Arbitration analysis: The Supreme Court of India has determined that the time limit of three years for applying Section 11 of the Arbitration Act is governed by the Limitation Act, 1963. The court addressed whether the Limitation Act applies to such applications and if the current petition is time-barred. Since Section 11(6) of the Arbitration Act lacks a specific time limit, it falls under Article 137 of the Limitation Act, which deals with residual provisions. The court clarified that the limitation period starts when an arbitrator is not appointed within 30 days of the arbitration notice. It suggested amending the Arbitration Act to specify a shorter time limit for Section 11 applications, as the three years is deemed lengthy and incongruent with the promptness expected by the Arbitration Act. Written by Iram Majid, advocate (Director Indian Institute of Arbitration and mediation, executive director of Asia Pacific Centre for Arbitration and Mediation) and co-authored with Mohammad Suboor, advocate (Associate Indian Institute of Arbitration of Mediation).

Energy analysis: On 8 October 2024, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) released updated guidance for the assignment of offshore petroleum production licences in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) (the Guidance). Publication of the Guidance followed a consultation launched on 28 March 2023 inviting industry feedback from licensees, infrastructure owners and potential future investors. The aim of the Guidance is to streamline the period between signing and completion of M&A transactions in the UKCS, reducing potentially costly delays and improving deal certainty, while assisting in the development of a stable regulatory system which encourages investment in both oil and gas and energy transition projects in the UKCS. As background to the Guidance, the NSTA recognises the role M&A plays in the UKCS, which includes the need for ‘new capital, new ideas and new vigour’ to support the central obligation of the ‘OGA Strategy’, to maximise economic recovery of petroleum while assisting the Secretary of State in meeting the net zero target.

Immigration analysis: Introduced in April 2023, the Innovator Founder visa aims to attract global entrepreneurs with innovative, scalable business ideas endorsed by one of four approved Endorsing Bodies. This article explores what qualifies as ‘innovative’, offers practical guidance for applicants, addresses legacy endorser challenges, and outlines settlement strategies. Written by Smruti Jeyanandhan and Matthew James, both senior associates at Bates Wells.

Practice Compliance analysis: In April 2025, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) released its first Legal Services Threat Assessment report, part of a series of reports assessing sanctions threats in specific sectors. The report offers useful insights into OFSI’s view of the sanctions compliance threats and risks confronting the legal services sector and casts a spotlight on the intricate challenges faced by the UK legal services sector in maintaining compliance with financial sanctions. By implementing OFSI’s recommendations, law firms can enhance their compliance processes and mitigate the risks associated with sanctions breaches. In an era marked by geopolitical uncertainty and increasingly complex financial sanctions, law firms must remain vigilant and proactive in their approach to compliance.

Private Client analysis: The UK's adult social care sector stands at a critical juncture, grappling with financial strains, workforce challenges, and systemic inefficiencies. For legal professionals advising clients in the healthcare and social care industries, understanding these multifaceted issues is essential.

Private Client analysis: In what circumstances will the court find mutual wills have been created, and when might a constructive trust then arise? Joseph Austin, senior associate at Kingsley Napley, advises practitioners to expressly cover whether a testator knows about mutual wills, and how the doctrine could alter their planning.

On 12 September 2024, the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) published its consultation on its 2025/26 levy rules. Afshan Mallik, senior associate at Taylor Wessing, examines the PPF’s consultation.

Life Sciences analysis: The EU regulatory landscape for medical devices making use of artificial intelligence (MDAI) has become significantly more complex with the introduction of the EU AI Act. The Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) and the Joint Artificial Intelligence Board (AIB) have now published comprehensive guidance (AIB 2025-1/MDCG 2025-6) entitled ‘Interplay between the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) & In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR) and the Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA)’ (the guidance) in June 2025. This guidance aims to provide clarity for manufacturers navigating the dual regulatory framework that now governs AI-enabled medical devices. This article provides a brief summary of the guidance, practical next steps, and how these may apply to manufacturers considering entry into the Great Britain market. Written by Pieter Erasmus, Maud van Haaren and Hester Borgers of Bird & Bird.

Law360: A Royal Navy reservist can bring a claim that he was mistreated for seeking equal pay with full-time sailors in the service, as a tribunal ruled that the apparent statutory exclusion of reservists from that right 'cannot be read literally'.

The new utility company set up to run the UAE NPP project at Barakah in Abu Dhabi.

The transmission of a film or TV programme over several channels at the same time but with a short delay (eg of 15 minutes) between the screening on each successive channel to give the customer a choice of viewing times. It aims to approach the functionality of pure video-on-demand, which allows the customer complete control over the time the film is watched.

‘Near video-on-demand’ (VOD) is an online VOD service (a VOD service is where the user chooses to watch content at a time of their choice as opposed to at a scheduled broadcast time) based on a pay per view model'>business model where multiple copies of a program are broadcast at staggered time intervals (usually 10–20 minutes) usually on a group of channels.