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
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
GDPR fines explained
We often hear of businesses lamenting the cost of GDPR compliance, but as the bedding-in period passes and national supervisory authorities such as the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) tighten…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Are you a trustee? Know your obligations
The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in trust regulation and the penalties for non-compliance can be onerous, requiring great care by trustees. Trust Regulation Service (TRS) Legal…
Susie Clay FCILEx
Associate, chartered legal executive
Wills Act changes allow video witnessing : a much-needed update, or risky business?
Changes to the Wills Act are set to allow video witnessing of wills in some circumstances. But while bringing the law up-to-date with today’s lifestyle is no bad thing, hastily-made…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
Non-resident capital gains tax: what you need to know
If you own property in the UK but do not live in the UK, you should make sure that you comply with non-resident capital gains tax (NRCGT) rules, including the…
Laura Stone LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
A guide to domicile elections; inheritance tax on UK and foreign assets
If you are UK-domiciled (broadly meaning the UK is your permanent home), you have to pay inheritance tax on worldwide assets. If you are not UK-domiciled, you only have to…
Laura Stone LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
The classic car market & the law - Q&A
The classic car market is a multi-billion pound industry, not surprisingly with many legal complications, but that shouldn’t impair the joy these four-wheeled icons can bring… What kind of businesses…
Paul Gordon LLB
Partner
Workforce succession planning - Q&A with our employment law partner
There are many aspects to succession planning in businesses – whether it be the business owner’s or investor’s exit plans, how best to hand on the business in a will,…
Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E
Partner
Your digital legacy: what happens to your assets after you die?
Most people have heard of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and and would recognise those as a digital asset. However, what about social media, email accounts, digital music, online accounts for…
Simon Cook LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
What will happen to the ‘no-fault’ divorce bill?
Just as we were on the brink of major divorce law reforms, and an already long overdue end to the blame game that many couples currently have to play to…
Sharon Giles LLB (Hons)
Partner
Charitable legacies - the benefits of leaving a gift in your will
At Willans, we recognise that there is a wide range of local and national charities that our clients support throughout their lifetimes, whether this is through regular donations or volunteering.…
Laura Stone LLB (Hons), TEP
Partner
The probate process: key steps explained
When someone dies, you may need to apply for a grant of probate or letters of administration in order to deal with their estate. For ease, references in this article…
Jennifer Cockett LLB (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor
Probate fees: the ‘stealth’ tax
An update: After the latest edition of Your Life & the Law was published, we are pleased to say that after much debate and challenge, the government has decided not…
Jennifer Cockett LLB (Hons)
Senior associate, solicitor
Will the UK still have to comply with the GDPR after Brexit?
The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) has released its annual report, which has revealed an “unprecedented” year. It received 41,661 data protection complaints in 2018/19, up from 21,019 in 2017/18. Big…
Kym Fletcher LLB (Hons) Euro
Consultant, solicitor
