In-House Insights

A new Supreme Court ruling provides important guidance on JCT termination provisions and the interpretation of standard form contracts.

In this case concerning renovated and converted AGA cookers, the Court of Appeal has upheld a finding that UK Innovations Group Ltd had infringed AGA's trade marks, specifically through the way in which it marketed and sold refurbished AGA cookers (as opposed to the acts of refurbishment themselves).

The Court of Justice of the European Union has provided important clarification on copyright protection for works of applied art in the EU in joined cases Mio and Konektra, including a useful summary of EU copyright law and the assessment of the 'originality' requirement. However, the decision also introduces new, potentially significant, elements to the framework.

We recently opened new offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, strengthening how we support clients whose business, capital and family interests span the Middle East. We also took an important step in Hong Kong, establishing our own local law practice while continuing our longstanding association with Karas So LLP - creating even more opportunities for connected growth across Asia.

In Beneathco v RJ O’Brien Ltd [2025] EWHC 3079 (Comm) the English Commercial Court held that an FCA-regulated broker was not obliged to transfer US$16.5 million held in its client account to a petroleum trader designated under US Iran sanctions, as doing so would breach US sanctions law.