Retail law roundup: March 2026
30 March 2026
Welcome to our retail law roundup, where we share legal updates for retailers and brands.
With escalating tensions across the Middle East placing pressure on key trade corridors, industry experts are urging retailers to stress-test their contingency plans as lead-time uncertainty grows. Closer to home, EU design protection, commercial property reform, supply chain liability and the Employment Rights Act are all in sharp focus.
In this edition, we look at:
- The Deity Shoes v Mundorama Confort and Stay Design judgment.
- The ban on upwards-only rent reviews.
- Supply chain liability and the shift from compliance to enforcement.
- What rising administrations mean for UK retail - and what to do about it.
- Key implementation dates of the Employment Rights Act, and the two consultations on protection from detriment for industrial action and collective redundancy triggers.
Contents
- Sole searching: How Deity Shoes found protection without breaking new ground
- Upwards-only rent review ban: Potential retrospective impact
- Supply chain liability: Overseas forced labour and exploitation claims back in the news
- Under pressure: What rising administrations mean for UK retail - and what to do about it
- Employment Rights Act 2025: Government publishes revised implementation timeline and consultations
- ERA 2025: Consultation launched on collective consultation triggers
- ERA 2025: Consultation on protection from detriment for taking industrial action
Contact
Caroline Green
Senior Partner
caroline.green@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)20 7337 1026
Contact Caroline