Legal


Businesses must plan for life after furlough


Businesses must start serious planning on what the winding down of the Government’s furlough scheme means for them, according to Thursfields Solicitors. Under the Government’s Job


Retention Scheme, grants have paid 80 per cent of furloughed staff’s wages since the beginning of March, because of coronavirus, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month. But the grants have


now been reduced, with employers paying National Insurance and pension contributions for furloughed staff in August, and the Government’s contributions


dropping to 70 per cent of wages in September, and 60 per cent in October. Lisa Kemp, an associate director


in the employment and human resources law department at Thursfields, said: “The Job Retention Scheme has been one of the government’s more successful interventions during lockdown, with nearly nine million staff furloughed. “This has almost


certainly saved hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of jobs which may have had to be made redundant without such swift action.


“But now the Government is


winding the scheme down, businesses should take full advantage of the advance notice they have been given to start thinking and carefully planning what this means for them. “For some businesses, the end


of furlough will simply mean their staff starting to return to work, as with the lockdown easing the economy is starting to move again. “For certain sectors, such as the


events industry, the continuation of strict social distancing measures may mean that businesses want to extend their furlough periods, albeit without the assistance of the government’s grant after October. “However, for some employers,


they may have to consider other options such as restructuring if they feel that revenues and trading forecasts can no longer support the same number of staff.” Ms Kemp added that this could


spell job losses, and said: “In short, certain businesses will have to consider redundancy programmes, and if they do they will need to plan these meticulously, ensuring full consultation and the correct methods of selecting which staff may have to lose their jobs. “Business leaders would be


Lisa Kemp: bosses need to plan for job losses


strongly advised to seek professional advice as soon as possible to make full and legally sound plans.”


Lodders launches ‘green’ team


Midlands law firm Lodders has launched a new team to deal with a surge in new instructions and work from landowners and businesses planning to install renewable energy solutions. The firm’s new renewables team will


give advice solution on the legal implications of installing renewable energy solutions such as wind turbines and photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Lodders partner Alastair Frew


(pictured) said: “Knowledge of and interest in renewables has reached unprecedented levels, as landowners and developers embrace the technology to minimise running and business interruption through loss of energy, and take advantage of the potential cost savings. “Renewable energy has truly come of age, and


developers and operators are busy building this new green infrastructure, increasingly planning to install wind turbines and solar panels, ensuring secure energy supplies for now, and the future. With huge


improvements in renewable energy efficiency and legacy, growth in awareness of environmental issues – fuelled by government policy and its Smart Export Guarantee – we are supporting a growing number of clients with their renewable energy plans.” Currently, around one-third of the


UK’s electricity needs are produced from renewable sources. Mr Frew said: “Developers and


operators need land and buildings to make this new green energy infrastructure possible, so are


approaching landowners to strike a deal. For the landowners themselves, there is much to consider to be sure they get the best and right deal. Not just on the sale of land, but also clarity on the tax savings


and complex tax planning that surrounds these


transactions. Getting agreements watertight from the off is vital, whether developing land for the production of solar energy for a new settlement, erecting a single wind turbine, installing a reserve power station, or installing a bank of public car-charging points.”


Sector Focus


Free legal help for aero giant


Law firm Browne Jacobson has provided pro bono advice to global aerospace engineering client GKN Aerospace on its role in a nationwide ventilator operation. The firm, which has offices


in Victoria Square in Birmingham, advised GKN on its role in Ventilator Challenge UK.


Ventilator Challenge UK is a


consortium of industrial, technology and engineering businesses working together to increase the manufacture of medical ventilators to the NHS in the fight against Covid-19. The Browne Jacobson team,


which assisted with the suite of new contracts required to facilitate the project and advised on liability and health regulation risks, was led by senior associate Nick Smee, supported by partners Helen Simm, Rachel Lyne and Selina Hinchliffe and associate Kulpreet Virdi. Eamon Connolly, senior IP


counsel at GKN Aerospace, said: “Since the government made its appeal it has been a race against time to put the logistical, technical and legal arrangements into place in order to get this much needed equipment to the frontline. “The efforts made by the


various consortium members to meet these challenges has demonstrated UK manufacturing at its very best.”


New head for barristers’ chambers


One of the largest barristers’ chambers in the country has appointed Richard Atkins QC (Queen’s Counsel) as its head. Mr Atkins has taken over the


reins at Birmingham’s St Philips Chambers from fellow QC Andrew Smith. Mr Atkins is one of the country’s


leading criminal QCs. He is well-known to many senior


government ministers and officials as well as the country’s most senior judges. He said: “These are interesting


and challenging times for the legal sector. I will do my utmost to ensure that St Philips continues to be at the forefront of the legal profession and I look forward to working with our highly talented team of barristers and staff to meet the challenges ahead.”


August/September 2020 CHAMBERLINK 57


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