• The Supreme Court rules it was not discriminatory for a bakery to refuse to supply a cake to a gay male which had a message supportive of gay marriage; a heterosexual customer would be treated in the same way.
• The Government announces new legislation ensuring that tips will go to workers in full, together with proposals to help parents and carers, as well as requiring employers to publish their parental leave and pay policies.
• The CIPD and Mind, the mental health charity, have jointly published a revised mental health guide for managers to improve support for those experiencing stress and mental health issues at work.
• A report from the Young Women’s Trust has found that, despite the #MeToo movement and reforms including gender pay gap reporting, millions of women continue to lose out in the workplace.

SMB has advised the majority shareholders of long-standing client, Exile Group on its minority stake sale to private equity firm Bridgepoint.
Read moreWe are delighted to have acted for Independent Talent Group in the major investment by Sienna Private Equity into the agency.
Read moreHead of Media & Communications Disputes, Jeffrey Smele was quoted extensively in an article in the Financial Times on 17 December 2025, addressing the question - ‘ Why is Donald Trump suing the BBC – and will he win?’.
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