Non-disclosure agreement reforms could slow down settlements & add cost & complexity, write Louise Price & Jennifer Leeder
- Covers the reforms to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), which have been consulted on and are likely to come into force next year.
- Considers scope of ‘excepted agreements’, the question of whether employers can suggest the possibility of an NDA, regulatory requirements for solicitors and barristers, and next steps on NDA reforms.
Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are once again under the legislative gaze. Following years of being in the political spotlight and a wave of regulatory activity, the UK government published a formal consultation on 15 April 2026 setting out how it intends to restrict the use of NDAs in cases of workplace harassment and discrimination.
With the consultation closing on 8 July 2026 and new rules expected to come into force in 2027, is this a pivotal moment for employers, workers and the legal professionals advising them?
From #MeToo to legislative reform
The movement to restrict NDA misuse in the workplace gained significant momentum following the #MeToo movement,
