A run-down of changes in employment law this April
This April will see a number of developments in the world of employment law. Not only will we see the usual increases to various statutory rates in line with inflation,…
Japanese knotweed gets Network Rail in a tangle
Japanese knotweed can be very problematic. It can cause damage to buildings and land by the spreading of its roots, which can affect the value, marketability and the insurability of…
No more tribunal fees, but has it made a difference?
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in R (on the application of UNISON) v Lord Chancellor last summer, we saw fees for employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal being abolished.…
Trust compliance in 2018 – know your obligations
The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in trust regulation. The penalties for non-compliance can be onerous so here’s a quick look at these new regulations: Trust Registration…
Corporate Governance Reform - where are we now?
The government’s green paper, Corporate Governance Reform, sought views from a broad cross-section of business and society on specific aspects of corporate governance – executive pay, corporate governance in large…
How confident are you in dealing with employment law issues?
If you find the ever-changing landscape of employment law and the reams of jargon-filled official guidance daunting, you’re not alone. Many of our clients have found our employment law seminars…
GDPR: Useful insights from the ICO
Much has been written about GDPR, but one of the more useful recent documents is entitled “Preparing for the General Data Protection Regulation – 12 steps to take now”, published…
“If science can help, then it should”: Court orders woman to take DNA test in landmark judgment
Litigation partner Paul Gordon is acting for a client in an inheritance dispute which has given rise to a “significant development” in the law. The case was heard in the…
Time for a legal spring clean? 6 tips for your business in 2018
From tidying up your data processes in time for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through to staying one step ahead of cyber criminals, we share some tips for a…
Just Eat in the spotlight after delivery driver uses customer data to send inappropriate texts
Just Eat are under the spotlight for a delivery driver using customer data to send inappropriate texts to a female customer. It is possible that the driver’s use of a customer’s…
An affordable forum for SMEs with IP disputes
Intellectual property (IP) disputes in the High Court can be costly and complex, but did you know that there is a specialist court which may provide SMEs with a quicker…
Our secret to longevity? A loyal team
With over 150 years’ worth of combined service from the seven longest-standing members of our team, celebrating our milestone 70th anniversary is testament to the dedication of our lawyers, management…
Reaching the platinum mark: A review of our 70th year in business
In 2017, Willans celebrated its 70th year in business. After wartime service in the Navy, Alec Willans founded the firm in 1947 as a small practice. 70 years and eight…
Pre-employment screening – what are the limits?
Recruiting the right member of staff takes considerable time and effort, and so understandably employers want to get it right. It used to be standard for an employer to require …
All I want for Christmas is…a rent review?
Christmas is fast approaching and with all of the distractions of the season it might be easy to forget that a rent review may be due under your lease, particularly…
Charities and leases – what trustees need to know
Regardless of their legal structure, all charities have to comply with certain requirements when dealing with land. Most of these duties set out in the Charities Act 2011 (the Act),…
Duomatic principle throws shareholder consent under spotlight
The Duomatic principle is a long-established common law principle of company law. It allows shareholders of a company to consent to a matter informally, without the need for attending and…
New protection for businesses against groundless threats
Under intellectual property law, individuals and businesses are protected from threats of legal action for infringing a third party’s intellectual property rights (IPRs) when those threats are groundless and unjustified.…
Equal Pay Day throws gender pay gap into the spotlight
This year, Equal Pay Day falls on Friday 10 November, which signifies the date of the year on which, as the gender pay gap reveals, women effectively stop earning in…
Unexpected liability for contaminated land
You might think that it would be safe to allow a statutory body such as the local authority onto your land to carry out potentially contaminating activities (such as landfill),…
Residential care: your legal questions answered
Planning for the future can be daunting, at best. It is therefore sensible to seek legal and financial advice when you are considering taking big steps, such as moving into…
New debt recovery protocol 2017: what do you need to know?
On 1 October, a new debt recovery protocol came into place which should be complied with before proceedings are issued by a creditor. It is designed to reduce the amount…
Navigating the age of ‘Taylor’-made working practices
The modern workplace is increasingly characterised by flexible, ad hoc working as more people become self-employed or work under zero hours contracts. A flexible workforce can benefit businesses that have…
Bringing commercial property up-to-date - factors to consider
Many people see an opportunity in buying a house at a reduced price as it needs refurbishment or complete renovation. Equally, in the commercial sphere, there is scope for tenants…
How to incentivise employees in growing businesses
How can small, growing companies incentivise their employees? One way is by putting an Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) scheme in place, which can motivate staff to invest their time and…
Reality rules – business rates on development property
Property owners and occupiers who are developing vacant commercial premises will be delighted with a recent decision of the Supreme Court. Up to now there has been some confusion over…
Giving free professional advice? You may still owe a duty of care
In Lejonvarn v Burgess (2017), the Court of Appeal has confirmed that a person who provides professional services to friends might do so on a “professional basis” and thereby assume…
What businesses need to know about the proposed E-Privacy Regulation
There has been a lot of talk recently about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but not so much about the new proposed E-Privacy Regulation (EPR), the breach of which…
Common sense prevails in appeal case
The courts have long been against clauses which limit or exclude a party’s liability and have thus tended to interpret them strictly using a variety of methods, including the contra…
A step too far? Discriminatory dress codes in the workplace
In December 2015, Nicola Thorp was sent home from her job as an agency receptionist, without pay, for failure to comply with the agency’s dress code. She was wearing flat…
Tribunal confirms voluntary overtime must be included in holiday pay
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has confirmed, in the case of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council v Willetts (and others), that employees who receive regular payments for voluntary overtime should have those…
Breaking news - employment tribunal fees scrapped
The Supreme Court has made history today by ruling that fees for bringing an employment tribunal case to court are unlawful. The court found that the fees prevented access to…
Protecting your business in the age of cyber-crime
Cyber-crime has made many headlines recently and it is more important than ever to guard your business against this ever-evolving threat. The potential consequences of a cyber-attack may include: the…
ICO view on Virgin’s release of Jeremy Corbyn train footage
You may recall a while ago Jeremy Corbyn’s public criticism of a “ram-packed” Virgin train, in which he released a video showing him sitting on the carriage floor. Virgin Trains…
Playing fair in the ‘gig’ economy – advice for employers
In a recent report, former work and pensions committee chair Frank Field MP has warned that the government must intervene in order to prevent exploitation of ‘gig economy’ workers. A…
Requirements for reporting on payment practices for large companies and LLPs
Large companies and large limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are now required to report on their payment practices and policies in relation to certain specified contracts, according to The Reporting on…