Forbes Solicitors
Retail eNews
January 2021

Retail legal update & Q&A session

10 February

9.30am

 

Where there is blame - there is the risk of a claim

 

The retail industry and the exit strategy from Covid-19


Keep up with customers' changing habits

Many high streets and city centres were struggling under the weight of customers' shift towards online shopping even before the pandemic hit. However, by virtue of forced closures, social distancing restrictions, potential customers working from home rather than in offices near physical stores and a general reluctance to be out in public places by some, there is no denying that the pandemic has accelerated the online shopping movement, and there is no sign of it slowing down.

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Where there is blame - there is the risk of a claim

In these unprecedented times retailers are often looking at alternative methods of delivering services to maintain a viable business and seeking to survive the challenges that the current pandemic presents.

Accidents and subsequent claims can be time consuming and expensive for retailers even when insurance cover is in place. Forbes advise many different organisations, including retailers, and insurers in relation to Employers Liability and Public Liability claims or potential claims. However, as a retailer there are a number of practical steps that can be taken to try and prevent accidents occurring which may lead to a claim against the business, or at least limiting the impact of any accident that does occur.

 

Heading in the right direction - the virtues of detailed Heads of Terms

It is the end goal of any lease transaction to achieve an agreement that satisfies both parties' needs. The lease will dictate the complex contractual relationship between the parties to a transaction and so it is essential that all of the key points are addressed. However, at the root of any transaction it is the Heads of Terms that will detail the fundamental structure of that arrangement.

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Retail legal update & Q&A session

10 February, 9.30am

Join members of our Retail team for a free legal update & Q&A session on some of the legal challenges currently facing the retail sector in light of the new lockdown. Areas being covered include:

  • Negotiating rent-free periods in new leases or as a lease variation;
  • Pandemic rent concessions;
  • Break rights in leases;
  • Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme overview and Q&As on HR related issues such as holidays and furlough pay, notice pay during furlough, how to manage employees concerned about attending the workplace, performance managing employees working from home; and
  • Potential issues with accident claims for retail clients who are currently involved with take-out/home delivery services, but also historically dealing with slip and trip claims at client premises.  

All four panellists will participate in a Q&A session at the end of the webinar.

To register your free place or if you have any questions you would like to submit ahead of the online event, please click here.


The retail industry and the exit strategy from Covid-19

As we settle in to our third lockdown it might not be easy for businesses to think about the future and plan their "exit strategy". However, could this latest lockdown provide a unique opportunity for businesses to think outside the box, critique the way they operate and how they utilise their workforce in a different way?

In the first lockdown in March the country ground to a halt, almost overnight. Roads were empty, towns and cities deserted and long queues outside the local supermarket seemed to be the only sign of life as the country tried to come to terms with the "new normal".

 

Covid relief 2021

As the scourge of Covid-19 continues to disrupt and reshape our daily lives, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced a further £4.6bn relief package for businesses in the retail and hospitality sector on 5th January.

The government's support package comes in the form of a one-off grant to businesses that have been forced to close due to the latest Covid related lockdown and that can't effectively operate remotely. The payments will be made on a per property basis and range from £4,000 up to £9,000, depending on the rateable value of the property concerned. 

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