We have assumed that the applicant does not intend to rely on the Home Office’s coronavirus (COVID-19) switching concession. For further information, see Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19) immigration resources [Archived], in particular section: Guidance updates from 24 March 2020: visa extensions (including NHS workers) and switching. The Skilled Worker route replaced Tier 2 (General) from 1 December 2020. A helpful change from its predecessor was that it relaxed some of the switching requirements for individuals in most work and study routes. However, the position regarding visitors remains the same. This is set out in the Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, para SW 1.5 which states: ‘An applicant who is applying for

HM Land Registry (HMLR) has updated Practice Guide 8—Execution of deeds. Section 7 has been revised as temporary guidance for local authorities that was introduced during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has now been made permanent.

The Insolvency Service has reported that both Ledbridge Consultants Limited and Montague Partners Ltd have been wound up after investigations revealed that they received more than £1m in fraudulent coronavirus (COVID-19) support loans they were not entitled to.

Practising social distancing, coronavirus (COVID-19) style, presents serious challenges for the mediation of disputes. Some brave souls may still be willing to try face-to-face mediations (subject to compliance with the guidelines), but virtually all seem to have moved online during the coronavirus crisis. At present there is not much need of debate—either mediate on line or probably not at all until the social distancing regime eases. Two questions can however be posed today. If remote mediation is the only realistic choice, is it worth trying? Is remote mediation attractive in its own right and will it be part of the mediation scene post coronavirus? Practitioners may answer both questions in the affirmative. Online dispute resolution is nothing new—it has been around as long as the technology has been readily available. However, it is not really accurate to describe most of the available processes as mediation, they are really bargaining forums where offers and counter offers can be exchanged and accepted. They don’t

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. It is a summary of the key legal developments which were expected to impact corporate lawyers during 2022. It is for background information only. Coronavirus (COVID-19) will continue to be a significant issue throughout 2022. In the first instance it may be useful to refer to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)—legislation tracker [Archived] and Practice Note: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—key issues for Corporate lawyers. Other key developments to look out for during 2022 will continue to include those connected to Brexit. To track Brexit-related legislation, including statutory instruments, see the Brexit legislation tracker [Archived]. It may also be useful to refer to the Brexit collection and Brexit timeline [Archived]. To track legal and regulatory developments relating to other specific topics, see: • Corporate governance horizon scanning—2022 and beyond • National Security and Investment Bill—progress tracker • National Security and Investment regime—market practice tracker [Archived] • UK listing and prospectus regime reform—progress tracker • SPAC tracker • Dual class share structure tracker • Listing Rules tracker • Prospectus Regulation Rules tracker • UK Prospectus Regulation

Updated in April 2026 Introduction Türkiye has been at the centre of the global political scene as a result of its position in the Syrian war in the south of the country and its refugee policies. The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak had a major effect on both the internal policies and the economy in Türkiye as in other countries across the world. The Mediterranean geopolitics related issues in the pursuit of natural gas remained as a hot topic. The economy has gone through a recession period since the last quarter of 2018, due to the attempted coup d’état that took place on 15 July 2016, characterised by high inflation rates, rising borrowing costs, and currency volatility. Although in 2020 the coronavirus outbreak affected the economic forecasts, Türkiye countered the negative effects by the Economic Stability Shield program announced on 18 March 2020, introducing supportive and preventive measures applicable countrywide to degrade economic impacts

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has updated its coronavirus (Covid-19) webpage to remind firms of the new rules on holding general meetings of unitholders in a virtual or hybrid format.

The arrangements are those permitted by way of Part II (Contracting Out) of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 (DCOA 1994). DCOA 1994, s 70(2) provides that ‘if a minister by order so provides, a function to which this section applies may be exercised by, or by employees of, such person (if any) as may be authorised in that behalf by the local authority whose function it is’. The effect of this section is set out in DCOA 1994, s 72 which provides that the exercise of a function shall be treated for all purposes as done by or in relation

Law360: Moderna has successfully defended a key patent underpinning its coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, after rivals Pfizer and BioNTech attempted to convince the European Patent Office (EPO) that the IP protections should be nixed.

The Insolvency Service has secured Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders (BROs) and Bankruptcy Restriction Undertakings (BRUs) against individuals who falsely applied for Bounce Back Loans (BBLs) as part of ongoing work to tackle Coronavirus (COVID-19) loan misconduct.

Law360, London: The private health insurance market in Britain is growing as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19)—induced surge in waiting lists for UK hospitals, financial consultant Broadstone said on 22 May 2025.

Practice Direction 51V does not indicate that the pilot can be extended to cases which fall outside the categories identified in CPR PD 51V, para 1.6 and in the circumstances there does not appear to be a discretion to extend the pilot scheme to other cases. While it is possible that the courts operating the pilot scheme might in practice accept a case which falls outside the parameters of the scheme there is a very real risk that this could cause administrative confusion and delay. For example, transferring a file between courts can often result in significant delays to proceedings