Employment law changes: a 2024 update
Our employment law & business immigration team have put together a useful timeline to help you and your business keep on top of developments throughout the year. For several years,…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Navigating the future: protected beliefs in the workplace
Our employment law & business immigration experts look into the challenges employers can face surrounding protected beliefs. In the past few years, we have witnessed a significant rise in employment…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
World Intellectual Property Day: overcoming an alleged trademark infringement
This World Intellectual Property Day, find out how we’ve been helping to resolve an intellectual property dispute involving a Gloucestershire-based business. In our day-to-day lives, we encounter trademarks in almost…
Willans
Solicitors
Home Office begins eVisa rollout
The Home Office has started to roll out eVisas, with their aim being to have replaced physical visas or biometric residence permits (BRPs) by 2025. The Home Office has started…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Flexible working is here to stay from 6 April 2024
From 6 April, flexible working laws are changing, making it easier for employees to make statutory flexible working requests. The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 will make the following…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Tenants already in situ: which notices should landlords be aware of?
Are you a landlord that’s bought or sold a property with tenants already in occupation? Our team of experts offer guidance on which notices landlords should be aware of. Perhaps…
Bethen Abraham LLB (Hons), LLM
Solicitor
Building disputes: Dealing with cowboy builders and legal lassos
Home improvement projects are becoming more popular due to the rise in hybrid working, causing the potential for more building disputes. With more of us benefiting from hybrid and home…
James Melvin-Bath LLB (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor-advocate
Buying, selling and letting farmland during the agricultural transition
English agriculture is in the middle of a major transition, with some of the biggest changes to farming practices and farm payments seen in over half a century. Our experts…
Adam Hale BA (Hons), TEP, FALA
Partner
Business Immigration: Significant changes to take place in April 2024
Last December, the Home Secretary announced a five-point plan to reduce immigration in the UK, with most measures to be implemented early this year. Tomorrow, these significant changes to business…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Should the court have the power to make parties engage in mediation?
Should the court have the power to make parties engage in mediation? Our team of experts look into a recent case that sheds light on changes to how courts can…
Evie Claridge LLB (Hons), LLM
Solicitor
Paws for thought: what happens when I can’t care for my pets anymore?
Have you ever wondered what preparation can be done to ensure your pets are looked after properly further down the line? Our wills, trusts & probate experts offer some useful…
Leah Vincent LLB (Hons), LLM, TEP
Solicitor
Employment status: EAT confirms approach
The determination of employment status has been made clearer as the EAT confirms its approach. The EAT has provided useful guidance on the approach to determining employment status in Plastic…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Settlement agreements & future claims
Our employment experts look into a case surrounding settlement agreements and future claims. Mr Bathgate worked for Technip Singapore PTE Ltd as a chief officer for over 20 years. In…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Carrying over statutory leave
The start of the year saw a number of updates relating to the carrying over of statutory leave. From 1 January 2024, the following in regards to carrying over statutory…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
New legislation to simplify holiday entitlement & pay
The government has introduced new legislation to simplify holiday entitlement and holiday pay calculations. Our team of employment experts have summarised the key points below. New definition of ‘irregular hours…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Constructive dismissal & delayed resignation
Constructive dismissal and delayed resignation can prove to be difficult situations for some employers. Our team of experts look into a case that could help when looking to tackle issues…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Embracing neurodiversity at work
We’re supporting Neurodiversity celebration week, which takes place from 18th to 24th March 2024. Here, our employment law team share insight into neurodiversity in the workplace and what employers can…
Jenny Hawrot LLB (Hons)
Partner
The price for ‘workplace banter’
The price for ‘workplace banter’ could prove costly to employers and its employees if certain lines are crossed. Miss Hunter had been employed by Lidl since she was a teenager.…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
What is parental responsibility and why is it important?
Parental responsibility is a legal term which many parents haven’t even heard of until they face a separation. It relates more to the legal duties of a parent towards a…
Kristie Silsby LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
Gifting: how to minimise inheritance tax
How can you minimise the amount of inheritance tax when you’re looking to pass things on to other people? Our wills, trusts & probate experts look into how gifting can…
Ashley Wood LLB (Hons), LLM
Solicitor
Make intentions clear this leap day
On this year’s leap day, many women may pluck up the courage to get down on one knee, rather than wait to be proposed to (although in today’s gender-neutral world,…
Kristie Silsby LLB (Hons)
Associate, solicitor
Fire and rehire: government responds to consultation on Code of Practice
The Government has responded to the consultation on the draft Statutory Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement, which includes minor amends to the draft. The consultation, which came after…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Own a property abroad? Your will can still be affected by European law
Do you own a property abroad? If so, did you know that your will can still be affected by European law? If not, it’s worth reading on. Despite opting out…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Left out of a will? Act quickly to claim under the Inheritance Act 1975
When writing a will, you can leave an estate to whoever you like. However, leaving a relative or dependent out of a will doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t benefit; if…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Re-evaluating relationships in the new year: Is divorce the right move?
With Christmas festivities over and another new year now well underway, the day widely known as ‘Blue Monday’ is upon us once more. Although originally devised as a marketing ploy,…
Joeli Boxall LLB (Hons), LLM
Solicitor
Immigration law: What to expect in 2024
2024 is shaping up to be full of change in the immigration sphere. Visa fees were increased by around 10-15% in October 2023 (you can find the new fees here),…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Reintroducing rolled up holiday pay: The practical steps you & your business can take
In November, the government published the draft Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (the draft regulations), and are due to come into force on 1 January 2024.…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Unearthing the implicit duty of cooperation in commercial contracts
In the world of business, contracts are the bedrock upon which deals are built. These carefully crafted documents are a testament to the mutual understanding between parties, outlining their respective…
Richard Holland BA (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor
Autumn statement: Key financial changes for workers
The government today outlined some key financial changes for workers in 2024 as part of this year’s autumn statement. National insurance Firstly, the 12% rate of employee national insurance contributions…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
The advantages & traps of option agreements
An option agreement can be utilised when a developer is considering purchasing land for development. It grants them the ‘option’ to purchase land for an agreed-upon price (or price mechanism)…
Adam Hale BA (Hons), TEP, FALA
Partner
Section 8: What are the differences between mandatory grounds & discretionary grounds?
In a new series – ‘What does the law say?’ – our property litigation specialists discuss the key parts of residential possession law landlords and tenants should be aware of.…
Nick Southwell BA (Hons)
Partner
Act to combat economic crime has received royal assent
Earlier this year we reported on the register of overseas entities, which was created under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022. This move formed part of a significant…
Chris Wills LLB (Hons)
Partner
Prenuptial agreements | A complete guide
A prenuptial agreement is a bespoke document drawn up by a solicitor or lawyer. It is a sound and sensible way to protect the assets you have worked hard for,…
Sharon Giles LLB (Hons)
Partner
Reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) recently upheld a tribunal’s finding that a recruitment process solely relying on an online application put a job applicant with dyspraxia at a substantial disadvantage.…
Hayley Ainsworth BA, MSc
Senior associate, solicitor
Higher fines for illegal working announced for 2024
On 7 August, the Home Office announced its plan to significantly increase fines for employers found to be hiring illegal workers. Under the proposal, the civil penalty for the initial…
Klára Grmelová MGR (LLM Czech)
Solicitor
Charity land: A widening of the pool
We previously reported on the new Charities Act 2022. The first wave of provisions in relation to charity land are now in force, with more expected to be in force…
Charlotte Cowdell BA (Hons), LLB
Senior associate, solicitor
