In the third episode of EG's We're Still Here podcast we continue to help support the industry with a weekly round-up of news, analysis and tips for happier home-working.
News editor Pui-Guan Man and reporter Lucy Alderson join tech editor Emily Wright on this week's podcast to talk about how the sector is recovering after a tough few days. From confusion over whether construction sites should close to concerns off the back of quarterly rent day as some retailers look to take advantage of the new, relaxed rules, we delve into some of the biggest issues impacting real estate nearly two weeks into lockdown.
We also touch on some more positive news including the impact of widespread remote working in terms of digitally upskilling the industry and the power of a virtual coffee break.
We're still here. See you next week.
The fire at Liverpool’s iconic Littlewoods building 18 months ago is just one of several blazes in commercial buildings since the Grenfell tragedy. Adam Higgins, co-founder of the developer Capital & Centric, says that the experience completely changed his perception of fire safety. He is joined in the EG Studio by former government minister Mark Prisk, the Business Sprinkler Alliance’s Iain Cox, FM Global’s Tom Roche and Ian Fletcher from the British Property Federation to discuss how culture, regulation and focus needs to change.
EG's deputy legal & professional editor, Jess Harrold, asks Bryan Johnston, UK head of real estate litigation at Dentons, and his fellow partner at the firm, Richard Budge, what the Coronavirus Act 2020 means for property - and whether it goes far enough to address major issues of concern to the industry arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Johnston and Budge address how the moratorium on forfeiture will work in practice, what problems may arise, and what other ways coronavirus may necessitate further changes for real estate - and possible further legislation.
With many retailers reporting financial difficulty, directors’ duties are becoming ever more important. To examine the role of directors within companies and to explain their responsibilities, EG’s Professional & Legal Editor Sarah Jackman is joined by Richard Pull and Jonathan Cole of law firm Goodman Derrick.
They answer questions on a director’s key duties and the penalties enforceable should a breach occur, as well as providing advice on best practice to those taking on a director role.
On this week's episode of We're Still Here, EG's podcast to get you through these strange times, tech editor and head of Special Projects Emily Wright is joined by EG's deputy editor Tim Burke and deputy legal and professional editor Jess Harold.
With topics for discussion ranging on the mental health implications of working through a lockdown - or, indeed, questioning the mental health implications of forcing everyone back to the office five day's a week post pandemic - to new support methods for landlords, this episode covers a lot of ground.
Perfect for anyone after a weekly update on EG's top stories and analysis plus a little human interaction to finish off the week.
We talk about how the industry is being tested but how doing good as well as doing good business should be top of the agenda throughout and beyond these tough times.
Happy Friday from the team here at EG, we'll be back next week.
Barry Shaw, head of legal at Greenland UK, addresses some of the major talking points for commercial landlords and tenants during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Can a tenant terminate its lease, or pay less rent? Will much discussed "force majeure" clauses have an impact? And what are the obligations for landlords?
Plus more queries relating to agreements for lease, service charges, business rates and other important issues.
Barrister Andrew Francis, of Serle Court Chambers, the co-author of Rights of Light: The Modern Law discusses the High Court's decision in Beaumont Business Centres Ltd v Florala Properties Ltd [2020] EWHC 550 (Ch); [2020] PLSCS 45 - a very significant judgment for the field.
Francis addresses the nature of the dispute, what the judge decided and the implications for landowners and developers - as well as how practitioners should best advise clients, post-Beaumont v Florala.
With MIPIM postponed, EG sought to recreate many of the sessions we had planned for Cannes in our studio in London.
Day 1, session 1: The UK is open for business
- Where are the hotspots for UK investment in 2020?
- Which sectors are showing the most potential?
- Environmental, social and governance
- Towns: innovation and start-ups
Chair: Damian Wild, Editor-in-Chief, EG
![]()
Welcome to We're Still Here, EG's new weekly podcast created exclusively to help you get through the strangest of times.
The entire EG content team will be working together to bring you these weekly episodes that will not only provide a round up of the latest real estate news, trends and analysis but will hopefully make social distancing and self isolating just that little bit easier.
Since the spread of COVID-19 has seen the world change almost overnight, the majority of us now working from home or at least working in a very different way to what we are all used to. EG wants to bring our weekly print and online content to life in this new podcast and remind everyone out there that we are most definitely still here.
As we all take things day by day, this podcast too can evolve over the coming weeks. Let is know what you want, who you want to hear from, what information you need and we will try to make that happen.
Until then enjoy episode one and embrace that Friday feeling if you possibly can.
EG's deputy legal editor Jess Harrold and court reporter James Lumley discuss how the Royal Courts of Justice and the Business and Property Courts at the Rolls Building plan to keep the wheels of justice turning during the Covid-19 pandemic - including the Lord Chief Justice's call for a renewed emphasis on remote court hearings and settling disputes where possible.
