Legal Articles
Solicitors at McCormicks write regularly for various publications including the press and our quarterly Briefing. To view an article please click on the links below.
Please note that the some of the content may now be out of date or may have been superseded by subsequent legislation. If you have any queries on any of the matters raised in these articles please either contact the author or email us directly.
Employment Law
September 2026
"Increased Protection For Part Time Workers"
A UK Supreme Court decision means it may be easier for part-time workers to prove they have been discriminated against. Our Head of Employment Law Lanre Fakunle looks at the ruling.
Click here to view the full article
Litigation
April 2026
"Rights To Your Data"
Can you find out what data is held about you? Trainee Solicitor Lana Wilks of our Commercial Litigation team gives an overview of what subject access requests are, and when organisations can partially or wholly refuse a request.
Click here to view the full article
Employment Law
April 2026
"Unprecedented Employment Law Changes"
The long-anticipated Employment Rights Bill has now become law after receiving Royal Assent on 18 December 2025. There will be a gradual implementation of its provisions across the next few years. Solicitor Apprentice Aisling McAuley, part of our Employment team, takes a look at the changes.
Click here to view the full article
Criminal Law
April 2026
"All Change On The Roads"
The Government has launched a major consultation on reforming driving laws, signaling what could become the biggest overhaul of road traffic penalties in decades. Solicitor Apprentice Charlotte Davison from our Crime and Fraud team takes a look at the potential changes.
Click here to view the full article
Criminal Law
March 2026
"Curtailing Jury Trials Would Be A Mistake"
The Government’s plan to abolish some jury trials is not the answer to the issues faced by the criminal justice system.
The proposal to replace juries in England and Wales with a single judge in cases where a convicted defendant would be jailed for three years or less has attracted widespread criticism from many lawyers, myself included.
Click here to view the full article
Employment Law
December 2025
"Day-One Dismissals"
A key development in the Employment Rights Bill was the Government’s decision to scrap protection from unfair dismissal. Solicitor Apprentice Aisling McAuley of our Employment team takes a look at the change.
Click here to view the full article
Commercial Property
December 2025
"Property Proposals"
Amongst the Government’s initiatives in the Autumn budget were changes affecting property owners. Our Head of Commercial Property, Senior Associate Claire Baker-Kemp, shares the details.
Click here to view the full article
Criminal Law
December 2025
"Don't Drive!"
With the festive season upon us, police patrols are out in force. Max Marsden from our Criminal Law department takes a look at what happens if you are pulled over on suspicion of drink/drug driving.
North Yorkshire Police have published new statistics highlighting the scale of drink and drug driving across the region. In December last year, officers made 94 arrests related to drink driving.
Click here to view the full article
Litigation
December 2025
"Ready, Set, Arbitrate!"
A new era of dispute resolution has dawned. Lana Wilks who is part of our Commercial Dispute Resolution team takes a look at the new Act which will enable this.
A new Act, named in shortform as the Arbitration Act 2025, was enacted on 1 August 2025, and amends the Arbitration Act 1996.
Click here to view the full article
Corporate and Commercial
September 2025
"Who are you?"
Companies House has introduced compulsory identity checks for directors from November. David Leuchars looks at what businesses need to do.
In a previous article, I discussed the introduction by Companies House of compulsory identity checks for directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) of UK companies. Companies House has now confirmed that these checks will become mandatory from 18 November 2025.
Click here to view the full article
Litigation
September 2025
"Car Finance Ruling"
The Supreme Court delivered its highly anticipated judgment in the so-called “car finance claims” cases on 1 August. Lana Wilks from our Commercial Litigation team takes a look at what it means for motor dealers and consumers.
Click here to view the full article
Litigation
September 2025
"Preventing Fraud"
A new Act aimed at preventing fraud has just come into force. Lana Wilks from our Commercial Litigation team looks at the details.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (“ECCTA”) introduces a new corporate offence of “failure to prevent fraud”, which came into force on 1 September.
Click here to view the full article
Employment Law
June 2025
"Double Time"
Polygamous working is a term used for employees who have more than one job. Here our Solicitor Apprentice, Aisling McAuley, looks at the implications.
This is not as you might imagine being busy with several wives. Polygamous working is a phrase to describe the situation where an employee might have two full-time jobs with two full-time salaries, thus not being able to fulfil either role properly.
Click here to view the full article
Litigation
June 2025
"Showroom secrets"
A series of cases around the motor finance provided by dealers have recently been heard. Here Lana Wilks of our Commercial Litigation department drives into the details.
The Supreme Court recently heard a trio of landmark cases - Wrench v FirstRand Bank (UKSC 2024/0159), Johnson v FirstRand Bank (UKSC 2024/0158), and Hopcraft and another v Close Brothers (UKSC 2024/0157) - that have ignited debate over the regulation of motor finance in the UK. There are two forms of car finance under scrutiny: Discretionary Commission Agreements and Commission Disclosure Complaints.
Click here to view the full article
Litigation and Criminal Law
March 2025
"Remedies For Harassment"
Harassment can be deeply distressing for those on the receiving end. Here Suzie Godden from our Criminal Law team and Lana Wilks, who works in Commercial Litigation, look at some of the remedies.
Love is a deeply complex and often confusing emotion. At times, we may develop feelings for someone who does not feel the same way. Non-reciprocation can be difficult to process, and it can be challenging to know where the line is between persistence in the face of rejection and behaviour that crosses into harassment.
Click here to view the full article