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In the first of a series of articles dealing with new legislation and its effect on industry, Ewan Mitchell analyses the Government's Counter Inflation measures. Apart from being able to pass on ‘unavoidable cost increases’ to the consumer, Mitchell concludes that some companies may well get round the price freeze by making minor changes to existing products and marketing them under the ‘new, improved’ banner.

Ewan Mitchell takes a critical look at the unfair dismissal provisions of the IR Act and explains why 70% of compensation claims have failed.

EWAN MITCHELL outlines when every manager needs to know about his legal liability

There are strange double standards in the law. It is better for a legally aided litigant to lose a case, than for a non‐aided litigant to win, says Ewan Mitchell. It's all part of legal one‐upmanship

Closed shops continue to flourish….secret strike ballots have scarcely been used….legally enforceable agreements are ‘dead letters’….for all its initial controversy, the IR Act has fallen largely into disuse, reports Ewan Mitchell. Only one lesson appears to have been taken to heart: Never be a test case.

Exclusion clauses will come in for a great deal of scrutiny under the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act. Here, Ewan Mitchell advises when to leave them out and when to retain them.

Companies who want to avoid the risk of an ex‐employee giving confidential information to a competitor can insert restraint clauses in staff contracts. But, warns Ewan Mitchell, the clauses should be ‘reasonable’ and enforced when necessary—otherwise they are liable to be flouted.

The same Government that abolished the Consumer Council is bringing in some of the toughest legislation ever on buyer protection under the Fair Trading Bill. Ewan Mitchell points out some of the pitfalls awaiting unwary manufacturers, for whom caveat emptor (buyer beware) will no longer be a defence.

A recent parliamentary bill introduces stringent new criminal law, which could give management some embarrassing times in court.

There are times when winning a case in court can be disastrou