New statutory legacy sum introduced - what does this mean?
In the latest update to intestacy rules (meaning the rules that take effect when someone dies without a will), the government has increased the fixed sum that partners with children…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Costs of contesting a will: can I afford it?
If you have been left out of someone’s will, you may have grounds to contest it and claim an interest in the estate. These grounds may include: there being a…
Nick Southwell LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
Does my employer own my intellectual property?
From an advertising poster through to a developed piece of software, intellectual property rights will arise whenever there are creative endeavors in the workplace. It is important for employers to…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
What is testamentary capacity, and why is it so important in making a will?
A writer of a will must fulfill certain criteria to be considered to have ‘testamentary capacity’. In brief, they must: be of sound mind when they make and sign their…
Michelle Vandekleut ACILEx
Litigation executive
Trustees' duties & charity land: 6 frequently-asked questions
Getting the best deal for your charity, while complying with charity law, is part and parcel of being a trustee; but what are the legal requirements when it comes to…
Charlotte Brunsdon LLB, BA (Hons)
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…
Michelle Vandekleut ACILEx
Litigation executive
How do companies become GDPR compliant?
The media flurry around the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 has quietened, but organisations shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security. The…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Non-disclosure agreements: 4 frequently-asked questions
Whether you want to protect your ideas and keep a competitive edge, or you want to keep an acquisition or business sale a secret, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are a useful…
Sophie Martyn BSc (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
GDPR : 8 frequently-asked questions
While the stir around the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has certainly died down since May 2018, the GDPR is still as relevant as ever to all…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Menopause at work: New guidance for employers
ACAS has published new guidelines for employers on how to manage the impact of the menopause at work. ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) is an organisation which provides…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
GDPR fines explained
We often hear of businesses lamenting the cost of GDPR compliance, but as the bedding-in period passes and national supervisory authorities such as the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) tighten…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Are you a trustee? Know your obligations
The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in trust regulation and the penalties for non-compliance can be onerous, requiring great care by trustees. Trust Regulation Service (TRS) Legal…
Susie Jones GCILEx
Private client executive
A guide to domicile elections; inheritance tax on UK and foreign assets
If you are UK-domiciled (broadly meaning the UK is your permanent home), you have to pay inheritance tax on worldwide assets. If you are not UK-domiciled, you only have to…
Hannah Wall BA (Hons), MA
Associate, solicitor
The classic car market & the law - Q&A
The classic car market is a multi-billion pound industry, not surprisingly with many legal complications, but that shouldn’t impair the joy these four-wheeled icons can bring… What kind of businesses…
Michelle Vandekleut ACILEx
Litigation executive
Workforce succession planning - Q&A with our employment law partner
There are many aspects to succession planning in businesses – whether it be the business owner’s or investor’s exit plans, how best to hand on the business in a will,…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Your digital legacy: what happens to your assets after you die?
Most people have heard of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and and would recognise those as a digital asset. However, what about social media, email accounts, digital music, online accounts for…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Inheritance Act claims: time is of the essence
You can make a will leaving your estate to whoever you like. However, if you leave out a relative or dependent, they may still be able to claim ‘reasonable financial…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
What will happen to the ‘no-fault’ divorce bill?
Just as we were on the brink of major divorce law reforms, and an already long overdue end to the blame game that many couples currently have to play to…
Sharon Giles LLB (Hons)
Partner
Charitable legacies - benefits of leaving a gift in your will
At Willans, we recognise that there is a wide range of local and national charities that our clients support through their lifetimes, whether this is through regular donations or through…
Laura Stone LLB (Hons)
Solicitor
Probate fees: the ‘stealth’ tax
An update: After the latest edition of Your Life & the Law was published, we are pleased to say that after much debate and challenge, the government has decided not…
Jennifer Cockett LLB (Hons)
Solicitor
Will the UK still have to comply with the GDPR after Brexit?
The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) has released its annual report, which has revealed an “unprecedented” year. It received 41,661 data protection complaints in 2018/19, up from 21,019 in 2017/18. Big…
Kym Fletcher LLB (Hons) Euro
Consultant, solicitor
Proprietary estoppel: challenging a ‘broken promise’
If you have been promised a gift or other property from a person that has died but this promise hasn’t been reflected in their will, a solicitor or lawyer may…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Buying a business or property in the hospitality & leisure sector?
Whether you’re a first-time business buyer entering into the leisure sector, or you’re an experienced hotelier embarking on your next acquisition, the importance of doing your legal ‘homework’ shouldn’t be…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
Closing a deal successfully: top tips from one of our corporate partners
When it comes to buying or selling all or part of a business, there can be many pitfalls on the road to completion. Corporate & commercial partner Chris Wills explains…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Is it ever ok not to disclose information when selling a business?
When buying a business and assets, the default position is that everything is “sold-as-seen”. This means that, whilst a prudent buyer will want to exhaust the due diligence process in…
Helen Howes LLM
Trainee solicitor
Knot again! Another knotweed liability case
We are all aware of the potential liabilities that the dreaded Japanese knotweed may bring. This can range from civil liability to a neighbour, or even criminal liability if reasonable…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
Succession planning for business owners; top tips
If something unexpected befell one of the key people involved in running your business, what would happen? It is important that every business has a crisis plan in place to…
Rachel Sugden LLB (Hons), TEP
Associate, solicitor
Turning a blind eye: the concept of 'dishonest assistance'
The court has shed light on the legal concept of ‘dishonest assistance’, in the recent case of Group Seven Limited & Others v Notable Services LLP & Others [2019]. By…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Do I really need to bother with a shareholders’ agreement?...
When starting out, many businesses naturally want to keep costs to a minimum. This often results in them regarding a shareholders’ agreement as something optional or something to consider at…
Helen Howes LLM
Trainee solicitor
Grounds for contesting a will
If you think someone’s will may not be legally valid, you may be able to challenge it There are many ways in which the validity of a will can be…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Legal brain Q&A: A guide to intellectual property rights
They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. But when it comes to intellectual property, a competitor copying your ideas can put your business’s whole operation and finances at…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Settlement agreements – what employers need to know
When you need a clean break from an employee, a settlement agreement can be a neat solution, explains Jenny Hawrot, one of our employment law associate solicitors. When should I…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
Succession planning for business owners
It is important that every business has a crisis plan in place to make sure that the business can operate without key individuals if needs be. This should amount to…
Rachel Sugden LLB (Hons), TEP
Associate, solicitor
A guide to disputes with trustees & executors
What is an executor? Executors are the people who are chosen by the person making a will and are tasked with administering their estate. They are the individuals (for example,…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Protecting your brand on an international scale
Despite the significant resources which a company will allocate to international brand protection, it is surprising how often trade mark protection programmes are launched without a clear strategy. An international…
Kym Fletcher LLB (Hons) Euro
Consultant, solicitor
Tougher regulation for charity trustees
The Charity Commission’s new legal powers were introduced in the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016. They include the power to issue an ‘official warning’ to charities and/or trustees,…
Charlotte Brunsdon LLB, BA (Hons)
Solicitor
