UK Knowledge Collection | Leasehold and freehold reform, ESG, and supply chain and logistics

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was the last bill passed in the wash-up period before Parliament was prorogued for the UK general election. Our Insight looks at the significant changes made to the relationship between freeholder and leaseholder, and at the impact of the rush to pass it on specific areas that had been earmarked for reform. While the new law has passed, most of its provisions are not yet in effect: they will not be operative until secondary legislation is brought by the next government.

The legislative work of the European Parliament is also currently paused for its elections, which are currently under way. Our ESG Knowledge Update looks at the positions it had adopted on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the regulation prohibiting forced labour, as well as the progress of other EU legislation (including the passing of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Environmental Crime Directive) and other ESG developments in the UK and internationally. Our webinar on natural capital compliance looks at businesses' reporting obligations, the impact of the EU Deforestation Regulation, and the voluntary carbon market and offsetting.

Our webinar series on supply chains and logistics continues with sessions exploring planning considerations for logistic hub development in cities, ways to decarbonise property portfolios, and mitigating the risk of using contingent workers in the supply chain.

Recent Insights

ESG Knowledge Update | June 2024

Our latest round-up of legal, regulatory and market news in the EU, UK and internationally, includes the passage of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the Environmental Crime Directive.
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Government updates guidance on the UK National Security and Investment Act

The government has published new guidance on the National Security and Investment Act focused on early-stage ventures, spin-outs and international investors, but has postponed a wider consultation on the regime because of the general election.
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A muted Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act is now law but not yet in force in England

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act is intended to provide greater rights and protections to long-leasehold homeowners in England and Wales, but, due to cross-party haste to get it into law, is as notable for its omissions as its content.
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Financial Conduct Authority to gather more information from UK consumer credit firms

The UK financial regulator has released a policy statement on new rules on product sales data reporting for consumer credit lending firms.
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What would a UK Labour government mean for tax disputes?

The Labour Party has set an ambitious target of raising an additional £5.1 billion a year by the end of the next Parliament from action on tax compliance, indicating that HMRC's compliance activity will increase.
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Upcoming Events

Unlock development potential: the power of co-location

12 June | 10:00-10:45

Integrating warehouses into dense, mixed-use urban areas can be legally challenging with important planning considerations often overlooked. The session will focus on strategies to gain planning permission and for the important planning considerations for logistic hub development in cities.
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Child Safety Spotlight: navigating new online safety legislation

20 June | One London Wall | 08:30-10:30

Osborne Clarke and Mason Hayes Curran host a seminar on online child safety. It will focus on the new regulatory regimes in the UK, Ireland and EU to safeguard children in the digital world, and what the obligations mean in practice.
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Natural capital: gain first mover advantage

21 June | 10:00 – 10:45

Businesses that engage early with impending obligations, such as biodiversity net gain and water and nutrient neutrality, as well as with other voluntary developments in the natural capital space could have significant advantages.
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Decarbonise your portfolio through rooftop solar

25 June | 10:00-10:30

Increasing ESG reporting requirements and energy price volatility are just two of the many pressures on businesses to decarbonise property portfolios. Rooftop solar and battery storage solutions could be the answer.
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Contingent worker supply chains: hidden tax, worker misclassification and compliance risks

27 June | 10:00-10:45

Businesses across all sectors are at heightened risk of significant financial liability and reputational damage in relation to the use of contingent workers in their supply chains. With tax authorities actively targeting unlawful tax avoidance and worker misclassification, this webinar will help you identify and mitigate the risks to your business.
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