Unearthing the implicit duty of cooperation in commercial contracts
In the world of business, contracts are the bedrock upon which deals are built. These carefully crafted documents are a testament to the mutual understanding between parties, outlining their respective…
Richard Holland BA (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
Autumn statement: Key financial changes for workers
The government today outlined some key financial changes for workers in 2024 as part of this year’s autumn statement. National insurance Firstly, the 12% rate of employee national insurance contributions…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Associate, solicitor
The advantages & traps of option agreements
An option agreement can be utilised when a developer is considering purchasing land for development. It grants them the ‘option’ to purchase land for an agreed-upon price (or price mechanism)…
Adam Hale BA (Hons), TEP, FALA
Partner
Section 8: What are the differences between mandatory grounds & discretionary grounds?
In a new series – ‘What does the law say?’ – our property litigation specialists discuss the key parts of residential possession law landlords and tenants should be aware of.…
Nick Southwell BA (Hons)
Partner
Act to combat economic crime has received royal assent
Earlier this year we reported on the register of overseas entities, which was created under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022. This move formed part of a significant…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) recently upheld a tribunal’s finding that a recruitment process solely relying on an online application put a job applicant with dyspraxia at a substantial disadvantage.…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Associate, solicitor
Higher fines for illegal working announced for 2024
On 7 August, the Home Office announced its plan to significantly increase fines for employers found to be hiring illegal workers. Under the proposal, the civil penalty for the initial…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Charity land: A widening of the pool
We previously reported on the new Charities Act 2022. The first wave of provisions in relation to charity land are now in force, with more expected to be in force…
Charlotte Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB
Associate, solicitor
RAAC: How the concrete crumbles
The discovery of failing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools just before the beginning of term certainly caught the attention of the public and the media. The problem of…
Emma Thompson LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
New employment rights regulations drafted
The government has published the draft Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023, which are likely to come into force as soon as 1 January 2024. As drafted,…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
The King’s speech 2023: Changes to the property sector
In November 2023, HM King Charles delivered the King’s speech which set out the government’s planned legislative programme for the coming year. Our litigation specialists summarise the proposed bills that…
Simon Arneaud LLB (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor
True story: Changing wills for financial gain
The recent BBC drama, ‘The Sixth Commandment’, told the true story of chilling crimes of a man who targeted elderly victims who he could persuade to change their wills for…
Lucy Richmond BA (Hons), MA
Litigation executive
‘One lawyer, two clients’ to be introduced soon for divorcing couples
The last few years have seen a considerable amount of change in our UK divorce laws. From the introduction and roll out of a no-fault divorce process to online applications…
Sharon Giles LLB (Hons)
Partner
Menopause and the workplace
Menopause and the workplace continues to be at the forefront of conversation for many businesses. The structure of the workplace has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. Women between…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Compliance checks: Be prepared!
If you are a sponsor licence holder in the UK, then the company to which the licence is registered is subject to various compliance duties. Under certain circumstances, sponsors may…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Associate, solicitor
'Quickie' divorces - Are they worth it or do they cause more complications?
Since the introduction of no-fault divorce in April 2022, there has been an increase in online services claiming to deal with divorces in a cheaper, quicker and more convenient way…
Sharon Giles LLB (Hons)
Partner
Making the most out of your land with an overage agreement
With the current housing shortage, farmers and other landowners are finding that their fields, agricultural buildings and even small parcels of unused scrub land are increasingly being considered for development.…
Adam Hale BA (Hons), TEP, FALA
Partner
Sponsors' guide to Standard Occupational Classification Codes
Sponsors must consider several requirements when hiring migrant workers, one of which is ensuring that the role into which they are recruiting a migrant worker meets the required skill level.…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Certificates of sponsorship: A beginner's guide
To obtain a visa under the UK sponsored work visa categories, a worker must provide a certificate of sponsorship number as part of their application. This certificate of sponsorship number…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Associate, solicitor
Tenant eviction – a complete guide for residential landlords
At Willans our tenant eviction solicitors can provide residential landlords with specialist advice and expertise to help landlords with their rental property. In this guide we answer some questions commonly…
James Melvin-Bath LLB (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor-advocate
Sponsor licences: Compliance & the duties involved
Holding a sponsor licence can be highly beneficial for many businesses dealing with recruitment and retention issues. However, this competitive advantage is counterbalanced by the substantial duties and requirements that…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
What is a sponsor licence?
Sponsor licences are used by businesses seeking to employ skilled workers from overseas who do not have leave to remain or the right to work in the United Kingdom without…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Associate, solicitor
Overview: Family investment companies
A growing trend of late has been the increasing use of family investment companies. Our corporate & commercial team gives an overview of what they are and their benefits. What…
Helen Howes LLM
Associate, solicitor
The residence nil rate band & business relievable assets
The residence nil rate band (RNRB) is an additional inheritance tax allowance that can be claimed alongside the usual nil rate band allowance. The RNRB allowance is currently a maximum…
Jennifer Cockett LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
Can’t sell your property due to the ground rent? Is your service charge fee too high?
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 came into force in June 2022 to ensure ground rent does not exceed one peppercorn per year. This only applies to new leases…
Nick Southwell BA (Hons)
Partner
The rise of the electronic signature
Our real estate experts explain more about how electronic signatures are now considered legally binding from a property perspective. In our real estate department, we now regularly use a platform…
Charlotte Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB
Associate, solicitor
Companies House: The impact of late filings
For any business whether large or small, effective governance is crucial. One of the fundamental principles of company law is that a company is a legal entity separate from its owners and…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Home is where the Wi-Fi is
Rapid technological advancement and societal challenges in recent years have significantly changed the way we work. The increase in hybrid and remote working arrangements is broadening our possibilities, opening new…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Associate, solicitor
ICO’s new guidance on responding to data subject access requests
On 24 May, the ICO published its updated guidance for businesses and employers on responding to data subject access requests (commonly referred to as ‘SARs’ or ‘DSARs’). Based on the…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Government proposes to limit the length of non-compete clauses
The government plans to introduce legislation that will place a three month limit on the length of non-compete clauses. This was announced on 10 May as part of a wider…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
The Brexit Bonfire Bill: Where are we at?
The initial shock, a couple of months of uncertainty and now a screeching U-turn that most F1 drivers would be proud of – the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform)…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Protecting business assets in a divorce
For those who put considerable time, effort and money into setting up and running a successful business, it is important that this investment is protected as much as possible. However,…
Joeli Boxall LLB (Hons), LLM
Solicitor
Property disputes: They didn’t tell me the neighbours were a nuisance when I purchased the property!
When purchasing a property, the seller must complete a sellers property information form (SPIF). These include simple questions asking whether there has ever been – or if there are currently…
Bethen Abraham LLB (Hons), LLM
Trainee solicitor
Financial settlements in divorce: What to do if you've been affected by ongoing delays
With HM Treasury recalculating public sector pensions, divorcing couples are likely to experience delays when finalising their financial settlements. The issue is affecting NHS staff and teachers at present, with…
Kristie Silsby LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
The Inheritance Act (1975): What is it? Can you make a claim?
The Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependents) Act 1975 can be a lifeline for those who have been overlooked when it comes to inheritance. Unlike some jurisdictions, under the law…
Jessica Whooley LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
Process of contesting a will: The key steps explained
If you think someone’s will has been created incorrectly, you might be able to legally challenge it. There are several factors to consider when starting the process of contesting a…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
