Pension Inheritance Tax Changes: Why 2026 is the year to review your estate planning
June 26th 2026From 6 April 2027, the Government intends to bring most unused pension funds and death benefits within the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT). This represents one of the most significant changes to estate planning in recent years and may affect many individuals who have viewed pensions as one of the most tax-efficient ways to pass wealth to future generations. Amy Shaw, Legal Assistant in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance Team…
Success for Cumbrian legal experts
June 23rd 2026One of Cartmell Shepherd’s Apprentice Solicitors is celebrating the next step in his legal career. Joseph Halvorsen has completed his Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQEs) and been admitted to the national roll of solicitors. Meanwhile, his colleague Carolina Brianezi- Melchior has finished stage one of her SQEs as well as receiving the joint highest score for her MA Law degree cohort nationally at the University of Law. Joseph has qualified into…
Nestlé worker ‘unfairly dismissed’ after refusing to admit vaping
June 10th 2026An employment tribunal has ruled that a Nestlé employee was unfairly dismissed after being accused of vaping in workplace toilets, despite accepting that the company had reasonable grounds to believe the misconduct had taken place. Jennifer Cafferky, Associate Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. The case involved a long-serving technical operator who was dismissed for gross misconduct after a factory fire alarm was triggered in October 2023.…
Court clarifies ‘parental responsibility’ for fathers named on birth certificates
June 4th 2026The Court of Appeal has ruled that a man wrongly named as a child’s father on a birth certificate does not automatically gain parental responsibility if he is not the child’s biological father. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our Family Law team provides an update. In an important judgment dealing with three separate family law appeals, senior judges said the legal meaning of “father” under the Children Act 1989 is…
Nuffield Health trainer awarded £148k after raising MOD safety concerns
May 27th 2026A Nuffield Health employee has been awarded £148,000 after an employment tribunal found she suffered detriment and was constructively dismissed following concerns she raised about Ministry of Defence fitness testing procedures. Jennifer Cafferky, Associate Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. The tribunal heard that the claimant, a personal trainer, raised concerns in June 2022 about the way a pre-joining fitness test had been conducted. She believed that…
Councils to receive £41m to help enforce Renters’ Rights Act
May 18th 2026Councils across England are to receive £41 million in new funding to help enforce the Renters’ Rights Act, which came into effect on 1 May. Rob Winder Senior Associate Chartered Legal Executive and Head of Property Litigation in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The funding is intended to support local authorities in carrying out new legal duties, including overseeing a ban on “no-fault” evictions and tackling rogue landlords. Ministers said the…
Lake District Mighty Hike for Macmillan Cancer
May 15th 2026Our very own Carly Davies is once again taking on a Mighty Hike in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, this time pushing herself even further. Carly, Debt Recovery Manager at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, will be taking on the full marathon distance at the Lake District Mighty Hike this year, covering approximately 26 miles around the picturesque Ullswater route. Previously, Carly completed the half marathon route, which spans just over 13…
New measures proposed to tackle late payments to small businesses
May 13th 2026The government has announced a package of reforms aimed at tackling late payments to small businesses, including new enforcement powers, mandatory interest on overdue invoices and limits on how long larger companies can take to pay their suppliers. Carly Davies, our Debt Recovery Manager provides an update. The changes would give the Small Business Commissioner new authority to investigate payment practices, resolve disputes and impose financial penalties on companies that repeatedly pay…
Taking control of your future: the importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney
May 11th 2026Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) allow you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so. While many people assume this is something to think about later in life, the reality is that loss of capacity can happen at any time, whether through unexpected illness, injury, or a longer-term diagnosis. Putting LPAs in place sooner rather than later ensures…
Employer ordered to pay £392k for decades of unpaid holiday entitlement
May 6th 2026A property manager has been awarded nearly £392,000 after succeeding in a long-running claim for unpaid holiday entitlement built up over decades of service. Jennifer Cafferky, Associate Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. The Employment Tribunal found that Mr Mohamed Ageli, who had worked for Sabtina Limited since 1987, had accrued a substantial amount of untaken leave which had been carried forward year after year under a…
