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Our employment law update for May covers a new EAT case on whether job applicants can bring whistleblowing claims, whether a blatant racial insult falls outside the scope of the Equality Act 2010 because it was not made “in the course of employment”, and a case covering the possible liability of external HR consultants as agents of the employer. We also have a general news round-up, including the government’s responses to proposed third party discrimination liability under the Employment Rights Bill, and a summary of the issues surrounding the EHRC’s interim guidance and subsequent developments.

The Treasury (HMT) launched a consultation and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a call for input in April 2025 kick-starting a review of the UK’s regulatory regime for Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMs). The reforms seek to streamline the regulatory framework for AIFMs to reduce burdens and boost growth, whilst maintaining core protections for consumers and markets.

There is a “a dearth of case law” on s1(1) of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (Act), as observed by Lenon KC, the judge in the case of HNW Lending Ltd v Lawrence [2025] EWHC 908 (Ch). Whilst an accurate assessment, the judge would have been well within his rights to add (but didn’t) that the dearth of caselaw extends to the entire Act, not just s1(1). This is surprising given the rising prevalence of reliance on the Act in commercial contracts (and perhaps most frequently, construction contracts) since its introduction in 1999. Therefore this case is particularly welcome and in this Insight, Kevin Henderson takes a look at what we can learn from it.   

The UK's water sector is not just evolving; it is undergoing a monumental transformation, presenting infrastructure investors with an extraordinary chance to participate in building a more resilient and sustainable future while securing robust financial returns. The combined forces of population growth, the escalating climate crisis, and the urgent need to upgrade aging infrastructure are driving an unprecedented wave of investment in critical water projects. This is not simply about pipes and reservoirs; it is about shaping the future of a vital resource, and the “RAPID: Building a resilient future – a Major Projects guide for investors" published in 2025, is your essential roadmap to this dynamic and expanding market.