January commercial bulletin: key developments for businesses

Welcome to our January 2026 commercial bulletin, produced in association with LexisNexis.

Previously published by Radius Law, this bulletin is now brought to you by Cripps’ commercial team, continuing to share practical insights on the issues shaping businesses.

This month, we explore:

• Reforms to UK consumer law – a new regime bringing tougher enforcement and higher fines for unfair practices
• Extended Producer Responsibility – new compliance costs and reporting requirements for packaging businesses from October 2025
• The introduction of the Employment Rights Bill – including changes to zero-hours contracts, restrictions on fire and rehire, and expanded day-one rights
• How informal communications – including WhatsApp messages and emails – can create legally binding contracts
• The UK government’s renewed focus on cyber security, with CEOs urged to treat it as a board-level priority following recent high-profile breaches

Listen to the full bulletin below.