UK GDPR and Data Protection: UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018 governing the processing, storage, and transfer of personal data in peer review materials
Privacy and Electronic Communications: Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) governing electronic communications and data transfer during peer review process
Intellectual Property Law: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and Trade Marks Act 1994 protecting intellectual property rights in reviewed materials
Contract Law Fundamentals: Common Law principles of contract formation, Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, and Consumer Rights Act 2015 governing the engagement agreement
Professional Standards Compliance: Relevant professional body regulations, research ethics guidelines, and journal-specific requirements for peer review conduct
Confidentiality Obligations: Common law duty of confidentiality and professional confidentiality requirements for handling sensitive review materials
Employment Law Considerations: Employment Rights Act 1996 and Equality Act 2010 implications if reviewer is conducting review within scope of employment
Dispute Resolution Framework: Civil Procedure Rules and Arbitration Act 1996 governing dispute resolution mechanisms in the engagement
Industry-Specific Regulations: Field-specific regulatory requirements applicable to peer review in particular sectors (healthcare, legal, academic, etc.)
