News

Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has expanded its Wills, Probate and Inheritance Department with the appointment of a new Associate Solicitor. James Clark has joined the company’s Penrith office, bringing his expertise from the health and community sectors. James trained and worked for respected legal firms in Carlisle and Hexham before joining Cartmell Shepherd. In advance of training in law with the Open University and completing a Masters at Northumbria University, James…

National Apprenticeship Week is an important moment in our calendar – a chance to highlight the outstanding contribution that our apprentices make to Cartmell Shepherd and to the wider legal sector. This year, we are proud to celebrate the 12 apprentices currently developing their careers with us across a variety of roles, including six solicitor apprentices. Apprenticeships play a vital part in widening access to the legal profession. They offer…

Homeowners on what have become known as ‘fleecehold’ estates are to get more protection against excessive charges for the upkeep of roads, green spaces and other shared communal areas.  Ashley Shepard, Solicitor Apprentice in our conveyancing team, provides an update. The government says the current system is unfair and can put people at risk of losing access to their home for a debt as low as £100 or see a lease imposed on…

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduces the biggest changes to the private rented sector in decades. Coming into force on1st May 2026, the legislation will affect how tenancies operate, how rent is reviewed and how landlords meet new compliance standards. Understanding the key changes early will help landlords prepare, protect rental income and avoid penalties. What’s changing? From ending fixed term tenancies to new rules for tenants with children and…

Emma Pringle, Senior Associate Solicitor at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors provides an update on the government’s inheritance tax (IHT) reforms and their impact on succession planning for farmers. After 14 months of campaigning and protests across the country, the government has watered down its proposals to tax inherited farmland. The new £1 million threshold on IHT relief will be increased to £2.5 million when the changes come into force in April…

The Insolvency Service is setting up a new team to tackle rogue directors who try to avoid paying their company debts. Carly Davies, our Debt Recovery Manager, reports. The Abusive Phoenixism Taskforce will have a staff of 50 people to investigate suspicious company insolvencies. It will have a budget of £25m. The service’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services, Dave Magrath, said:  “This is welcome funding which will help the Insolvency Service tackle rogue directors…

A father has successfully appealed a decision that would have allowed his three-year-old son to move to Cornwall, after a High Court judge found the mother’s relocation plan lacked the evidence needed for such a significant change. Sarah Tweedie, Associate Solicitor in our Family Law team, reports on this recent case. Recorder Williams overturned the earlier ruling made in March 2025, concluding that the district judge had been wrong to…

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a brief exchange of emails was enough to create a legally binding commercial contract, even though the parties expected to sign a longer written agreement later. The court said that where key terms are agreed and both sides behave as if a deal is done, the law will treat it as binding. Joseph Halvorsen, Solicitor Apprentice, reports on this recent case. The case…

A divorce case in which the husband allegedly arranged a ‘sham £1.6m loan’ as a way of thwarting the wife’s financial remedy claim is to be reheard. Liz Wilson, Senior Associate Solicitor in our Family team, reports on this recent case. The husband said the money had been advanced by his brother’s company and used in part to help buy the family home in London. He argued that the debt reduced the…

As we step into a new year, many people focus on healthy habits and fitness goals. But January is also the ideal time to review and update your legal affairs. Deborah Flynn, Head of Wills, Probate and Inheritance at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors is encouraging local people to begin 2026 with a legal health check. A legal health check can provide peace of mind for you and your family, ensuring your…