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On 1 May the new EU Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER) came into force, replacing the previous EU competition law framework for technology licensing. On the same date similar new laws were also introduced in the UK and are set out in the Competition Act 1998 (Technology Transfer Agreements Block Exemption) Order 2026 (TTBEO). The new regime preserves the competition framework around technology licensing and continues to provide much needed certainty for EU and UK businesses who are regularly involved in the licensing of patents, know-how, software and related intellectual property rights. What are the benefits of exemption? To …

As internship season approaches, more students and graduates are seeking opportunities to gain experience in the workplace. Internships offer a crucial chance to develop practical skills and are often a vital step into a profession. Internships can also be useful for employers, giving them an opportunity to access a pipeline of talent without a long-term commitment. Unpaid and underpaid internships have become increasingly common. According to a report by the Sutton Trust, 35% of graduates completed an unpaid internship in 2025, up from 27% in 2018. While the legal framework has not fundamentally changed, the Government’s recent response and the …

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 ran from 11 to 17 May 2026, giving employers and organisations an important opportunity to reflect on how they support employee wellbeing and create healthier, more inclusive workplaces. This year’s theme, “Action” was a timely reminder that while awareness matters, meaningful change only happens when organisations take practical steps to support mental health at work. For employers, this is not simply a wellbeing issue. It is a workplace issue, a culture issue and in many cases, a legal issue too. Why mental health matters at work Poor mental health continues to have a significant impact …

The recent employment dispute involving Channel 5, ITN and former presenter Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije – alongside allegations initially made against Dan Walker – provides a useful case study in how employment law operates in practice, particularly in relation to harassment claims, settlement agreements, and vicarious liability. Vanderpuije brought claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment on grounds of race and sex, and breach of contract following her departure from Channel 5 News. She also alleged that she had been subject to a “toxic” workplace culture and that her dismissal was linked to whistleblowing about these issues. However, shortly before a five-week employment …

When a well-known brand announces closures, the public conversation is usually predictable. Attention turns to the sites shutting, the jobs lost and the broader health of the sector. All understandable. Employment lawyers focus tends to turn to process! This week, Franco Manca confirmed the closure of 16 restaurants across the UK, including Glasgow, with around 225 jobs affected as part of a restructuring. For those impacted, the story is immediate and personal. For other employers, particularly SME leaders dealing with rising costs and sharper margins, it should prompt a different question: If we had to do this, would we do …

After a protracted period of parliamentary “ping-pong”, the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025. It forms part of the Government’s wider Plan to Make Work Pay agenda and is being implemented in phases, with a significant first wave having taken effect in April 2026. In this blog, we highlight the main changes now in force and the practical steps you should consider taking in response. What has changed? 1) Collective redundancy: protective awards double If you are planning (or already running) a restructure involving collective consultation, the stakes are now higher. Since 6 …

BTO Solicitors LLP has joined the Pathways Pledge as part of its seventh cohort, supporting a growing network of organisations working to widen access to entrepreneurship across Scotland. Over the next 12 months, this new group will support Pathways Forward’s mission to deliver systemic change for entrepreneurs in Scotland by boosting access to opportunity, networks and investment for female-led and female-founded businesses. BTO joins a wide range of organisations from across the ecosystem aligned through the Pledge. Its involvement complements the work BTO’s team is already doing to drive inclusion and diversity and by focusing on collaboration and measurable actions, …

For the health and care sectors, a modest wording change in sponsor guidance (valid from 8 April 2026) may have significant implications for how providers manage bank staff, agency cover, contractors and other “direct engagements”. At a glance The Home Office now expressly refers to workers a sponsor may “employ or directly engage”. “Directly engage” is undefined, which leaves sponsors to interpret how far this extends beyond traditional employment. Contracting and procurement practices may need to be reviewed so the right teams trigger right to work checks at the right time. A documented approach to borderline cases can help reduce …