TMT analysis: Katarzyna Czapracka and Mark Powell, partners of White & Case LLP consider the impact of the European Commission’s new Horizontal Cooperation Guidelines (HCG), including the impact on network sharing agreements in the telecoms industry.

The Home Office has replaced the previous guidance covering persons exempt from immigration control, the Exempt (EXM) guidance, with a new guidance document: Exemption from immigration control (Non armed forces). The new guidance takes account, amongst other things, of Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 217, which introduced a new VIP Delegate Visa route. In addition, a new guidance document has been published for the VIP Delegate visa route (VIP Delegate visa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).

Employment analysis: On 4 June 2026, following a Remote Participation Review launched in July 2024 at the request of the Lady Chief Justice, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) published new guidance on participation in remote hearings in the form of Presidential Guidance for employment tribunals on matters relating to the mode and listing of hearings, remote participation in hearings and electronic documents, and CTJ guidance on remote participation in hearings in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). These new guidance documents supersede the previous Practice Direction on remote hearings and open justice and the Presidential Guidance on remote and in-person hearings, which each took effect on 14 September 2020, and the EAT protocol on remote hearings dated January 2025. This analysis looks at the key changes introduced under the new guidance.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/138 has started applying. This implementing regulation establishes a list of High-Value datasets in the context of the EU Open Data Directive that called for priority release of particularly valuable data assets. High-Value datasets are defined as data whose re-use is associated with important benefits for the society and economy. For instance, societal and economic benefits could potentially be generated by the new rules through the fuelling of new innovative products and services such as artificial intelligence applications. The EU Open Data Directive limits High-Value datasets to six categories (geospatial, Earth observation and environment, meteorological, statistics, companies and company ownership, and mobility). The High-Value datasets will be available for free in machine-readable format, accessible via an Application Programming Interface and, where relevant, as bulk downloads.

This Practice Note looks at the principal types of policy or guarantee (other than specific latent defects insurance products) that are currently on the market to protect homeowners and developers against defects in new, and newly converted, homes and considers several of the most widely provided warranties: those provided by the National House Building Council (NHBC Buildmark or Buildmark Choice), Premier Guarantee and Local Authority Building Control (LABC), the providers jointly responsible for the introduction of the Consumer Code for Home Builders (the Code) in April 2010. The Code contains standards of good practice, procedures and information with which homebuilders who have registered under the Code are obliged to comply. What are new home warranties? A new home warranty is an insurance policy that gives the buyer of a newly built, or newly converted, home protection in relation to certain types of defects that may occur in the building. This type of warranty has existed for many years. The warranty offers protection up to a specified value and for a specified period (typically ten years) and is intended to

The European Commission has adopted new minimum hygiene standards for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water, which will apply from 31 December 2026. The standards aim to prevent microbial growth and reduce the risk of harmful substances leaching into drinking water from materials and products intended to be used in new installations for the abstraction, treatment, storage or distribution of water, or repair works. The new rules will also simplify the approval work which had to previously be carried out by national authorities individually, and reduce the administrative burden for companies that produce the materials and products. An EU declaration of conformity and an EU specific marking will be given to materials and products which comply with the new standards, meaning they can be sold across the EU without any restrictions linked to possible public health or environmental concerns.

The infrastructure consent regime under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 (I(W)A 2024) came into effect on 15 December 2025. It largely replaces the Developments of National Significance (DNS) regime for specified categories of major infrastructure in Wales—including large-scale renewable energy, waste, water and transport schemes. It aims at accelerating consents for these major infrastructure projects and improving Wales’ attractiveness to investors. Going forward, DNS operates mainly under transitional and saving provisions only. The I(W)A 2024 received Royal Assent on 3 June 2024.

New Standard Directions Orders (SDOs) have been published which reflect the changes to case management and track allocation that came into force on 1 October 2023. The new SDOs provide directions to trial for: intermediate track cases, fast track cases (other than noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) cases), and fast track NIHL cases.

Law360: The proposed Fair Work Agency will be able to take employers to a tribunal to enforce workers' rights if they are 'unwilling or unable to do so', the business minister said as he put final amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to a parliamentary vote on 12 March 2025.

Law360: The UK's proposed Fair Work Agency will be 'more than the sum of its parts', the heads of the labour enforcement bodies being absorbed to form the new super-regulator say.

Issues involving whether a worker is engaged under a contract of service (as an employee) or a contract for services (as an independent contractor) occur in a wide range of different legal contexts and have been the subject of many decisions handed down by various bodies over the years. Now, for the first time in recent years, the Irish Supreme Court has delivered a judgment on this issue in the case of Revenue Commissioners v Karshan (Midlands) Limited trading as Domino’s Pizza. Triona Sugrue, knowledge consultant, Dearbhla O’Gorman, senior associate, Colm Byrne, solicitor, and Dharitri Datar, solicitor, at A&L Goodbody examine the case.

This Practice Note provides guidance on applying to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for authorisation as a recognised sole practice, recognised body or licensed body (including multi-disciplinary practices) and completing the SRA’s firm authorisation application form (Form FA1). This Practice Note also identifies specific precedents within Practice Compliance and Practice Management you could use or adapt to support your application to the SRA, and highlights subtopics you may wish to read for further information about key sections of the form. Does my business need to be authorised by the SRA? You will need to apply for SRA authorisation if your business provides, or you provide through it: • reserved legal activities to the public, unless your business is exempt from requiring authorisation (see below) • immigration services, unless your business is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority • claims management services, unless your business is regulated by the Financial Conduct authority (FCA), and/or • regulated financial services activities, unless your business is regulated by the FCA You may provide reserved legal activities