Law and business: commercial news round-up 04.07.14
updated on 04 July 2014
This week saw another blow to British sport, as Murray exited Wimbledon, but take heart – there’s still lots of football to be watched and the Tour de France is about to start in Yorkshire. Truly, it is an embarrassment of sporting riches. For some contrasting material, read these commercial news stories:
- The big six energy companies face investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority after having been referred to it by their regulator, Ofgem.
- Big change to employment law came in this week, as flexible working is extended to all employees, not just parents or carers. The new law means that employers are obliged to consider reasonable requests for flexible working arrangements.
- France’s biggest bank, BNP Paribas, has agreed to pay $9 billion to US prosecutors over allegations that it violated sanctions related to Sudan, Iran and Cuba.
- The birth of a new baby shop? Not this time - Mothercare has rejected a £266 million advance from US retailer, Destination Maternity.
- In a speech to business leaders, Ed Miliband has said that Labour would "address skills gap, reform uncompetitive markets, create infrastructure body and back culture of long-termism".
- Attracted no doubt by the cool driverless trains, French transport group Keolis has been awarded the franchise to operate the Dockland's Light Railway from December 2014. Serco, which held the franchise since 1997, said it was "disappointed". C’est la vie, Serco.
Be sure to check the LC.N Says section every Friday afternoon for this weekly commercial news round-up, produced by LawCareers.Net editor Isla Grant.
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