UK Knowledge Collection | Employment and immigration law reforms, AI governance, and advertising regulation
Published on 11 September 2026
Welcome to this week's Knowledge Collection
The next phase of implementation of the Employment Rights Act reforms starts in October, with the extension to the time limits for bringing most tribunal claims rising from three to six months on 1 October. Other measures, relating to trade unions and anti-harassment duties, have been pushed back to 30 October. Our employment team provides an update on the current status in this week's Coffee Break, and a webinar series on the practical implications for employers of the changes starts on 22 September, beginning with a look at unfair dismissal rights.
Businesses should also be aware of the changes to the right-to-work regime, coming into force on 1 October. Our immigration team explains how liability for breaches will extend to businesses that use contractors, agencies, platform workers and subcontractors, and not just to businesses with direct employees.
Next week, our Life Sciences team is hosting a webinar on how organisations in the sector can build effective AI governance structures. In October, our in-person AI Forum in our London office will consider the legal and regulatory landscape in the UK and EU, governance responses and the real-world challenges of launching or adapting an AI-powered product or service.
Our data law series, Dipping into Data, returns later this month with a session highlighting recent regulatory changes in relation to online tracking and the UK data regulator's proposals for reforming online advertising. Our latest Marketinglaw update includes reports and guidance by the advertising regulators on environmental claims in UK online advertising and the imminent application of new anti-greenwashing rules in the EU directive on empowering consumers for the green transition, which will apply in EU member states from 27 September. And next week, our Digital Regulation Download webinar explores how digital products and services should be designed and marketed in the EU and UK.
Recent Insights
UK Employment Law Coffee Break
The latest edition explores the Employment Rights Act reforms soon coming into force, the impact of AI-generated claims on the tribunal system, and suicide prevention in the workplace.
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UK Immigration Update
The global talent visa is becoming available to a wider group of high-achieving professionals, the government proposes to extend the qualifying periods for indefinite leave to remain, visa fee reimbursement is introduced for scale-ups in specific sectors, and changes to the right-to-work regime take place next month.
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English court refuses injunctive relief to suspend a demand under a performance guarantee
A high-value engineering, procurement and construction dispute has clarified the limited grounds on which a court will intervene to restrain a guarantee call and affirmed the resilience of liquidated damages clauses to penalty challenges under English law.
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Building Blocks
A round-up of Insights relevant to the UK construction industry, including recent decisions on building liability orders for foreign companies, remediation agreement disputes, and guidance in a joint judgment from the Technology and Construction Court and the First-tier Tribunal on managing Building Safety Act claims that span both courts' jurisdictions.
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Marketinglaw
Regulatory developments including on greenwashing, and consumer expectations for material information in online ads, and Advertising Standards Authority rulings on "less healthy" food and drink ad restrictions, misleading claims and fake reviews.
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Events
Digital Regulation Download | Digital services under scrutiny
14 September | Webinar | 14:00-15:00
Online services are facing a new wave of consumer and child safety regulation. Tighter rules on social media and subscription transparency are evolving, affecting the design and marketing of digital products.
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Life Sciences Academy | AI governance in life science companies
16 September | Webinar | 16:00-17:00
A practical framework for building effective AI governance structures in life science companies, including the impact of upcoming EU AI regimes, sector-specific regulation and data protection rules.
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The Employment Rights Act 2025 in practice
Webinar series | 10:00-10:30
A series of 30-minute webinars covering one employment reform in each session, explaining what the law says and what it means in practice.
You're (not so easily) fired: the new era of unfair dismissal | 22 September
Every step you take: the new harassment prevention duties | 12 October
An offer you cannot refuse: new union rights every employer must understand | 2 November
Playing with fire: the new rules on varying contractual terms and fire and re-hire | 23 November
All together now: the new rules on collective redundancy consultation | 13 January
Family matters: new protections around family friendly rights and flexible working requests | 24 February
Zero to guaranteed: new rights for zero hours, low hours and agency workers | 17 March
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Dipping into Data | Online tracking: A cookie‑sized update
23 September | Webinar | 16:00-16:30
The latest UK and EU developments including updated ICO guidance on storage and access technologies, its advice to government on amending the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, and French and Italian recommendations on email tracking pixels.
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AI Forum
15 October | One London Wall | 13:30-17:30
Designed for in-house counsel, compliance professionals and business leaders at every stage of the AI journey, this half-day forum offers actionable insight into where the law stands today and how organisations can build a coherent strategy for legal risk, strategy and business adoption.
Register now >