Finance broker enforces employee’s non-compete clause
June 15th 2020By Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution A finance company has successfully enforced a non-compete clause preventing an employee joining a rival firm for six months. The High Court heard that Julien Leonard had been recruited by Square Global Ltd as a broker in 2015. He resigned on 11 November 2019. At that time, he had been in discussions for over seven months with a rival financial-services business…
Corporate insolvency bill to ease pressure on businesses during Covid-19
June 11th 2020The government has published its new bill designed to relieve the pressure on businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It’s hoped the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill will ease some of the pressures posed by the threat of reduced trading and allow directors to focus all their efforts on continuing to operate. The Bill will: introduce temporary easements on filing requirements and Annual General Meetings (AGMs) introduce new corporate restructuring…
Employee from leading Cumbrian legal firm steps up to support local community initiative during time of need
June 10th 2020Terri Hope Marketing Manager at the award-winning Northern legal firm, Cartmell Shepherd has been giving her time to help others during the lockdown. After spotting a social media post from a local village store offering free local grocery deliveries to the community, Terri saw an opportunity to help. The family-run store, Chestnut House in Pooley Bridge was a well-known speciality off licence also stocking a range of local produce and…
Court corrects ‘unintended windfall’ error in man’s will
June 9th 2020By Zoe Calway Director The High Court has corrected a clerical error in a man’s will that would have given his nephews and nieces an unintended windfall. Patrick Joseph Kelly was born in Ireland but moved to England, where he remained until his death apart from visits to his family. He never married and had no children. In 2010, he made a will in Ireland appointing his brother Vincent as executor…
Points based immigration system on course as planned for January
June 8th 2020Claire Davies Director provides an update. The UK’s points-based immigration system is on course to be introduced in January as planned, having passed the crucial second reading stage in parliament. The Immigration Bill introducing the system was approved by 351 votes to 252. Unless there is any unforeseen parliamentary opposition before the bill receives Royal Assent, free movement will end and the UK will introduce a points-based immigration system from…
Property sales pick up as estate agents and conveyancing services get back to work
June 5th 2020RESIDENTIAL property sales are on the move again across Cumbria and Northumberland, prompting conveyancing services to bounce back. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors conveyancing department reports that activity has returned much quicker than many expected. “While it was quiet during the initial stages of lockdown, now that estate agents are open again activities have picked up significantly” said Elizabeth Crouch Head of Residential Property at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors. Several estate agents are…
Employee unable to bring unfair dismissal claim for sake of a week
June 4th 2020Timing can be crucial in court and tribunal cases as shown in a recent case in which an employee was unable to bring an unfair dismissal claim for the sake of one week. The case involved Mr R O’Sullivan V DSM Demolition Ltd (2020). O’Sullivan had been employed by DSM as a demolition safety supervisor. Following his dismissal on 27 October 2017, he brought an unfair dismissal claim. He asserted…
How have you adapted to working from home during lockdown?
June 3rd 2020Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution talks about how he has adapted during lockdown. Where are you working from now? At home. I had a desk set up upstairs at my house anyway so have mainly been using this, but whilst we have had better weather have set up an alternative desk downstairs so I can open the patio doors and see which birds are sat on the…
Advice for home Help to Buy customers during Covid-19 outbreak
June 2nd 2020Sam Bulman Conveyancer in our Residential Property team provides some useful advice for Help to Buy customers. Homes England has issued advice for Help to Buy: Equity Loan customers on how they can proceed with purchasing a home during the Covid-19 outbreak. It says that many people are worried because the situation seems so uncertain. In response, it has published a document containing the answers to some frequently asked questions.…
Amendments to right to work checks during Covid-19 outbreak
May 27th 2020Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR provides useful update. The government has amended right to work checks to make it easier for employers to carry them out during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The following temporary changes have been made: checks can now be carried out over video calls job applicants and existing workers can send scanned documents or a photo of documents for checks using email or…
