Legal issues affecting SMEs

The objective of this course is to provide an overview of a number of areas of law, concentrating on the topics likely to be most useful in day to day dealings with clients and staff. Employment law, in particular, is an area subject to enormous change, particularly in the current economic climate. The course will cover key areas and give solid practical advice, exploring the following areas of Employment Law: Employment status; Useful terms to include when drafting employment contracts; Working time and minimum wage issues; Discrimination including the impact of the Equality Act 2010 and all the new cases; Disability discrimination and dealing with sickness; Developments in unfair dismissal and 2012 changes for claimants taking cases to tribunal, as well as proposed reform; Latest information on auto enrolment pensions.
Company Law continues to develop following the implementation of the Companies Act 2006 and the course will examine the main issues affecting SMEs: Directors duties and liabilities; Protecting the minority in a small company; Important company law cases in the last 12 months; A few current insolvency issues.
If time allows, the course will also look at: Developments in data protection; Professional negligence – new cases.