MAKING SENSE OF ROANNE
An article prepared by Stephen Pearson, partner at Freeth Cartwright, for Local Government Lawyer.
Two years after the European Court put a spoke in the wheel of many regeneration projects with its decision in the case of Auroux v Commune D’Roanne, the OGC has issued new guidance on how such schemes should be procured. Stephen Pearson looks at whether this will make it easier for projects to get under way.
In this month’s review we look at current and future changes to the law relating to agency workers. We also review the decision that was widely reported in the media regarding whether belief in climate change could constitute a belief within the meaning of the Religion or Belief Regulations. We also comment on the decision of the EAT on associative discrimination in the context of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in the Coleman case as well as other recently reported decisions.
Hanif Lula
CAN PRIVATE EQUITY REVIVE THE CORPORATE FINANCE MARKET?
Lee Clifford, corporate partner at regional heavyweight law firm Freeth Cartwright, is optimistic.
Without doubt, 2009 has been a torrid year for the corporate finance market. According to figures issued by CMBOR (Centre for Management Buyout Research) the UK buy-out market fell from a record £46.5 billion at the end of 2007 to just £4.4 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2009. Indeed, this year only 280 buy-outs had completed by the end of the third quarter compared to 487 for the same period last year.
CDM survey 2 years on - ‘Could do better’
A recent survey into the Construction (Design Management) Regulations 2007 has been conducted through CDM2007.org, which is controlled by Bromley Council. The online survey attracted responses from public and private sector organisations.
FSP MAKES A BID DEAL OF PRIVATE EQUITY . . . AND ADVISER RELATIONSHIPS
Advised by the corporate finance teams from Freeth Cartwright and Cooper Parry, one of the highest profile PE deals to have taken place in the Midlands in recent months is August Equity LLP’s multi-million pound buy and build investment in Funeral Services Partnership Limited [FSP].
DOES THE GLASS CEILING STILL EXIST FOR WOMEN?
Vanessa DiCuffa, head of employment at the Birmingham office of solicitors Freeth Cartwright, gives her view.
GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH SET TO REBOUND Q4 2010
Nick Parsons, The Head of Markets Strategy at National Australia Bank (nabCapital) in London, made his forecasts for the global and UK economy at this year’s East Midlands Property & Construction Forum in Nottingham, predicting slow growth next year, and a peak of just 0.4 prcent growth in the fourth quarter of 2010.
RIGGED CONTRACTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: LATEST NEWS
Background
The Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”) has fined 103 construction firms a total of £129.5 million for rigging activities in relation to construction contracts.
The firms were found to have colluded by disclosing to each other their intended quotes for tender. Firms then submitted cover bids designed to obscure the project cost, rather than to win the contract. Procurers were therefore misled in relation to costs, leading to their paying an inflated price.
These ‘cover bids’ have affected numerous public projects, such as schools and hospitals.
