Business Law

A HIGHLY experienced legal expert who has been working at the heart of the Cumbria business community for 16 years has landed a top job with a leading law firm. Sam Lyon, 39, has joined Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors as Head of Corporate and Commercial. Sam, who has senior experience at both Burnetts and Cumberland Building Society, is looking forward to working with businesses of all shapes and sizes, including SMEs…

COLLABORATION continues to be key for Cumbrian businesses – and a popular webinar returns this week, looking at how redundancy impacts on mental health. As the furlough scheme winds down further and more businesses look to restructure and potentially make redundancies NXT.V’s latest webinar discusses the impact on mental health for both employers and employees. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ Head of Employment Law and HR Joanne Stronach is among this week’s…

The government has issued guidance on employment rights for people who have to go into quarantine when returning to the UK from abroad. By Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR Currently, people returning must self-isolate for 14 days unless they’re travelling from a country with a quarantine exemption. The list changes regularly so it’s best to check before travelling and before returning. The guidance, issued by the…

The High Court has settled a dispute between a couple who were separating and needed to value the shares in their company. By Mark Aspin Director & Head of Dispute Resolution The case involved Solent Garage Services Ltd and its two directors, Claire Lewis and Philip Clarke. The couple had established the garage while living together and bringing up their three children. They were equal shareholders. Their relationship broke down…

The government has announced that landlords will have to give six months’ notice if they wish to evict tenants who are struggling to pay their rent during the Covid-19 pandemic. Natalie Tatton Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution Team provides an update. It has also extended the ban on evictions until 21st September. The six-month notice rule will apply in all cases except those involving serious issues such as anti-social behaviour and…

Businesses that have offered payment holidays to customers may be damaging their own chances of survival, according to the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM). By Carly Davies Debt Recovery Manager. A survey by CICM of its members suggests that of the 83% of firms who had offered a payment holiday, two thirds (66%) said there would be a negative impact on revenues and profits. Of those, a quarter (25%)…

Over recent months the government has announced a number of changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – more commonly referred to as ‘furlough’. From September the government contribution towards wages is reducing from 80% to 70% up to a maximum of £2,187.50 per month; in October this reduces further to a government contribution of 60% up to a maximum of £1,875. From November the government will not make any…

CUMBRIA has a brilliant business community full of inspiring business people achieving amazing results across a whole range of sectors. Whether it’s in advanced manufacturing or energy, hospitality and tourism, professional services and agriculture, right across the board in a broad range of industries including new and emerging technologies, we have businesses who are always looking to innovate. From young entrepreneurs to established business leaders there’s also a real willingness…

The Employment Tribunal failed to properly consider the needs of the employer when dealing with a disability discrimination claim. By Claire Davies Director That was the decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in a case involving the Department of Work & Pensions and one of its employees, Susan Boyers. Ms Boyers suffered from migraines, stress and panic attacks. She went on sick leave in February 2017. In March 2017 she…

LAWYERS have won a landmark ruling in an insolvency case of a hospitality business hit by the COVID-19 pandemic which brings new legal meaning to “in jeopardy”. The case, won by the Dispute Resolution team at leading legal firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, involved a West Cumbrian business which took two leases – one for a hotel and another for a  restaurant. To raise part of the capital the business accepted…