Law360, London: A steakhouse restaurant chain has reached a settlement with its insurer in a multimillion-pound dispute over its business interruption policies in connection with the national lockdowns imposed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Law360, London: The owners of 21 hotels across England have agreed to settle their attempt to claw back £21m from Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE to cover losses they allegedly suffered during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Law360: It is a truth universally acknowledged that insurance policy documents are frequently poorly drafted. Inconsistent use of defined terms, and overlapping and inconsistent insuring clauses, are commonplace and the cause of much head-scratching among stakeholders when claims fall to be considered. Written by Aaron Le Marquer, partner, at Stewarts Law LLP.

Law360, London: An insurer has denied having to cover £4m in losses run up by the operator of the Dirty Martini cocktail bar chain during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, saying that the business interruption policy covers only the first national lockdown.

For information generally on employment issues arising as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19), see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—issues for employers [Archived]. The situation is continually evolving and in particular: • the public have now been told to stay at home and may only leave the house for certain, limited reasons. These include travel to and from work, but only where the work cannot be done from home • non-essential shops and community spaces have been ordered to close, and • all schools are now closed, except for children of key workers and those who are vulnerable See the following government guidance: • guidance on staying at home and away from others full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others • guidance for schools, childcare providers, colleges and local authorities in England on maintaining educational provision coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision Consideration should be given to: • the right to pay (see below) • statutory rights to time off, eg sick pay, time off for dependants (see below) • the implied term of trust

Law360, London: The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has agreed that a healthcare provider's mandatory coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine policy did not infringe a group of care home workers' human rights, ruling that they were fairly dismissed because the company had a right to protect its residents.

Law360, London: The UK Supreme Court has blocked an effort by insurers to overturn a landmark insurance test case ruling involving the Excel exhibition centre in London, with thousands of policyholders now in line for payouts for losses from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic almost five years ago.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): the coronavirus pandemic has caused the UK to expedite new insolvency provisions, both of a temporary and permanent nature. For news and guidance as to the implications from a property perspective see: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—implications for property — Property Insolvency. 1 [insert name of relevant party] [(in [administrative receivership [and also in] ] [liquidation OR administration])] of [insert address] [incorporated in England and Wales with company registration number [insert company registration number]] ([insert party definition eg ‘Seller’’]) acting by [any one of] [ insert one of the following: ] [ [If a receiver:] the [joint] [receiver[s] of the Property], [insert name of [first] receiver] of [insert address] [and [insert name of second receiver] of [insert address]] ([Receiver OR Receivers]) OR [If

Face coverings Face coverings are not classed as personal protective equipment (PPE) as they: • are generally not manufactured to a recognised standard and not CE marked • do not provide a proven level of protection for work risks such as dust and spray. See Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance: Face coverings and face masks at work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance also draws a distinction (see eg, the Visitor economy guide) between: • PPE, including face masks, and • face coverings The Cabinet Office guidance Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions, and how to make your own lists the indoor settings in which a face covering must be worn and also that it is compulsory (from 24 September)

Law360, London: Hospitality businesses forced to close during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic launched an appeal on 28 January 2025 over whether insurers were right to attempt to deduct the £6.5m they received in state support from claims payouts.

Law360, London: Insurers have won the right to deduct the value of government financial support to businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from however much they can claim against their policies, as an appeals court handed down a landmark judgment on 21 February 2025.

Law360, London: The National Farmers Union (NFU) Mutual Insurance Society has argued that it does not owe a group of hospitality and farming businesses approximately £10.5m for alleged losses after coronavirus (COVID-19) took hold in Britain because their policies did not cover the pandemic.