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…
Company loses first attempt to recover £200k ‘paid by mistake’
November 30th 2023A company has failed in its first attempt to recover £200,000 that it claims was paid to a contractor by mistake. Selina Gonzalez Solicitor in our dispute resolution team reports on this recent case. The case involved Bonvilston Vale Ltd v Amser Building Ltd. Bonvilston had hired Amser for a development project. On several occasions, Bonvilston indicated that it would not pay some of the invoices, but later made the requested payment. In…
Court declines to return child to mother in cross border dispute
November 27th 2023The Family Court has refused to return a five-year old girl to her mother in Germany, even though it accepted that she had been habitually resident there before her father took her to England. Shannon Bateson, Solicitor in our family law team reports on this recent case. The case involved a Polish couple who had met and started a relationship while living in England. Their daughter was born in England in 2018.…
Proposed ban on no-fault eviction of tenants postponed indefinitely
November 22nd 2023The government has announced that it is postponing its proposed ban on no-fault ‘Section 21’ evictions. Laura Murphy, Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. Ministers say the indefinite delay is needed until the court system has been reformed and updated. The ban would have been one of the central proposals in the Renters Reform Bill, which was part of the Conservative 2019 election manifesto. However, Housing Secretary…
