Wife ordered to pay husband £120k after trying to thwart settlement
February 22nd 2024A wife has been ordered to pay her husband £120,000 after trying to thwart the terms of their divorce settlement. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our Family Law team reports. The Family Court heard that the couple had run a property lettings business together. All the properties were in the wife’s sole name, as was the matrimonial home. A final order was made in 2021 that provided for a roughly…
Difference between a deed and a contract proves crucial in dispute
February 21st 2024When drawing up business agreements the method used can prove crucial, as seen in a recent case before the High Court. Stephanie Johnson, Senior Associate Solicitor, reports on this recent case. Lendlease Construction (Europe) Ltd wanted to bring a claim against consultancy firm Aecom Ltd in relation to the construction of the oncology centre at St James’s Hospital in Leeds. The issue was whether the agreement between the two companies…
Changes to holiday pay entitlement could save employers up to £248m
February 19th 2024Changes to the way holiday pay is calculated for irregular and part-time workers could save businesses up to £248m a year, according to government figures. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR reports on this recent case. The government says it is exercising its Brexit freedom to change how holiday entitlement is calculated for people who do not work full-time throughout the year. This includes shift-workers, school employees and…
Husband tries to overturn divorce order with claim about £2m diamond
February 14th 2024A husband who claimed his wife had concealed a £2 million diamond from him during divorce proceedings has failed to overturn their financial settlement. Joanne Grey Senior Associate Solicitor in our family law team reports on this recent case. The case involved a couple who had been married for several years and had two children. Under the settlement of 2021, the husband was to receive the family home and the wife was to…
Legal firm expands West Cumbria team with senior appointment
February 1st 2024A LEADING law firm has expanded its West Cumbria team with the appointment of an experienced senior solicitor. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, which operates across Cumbria and Northumberland, has recruited Lynne McFaul who brings more than 30 years’ experience in commercial property to the law firm. Lynne lives in Cockermouth and will be based at Cartmell Shepherd’s office in the town. Her appointment as a Senior Associate Solicitor further strengthens the…
Tenants to get more protection against discrimination by landlords
January 18th 2024The Government has announced changes to the Renters (Reform) Bill to protect vulnerable residents and improve the safety of homes for tenants. Joseph Halvorsen, Apprentice Trainee Solicitor, reports on this recent case. It has tabled amendments to make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to people who receive benefits or who have children – ensuring families aren’t discriminated against when looking for a home…
Government announces ground rent reforms to benefit leaseholders
January 8th 2024The Government has announced proposals to cut ground rents to help homeowners in leasehold properties. Elizabeth Crouch Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of Residential Property provides an update. Housing Secretary Michael Gove has launched a consultation that will set out options including capping ground rents at a so called “peppercorn” rate for existing leaseholders, freezing ground rents at current levels and capping the ground rents at a percentage of the property…
Corporate insolvencies increase by more than 60% in two years
January 3rd 2024The number of corporate insolvencies has increased by more than 60% over the last two years, according to the latest figures from the Insolvency Service. Carly Davies, our Debt Control Manager provides an update. They increased by 17.6% in October 2023 to a total of 2,315 compared to September’s total of 1,969, and increased by 18.5% compared to October 2022’s figure of 1,954. The increase was 64.2% from October 2021’s total of…
Separated couple granted parental rights in surrogacy case
December 18th 2023A couple who separated after having twins through surrogacy have been granted parental rights despite a delay in making their application. Joanne Grey Senior Associate Solicitor in our family law team reports on this recent case. When the couple were in a relationship, the woman was told she would be unable to conceive. The twins were born through surrogacy by the woman’s sister by artificial insemination using the man’s gametes. The couple separated…
National Living Wage to rise by more than a pound an hour
December 7th 2023The National Living Wage is to rise by £1.02 an hour from next April, increasing the average worker’s pay by £1,800 a year. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR provides an update. The boost from £10.42 to £11.44 an hour is the biggest increase in the National Living Wage in more than a decade. Eligibility for the new rate will also be extended by reducing the age threshold…
