Law360: A large portion of the highest level of funding surpluses recorded by pension plans in 2023 was caused by a decline in life expectancy in Britain, a consultancy said on 3 June 2024, as the sector continues to wrestle with the uncertain impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Insolvency Service has reported that Indian takeaway owner, Zaman Shaa, has been banned as a company director for two years after he fraudulently applied for a £30,000 coronavirus Bounce Back Loan (BBL). Shaa was sentenced to 36 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £6,000 in costs.

The Insolvency Service has published its monthly insolvency statistics for December 2023 on company and individual insolvencies. The data shows that 2,002 company insolvencies were registered, higher than in December 2022 and in pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) numbers. For individuals, the total number of insolvencies in December 2023 was 6,584, 20% lower in December 2022.

Pandemics are exceptional events which present organisations with difficult business conditions, uncertainty and particularly challenging information and cybersecurity issues. Office closures and social distancing required during a pandemic create unusual circumstances for businesses, including potentially managing an unprecedented number of staff who are working from home, some of whom having never done so before. Key information and cybersecurity risks to consider and seek to mitigate during a pandemic centre around: • continued compliance with legal and regulatory requirements • cybercrime • keeping systems and devices secure, and • staff awareness This Practice Note considers each risk area and suggests practical steps you can take to mitigate them. Legal and regulatory requirements Sound risk management practices require you to identify, monitor and manage all material risks to your business. See Practice Note: How to identify and evaluate risk across the business. Information and cybersecurity are important risks for any business. Identifying, monitoring and managing material risks is a regulatory requirement for law firms. Confidentiality Solicitors and law firms must keep the affairs of

Law360, London: An EU court annulled on 14 May 2025 a decision by the EU’s executive arm to refuse to release texts to the New York Times between its president, Ursula von der Leyen, and Pfizer’s chief executive during coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine negotiations.

Law 360: The Second Circuit said on 11 March 2024 that Pfizer does not need to give a French nonprofit the communications between its CEO and the European Commission’s president related to a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine development agreement, ruling the materials are irrelevant to a jurisdictional issue in the group’s legal challenge to the pact in France.

The Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Order 2022, SI 2022/18 was introduced to extend the remote witnessing of Wills, brought in during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in England and Wales, until 31 January 2024. Plans for a further extension to permit remote execution have not been implemented.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a consultation seeking views on proposed amendments to introduce common specification requirements for manufacturers of high-risk in vitro diagnostic (IVD) devices to the Medical Devices Regulations 2002. Additionally, the MHRA is seeking views on removing the Coronavirus Test Device Approval process. The deadline for response is 14 June 2024.

Definitions (General) Competent Authority • any authority having jurisdiction in relation to the Property, its occupation or use; Restricted Period • any period [exceeding [number] [continuous] weeks]

The General Guidance on PDF Bundles (the Guidance) from May 2020 was created by Mr Justice Mann, Lady Justice Thirlwall and Sir Andrew McFarlane to aid practitioners coming to terms with the requirements of working during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and to achieve a level of consistency in what judges were being presented with. At paragraph six of the Guidance, it states that ‘All pages in a bundle must be numbered’,

This week's edition of Insurance & Reinsurance weekly highlights includes: Restaurant can’t extend physical damage policy to coronavirus (COVID-19) claim (Bellini (N/E) Ltd v Brit UW Ltd); insurer signs settlement over Russia-stranded planes (BOC Aviation (Ireland) Ltd and another v Convex Insurance UK Ltd and others); the Association of British Insurers (ABI) takes action on motor premium finance; insured disaster losses already at US$17bn in 2024; the Lloyd's Market Association (LMA) updates consumer wordings guidance; UK insurers vow to curb premium finance ‘tax on poor’; UN Insurance Climate Group relaunched after backlash; the International Underwriting Association (IUA) strongly oppose the Financial Conduct Authority’s proposals to publicise unresolved enforcement investigations; Insurance Europe urges the EU to publish a clear and coherent roadmap for the development of the Insurance Recovery and Resolution Directive (IRRD); the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) report takes the pulse of digitalisation in the European insurance market; cases & decisions; key dates for your diary; and other news highlights reported over the past week.

Law360, London: A group of claimants suing AstraZeneca over death and injury allegedly caused by side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine said on 9 April 2026 that they hope an inquiry into the response to the pandemic will recommend that the UK's vaccine compensation scheme is reformed.