Staff

Debt collection and credit control can be a challenge for any business. Yet failure to deal swiftly and effectively with debtors can threaten your viability and put your future and the future of your employees at risk. Carly Davies, our Debt Control Manager, reports. Here are some of the key approaches to ensuring prompt payment. Negotiation This is the obvious first step. It requires frank communication with the debtor to discuss the…

A technologist has won his victimisation claim after being ‘named and shamed’ by his line manager without a proper investigation. Jennifer Cafferky Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. The case involved Mr N Chowdhury, who had been a senior critical care technologist at Barts Health NHS Trust since 2001.  In 2021, Chowdhury was involved in a confrontation with a colleague, Mr Patelca, who complained that Chowdhury had…

The Employment Tribunal has ruled that an employee was unfairly dismissed in what amounted to a fait accompli during an inadequate redundancy consultation. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR reports on this recent case. The case involved Mrs R Khamar, who was made redundant by PIE Pharma after 22 years of service. PIE Pharma said it had to make redundancies in the packaging department because it was adversely…

A former animal keeper has won a claim of unfair dismissal even though she broke company safety rules. Jennifer Cafferky Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. Morna Gunn was employed at Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre, which houses a variety of domestic and wild animals such as short claw otters and Scottish wildcats that could pose a risk to visitors. Control measures were in place in the park, including…

The government has outlined its Renters (Reform) Bill, which it says will strike a balance between protecting both landlords and tenants. Natalie Tatton Solicitor in our dispute team provides an update. It says that eleven million tenants will benefit from safer, fairer and higher quality homes and over two million landlords will find it easier to recover their properties when necessary. Landlords will be able to sell their property if they want to,…

The government has unveiled a series of employment law reforms aimed at boosting the economy and reducing costs for businesses. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR provides an update. The measures include changes to the Working Time Regulations 1998, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE), and non-compete clauses. The measures are set out in the policy paper ‘Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy’, published by…

The High Court has corrected an error made when changing a trust fund because it would have led to significant inheritance tax liability. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. The declaration of trust had been executed in 1992 in respect of a life insurance policy held by the settlor. It identified “possible beneficiaries”, including any children or grandchildren of the settlor, and certain “immediate beneficiaries” (Kate, Adam,…

A team leader with controller of site safety status who nearly caused a rail accident was unfairly dismissed because the delay in dealing with his case took too long and was “wholly unreasonable”. Jennifer Cafferky Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. That was the decision of the Employment Tribunal in a case involving Network Rail Infrastructure (NRI) and Mr C Boxall. Boxall, who worked as a lubrication…

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by tenants against rises in service charges and clarified how the law should be applied under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (the Act).  Natalie Tatton Solicitor in our dispute team reports on this recent case. The tenants occupied residential units within a block of flats. Under the terms of each lease, the tenants were required to pay a service charge (comprising a share of insurance,…

Corporate insolvencies soared by 37.7% in March to their highest level for three years, according to figures from the Insolvency Service. Carly Davies, our Debt Control Manager provides an update. There was a total of 2,457 insolvencies in March 2023 compared to February’s total of 1,784. That was a 15.9% increase compared to March 2022’s figure of 2,120.  Corporate insolvencies increased by 145.9% from March 2021’s total of 999 and by 99.3%…