LLPs and ‘catastrophic’ claims
The Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000 heralded a new era for many professional firms, but is the individual member really insulated against a multi-million pound claim? Six years on, our…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Yeomans Row Management Ltd v Cobbe
Courts can sometimes ‘interfere’ in cases where they feel that to apply strict legal rights would be unfair or unjust, explains one of commercial property lawyers. Most people’s view about…
Nigel Whittaker BA (Hons)
Partner
Have you made a will?
History reveals some fascinating bequests in wills – some extravagant, some mean, some ironically humorous and some completely eccentric. We’ve been investigating in the run up to National Will Week. A…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Battling the bottle: drinking and the workplace
Heavy drinkers can cause serious difficulties for their employers and the problem is widespread. It’s not just a matter of someone having one too many at the firm’s Christmas party…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
You can’t bury the evidence
We have reported earlier this year (March 2006) on a High Court case concerning a former landfill site on which contamination had been discovered 20 years after the developer sold…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
Do I need to pay part-timers for bank holidays?
This often-asked question was at the heart of McMenemy v Capita Business Services Ltd that went to the Employment Appeal Tribunal recently. Mr McMenemy switched from full- to part-time working…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Marriage and divorce – what a business!
A landmark decision by the Law Lords, giving wives much bigger divorce settlements received acres of news coverage and we won’t repeat all the detail here. In short, Melissa Miller…
Jonathan Eager FCILEx
Partner, chartered legal executive
Classic employment traps - unlawful deduction of wages
It may startle you to learn that somewhere around half of all tribunal cases relate to unlawful deduction of wages. One of our employment lawyers advises employers on how to avoid…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Short back and sides - discrimination legislation
Discrimination legislation is a serious problem for employers – a rogue manager can be personally at risk as well as putting the company in the firing line for litigation. Consider…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
A classic mistake – how not to approach dismissals
Dismissing staff is a horrible job at the best of times but it’s also a real danger zone for employers. We often quote a tribunal case that hit the headlines…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Advertising boards: a warning
If you own property in a prominent location, renting out space for advertising boards or hoardings can be a good way to generate extra income. But check the small print…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
Developers’ contamination nightmare
Problems associated with land contamination can cast a very long shadow for developers. Under environmental protection law, there is an ongoing risk that they could be served with a remediation…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
Read the lease
If you are a landlord, it pays to read a lease before refusing consent to assign. Willans’ partner Nick Cox, a specialist in landlord & tenant disputes, recently acted for…
Nick Cox LLB (Hons)
Consultant, solicitor
