Ultra running solicitor starts her ideal job with leading legal firm in dream location
March 23rd 2020Ultra running solicitor Krystal Garnett couldn’t be in a better place today when it comes to starting her new job. Krystal has landed her ideal role at top legal firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors in a part of the country she loves. “I am so excited to get started. Cartmell Shepherd has such a good reputation, they are held in such high regard, I know they are one of the best…
MPs call for root and branch reforms to cut inheritance tax
March 19th 2020A group of MPs have called for root and branch reforms of the inheritance tax system, including a cut in the standard rate from 40% to 10%. They also want to scrap most of the current tax reliefs, including the seven-year rule that allows you to pass on wealth without any tax implications. Instead, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Inheritance and Intergenerational Fairness wants a new annual allowance of £30,000…
Access to help for Businesses – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
March 19th 2020Following on from the Budget and the announcement this week from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Government has announced a package of measures to help businesses deal with the coronavirus. The help available is in a number of forms: – Business rates reductions, and grants for businesses who have low rate bills – Extending statutory sick pay (SSP), and allowing employers to reclaim it. – More scope for deferring…
Athena Brands wins contract dispute with Superdrug Stores
March 18th 2020Athena Brands has won a contract dispute with Superdrug Stores over the supply of various cosmetic products. Athena claimed that it had entered into a binding agreement with Superdrug in an exchange of emails with one of its employees. In the course of the email exchange, Athena had asked the employee to confirm that he was placing orders and committing to the specified yearly minimum quantity. He had emailed back…
Coronavirus update – we are open for business
March 17th 2020Following on from the latest Coronavirus update from the Prime Minister, we are issuing the following advice and guidance. We very much remain open for business and committed to providing you with the best possible service. We take the health and wellbeing of our team, our clients and our visitors seriously and consider it our number one priority. Heeding the current Government advice on reducing social contact we are instigating…
Retirement beckons for solicitor who has served her community for 35 years
March 16th 2020A HIGHLY-RESPECTED consultant and former director at a leading firm of solicitors is retiring after 35 years serving her community. Diana Armstrong, who joined Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors at its Haltwhistle office in 1985, retires at the end of the month. Clients and colleagues are due to mark Diana’s milestone with an afternoon tea party and an early evening social in Haltwhistle on Monday. Diana, who lives near Chollerford with her…
Business owners urged to take six steps to limit coronavirus risk to their operations
March 13th 2020Amid all the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus outbreak business owners may feel their fate isn’t in their own hands – but in fact there’s lots that they can do to help them take control. “These are uncertain times. No-one knows exactly how this is going to play out. But there are certain things you can do to protect your business,” said David Tew, a dispute resolution specialist with Cartmell…
Shaming low paying employers to continue following review
March 12th 2020The Government is to step up its naming and shaming of employers who fail to pay their workers the National Minimum or Living Wage. Meanwhile, it will increase support for employers to help them comply with low pay legislation. It says the changes, which follow a review of the process, will see naming rounds occur more often to enhance the effectiveness of the deterrent. Ministers have also increased the threshold…
Legal expert advises women to have “difficult conversations” and take control of their careers
March 10th 2020HOW many of us tell our bosses exactly where we want our career to go – BEFORE we start looking for another job? One legal expert, tipped as a regional “rising star” in her field, shared her own experience ahead of International Women’s Day (March 8) to help other women with their personal development. Katherine Pretswell-Walker, associate solicitor with Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, spoke about her own career journey with a…
Minority shareholder protects his interests against unfair treatment
March 9th 2020A minority shareholder who claimed he was being unfairly targeted has won his fight against having to sell his shares for only a nominal price. The shareholder had invested in a holding company set up by himself and three others who had worked together as employees for another business. Their relationship later broke down. The group of three attempted to buy out the minority shareholder but the parties could not…
