iLaw | News

Insight

May 9, 2025

HMRC concedes Account Freezing Orders have no lawful basis

James O’Hara, Director at iLaw, was instructed to advise a company facing severe operational disruption due to several Account Freezing Orders (AFOs) obtained without notice by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The Freezing Orders paralysed the company, making it impossible to pay staff wages or continue trading normally. This drastic action had significant repercussions, potentially bringing the company’s business to a halt.

Insight

May 7, 2025

Construction Payment Disputes - Payment Notices v Invoices

On 24 January 2025, HHJ Davies, sitting as a Judge of the High Court in the Business and Property Courts in Manchester handed down judgement, remotely, in Placefirst Construction Limited v CAR Construction (North East) Limited [2025] EWHC 100 (TCC).

Insight

May 7, 2025

Construction Adjudication

On 24 January 2025, HHJ Davies, sitting as a Judge of the High Court in the Business and Property Courts in Manchester handed down judgement, remotely, in Placefirst Construction Limited v CAR Construction (North East) Limited [2025] EWHC 100 (TCC).

Insight

April 29, 2025

iLaw Successfully Secures Release of £500,000 of Client's Funds Following Legal Challenge to Account Freezing Order

James O'Hara, Director at iLaw, acted for a gaming company based in Cyprus, who found their accounts frozen by the City of London Police under an Account Freezing Order (AFO). The client’s GBP account, held with a multi-national bank, was subjected to the AFO, and the bank restricted access to the funds in the account, causing significant disruption to the business.

Insight

April 25, 2025

EUIPO Rejects Thom Browne’s Bid to Register Four-Stripe Sleeve Mark

Thom Browne has encountered a setback in its effort to trademark a version of its iconic four-stripe design. In a decision released in March 2025, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) denied the brand’s application to register a position mark featuring four horizontal white stripes on the upper left sleeve of clothing. The refusal, issued under Article 7(1)(b) of the EU Trademark Regulation (EUTMR), highlights the ongoing difficulty brands face when attempting to protect design elements that may be seen as merely decorative.

Insight

April 25, 2025

What Should a Privacy Policy Include?

Under the UK’s data protection regime, businesses that determine the purpose for which customer personal data is collected, used, or stored (collectively known as processing) must provide a privacy notice.

Insight

April 24, 2025

iLaw Secures Release of £300,000 in Client Funds Following Successful Legal Challenge

James O'Hara, Director at iLaw, was instructed to assist a company director whose business accounts were frozen in January 2024 following an Account Freezing Order (AFO) obtained by the Metropolitan Police. The AFO, which involved almost £300,000, was put in place as part of an investigation into the source of the funds. This type of legal order can severely disrupt business operations, freezing access to critical funds that companies rely on for their day-to-day activities.

Insight

April 17, 2025

Transforming Fraud Investigations: How Interpol's Silver Notices Outpace MLATs in Cross-Border Asset Seizure

What measures are in place to combat international criminal organisations and seize criminal assets across borders? The UK Government’s Economic Plan (2023-2026) delves into their commitment to target asset recovery. This is very timely given the recent introduction of Interpol’s Silver Notices, created with the promise of becoming a new and efficient mechanism to trace assets across borders. This article explores the newly introduced Silver Notices and compares them to the existing pathways available in the UK for cross-border recovery. We turn first to explore the existing legal framework.

Latest News

Insight

HMRC concedes Account Freezing Orders have no lawful basis

Insight

Construction Payment Disputes - Payment Notices v Invoices

Insight

Construction Adjudication

Insight

iLaw Successfully Secures Release of £500,000 of Client's Funds Following Legal Challenge to Account Freezing Order

Insight

EUIPO Rejects Thom Browne’s Bid to Register Four-Stripe Sleeve Mark

Insight

What Should a Privacy Policy Include?

Insight

iLaw Secures Release of £300,000 in Client Funds Following Successful Legal Challenge

Insight

Transforming Fraud Investigations: How Interpol's Silver Notices Outpace MLATs in Cross-Border Asset Seizure

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