Stevens & Bolton Podcast Channel

The S&B reDRess Podcast - Alternative Dispute Resolution

There has been a renewed focus on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in recent times with many believing it should now form a compulsory part of the litigation process. Hence why, in episode 3 of our S&B reDRess Podcast, Catherine Penny and Alasdair McDowell consider what it is, the different types of ADR, and why disputing parties need to consider it in the early stages of a dispute.

Commercial Contracts Podcast – Costs, RPI and COGS - cost charging mechanisms examined in light of inflation

Episode 6 of our Commercial Contracts 22 podcast focuses on the thorny issue of inflation and costs, RPI and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) from the perspective of standard terms and conditions, master services agreements and outsourcing arrangements. Beverley Flynn, head of commercial and technology is joined by commercial partner, Charlie Maurice to discuss this topical issue and the options available.

 In these cost-pressured times we discuss:

• Pricing clauses in contracts and issues to consider from both customer and supplier perspectives
• How contract prices are often recalculated, including the various indices (e.g. RPI, CPI) used to do so and some of the differences between them
• Issues with RPI and the latest on its replacement as an official measure of inflation
• Rise in COGS and trends we are seeing in the market following material events such as Brexit and the effect of Covid

Commercial Contracts Podcast – Insolvency considerations

Episode 5 of our Commercial Contracts 22 podcast focuses on changes to insolvency legislation and how this may affect your standard terms and conditions.

Beverley Flynn, head of Stevens & Bolton’s commercial and technology team is joined by our co-head of restructuring and insolvency, Tim Carter to discuss practical tips on drafting and improving your commercial contracts. The episode includes:

• Suppliers beware: the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 introduced a bar on the termination of contracts by reason of insolvency
• The essential facts: covering the type of insolvency proceedings, how suppliers (and customers) are effected and which contracts
• Standard terms: how can suppliers better protect their position

The S&B reDRess Podcast - Arbitration

Episode 2 of our S&B reDRess Podcast focuses on arbitration. Catherine Penny and Lorna Sleave from our dispute resolution team discuss what it is and when it might be used, and the perceived advantages of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism compared to litigation.

The S&B People Podcast: Holiday headaches

As we enter the busy summer holiday season, employers are likely to see some common holiday-related issues resurface, particularly as we continue to experience ongoing travel disruption. What should you do if an employee is stranded overseas or is otherwise affected by travel disruption? What about employees who are unwell with covid whilst on holiday? Should you consider requests to extend periods of holiday by a period of remote working from abroad? Employment law experts, Hollie Ryan and Chantelle de Filippis, discuss how to handle these common holiday ‘headaches’ here. 

The S&B People Podcast: The new High Potential Individual visa category

The newest immigration route– the High Potential Individual visa category – was launched on 30 May 2022.  Could this help you live and work in the UK?  As a business, could it help with the recruitment issues you’re experiencing and enable you to hire overseas talent more easily?  Immigration experts Kerry Garcia and Jackie Penlington discuss here

The S&B reDRess Podcast - Should I litigate?

Welcome to the S&B reDRess Podcast, a new series from the dispute resolution team at Stevens & Bolton, in which members of the team cover what commercial parties need to know about dispute resolution related topics. In the first episode Catherine Penny and Michael Stocks discuss the key factors a party should have in mind when considering embarking on litigation and what the process entails. 

Commercial Contracts Podcast – Employment and TUPE considerations

Episode 4 of our Commercial Contracts Podcast focuses on the key considerations when negotiating outsourcing agreements with a service provider from an employment perspective.

Beverley Flynn, head of Stevens & Bolton’s commercial and technology team is joined by our head of employment and immigration, Kerry Garcia, to discuss practical tips on drafting and improving your commercial contracts. The episode covers:

• Issues to consider in deciding whether TUPE applies and an overview of risks in relation to TUPE
• Apportioning risk in relation to TUPE and TUPE clauses on award and on exit
• Other employment clauses, including warranties and provision of employee information
• Interaction between the TUPE schedule and the main terms of the agreement

Commercial Contracts Podcast - Confidentiality provisions and trade secrets

Episode 3 of our Commercial Contracts Podcast focuses on intellectual property and updating your T&Cs confidential information and trade secrets.

Beverley Flynn, head of Stevens & Bolton’s commercial and technology team is joined by our head of IP, Tom Lingard who provide practical tips on how to update and improve your standard terms and conditions, master services agreements, outsourcing arrangements and contractual terms. This episode includes:

• Drafting confidentiality clauses and agreements that work
• The risks of relying on NDAs and the interaction of confidentiality, restrictive covenants and other protective clauses
• Practical steps for protecting trade secrets

The S&B People Podcast: The hybrid hangover

S&B’s People Podcast is a series of bite-sized podcasts aimed at busy HR professionals and employers.

Your business may have embraced hybrid working but what hang-over issues has this left you with? Have you thought about proximity bias and the risk of discriminating against employees choosing to work from home? What about employees who refuse to come into the office the week before their holiday? Do you really know how employees dispose of confidential information at home? Employment law experts, Hannah Ford and Emily Hocken discuss here.

Do you have any themes or topics that you would like us to discuss? We would love to hear from you here.