EMI share options: a SME-friendly, tax-efficient weapon in the ‘war for talent’
Attracting and retaining key talent isn’t easy for any business, but it is particularly challenging for smaller, higher-risk, growing companies. Without the financial resources to offer large salaries and extensive…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Residence Nil Rate Band allowance increase: are you up-to-speed?
On 6 April 2020, the Residence Nil Rate Band allowance increased to its maximum limit of £175,000. The Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) was first introduced in April 2017 to…
Laura Stone LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Furloughed workers and annual leave
The government has provided some long awaited guidance on the treatment of annual leave for furloughed employees affected by the coronavirus pandemic. One of our senior employment lawyers, Jenny Hawrot,…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
COVID-19: The landlord's dilemma
Much has been made of the steps which have been taken by the government to protect both commercial and residential tenants during the current crisis, which in many cases has…
Nick Southwell BA (Hons)
Partner
Automatic stay in squatter possession proceedings removed
Pressure from property litigation professionals has seen the Master of the Rolls modify the automatic stay in all possession proceedings, imposed on 26 March by a Practice Direction, when the…
Nick Cox LLB (Hons)
Consultant, solicitor
Business immigration and COVID-19: FAQ for employers
For employers, keeping pace with employment law guidelines in the light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is no easy task, and businesses who sponsor workers from overseas face another layer…
Helen Howes LLM
Senior associate, solicitor
Domestic abuse during the COVID-19 lockdown: Q&A
The lockdown associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has resulted in a dramatic change to daily life for most of us. Despite the necessity of lockdown to protect the NHS,…
Jonathan Eager FCILEx
Partner, chartered legal executive
Coronavirus cash grants for charities: What support is available?
On 8 April, the Chancellor promised a £750m support package to boost the charity sector, of which £370m will go to smaller local charities supporting vulnerable people. The aim of…
Charlotte Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB
Senior associate, solicitor
Employing people from outside of the UK after Brexit: Q&A
The government has unveiled further details about a new immigration system that will be introduced as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union. In this article, we…
Helen Howes LLM
Senior associate, solicitor
Corporate & commercial issues: COVID-19 FAQ
The global outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the government’s resulting emergency measures have had severe implications for many businesses. Read on for answers to some frequently-asked questions on corporate &…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Coronavirus: Q&A for employers and HR professionals
The last few weeks have seen a seismic shift in the numbers of the UK workforce now working from home, following the coronavirus lockdown. While businesses should always seek employment…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Coronavirus: Furlough leave and holidays
One of the big unanswered questions which has been exercising the minds of HR professionals and employment lawyers alike since the announcement of the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS),…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
COVID-19: Holiday time for guarantors?
With many tenants seeking rental holidays most landlords may be shaking their heads over a loss or reduction of income for one, two or maybe more quarters. Tenants are pressing…
Nick Cox LLB (Hons)
Consultant, solicitor
A guide to some of the April 2020 employment law changes
One of our senior employment lawyers summarises the changes in the law which take effect from today. What’s new for April 2020? Written statements of employment particulars From 6 April…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: New guidance from government
The government has published further details of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (also known as the ‘furlough scheme’) as part of the emergency measures surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. The Coronavirus…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Where there’s a will, there’s a way…
Traditionally, the practice of making a will or lasting powers of attorney has been somewhat ‘hands-on’, involving face-to-face meetings, signatures in the presence of witnesses, and so on. The coronavirus…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Commercial contracts & coronavirus: What are the implications?
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic develops, we have seen significant disruption to businesses across multiple sectors in the UK. Understandably, this has led to widespread concern about the implications for…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Coronavirus: What it means for residential landlords
The government has passed emergency legislation to protect tenants from eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic, by the Coronavirus Act 2020. These changes affect nearly all tenants in the private rented…
Nick Southwell BA (Hons)
Partner
Family law issues & coronavirus: Q&A
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown family life into a tailspin, and for those with current relationship, family and divorce issues, things may get even more complex while the crisis is…
Sharon Giles LLB (Hons)
Partner
Rules relaxed to allow UK workers to carry over annual leave
Another change to UK employment law has seen the government relax the rules on the date by which workers must use annual leave. Ordinarily, UK workers are unable to carry…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Coronavirus and lease obligations: Q&A for commercial tenants
You’ll no doubt be aware of the concessionary measures that are being introduced by the government to help ease the potential economic fallout of COVID-19 on UK businesses. In the…
Nigel Whittaker BA (Hons)
Partner
What does 'furlough' mean? A quick definition for employers
As part of the emergency measures surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a plan to support employees who would have otherwise been laid off during the crisis.…
Willans
Solicitors
Who will make decisions about your health and welfare, if you became unable to?
Simon Cook discusses the importance of health & welfare lasting powers of attorney. Though no-one likes to think about losing the ability to manage our own affairs, it can happen.…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Taxation of settlement payments
Associate solicitor Jenny Hawrot outlines the upcoming changes to the taxation of settlement payments and explains what these may mean for employers. Payments are often made by an employer to…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Terms & conditions: Don’t let the ‘small print’ become a big issue
Whether you’re a start-up or a fully-fledged operation, properly drafted terms and conditions are a must. When starting or growing a business, putting in place standard terms and conditions for…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Does a director owe a fiduciary duty to a company’s shareholders?
New case law has thrown directors’ duties into the spotlight once again. Trainee solicitor Helen Howes explains more… Under the Companies Act, a director owes fiduciary duties to the company…
Helen Howes LLM
Senior associate, solicitor
An e-sign of the times
Times are changing but there’s still a place for pen and ink when it comes to legal property documents. In the commercial property sector there is growing demand for transactions…
Willans
Solicitors
What will the electric vehicle mean to residential development and businesses?
The advent of the electric vehicle could soon prompt change in planning policies, explains property litigation partner Nick Cox. As part of our firm’s internal ‘Green Willans’ group, I have…
Nick Cox LLB (Hons)
Consultant, solicitor
Removing a shareholder or director: what you need to know in a business dispute
It is a relatively common occurrence for business owners to fall out. An unfortunate consequence of businesses being under increased pressure due to the economic slowdown is the increased likelihood…
Helen Howes LLM
Senior associate, solicitor
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
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
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 Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB
Senior associate, solicitor
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…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
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
