Cumbrian legal firm named as finalist in four categories at Northern Law Awards
May 16th 2025A Cumbrian legal firm is in the running for four awards in the North of England’s most prestigious law awards. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, which has seven offices across Cumbria and Northumberland, has four finalists in the upcoming 2025 Northern Law Awards. The firm’s Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Private Client departments have been shortlisted for Team of the Year in their respective categories, while apprentice trainee solicitor Joseph Halvorsen has…
Superdry and Manchester City group ordered to mediate dispute
May 9th 2025The High Court ordered a compulsory mediation between owners of the clothing brand Superdry and Manchester City Football Club’s commercial arm shortly before their trademark dispute was due to go to trial. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. DKH Retail Ltd, which owns and operates the Superdry brand, brought a claim against City Football Group Ltd (CFG), alleging that CFG was infringing its ‘Superdry’ trademark. The…
Directors banned for accepting orders that could not be fulfilled
March 31st 2025A husband-and-wife team have been banned from being directors after their struggling furniture company accepted orders from customers that could not be fulfilled. Carly Davies, our Debt Control Manager, reports. George and Williamina Hay were directors of DWH Trading Ltd, which sold adjustable beds and chairs, mostly to elderly and vulnerable customers. The company was struggling financially by April 2023 but continued to take orders and payments from customers in the following…
Court of appeal rules against Rolls-Royce in liability cap dispute
March 27th 2025The Court of Appeal has ruled against Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in a dispute over the interpretation of a liability cap in a software contract with German technology firm Topalsson GmbH. Rob Winder Senior Associate Chartered Legal Executive in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The case arose after Rolls-Royce commissioned Topalsson in October 2019 to develop digital visualisation software for its car customisation service. The contract was terminated in April 2020 following…
Supreme Court rules on debtor who dispersed assets at undervalue
March 10th 2025The Supreme Court has ruled against a debtor who dispersed his assets at an undervalue while owing millions of pounds to his bank. The case involved El-Husseiny and another v Invest Bank PSC. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The judgment confirms that section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 applies even when assets are transferred through a company owned by the debtor, rather than directly…
Should your right to renew business tenancies be changed?
February 3rd 2025Businesses are being asked if they think the law relating to the right to renew business tenancies should be changed. Stephanie Johnson, Senior Associate Solicitor, provides an update. The Law Commission has published a consultation paper considering how the right to renew business tenancies, set out in Part 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (and which is called “security of tenure”), is working and whether it meets the…
Post-Nuptial Agreements: A Vital Tool for Farmers Amidst Upcoming Inheritance Tax Changes
January 23rd 2025As the UK Government prepares to implement significant changes to inheritance tax (IHT) regulations, it is crucial for farmers and their families to consider the benefits of post-nuptial agreements. These agreements can play a pivotal role in estate planning, particularly in the context of transferring assets before death to mitigate tax liabilities. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our Family Law team provides an update. The forthcoming changes to IHT, set…
Changes to court rules could lead to more settlements through mediation
December 16th 2024Judges are now more likely to direct businesses involved in legal disputes to seek resolution through mediation or arbitration rather than proceeding to court. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution provides an update. New updates to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) in England and Wales, effective from 1 October, emphasise alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a key part of civil litigation. The changes follow the Court of Appeal’s decision in…
Cartmells Christmas Legal Facts
December 13th 2024Join us as we count down the 12 days of Christmas with fun, practical, and surprising legal facts to keep you informed this holiday season! Day 1: Christmas Leave Facts “Did you know? Employers in the UK are not legally required to give you Christmas or Boxing Day off unless it’s in your contract. Holiday leave must follow your terms of employment — so plan ahead!” Day 2: Gift Return…
Builders win dispute over cancelling contract due to late payments
December 5th 2024A building firm has won its legal argument that it was entitled to terminate a construction contract without issuing a warning for repeated late payments by the employer. Henry Box, Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution team, reports on this recent case. Hexagon, a housing provider, engaged Providence Building Services Ltd for a £7.2 million accommodation project in Purley, London, under the widely used JCT Design & Build Contract 2016. The…
