Court rules on tenancy deposit information after scheme transfer
November 4th 2025A County Court appeal has clarified when landlords must serve fresh deposit information if a tenant’s money is moved between protection schemes. Laura Murphy, Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The issue arose after the tenant paid a deposit that was protected in the MyDeposits scheme. Prescribed information was served correctly at that stage. The landlords later transferred the deposit to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) custodial…
New Renters’ Rights Act – What It Means for Landlords
October 29th 2025The government’s new Renters’ Rights Act has now received Royal Assent, introducing sweeping reforms to the private rental sector in England. While much of the media focus has been on the 11 million tenants who will benefit, it’s equally important that landlords understand how these changes affect their rights and responsibilities. Rob Winder, Senior Associate Chartered Legal Executive and Head of Property Litigation in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. At the…
Judge criticises parents who secretly monitored children’s movements
October 24th 2025A judge has criticised a father and mother who secretly used tracking equipment to monitor the movements of their children, who were involved in care proceedings. Sarah Tweedie, Associate Solicitor in our Family Law team, reports on this recent case. His Honour Judge Sharpe, sitting in the Family Court, found that devices had been concealed in toys and a bag given to the children by their parents while they were…
High Court rules in favour of driving instructors in franchise dispute
October 21st 2025A group of driving instructors have won their High Court case against their franchise company after the judge found it had breached an implied duty of good faith in their agreements. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The court ruled that the instructors were entitled to treat their franchise contracts as terminated, after concluding that the franchisor’s conduct had undermined the trust and confidence central to…
Cartmell Shepherd recognised in prestigious legal rankings
October 17th 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has been recognised for the outstanding achievements of its agriculture and Wills, probate and inheritance departments. Published this week, the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2026, has ranked the firm’s agriculture team as one of the best the in the country for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition comes just a few weeks after the team also retained its Band 1 rating in the Legal 500 professional legal…
Joanne Stronach Appointed Managing Director of Cartmell Shepherd
October 13th 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors is delighted to announce the appointment of Joanne Stronach as its new Managing Director. Joanne, who has been with the firm since 2018 as Director and Head of Employment and HR, succeeds Peter Stafford following his retirement at the end of September. As Managing Director, Joanne will lead the entire Cartmell Shepherd team, which comprises 130 staff across seven offices situated in Carlisle, Penrith, Cockermouth, Brampton, Haltwhistle…
Father jailed for breaching court orders in child abduction case
October 7th 2025A father has been sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court after repeatedly failing to comply with orders to return his 11-year-old daughter from Iran to England. Joanne Grey Senior Associate Solicitor in our family law team reports on this recent case. Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting in the High Court’s Family Division, ruled that immediate custody was the only way to secure compliance after what she described as “deliberate and…
Director’s ‘sincere belief’ no defence to breach of duty, rules Court of Appeal
September 30th 2025The Court of Appeal has ruled that a company director cannot avoid liability for breaching duties by arguing that they acted sincerely in what they thought was the best interests of the business. Lewis Jackson, Trainee Solicitor working in our Business Services team, reports on this recent case: The case, Saxon Woods Investments Ltd v Costa, concerned a shareholders’ agreement which required the parties to “work together in good faith…
Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors announces promotions in Private Client department
September 23rd 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has announced a new round of promotions within its specialist Wills, Probate and Inheritance team. Reflecting the firm’s ongoing commitment to staff development, Megan Wilkinson has been promoted to Senior Associate Solicitor, while Claire Ackerlay is promoted to Associate Private Client Executive. Cartmell Shepherd’s Private Client department is regarded as one of the largest and strongest in the region offering services including Will drafting, powers of attorney,…
Judge orders equal split in £9m divorce, with £897k lump sum to wife
September 23rd 2025The Family Court has ordered an equal division of the couple’s matrimonial assets, leaving each with £3.44m, and requiring the husband to pay the wife a lump sum of £897,092. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our Family Law team reports on this case. The parties, anonymised as OS (wife) and DT (husband), married in 2014, have three children and separated in September 2023 after careers in London’s finance sector. Under…
