United Kingdom: Contracts and Commercial Law

Contracts sit at the heart of almost every business relationship. They govern supply arrangements, leases, service provision, joint ventures and long-term commercial partnerships.

On 14 January 2026, the UK High Court ruled that claims against Dyson relating to alleged human rights abuses in its global supply chain will proceed to a liability trial in England in April 2027.

In 2026, investors in UK commercial real estate face a tighter regulatory environment shaped by building safety reforms, mandatory sustainability standards and enhanced transparency requirements.

Lawyers often treat boilerplate clauses as standard, non-critical provisions that appear at the end of a contract. However, underestimating these so-called "midnight clauses" can expose clients to unnecessary risk.

From May 2026, a new mandatory UK registration regime will apply not only to professional tax advisers but also to many in-house tax teams within corporates, asset managers and financial institutions. The broad definition of "tax adviser" means teams supporting group entities, funds, joint ventures or employee tax matters may be caught, even where tax advice is not their primary role. With strict eligibility conditions and significant penalties for non-compliance, organisations should begin assessing their

As the Courts re-open, practitioners and clients alike need to consider the impact of new Practice Direction 51ZH which came into effect in the Commercial Court and Financial List of the Business & Property Courts...

Mohamed Salah's post match comments about being "thrown under the bus" lit up the news cycle this week.

Chapter 2: Path to market—Considering how AI is changing the way software is sold and priced

The High Court has held that broadly framed "protection of interests" provisions did not permit a firm in special administration to close out its foreign exchange positions.