Personal Law

There are so many pressures on parents just now. Home-school projects, internet speeds and on-line lessons all add to the stress of working parents. For many of us, ‘survival’ is the main aim of the game. By Amy Fallows Head of our Family law team. If you add tension between separated parents to the mix, it is easy to see why child arrangements might break down in lockdown. The government has…

Thinking it over with Carol Fish Director & Head of Serious and Catastrophic Injury… DURING lockdown many of us will have been relieved that elite sport has not ground to a halt – and has kept us entertained on our televisions. Even with no crowds able to attend it has given many people interest and joy and at least some sense of normality. Whether it’s top flight football, Test cricket, horseracing, or…

The widespread administration of the vaccine in the UK is good news for many employers to help working life slowly return to normal in time. But what if one of your employees refuses to have it? The big question being considered by Joanne Stronach Head of Employment Law and HR is – can an employer require its employees to have the COVID19 vaccine? The quick answer is that the Government…

A woman has won the right to inherit her father’s estate after a “DIY Will” supposedly signed on his deathbed was ruled invalid. Rebecca Armstrong Solicitor in our specialist Will Claims team reports on this recent case. Terri Tibbles had been the sole beneficiary of a Will her father William wrote a year before he died. In a letter of wishes attached to that Will, Mr Tibbles said that Terri’s…

Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution provides an update. Since last May, we’ve been following the proceedings launched by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to add some clarity to the availability of “Business Interruption” (BI) insurance as a result of business closures as a result of the pandemic.  Last September the High Court came to its conclusions, and as the national press has now reported the Supreme Court…

The government is considering a crackdown on what it describes as unfair employment contracts that restrict worker freedom. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR reports. The measures could include banning the use of exclusivity clauses, which prevent workers from taking on additional work with other employers. This would apply to workers whose guaranteed weekly income is below the Lower Earnings Limit, currently £120 a week. The change would put…

Most parents don’t need a court order setting out the arrangements for them to see their children. We would recommend that any separating parents try to agree the arrangements before the separation and tell the children together what is going to happen.

If you are successful in your claim you are entitled to compensation for your injuries to include your pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

Personal Dispute: What is Professional Negligence? You may consider that you received bad advice or that you did not achieve what you set out to achieve. Professionals are duty bound to provide their services to a required standard. If you instructed a professional and they failed to fulfil their role to that required standard you may be able to bring a claim against them if you suffered a loss as…

Personal Dispute: What professionals can I make a claim against? A professional is a person who is considered to have particular expertise and skills in the services they provide.Examples of professionals you may be able to make a claim against include:- Accountants- Financial advisors- Solicitors- Barristers- Surveyors- Builders- Engineers- Architects- Insurance brokers- Professional trustees