Homeowner awarded £500,000 after architect fails to deliver ‘wow factor’
April 1st 2019A City banker has successfully sued his architect after a home cinema designed to float above an indoor swimming pool failed to deliver a “wow factor”. Philip Freeborn was a successful banker and owned a luxurious home. He hired architect Daniel Marca to redesign his pool-house. They agreed on a cinema screen that would appear in a glass box on legs above the pool. However, the end result was not…
Key points to consider when negotiating your divorce settlement
March 27th 2019When negotiating a divorce financial settlement, both the sides should be realistic of their monetary demands. One of the major tasks a couple face when they divorce is to decide on a fair financial settlement: how much should each partner get once their joint matrimonial assets are divided up? Negotiating a divorce financial settlement The courts will always try to ensure that both partners are treated fairly and will insist…
Joanne Stronach considers recent case; 88-year-old becomes oldest person to win age discrimination claim
March 15th 2019Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR considers the case of E Jolly, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. An 88-year-old woman who was dismissed from her job with the NHS has become the oldest person in the UK to win an age discrimination claim. Eileen Jolly told the Employment Tribunal that she felt “humiliated and degraded” by the way she was treated by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Mrs…
New law caps tenancy deposits and regulates letting fees
March 11th 2019By Laura Bright Solicitor The Tenant Fees Act that caps tenancy deposits and protects against unfair practices has now received the Royal Assent and passes into law. The government introduced the new regulations because it believes that unexpected letting fees and high deposits can make properties harder for people to afford and are often not clearly explained upfront – leaving many prospective tenants unaware of the true costs of renting…
Court corrects costly tax error in family’s trust fund
March 8th 2019By Claire Wilson Associate Solicitor The High Court has allowed a family to correct an error in a trust fund that would have had costly tax implications. The case arose out of financial arrangements outlined in the will of a man who died in 2015. He bequeathed £4.2m to be held on trust for the benefit of his widow and his children, with a class of discretionary beneficiaries comprising of…
Probate fee increase
March 6th 2019By Laura Wilson Following the death of an individual, in some circumstances it is necessary for the Personal Representatives (the people responsible for dealing with the Estate) to apply to the Court for a document known as a Grant of Probate (GoP) to allow them to obtain the deceased’s assets. Currently, the Court fee for obtaining the GoP is set at £155 if applying through a Solicitor or £215 for…
Why your child has a legal right to be heard in divorce proceedings
February 28th 2019Laura Ousby Solicitor Every parent wants the best for their child…but sometimes in the emotional turmoil of a divorce, that natural protective instinct can become a little blurred. It means that in some cases, children are caught in the cross fire between warring couples. They can feel as though they are being overlooked and that their views are not being taken into account. A survey by the family law group…
Can I sue if my child is injured at school?
February 18th 2019By Carol Fish Director and Head of Serious Injury Department When a child is injured at school can the school be held liable and as a result compensation claimed? In the recent case of Pook v Rossall School 2018 EWHC 522 (QB) this very point was raised. This case involved a pupil who having been encouraged to run to her sports lesson, slipped on some mud and fell injuring her elbow.…
Child arrangements – what is normal?
February 11th 2019By Laura Ousby Solicitor One of the most common questions I am asked when I meet parents who are going through separation or divorce and are looking to make arrangements for contact with their child is “what is normal?” My usual response is that there is no “normal”. Every family is unique and to suggest something is “normal” can lead parents to make arrangements that are unsuitable and do not…
Key points to consider about pre-nup agreements
February 1st 2019By Julian Nelson, Director & Head of Family Law Pre-ups used to be associated mainly with the rich and famous, but they’re now being used by couples from all walks of life. They are particularly popular with people entering second marriages who want to safeguard their assets for their children from a previous relationship. People who have inherited money or perhaps been awarded compensation for an injury or employment claim…
