News

The maximum limit for unfair dismissal awards and statutory redundancy pay has risen by nearly 9%. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment provides an update. The increase takes into account the high rate of inflation over the last year. The new rate is effective from 6 April. The statutory cap for a week’s pay when assessing compensation for unfair dismissal is now £700, up from £643 during the previous 12 months.…

The High Court has struck out a commercial tenant’s notice of appeal against a possession order because it was “bound to fail”. Rob Winder Senior Associate Chartered Legal Executive in our Dispute Resolution team reports on this recent case. The issue arose after the landlord had granted the tenant a lease of the property in 2020. The lease contained a break clause giving the landlord the option to terminate with appropriate written notice.…

A mental health practitioner who was unfairly dismissed over alleged sexual remarks has been awarded £60,000 compensation. Jennifer Cafferky Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. The Employment Tribunal ruled that the investigation carried out by the employer had not been reasonable. The case involved Mr G, who was an experienced professional with 23 years unblemished service with City of York Council. A colleague made a formal complaint,…

A dispute between Camelot lottery and one of its players has helped to clarify the validity of terms and conditions in online contracts, particularly when customers have ticked a box to confirm they have read them. Joseph Halvorsen, Apprentice Trainee Solicitor, reports on this recent case. The case involved Ms Joan Parker-Grennan, who opened an online National Lottery account in 2009. She ticked the box confirming that she had read…

Millions of employees now have the right to request flexible working to determine where and when they work. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment provides an update. The new rights are part of the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill, which came into effect on 6 April. Flexible working is a broad term and can relate to working hours or pattern including part-time, term-time, flexi-time, compressed hours, or adjusting start and finish…

The Housing Secretary Michael Gove says the Government will ban No-fault evictions before the next General Election, which must take place within the next 10 months. Laura Murphy, Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The Government first pledged to outlaw the process when it came to power in 2019. The Renters (Reform) Bill, which includes a ban on no-fault evictions, was introduced in Parliament last October, but…

Cartmell Shepherd has announced it has promoted four members of its team as part of its ongoing commitment to developing the legal services it provides to its growing client base. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has rewarded staff members for their endeavour and high level of expertise within their legal specialism to support the company’s continued growth. Rebecca Armstrong has been promoted to the position of Senior Associate Solicitor, Selina Gonzalez and…

The number of ‘No Fault’ divorce applications has fallen significantly following the initial surge when the new system came into effect in 2022. Sarah Hinett, Paralegal in our Family Law Team reports. Government figures show that in July to September 2023, there were 27,290 divorce applications. That was down 12% compared with the same quarter in 2022, which was the second quarter following the start of the new divorce law. It’s thought…

A transgender worker has lost her claim that she was harassed when she was ‘deadnamed’ on the staff rota. Jennifer Cafferky Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. Deadnaming means using the name a transgender person was given at birth instead of the name they adopt after transitioning. The case involved Mandie Monroe, a trans woman who worked for Central Bedfordshire Council. On the application form for the…

I don’t know if there’s something in the River Tyne, but Cartmell Shepherd has experienced a significant increase in enquiries from people looking for legal advice about cohabitation. On more than one occasion recently, I`ve been stopped in various locations “for a quick chat” about someone`s “common law” rights. In less than a century, how we “do” romantic relationships has shifted massively. Gone are the days when the only acceptable…