UK Knowledge Collection | King's Speech, tax enforcement in construction supply chains, and data law

The government set out its legislative programme in the King's Speech, which took place on Wednesday amid ongoing speculation about the Labour Party leadership. Our Knowledge Lawyers explore some of the announcements to see what business can expect in this session of Parliament.

HMRC is stepping up enforcement of the VAT domestic reverse charge on construction operations, which was introduced to tackle VAT fraud in the industry. The charge came into effect on 1 March 2021, since which time errors through construction supply chains have proved to be widespread. Our tax experts look at the risks for businesses and how they can mitigate them. 

India’s new data law, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, will have a significant impact on the data processing activities of businesses that collect personal data from individuals in India. The deadline for compliance is May 2027. Our Dipping into Data webinar next week discusses what businesses should do in order to be ready for the changes.

Recent Insights

The UK King's Speech – what can business expect this year?

The government has set out its agenda for the new Parliamentary session, with continued emphasis on economic growth.
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Employment Law Coffee Break

This week's update for employers includes consideration of two Employment Appeal Tribunal cases illustrating the practical consequences of securing and preserving witness evidence and testing whether a claimant has genuinely mitigated their loss.
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English High Court clarifies landlord works timing in redevelopment lease renewal cases

The case distinguishes an often-cited Supreme Court authority on the timing of commencing works under ground (f) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, and provides important guidance for both landlords and tenants in commercial lease renewal disputes, in the context of development-led opposition.
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Grid and planning reforms can keep the UK and Europe competitive in the data centre race

Data centres are now a mainstream infrastructure asset, but investors, developers and operators face structural obstacles including power constraints, planning and construction challenges.
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HMRC steps up enforcement of VAT domestic reverse charge for UK construction

Construction businesses and supply chains face severe consequences for non-compliance as HMRC enforcement of the VAT domestic reverse charge intensifies.
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Events

Dipping into Data | India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act: ready for 2027?

18 May | 09:00-10:00
Designed for in‑house privacy counsel and Data Protection Officers, this webinar considers the major elements of the new law, how it differs from global standards, its effect on business operations, and how to prepare a compliance plan.
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Trade secret protection: a pan-European perspective

19 May | 16:00-16:45
A look at the evolving landscape of trade secret protection across Europe, cutting through jurisdictional complexity to deliver actionable insights on drafting effective non-disclosure agreements in today's regulatory environment.
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From rags to regulations: textile extended producer responsibility unpicked

19 May | 09:00-10:00
Exploring the EU, UK and selected national regimes for textile EPR based on the Waste Framework Directive; an overview of how the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will affect product and packaging obligations for textile businesses; and the practical steps producers can take now to stay ahead.
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London International Disputes Week 2026

Osborne Clarke's disputes team is supporting the following events at this year's global gathering of international disputes experts.
3 June, 09:00-18:30: The Arbitral Institutions Congress
3 June, 09:00-10:30: Broken contracts, broken trust: managing termination risk in international construction projects
3 June, 09:00-10:30: Crypto disputes without borders: global insights from the CFAAR Network
3 June, 11:30-13:00: International enforcement of judgments: recent developments, difficult issues and innovative strategies
3 June, 16:30-18:00: Bridging steppes and standards: Kazakhstan’s evolving dispute landscape
4 June, 09:00-10:30: Getting value from investigations: understanding essential steps and how is technology creating tangible efficiencies?
5 June, 11:30-13:00: Who speaks for arbitration: arbitration in the media and public discourse
Register now >