The rapid spread of COVID-19 has had extraordinarily far reaching ramifications for all sectors of industry, not least the legal system.
COVID-19
For many businesses contending with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a key consideration will be seeking to suspend or be excused from contractual obligations. In the second of a series of three articles, Barbara Creed, Litigation Partner in our Belfast Office...
COVID-19 Belfast
For many businesses contending with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a key consideration will be seeking to suspend or be excused from contractual obligations.
Commercial Contracts
In Part 1, we looked at judgments from the Crown Court and High Court in Northern Ireland dealing with a source disclosure order and an interim application concerning Facebook. In Part 2, we consider the Court of Appeal's judgment involving reporting restriction orders and Sir John Gillen's report into the law on serious sexual offences.
Disputes
It was a relatively quiet year, with only three published judgments from the Northern Ireland courts (the same as in 2018). There was one Court of Appeal case, involving reporting restriction orders, with the Crown Court and High Court delivering judgments dealing with a source disclosure order and 'revenge porn' images.
DisputesThe UK's first multimedia motion mark was registered earlier this year, following, in the shadow of technological advances, a raft of changes to European trade mark laws.
Commercial & Technology BelfastLast month, the UK Information Commissioner (ICO) released a statement announcing an investigation into the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in public spaces and expressing concern over its "potential threat to privacy" and "people's…most sensitive personal data". The ICO reassured individuals that it "will not hesitate to use our investigative and enforcement powers to protect people's
GDPRThe role of the judge or jury in a defamation case is to determine how the ordinary reasonable reader understands alleged defamatory material. In the case of Stocker v Stocker (2019) UKSC 17 examines how it applies to social media and provides guidance for analysing the meaning of words published on digital platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution BelfastWith the introduction of GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, individuals are more alive to their data and privacy rights. An increase in awareness and the exercise of those rights has resulted in data related disputes becoming more common between businesses and individuals.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution BelfastA new practice direction which came into play on 01 June 2015 is set to bring about more focus on the use of expert witnesses and the asssociated costs in commercial litigation cases. John Dugdale, Associate at A&L Goodbody, explains how this will impact on how an expert is instructed going forward.
Belfast
