Recent developments in landlord and tenant law concerning the position of the outgoing tenant’s guarantor on the assignment of the lease can only be described as ‘bonkers’. A few years ago, the Good Harvest and House of Fraser cases confirmed that a parent company could not guarantee both of its subsidiaries on an intra-group assignment. Last month, in the EMI case, the High Court has confirmed that the assignment of a lease to the tenant’s guarantor is similarly void.

International law firm Hill Dickinson has been re-appointed to the North West Legal Consortium’s £10m legal panel following a competitive tender process. In so doing the firm has also been awarded coveted partner status – one of only four law firms to be given such a position.

The draft Public Sector Exit Payment Regulations 2016 are intended to allow for the recovery of public sector exit payments when a high earner returns to the public sector shortly after leaving.

Acting for a US private equity firm (the 'investor'), the Hong Kong office of international law firm Hill Dickinson has recently secured a significant judgment from the High Court of Hong Kong for substantial damages (over US$15 million) against a former director of a PRC based security monitoring services provider, China Alarm Holdings Limited ('CAHL').

For several years uncertainty prevailed over whether the European Parliament would ever pass the General Data Protection Regulation. The wait is over. The Regulation has now been approved by MEPs. Andrew Hill and Andrew Schütte review.

Following the Government’s announcement back in October 2015 of its intention to make permanent the temporary permitted development rights to convert offices to dwellings, the Government has made the necessary regulations to effect the change in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2016 (the Order).

Yesterday, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) confirmed in the case of Wasteney –v- East London NHS Foundation Trust EAT 0157/15 that an evangelical ‘born again’ Christian worker accused of ‘grooming’ a female Muslim member of staff had not been discriminated against nor had she been harassed by her employer on the grounds of her religion or belief when disciplined for imposing her religious views.

It is usual for outgoing tenants under commercial leases to remain liable for the default of the incoming tenant to whom they assign the lease, but the recent case of Lee v Sommer serves as a timely reminder to former tenants to fully assess their liability (and take professional advice) before settling any demands received from their former landlord.

Probably the most alien characteristic of the alliance contracting model to both contracting parties and lawyers alike is the 'no blame culture' that underpins the agreement. Essentially, this means that parties agree not to bring legal proceedings against each other, save in the event of 'wilful default' or if an insolvency event occurs.

The health team at international law firm Hill Dickinson has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards.

On 1 March 2016, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) launched a consultation entitled Terms and Conditions and Consumer Protection Fining Powers: a Call for Evidence. Whilst the Call for Evidence does not target a particular industry or sector, the outcome of this may lead to significant re-formatting and changes to the general presentation of terms and conditions (T&Cs) to make them more user-friendly. This may have some implications for the aviation and travel industry.

Re JM & Others [2016] EWCOP 15: Hill Dickinson acts in test case which asks central government to find processes for dealing with Deprivation of Liberty authorisation applications