Business Law

By Carly Davies Credit Control & Debt Recovery The government has written to 10,000 businesses to warn them they must pay their suppliers on time or risk being barred from winning public contracts. Officials from the Cabinet Office have written to the businesses – which include all the government’s current strategic suppliers – to remind them of the new rules on prompt payment, which come into force this autumn. Under…

By Mark Aspin Director & Head of Dispute Resolution A husband and wife who tried to buy a business have lost their £40,000 deposit after the High Court ruled they could not claim a refund when the deal fell through. The couple wanted to buy a waste collection company. They were introduced to the sole shareholder and a tentative agreement was made that they would buy the business for £210,000.…

Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR explains. The Court of Appeal has upheld a tribunal ruling that female workers in Asda stores were employed under terms and conditions that were comparable to men working in the company’s distribution depots. It’s an important decision as it could allow thousands of women working for major retailers and numerous other businesses to bring equal pay claims. Asda has 630 retail stores and…

BUSINESS leaders from companies large and small were revved up when they attended a special event at the headquarters of World Rally Champions M-Sport. Experts shared best practice across a number of fields before delegates were given a tour of the company’s impressive headquarters. The event was the latest in a collaborative series organised by leading Cumbrian legal firm Cartmell Shepherd.  They partnered with insurance broker Jelf, as both companies…

Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR considers the case of E Jolly, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.  An 88-year-old woman who was dismissed from her job with the NHS has become the oldest person in the UK to win an age discrimination claim. Eileen Jolly told the Employment Tribunal that she felt “humiliated and degraded” by the way she was treated by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Mrs…

By Laura Bright Solicitor  The Tenant Fees Act that caps tenancy deposits and protects against unfair practices has now received the Royal Assent and passes into law. The government introduced the new regulations because it believes that unexpected letting fees and high deposits can make properties harder for people to afford and are often not clearly explained upfront – leaving many prospective tenants unaware of the true costs of renting…

Lambing season is a joyous, if tiring, time for many sheep farmers. It is the product of a long hard year of work. However with the NFU Mutual reporting that the increasing numbers of livestock attacks is costing the agriculture sector an estimated £1.2 million, it is important that farmers know the rights that they have to receive compensation. With 60% of dog walkers admitting to letting their dog roam off…

BUSINESS banking customers who have an account with the Natwest or RBS could be in line for a payout of up to £50k if they switch to another bank, a leading solicitor has said. A new fund has been established after the two banks were instructed to reduce the number of business clients on their books in the aftermath of the 2008 banking crisis. It is open to companies which…

Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR reports. An Employment Tribunal has decided that a company did not act unfairly when it dismissed an employee for gross misconduct after he made offensive comments about the managing director on Facebook. However, the employee’s behaviour had not been so bad that it warranted dismissal without any notice pay so he was entitled to compensation. This was the decision of the Employment Tribunal…

Two builders have been ordered to pay compensation to a married couple despite claiming they were not responsible as individuals for problems with work they carried out. The couple had entered into a contract with builders advertising as HavenBuild, which was a trading name and not a limited company. The contract was for work on a property that was to be the couple’s home. The contract contained a clause stating…