TCC Guide. As these provisions are additional to the general provisions set out elsewhere in the CPR, this Practice Note should be read in conjunction with general guidance on preparing for and attending trial including that in Trial—overview which, in turn, links through to detailed guidance on specific aspects of preparing for and attending trials • shorter and flexible trials schemes—claims started on or after 1 October 2015 in the TCC may be suitable for and/or be subject to one or both of the schemes operating under CPR PD 57AB, namely the shorter trials scheme and/or the flexible trials scheme. For more information on these schemes, see Practice Notes: Business and Property Courts—shorter trials

Suggested email to arrange counterpart completion with other solicitors SUBJECT: [Transaction Name OR Details] – Completion Arrangements We are writing to set out how we propose to organise the execution and delivery of documents required in connection with the proposed completion of [insert details]. We confirm that we, [insert firm name], are willing to act as nominated person in accordance with section 2(1) of the Legal Writings (Counterparts and Delivery) (Scotland) Act 2015 (the Act) but, as discussed, section 2(3) of the Act is hereby excluded and shall not apply to these Completion Arrangements. 1 At completion, we will email you the final agreed form documents which require to be

SUBJECT: [Transaction Name OR Details] – Signing of [Name of Document] As you know, the parties have agreed that the [Name of Document] (the Document) will be signed by the parties to the Document in separate counterparts (rather than all parties having to sign one document). Therefore please read the following email carefully and call me to discuss if you have any questions. I attach a PDF of the final signing version of the Document which needs to be printed