Protection against evictions and winding-up petitions extended
July 8th 2021The government is extending protection against evictions and winding-up petitions for businesses that are still struggling because of Covid-19. Natalie Tatton, Solicitor provides an update. Legislation will be introduced to ringfence outstanding unpaid rent that has built up when a business has had to remain closed during the pandemic. Landlords are expected to make allowances for the ringfenced rent arrears from these specific periods of closure due to the pandemic…
Law firm sees demand for its business legal services increase by a third
July 7th 2021DEMAND for business legal services from a leading law firm has increased by one third during the past year. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has reported the year-on-year rise in new work for businesses across Cumbria and Northumberland, and throughout the UK. Sam Lyon, Head of Corporate and Commercial for Cartmell Shepherd, said the figure reflected consistent growth across the multi-disciplined Business Services team, which includes corporate, commercial property, employment and disputes.…
Nurse dismissed by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS for refusing to work weekends wins appeal in landmark ruling
July 6th 2021A nurse who was dismissed for refusing to work weekends has won a landmark ruling that could affect thousands of women with children. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR reports on this recent case. The community nurse had worked fixed days because she had three children, including two with disabilities. However, she was dismissed after the trust introduced weekend working. She said she was unable to work Saturdays and Sundays…
Landlord wins right to challenge Nero coffee chain CVA
July 5th 2021A landlord has won the legal right to challenge a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) proposed by the Nero coffee shop group. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. Nero, which has over 800 shops in the UK, was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and had fallen into rent arrears at its shops. Mr Young was the landlord of one of the shops, the rent from which was…
Director banned for paying herself while failing to pay creditors
June 30th 2021A broker who traded while insolvent and took money from her company for herself while failing to pay creditors £140,000 has been disqualified for seven years. Mark Aspin Director & Head of Dispute Resolution reports. Kathleen Shepherd, aged 58, from Southampton, was the sole director of Shepherd Site Services Limited, a company which acted as a broker to provide waste management services to the construction industry. The company went into administration…
Boss told cancer patient she was ‘lucky to get a free boob job’
June 23rd 2021A woman with breast cancer who was told by her boss that she was lucky to get a free boob job from the NHS, has won her claim of harassment. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR reports on this recent case. Aggie Kownacka was a recruitment manager for Textbook Teachers from June 2017 until December 2018. In May 2018, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was required to undergo…
Directors who dissolve their businesses unfairly face new sanctions
June 21st 2021The government is introducing new legislation to target company directors who dissolve their businesses for their own gain and leave staff or taxpayers out of pocket. Sam Lyon Head of Corporate & Commercial provides an update. The Insolvency Service will be given powers to investigate directors of companies that have been dissolved, closing a legal loophole and acting as a strong deterrent against the misuse of the dissolution process. The…
Court allows company to search employee’s personal computer
June 14th 2021A company has been granted permission to search an employee’s personal computer and other devices as part of its investigation into the potential misuse of confidential information. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR reports on this recent case. The case involvedDigital Realty Trust Inc and its senior director of acquisitions, Mr Coogan. The nature of his role meant that he had access to commercially sensitive and confidential information central…
Protection for tenants continues with 4-month notice periods
June 10th 2021The government is continuing its support for tenants to protect them from being evicted during the Covid-19 pandemic, even though lockdown restrictions have now been eased. Natalie Tatton, Solicitor provides an update. As part of a phased approach back to normality, notice periods – previously extended to 6 months as an emergency measure during the pandemic – are now set at four months, dated from 1 June. Subject to the…
Financial services directors disqualified for trading while insolvent
June 9th 2021Two financial services directors have been disqualified for continuing to trade and take money from clients while their company was insolvent. Sam Lyon Head of Corporate & Commercial reports. Paul Rossi was a director of Independent Derivative Traders Ltd. The company traded as ‘Futex’ and provided access to a financial markets trading platform for sub-contracted independent traders. He was joined in the management of the company by his brother Mark and…
