The Employment Rights Act 2025: the 2026 reforms are now in force. Has your business completed its preparations – and are you ready for what comes next?

With the final tranche of this year’s Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms having taken effect on 30 October, now is a good time to check that your business has made the necessary changes to policies, processes and training, while preparing for the significant reforms coming in early 2027.

In the final episode of our 2026 Employment Espresso podcast mini-series on the 2025 Act, Jenny Andrews, Siân McKinley and Anna Henderson take stock of key changes already in force, highlight outstanding action points and explain the latest changes to the implementation timetable.

The episode covers:

• Your 2026 checklist: from sick pay, family leave and holiday records to preparing for union access requests and strengthening harassment prevention, including in relation to third parties.
• What has moved, and what has not: the duty to inform workers of their right to join a union is now expected on 1 January 2027, while the fire and rehire restrictions have moved to March 2027. The unfair dismissal reforms remain scheduled for 1 January 2027, with important year-end implications for employers considering dismissals.
• The rest of 2027: the newly announced timetable for further reforms, including equality action plans, bereavement leave, collective redundancy consultation changes, NDA restrictions, strengthened flexible working rights and enhanced dismissal protections for those taking family leave. We will explore these changes and how to prepare for them in next year’s podcasts.

In this episode, Graeme Robertson and Michaela Abbs of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer are joined by Jon Tatam and Mick Haddon of South East Enforcement to discuss the practical realities of dealing with trespass and unlawful occupation. Moving beyond the legal framework for possession claims, they explore the reported rise in squatting and trespass incidents, the routes available to recover possession, working effectively with the police, what happens on the day of an eviction, and the steps developers and landowners can take to secure sites before and after possession is obtained. A practical discussion offering real-world insights for developers, property owners and real estate professionals.

In this edition of the public law podcast series, HSF Kramer Partner James Wood is joined by Knowledge Counsel Jasveer Randhawa and Senior Associate Antonia Smith. Together, they discuss the importance of getting procedure right, drawing on recent decisions. Their discussion covers compliance with court deadlines, applications for extensions of time and the duty of candour, highlighting practical lessons for both claimants and defendants. They also explore recent subsidy control cases, including the risks of bringing a challenge too early or too late, how to identify a final decision that can be challenged, and the respective roles of decision-makers and the courts/CAT under the subsidy control regime.

Speakers: James Wood (Partner), Jasveer Randhawa (Knowledge Counsel) and Antonia Smith (Senior Associate).

In this episode, we discuss data centres: the tangible infrastructures that are supporting the AI revolution. We explore the complex risks surrounding these projects (from construction to operation), how insurance might assist in mitigating some of the risks and some key coverage considerations.

This episode is hosted by Antonia Pegden, Partner in our Insurance & Professional Risks team in London, who is joined by Greig Anderson, Partner in the same team in London and Travis Gooding, Senior Associate from our Sydney office.

For more insights on Data Centres, please visit the hub on our website.

Delay claims are among the most common and most contested in construction disputes, yet the underlying concepts are frequently misunderstood or misapplied. In Episode 2, Noe Minamikata and Xavier Milne simplify the meaning of delay in a construction context, "float", as well as extensions of time, and the importance of procedural compliance when making claims. Essential listening for employers and contractors alike.

In this episode, HSF Kramer partners Claire Thompson and Toby Eggleston discuss the key tax considerations Australian startups need to work through to ensure a successful US flip.

Flipping an Australian startup to the US constitutes a tax event, and with many startups dealing with a complex capital structure - from employee option holders to SAFEs and a number of investors - early engagement with Australian and US tax advisers is critical.

The episode delves into what the ATO will want to know about a flip and how this may affect its timing, how to manage various shareholders, and the other tax-related issues founders and GCs need to have on their radar early on.

What happens when a man troubled by extraordinary delusions makes a will, and his estate ultimately finds its way to someone he apparently never intended to benefit?

In this storytelling episode from our Private Wealth and Trusts team, we recount the landmark case of Banks v Goodfellow, which established the legal test for testamentary capacity. We explore the unusual circumstances surrounding John Banks and the unexpected chain of events that brought the dispute before the courts. The case established legal principles which remain significant today – over 150 years later.

This podcast can be listened to on SoundCloud, Apple and Spotify. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel to receive updates on future episodes.

Contributors: Mark Adair, Chloe Taylor

In this episode, we cross-examine Andy Penn and Vikram Sharma, two leading voices at the intersection of cybersecurity and emerging technologies. You will know Andy well, the former CEO of Telstra, a current non-executive director at Coles, and chairman at Sharon AI.

Andy has played a significant role in shaping Australia's approach to cybersecurity, including chairing the Expert Advisory Board for Australia's 2020 and 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategies. Vikram is the founder of Quintessence Labs, Australia's first quantum company, which emerged from cutting-edge research at the ANU and applies quantum tech to real-world cybersecurity challenges. Vikram also won the 2025 Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation in Australia, one of Australia's highest honours for scientific achievement.

In this conversation, Andy and Vikram share their perspectives on the opportunities and risks presented by quantum, why organisations need to start preparing for its impact today, and they draw upon their extensive experience across business, government and tech. This episode provides a fascinating perspective on the opportunities and risks presented by Quantum, the growing convergence between Quantum, AI and cybersecurity, and why boards and business leaders should be thinking about Quantum resilience today. Thanks again for listening. This is Cross-Examining Andy Penn and Vikram Sharma. Here we go.