UK Knowledge Collection | Zero-hours contracts, broadcast regulation, and data law
Published on 12th June 2026
Welcome to this week's Knowledge Collection
The Employment Rights Act 2025 was enacted on 18 December 2025, but the zero-hours contracts measures require regulations before the new rights can take effect. The government has now launched a consultation on these reforms, which closes on 25 August 2026. Our Insight considers the impact of the proposals on agency workers, hirers, agencies and others involved in agency worker supply chains.
Ofcom, the UK broadcasting regulator, has launched two linked consultations on the codes of practice that will govern key aspects of the new Tier 1 services video-on-demand regime under the Media Act 2024: standards and accessibility. In addition, the government has introduced new regulations to Parliament that extend the reach of broadcast regulation to additional forms of electronic programme guides and designate certain television selection services that must carry and give appropriate prominence to public service broadcasting content. Our media experts explore the implications for service providers of these reforms.
A recent decision on legal advice privilege clarified that it can extend to intra-client group communications even where no lawyer is a party, provided the dominant purpose of those communications is the seeking or receiving of legal advice. Our GDPR for HR update looks at the practical steps organisations can take to preserve privilege in the context of responding to data subject access requests. Our Data Forum returns in London (this month) and Bristol (in July), with topics including DSARs, automated decision-making, cyber security and regulatory enforcement trends.
Recent Insights
DMA notifications reveal six themes in European TMT business transactions
Novel transaction structures are increasingly prominent in tech mergers. Gatekeeper acquisitions in hardware, enterprise software and gaming now engage overlapping merger control and foreign direct investment regimes.
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Ofcom consults on Tier 1 services video-on-demand codes as UK Media Act rollout gathers pace
The codes will impose new content standards and accessibility requirements on video-on-demand services with more than 500,000 monthly UK users, while new regulations will extend the scope of electronic programme guides and broadcast regulation.
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UK accelerates Consumer Credit Act reform for the digital age
HM Treasury will repeal most information requirements and associated sanctions under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, recasting them into Financial Conduct Authority rules.
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GDPR for HR Coffee Break | June 2026
This month's edition includes the implications of Aabar v Glencore for data subject access requests and ICO guidance on managing AI-generated requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
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Government consults on reform of zero-hours contracts for UK agency workers
The consultation indicates the government's preferences for how final regulations will work and signals an intention to push ahead with the new rights in 2027.
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Events
The quantification of delay claims: a legal and expert view
16 June | Halo, Bristol | 16:00-19:00
A practical discussion focused on the types of delay claims that typically arise on major energy and infrastructure projects, and the key principles underpinning entitlement to loss and expense, followed by networking drinks.
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Commercial property in flux: lease renewals, rent reform and land transparency in 2026
17 June | Webinar | 09:30-10:30
Our experts will cover three of the most pressing issues for landlords, investors and occupiers of commercial property: statutory lease renewal, rent review reform and new transparency obligations.
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Annual Data Forum
23 June | One London Wall | 08:30-13:00
7 July | Halo, Bristol | 13:00-18:30
Our annual Data Forum returns to our London and Bristol offices, including updates on automated decision-making, DSARs, cyber security obligations, regulators' enforcement priorities in the EU and UK, and developments in protecting children online.
Register now for the London forum | Register now for the Bristol forum
Pensions Coffee Break: inheritance tax and pensions
25 June | Webinar | 11:00-11:30
From 6 April 2027, where a member of a registered pension scheme dies, some or all of the benefits paid by the scheme following their death may form part of their estate for inheritance tax purposes. Our experts will recap the current position, what is changing and how trustees and employers can prepare.
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The latest in advertising law
30 June | One London Wall | 09:00-11:30
Our specialist advertising law team will discuss recent developments, cases and regulatory activity, and what they mean for business compliance.
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