Insights & thinking

 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yesterday’s budget changed the stamp duty land tax rates for sales and leases of commercial property with effect from today. For sales, the new structure adopts the fairer ‘slice’ system…

Alasdair Garbutt LLB (Hons)

Partner

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (SBEE) materially reforms UK company law with key changes being implemented in different stages. One of the changes is the introduction of…

Willans

Solicitors

One of the key issues highlighted in the PACAC report was that there was ‘negligent’ trustee oversight of senior management, particularly with regard to the charity’s financial health. Trustees have…

Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)

Partner

In its 2015 review and accounts, HM Courts & Tribunal Service (HMCTS) made clear its aims. These included providing the infrastructure for a fair, efficient and accessible courts and tribunals…

Nick Cox LLB (Hons)

Consultant, solicitor

From 1 April 2016, a supplementary rate of SDLT will apply to purchases of additional residential properties. This will cover second homes and buy-to-let properties and potentially other transactions. The…

Suzanne O'Riordan

Partner, conveyancer (non-solicitor)

In the last few years, ‘vaping’, (or smoking e-cigarettes) has become a commonplace feature of our society. Whether you’re walking down the high street, sitting in traffic, or having a…

Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)

Partner

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that commission payments should be taken into consideration when calculating holiday pay. In the case of Lock v British Gas Trading Limited the…

Willans

Solicitors

Charlotte Brunsdon in our charities & not-for-profit legal team outlines three tips for charity trustees to consider this spring. Updated finance guidance The Charity Commission has updated key finance guidance…

Charlotte Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB

Senior associate, solicitor

Intellectual Property (IP) is a creation of the mind, such as your brand name, product design, invention, or work of fiction. Rights such as copyright, patents, designs and trademarks, as…

Paul Gordon LLB

Partner

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It is the season of perpetual hope and goodwill to all men and women, when spirits are high, and calorie consumption…

Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)

Partner

Everyone has heard of the perils of inheritance and probate disputes. A disgruntled family member, perhaps someone you have not had any contact with for several years, makes a claim…

Jennifer Cockett LLB (Hons)

Senior associate, solicitor

In the recent case of Wood v Sureterm Direct Ltd & Capita Insurance Services Ltd, the Court of Appeal considered the importance of carefully drafted indemnities in a share purchase…

Willans

Solicitors

In the 2015 budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, outlined plans for the implementation of the national living wage from April 2016. At the time of writing, the…

Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)

Partner

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 individuals have the right to make a subject access request (SAR) to obtain personal information held about them by a data controller. When the…

Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E

Partner

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 came into force on 1 October 2015. There are some key changes such as enhanced consumer remedies which may mean businesses have to adjust their…

Willans

Solicitors

Google recently announced that it is to undertake a major re-organisation of its business with the creation of a new holding company, Alphabet Inc. This new company will manage its…

Willans

Solicitors

New draft regulations to establish Flood Re were laid before Parliament on 1 July 2015, along with a new edition of the scheme document. If approved, Flood Re will start…

Willans

Solicitors

The Green Deal was a scheme developed under the Energy Act 2011 to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in Great Britain. However, take up has not been as dramatic…

Willans

Solicitors