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Coronavirus: Legal implications for travel firms to be discussed

The coronavirus crisis is throwing up challenging legal issues for travel firms, say lawyers at industry legal specialist Travlaw.

The travel law firm will host a seminar on the legal implications raised by coronavirus in London on Thursday (February 20) in response to the volume of queries it is receiving.

Travlaw senior partner Matt Gatenby said: “The situation is causing serious headaches for many travel and leisure businesses.


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“There is a need to balance legal obligations with sensible practicalities, in a scenario which we haven’t really seen before.”

Travlaw senior consultant Stephen Mason, who will join a panel of experts to give advice and answer questions, said: “The legal issues are really unique. We can compare the coronavirus to SARS in the early 2000s, but this is something new.

“We’ll discuss when refunds are due to consumers, what rights travel businesses have to defer trips and offer alternatives, and whether industry practices from previous events, such as the ‘rolling 21-day rule’, can work here.”

The event will be free to attend but invitation-only, with allocation on a first-come-first-served basis.

Contact advice@Travlaw.co.uk for details

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