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…
More than half of first-time home buyers get help from Mum and Dad
July 7th 2025More than half of all first-time home buyers in the UK now get help from the Bank of Mum and Dad, according to research by the estate agents, Savills. Mandy Shum Conveyancer in our property team provides an update. Approximately 173,500 first-time buyers received assistance last year, receiving on average £55,572. This equates to just over half (52%) of all first-time buyers, which, although lower than the proportion that received assistance…
Robert Hudson steps into senior role at Cartmell Shepherd
July 4th 2025Cartmell Shepherd is proud to announce the promotion of Robert Hudson to the role of Senior Associate Solicitor within the Wills, Probate and Inheritance team. The promotion comes less than twelve months after Robert joined the firm in September 2024 which is one of the leading private client teams in the region. Robert qualified as a solicitor in 2009 after studying law at Cambridge University. He then went on to…
Landmark Supreme Court Ruling Clarifies Asset Division in Divorce: Standish v Standish (2025) UKSC 26
July 3rd 2025By Joanne Grey Senior Associate Solicitor in our Family Law team. Yesterday, the UK Supreme Court handed down a long-awaited decision in Standish v Standish [2025] UKSC 26, a case that will shape how courts approach the division of wealth on divorce—particularly where one party enters the marriage with significant pre-acquired assets. The ruling provides crucial clarification on the boundary between matrimonial and non-matrimonial property and narrows the circumstances in…
NHS worker awarded £28,000 after being likened to Darth Vader
June 25th 2025An NHS worker has been awarded more than £28,000 in compensation after a colleague likened her to Darth Vader during a workplace exercise. Jennifer Cafferky, Associate Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. Lorna Rooke, who worked for NHS Blood and Transplant for nearly two decades, was assigned the Star Wars villain as her personality type when a team-building quiz was completed on her behalf without her knowledge.…
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…
Planning for the future when you have a blended family
June 3rd 2025Blended families are now more common than ever, with many people starting new relationships, getting married, and entering into civil partnerships later in life, often bringing children from previous relationships. Being part of a blended family comes with unique legal and financial considerations that need careful planning. When it comes to planning for the future, a “one-size-fits-all” approach simply doesn’t work. Without clear legal documents in place, your wishes might…
Legal firm expands private client team with new appointments
June 2nd 2025A Cumbrian legal firm has strengthened its team with the appointment of two experienced solicitors. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has welcomed Alex McAll and Jennifer Robinson to its private client department, which deals with legal matters related to Wills, probate and inheritance. The pair bring several years of experience to Cartmell Shepherd, which has seven offices across Cumbria and Northumberland. Alex will be based at the firm’s offices at Rosehill, Carlisle,…
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…
