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NLJ this week: Restraint of trade, fear of Covid & meaning of ‘employee’

24 June 2022
Issue: 7984 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Covid-19
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In this week’s NLJ, employment barrister Ian Smith investigates a trio of unusual cases, including on the issue of when a court can directly enforce a valid restraint of trade clause against an ex-employee, (and what about their need to earn a living?)

Smith also covers the difference between an ‘employee’ in tax and an ‘employee’ in employment law, and whether an employee dismissed for their fear of coronavirus is protected under health and safety dismissal laws.

This third case is the first reported appellate decision on the issue. Smith writes: ‘There has been much speculation whether an employee dismissed for leaving work or, more particularly, refusing to come back to work, because of fears of contracting coronavirus could claim automatically unfair dismissal under the health and safety provisions of s 100(1)(d)–(e) of the Employment Rights Act 1996.’

Issue: 7984 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Covid-19
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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