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
Senior associate, solicitor
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
Senior 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
Senior 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)
Senior 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
Senior 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
Senior 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
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
An update on the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE)
Following our article regarding the introduction of the new ROE in the previous autumn edition of Law News, overseas entities that already have an interest in UK property should be…
Charlotte Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB
Senior associate, solicitor
Does 'good faith' between shareholders exist?
A recent Court of Appeal decision has clarified the English law principles surrounding contractual duties of good faith, emphasising the importance of the context of circumstances upon which a ‘good…
Helen Howes LLM
Senior associate, solicitor
Don’t get burnt with service charge disputes
It is a common term in a lease that a certified service charge sum demanded by the landlord is ‘conclusive’. But what should you do if the service charge is…
Nick Southwell BA (Hons)
Partner
Key things to consider before helping a friend or family member’s start up business
Is a family member or close friend looking to start a business? Are you thinking about helping them out with some funding? Here are some crucial points you need to…
Rishi Ladwa LLB (Hons)
Partner
Landlords: Are you fire safety ready?
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into effect on 23 January this year. These regulations will materially impact landlords, managers and operators of buildings in England that contain two…
James Melvin-Bath LLB (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor-advocate
New UK data protection regime – what to expect
Less paperwork for organisations, fewer data collection pop-ups for the wider public, and more than £4 billion saved over next 10 years – these are just a few outcomes that…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Can a letter marked ‘without prejudice’ amount to effective communication of dismissal?
Mr Meaker was a data centre operations technician who suffered from back injuries that resulted in prolonged periods of sick leave and permanent “limitations on his ability”. On 5 February…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
No-fault divorce: A Q&A one year on
The no-fault divorce provisions have been in place for a year, but for separating couples this simplified process can still feel unfamiliar and daunting. We answer some common questions about…
Joeli Boxall LLB (Hons), LLM
Solicitor
Fire & rehire: Government consultation underway
The government has published a draft Code of Practice on fire and rehire, and a 12-week consultation period has commenced. Our employment law experts provide the latest updates. The draft code…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Flexible working is becoming the default
Offering staff flexibility is a perk that appeals to many and helps maintain a happy, motivated workforce. Our employment law team introduce the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill, confirming that flexible…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
The modern way of registering lasting powers of attorney
Many people today understand the benefit of having a lasting power of attorney (LPA), whereby someone nominates an individual to be their attorney in respect of their health and welfare…
Siân Devereux-Renny BA (Hons), FCILEx
Chartered legal executive
Why business owners should think twice before disposing of assets
When looking to the future, or going through a change in circumstances, it’s likely that business owners will wonder whether selling or disposing of assets and interests is the right…
Laura Stone LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Quit drafting the notice to quit
The Court of Appeal has recently deemed a notice to quit invalid as it was addressed incorrectly, highlighting the importance of accuracy when preparing and serving notices. The court considered…
Bethen Abraham LLB (Hons), LLM
Solicitor
Break clauses: A case for careful drafting
The Capitol Park Leeds Plc v Global Radio Services Ltd case has further highlighted the importance of the careful drafting of break options in commercial leases. The break clause in…
Charlotte Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB
Senior associate, solicitor
Grazing licence or Farm Business Tenancy: Which is right for you?
Grazing licences and Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs) are both occupational arrangements available to landowners – but which is right for you? This will largely depend on the activities to be…
Adam Hale BA (Hons), TEP, FALA
Partner
Hold your horses: The dangers of a grazing licence gone wrong
If not in writing or drafted carefully, a grazing agreement may inadvertently create a tenancy rather than a licence, giving the grazier far greater rights than the parties intended. A…
Adam Hale BA (Hons), TEP, FALA
Partner
Property protocol forms updated to reflect building safety legislation
The Law Society protocol forms provide guidance in respect of sale and purchase transactions, designed to assist with making the conveyancing process transparent and effective. Recently, key property protocol forms…
Suzanne O'Riordan
Partner, conveyancer (non-solicitor)
