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Agency agreements in the UK: what businesses must get right
Richard Riley
Appointing a commercial agent can assist a business to enter new markets and can accelerate growth but only if the legal foundations are sound.
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David Crank
David Crank joined Bermans in August 2025 and is a Solicitor and Head of Licensing.
David leads Bermans licensing offering. He advises leisure and hospitality clients across England, Scotland and Wales — including hotel and restaurant chains and sports clubs — on premises licensing for alcohol and entertainment.
Continue ReadingDay one protection from unfair dismissal: What the new Employment Rights Bill could mean for you
Adrian Fryer
Big changes are on the horizon for UK employment law. The new Employment Rights Bill poses a major shift in how unfair dismissal rights are applied. Here’s what you need to know:
Continue ReadingA softer touch on ‘Fire and Rehire’? A proposal to ease clause 26 in the Employment Rights Bill
Sophie Robertson
The Employment Rights Bill is shaping up to be one of the most significant reforms in decades. A key change is within clause 26, which in its original form, would ban employers from dismissing staff who refuse to accept variations to their employment contracts. But recent proposed amendments suggest a more flexible approach may be on the horizon.
Continue ReadingA new era for workplace NDAs: Harassment and Discrimination cannot be silenced
Adrian Fryer
A new clause in the Employment Rights Bill has been proposed, which could mark a major shift in how employers manage allegations of harassment and discrimination.
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Saffa Ahmed
Paralegal
Saffa joined Bermans in July 2025 and is a Paralegal in our Litigation team in Manchester.
She assists in property disrepair cases, commercial leases and contract disputes. She often helps prepare bundles, take counsel notes and various other tasks.
Saffa studied Law at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2024.
Outside of work, Saffa enjoys reading and going to the gym. She also enjoys playing tennis with friends on a weekend (when the weather is nice!).
Independent investigators not liable for whistleblowing dismissal
Adrian Fryer
When handling high-stakes disciplinary or grievance matters – particularly involving senior staff – many businesses sensibly turn to external HR consultants or investigators to ensure objectivity, professionalism, and compliance. A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decision will come as welcome news for those operating in this space: unless they take an active role in making the actual decision to dismiss, external investigators cannot be held personally liable for alleged discrimination or whistleblowing-related dismissal.
Continue ReadingReligion or belief discrimination: Supreme Court refuses permission to appeal in Higgs v Farmor’s School – where does this leave the law now?
The long-running case of Higgs v Farmor’s School appears to have come to an end, after the Supreme Court last month refused permission to appeal. This means that the current legal position is as set out in the Court of Appeal’s judgment in this case from earlier this year.
Continue ReadingWilko’s £2m Lesson: Don’t overlook collective consultation
A recent tribunal ruling against high-street retailer Wilko serves as a costly reminder that even technical breaches of collective consultation law can carry a high price. Following its 2023 collapse, Wilko was found to have failed in its legal duty to properly consult with staff ahead of making large-scale redundancies. The result? Protective awards worth around £2 million across its former workforce.
Continue ReadingEmployee who fell asleep at work was unfairly dismissed
Staying awake at work is one of the most fundamental requirements of almost every job. However, the recent case of Okoro v Bidvest Noonan (UK) Ltd serves as a reminder to employers that they should not jump to a conclusion that being asleep at work always warrants dismissal. Context must always be taken into account. In this case, Mr Okoro was a CCTV controller.
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