Take care when varying a lease
While it is always better to record any variations to a contract or a lease in writing (and even better by deed), a recent Court of Appeal case has highlighted…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
‘Twas the Night Before the Christmas Party - preventing problems
‘Twas the Night Before the Christmas Party and all through the place, Employees were plotting the next night’s disgrace. The management should warn ‘employees beware’, Or come Monday morning, The…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Protection for tenants from forfeiture despite non-payment of rent
The case of Pineport Ltd v Grangeglen Ltd saw a commercial tenant, whose long lease had been forfeited by re-entry for non-payment of rent, entitled to relief from forfeiture despite…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
Focus on large companies that don’t pay their suppliers on time
The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 has received a fair amount of media attention as it introduces many changes on how companies are run. There is however one…
Willans
Solicitors
Another tax on death (by a different name)
Earlier this year it was announced that the government is planning a huge rise in the fees charged for grants of probate. Final details of what is proposed, including the…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
It’s not working out
The termination of employment can be a tricky business and will almost always carry the risk of employment tribunal claims. Of course, if there is a genuinely fair reason for…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Brexit – how will it affect your intellectual property?
In times of uncertainly, the UK Intellectual Property Office has published guidance following the vote to leave the EU earlier this year. It outlines that: while the UK remains a…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Top tips for drafting good business contracts
It goes without saying that a good contract is important given it is a legally binding document. Writing a business contract which accurately reflects the intentions of each party is…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
We combine expertise to share one of the best kept secrets in business strategy
We are one of three local businesses combining our expertise for a day to benefit business owners and entrepreneurs by talking about how to use intellectual property to make money…
Willans
Solicitors
Lawyers support national Air Ambulance Week
During National Air Ambulance Week (19 – 25 September) we, in partnership with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, are appealing to Gloucestershire residents to take advantage of the charity’s Free Will…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Inheritance tax and the family home
Since the Budget in April this year many clients have said that due to the changes in inheritance tax (IHT) they believe they do not need to worry about any…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Trespassers beware
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that a landowner does not need to take physical or legal action to prevent rights being acquired, so long as he has made his…
Willans
Solicitors
Lips are sealed
In November 2013, the European Commission proposed a draft directive for the protection of trade secrets (‘the directive’). The European Parliament voted to adopt the directive with no further amendments…
Willans
Solicitors
Pokemon Go trespassers beware
The new smartphone app, Pokemon Go has been praised by some for getting kids away from TV screens and playing outside again; and lambasted by others for driving the behaviour…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Monitoring employee emails
The misuse of emails by employees can harm a business, for instance by way of reputational damage, poor performance or misconduct and lead to a number of other issues such…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
Are Uber drivers ‘workers’ or ‘self-employed’?
This is the question being asked by two drivers in a test case which starts being heard today at the central London employment tribunal. The taxi drivers claim Uber is…
Helen Howes LLM
Senior associate, solicitor
I predict a riot
On 23 March 2016 the Riot Compensation Act 2016 received royal assent. It is yet to come into effect but when it does it will repeal the old 1886 Act…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
Boosting British enterprise
The Enterprise Act 2016 gained royal assent in May. A key feature of the act is the introduction of a small business commissioner to help small firms handle disputes with…
Willans
Solicitors
Insolvency update
In October 2015 the bankruptcy threshold for individuals was raised from £750 to £5,000, the first increase in 30 years. This means that those aiming to bankrupt an individual debtor…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Mediation – our new service
We have launched a new service which offers people an alternative to going to court. Following the substantial increase in court fees, as well as the reduction in the number…
Nick Cox LLB (Hons)
Consultant, solicitor
Business immigration rules
In order to employ migrant (non-EEA) workers, an employer in the UK must be registered with the Home Office and have a sponsor licence; in April of this year, there…
Helen Howes LLM
Senior associate, solicitor
Directors beware of intellectual property infringement
In the recent case of Grenade (UK) Limited v Grenade Energy Limited and Another, the IP Enterprise Court found that the company director was jointly liable with his company for both…
Willans
Solicitors
What does Brexit mean for your European workers?
The UK’s referendum vote on 23 June to leave the European Union (EU) has placed in doubt the future status of circa 3 million citizens of other EU countries living…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Coffee, cake and advice morning in Winchcombe this month
Our wills, probate and trusts lawyers will host a coffee morning in Winchcombe on 21 July. The team is providing the ingredients to help people to take care of their…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
What does Brexit mean for employment law?
For good or for bad, the people of Britain made the monumental decision yesterday to leave the EU. The referendum itself is not legally binding, but it is implausible that…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
The death of annual returns
From 30 June 2016 companies based in the UK and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) will be required to file a ‘confirmation statement’ each year instead of an annual return. What…
Willans
Solicitors
Commercial contracts and Brexit
With the EU referendum fast approaching, we outline some possible implications for new and existing business contracts if the country votes to leave. What English law will apply if the…
Willans
Solicitors
Recognise the importance of intellectual property to your business and protect it
Past surveys by the Intellectual Property Office and Federation of Small Businesses have revealed that 74% of businesses were unsure who owned the intellectual property rights (IPR) to their website,…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Willans supports Dementia Awareness Week
Willans is helping to promote Dementia Awareness Week running from 15 May – 21 May. This national campaign week is supported by the Alzheimer’s Society which report that: there are…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Help combat property fraud
Many people have become disillusioned with traditional pension plans based on stock market investment returns, and have focused on ‘buy-to-let’ properties instead. The recent turmoil in financial markets has also…
Suzanne O'Riordan
Partner, conveyancer (non-solicitor)
Significant changes to business immigration rules
Following the publication of the Migration Advisory Committee’s proposals for Tier 2 earlier this year, the Home Office has recently confirmed that the following changes will be implemented over the…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
National Living Wage
All businesses will be required to pay the National Living Wage (NLW) as of April 2016. It is expected to affect around six million workers in the UK. The NLW…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
34% rise in divorce court fees in England and Wales
Unexpectedly from today the Ministry of Justice has increased the court fee to file a divorce application (known as a divorce petition) from £410 to £550 – a rise of…
Jonathan Eager FCILEx
Partner, chartered legal executive
Opening the floodgates on water pumping claims
In the case of Robert Lindley Ltd v East Riding of Yorkshire Council (reported in January this year), a farmer won a compensation claim in the Lands Tribunal for crop…
Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)
Partner
M&A due diligence – is it necessary?
Historically, many companies have viewed the due diligence process as a tick box exercise undertaken by junior lawyers producing a long report often not viewed by senior personnel or integration…
Willans
Solicitors
Stressed in the City
Mental health and wellbeing has become a hot topic in the media with various television and other campaigns encouraging people to talk about it to destigmatise the subject. Stress in…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
