Happy New Year. 2012 looks set to be another busy year for HR professionals and employment lawyers. At the end of this month the window will close for responding to the government's call for evidence into the effectiveness of TUPE, of which there is much in this alert, and collective consultation. In March the consultation on Tribunal and EAT fees will close and in April we expect the qualifying period for unfair dismissal to rise to two years increasing the risk for employers of facing discrimination claims.