Opinion

Matthew Howse, partner at Eversheds Sutherland in Belfast, considers whether resort to litigation will become more common again as we move into the post-Covid world. Back in March 2020, the pandemic brought a halt to all but the most urgent legal proceedings in the Northern Irish courts. Courts had

Dr Cian Ó Concubhair explores whether proposed new legislation contains adequate safeguards for journalists and publishers. Earlier this month, the Minister for Justice put the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2021 before the Oireachtas.

Sarah Slevin and Natalie Dillon of Ronan Daly Jermyn explore the fundamental objectives of the new SCCs and the key dates and steps organisations should now take. On 4 June 2021 the European Commission issued its eagerly awaited decision publishing the new Standard Contractual Clauses, or SCCs (New

Rosemary Connolly, principal solicitor at Rosemary Connolly Solicitors, Employment and Equality Lawyers, examines a significant decision in a sex discrimination claim in England. In an important decision concerning sex discrimination and flexible working, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in Engl

William Fry partner Ruairi Rynn and senior associate Niamh Cacciato consider the impact of SCARP on landlords. In a recent article we set out the key features of SCARP, the government's proposed rescue process for small and micro companies. The proposed legislation envisages that:

Elizabeth Denham, the UK Information Commissioner, expresses serious concern over facial recognition technology. Facial recognition technology brings benefits that can make aspects of our lives easier, more efficient and more secure. The technology allows us to unlock our mobile phones, set up

Rosemary Connolly, principal solicitor at Rosemary Connolly Solicitors, Employment and Equality Lawyers, examines a significant decision in a sex discrimination claim in England. The claimant in the Court of Appeal decision Steer v Stormsure Limited failed in an application for interim relief arisin

Gareth Planck, partner at Eversheds Sutherland, considers the commercial property landscape in Northern Ireland. The reopening of our economy and society across these islands is extremely positive and welcome news as we seek to return to some form of normality. Recovery and rebuild will be the watch

Fidelma McManus, partner and head of housing at Beauchamps, explores whether the cost rental model is a feasible approach to increasing Ireland's affordable housing supply. Few would dispute that more homes must be built in Ireland, but perhaps the more pertinent question is how we build the right t

Professor Colin Harvey of Queen's University Belfast School of Law considers the post-Brexit challenges for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has always been, and remains, a ‘special arrangement’. The changes in the leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) do not alter the basi

The EU Settlement Scheme will start wrapping up on 30 June 2021. Some EU nationals may have already missed the boat, and some may actually be on the boat but may still need to buy a ticket, writes Helena Sheizon, immigration lawyer and founder of Kadmos Consultants. The timeline

Eugene F Collins partner Paul Dempsey and associate Rachel Solanki consider what options creditors have in the aftermath of Brexit in enforcing a judgement handed down by a UK court in Ireland or vice versa. The UK is one of Ireland’s largest trading partners with Irish exports to Britain tota

Tom O’Malley SC explains his interest in sexual offending and the background to his appointment as chair of the review of protections for vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences. It all started one miserable winter’s evening in the mid-1980s at Yale L

Sumi Nadarajah of FRKelly introduces Ireland's first registered "motion mark". Companies and brand owners are increasingly looking for innovative and creative ways to promote and market their brands in the digital age. This has led to the creation of new forms of trade marks such as motion marks, ho

Employment law solicitor Richard Grogan explores a case involving unfair dismissal where an employee is smoking on work premises. The issues of mitigating loss and smoking on premises arose in UDD2135, being a case of Q Park Ireland Limited and Denis Fitzpatrick.