Lidl worker wins age discrimination case over redundancy scoring
July 18th 2025An employment tribunal has ruled that Lidl unfairly dismissed a senior construction consultant and discriminated against him because of his age after marking him down in a redundancy process for not having a degree. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment reports on this recent case. Mr Wayne Norman, who was over 60 at the time of his dismissal in 2023, was one of three senior construction consultants competing for a…
Directors ordered to pay £1m for defending hopeless insolvency petition
July 16th 2025Two company directors have been ordered to personally pay the costs of a creditors’ petition to wind up their firm, after the High Court found they pursued a speculative and self-interested defence they did not believe in. Carly Davies, our Debt Control Manager, reports on this recent case. Mrs Justice Joanna Smith ruled that Paul Hilton and Matthew Welsh, directors of MPB Developments Ltd, were the “real parties” behind the company’s failed…
Free online event for landlords on major legal changes ahead
June 10th 2025Landlords can get advice on new legislation coming into force later this year at a free online event. The Renters’ Rights Bill is set to usher in a raft of changes which will directly impact landlords renting out residential properties, from agreeing the amount of rent paid to the process of evicting tenants. Now landlords and letting agents can get advice at a free lunchtime webinar on Thursday, June 26…
Cartmell Shepherd Helps Bring Brewing Back to Historic Jennings Site
May 27th 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has played a key role in bringing brewing back to the iconic Jennings Brewery site in Cockermouth. Local couple Kurt and Rebecca Canfield purchased the Castle Brewery site with the aim of reviving the historic Jennings brand and transforming the space into a thriving community hub. Led by Mike Little, Head of Commercial Property at Cartmell Shepherd, the complex transaction involved multiple properties and unique historical title issues. The 15-month process culminated…
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…
