Public Sector Services

30 March 2026

Equality Action Plans The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a new statutory requirement for large employers to publish Equality Action Plans, marking a significant shift in the UK’s regulatory landscape for workplace gender equality. From April 2026, employers with 250 or more employees will be able to publish action plans voluntarily, ahead of mandatory publication […]

30 March 2026

The year 2026 will likely go down in history as one of the most significant overhauls of UK employment law due to the many changes contained in the Employment Rights Act 2025 (‘ERA’). While some of the changes have already come into force (for more information about this, click here), and some are due to […]

24 March 2026

Berry Smith Lawyers is proud to announce Tŷ Hafan, the children’s hospice charity based in South Wales, as its Charity of the Year following a company-wide CSR poll. Tŷ Hafan provides essential care and support to children with life-shortening conditions and their families, offering both hospice-based and at-home services. Their work ensures families can make […]

23 March 2026

Intellectual property is often one of a business’s most valuable assets, but as a recent high-profile dispute shows, it can also become one of the most complex. The ongoing legal battle involving British perfumer Jo Malone and Estée Lauder highlights a fundamental issue in modern brand law: what happens when a personal name becomes a […]

20 March 2026

Data is now central to how many retail businesses operate. Whether through online shopping platforms, targeted marketing, or website analytics, retailers routinely collect and use customer information to improve services and drive sales. While these practices offer clear commercial benefits, they also create important obligations under UK data protection law. For retailers operating in England […]

16 March 2026

Many people believe that if they live with their partner for a long period of time, they will automatically gain the same legal rights as a married couple. This is often referred to as a “common law marriage”. However, in England and Wales, common law marriage does not exist. This misconception can have serious consequences […]

10 March 2026

Copyright law can create real risks for UK podcasters, particularly when it comes to music, clips and other third-party content. This article outlines some of the key copyright pitfalls podcasters should avoid and explains how to keep your show legally compliant. What Copyright Means for Podcasters In the UK, copyright protects original literary, musical and […]

2 March 2026

What are they? Manufacturing and supply arrangements sit at the heart of many businesses. When they work well, they are almost invisible. When they fail, the impact is immediate: missed deadlines, strained customer relationships and financial loss. Recent supply chain disruption, fluctuating raw material costs and ongoing regulatory change have shown just how exposed businesses […]

2 March 2026

Public reaction to the recent case of Hehir v Metroline Ltd (6018181/2024) has been fierce, with national media outlets describing bus driver Mark Hehir as a hero, and politicians have publicly condemned Metroline’s decision to dismiss him. Yet the tribunal ultimately upheld that dismissal as fair. This case is a useful reminder of how tribunals […]

2 March 2026

April is always a pivotal month for employment law changes but the reforms taking effect in April 2026 represent one of the most substantial shifts employers have faced in recent years. Alongside annual adjustments to pay and statutory rates, this year introduces major reforms to family related leave, sickness entitlements, trade union legislation, and the […]

27 February 2026

We are proud to announce that Berry Smith has been ranked the Number 1 M&A Legal Adviser in Wales for 2025 in the Experian MarketIQ Full Year 2025 report. The Experian MarketIQ report is recognised as a leading authority on UK mergers and acquisitions activity. The rankings are based on completed deal volumes, highlighting the […]

24 February 2026

Recent headlines have once again highlighted the commercial strength of intellectual property, this time involving global pop icon Taylor Swift and a US bedding company. A company trading as Cathay Home applied to register the brand name “Swift Home” for bedding products in the United States. However, the application has now been withdrawn following a […]