Staff

A SOLICITOR in the making didn’t give up on her dream of forging a career in law – even if it meant following a different route. Holly Moxon, 24, had signed up to study law at the University of Liverpool along with 300 other students but even when she figured that the course wasn’t a right fit, she refused to give up on her goal of training to become a…

On January 29, 2022, major changes to The Highway Code came into force which will impact all road users – but it seems many drivers are unaware.  Thinking it over with Carol Fish, Director & Head of Serious and Catastrophic Injury. If you haven’t looked at a copy of The Highway Code since passing your driving test, then I would suggest that now is the time to revisit it. The move is part…

A former partner in an accountancy firm has lost his appeal against a ruling that he had brought an age discrimination claim out of time. Joanne Stronach, Head of Employment and HR, reports on this recent case. The case involved Philip Parr and MSR Partners LLP (formerly Moore Stephens LLP). Parr had been an equity partner of the firm when it was Moore Stephens. The LLP Members’ Agreement provided for all…

EMPLOYERS should think carefully before reducing sick pay for isolating unvaccinated staff, says a leading employment solicitor. Joanne Stronach, who is Head of Employment Law and HR at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said employers could put themselves at risk of contract or discrimination claims if they introduce rules without first seeking legal advice. The warning comes after several national companies including Ikea and Morrisons cut sick pay for unvaccinated staff who…

The High Court has outlined what constitutes a business partnership in law following a dispute between a couple who ran a business together. Sam Lyon, Head of Corporate & Commercial, reports on this recent case. The case involved Ms Burnett and Mr Barker. Barker had set up a business as a sole trader offering fire safety services at events. Burnett was working for a company that dealt with administration, invoicing and…

The government is to allow vulnerable people to continue to be able to have their wills witnessed via video-link until 2024. Ingrid Fraser, solicitor in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance team, provides an update. The move extends measures brought in because of the pandemic. It’s designed to help people who are forced to isolate either with Covid or from another vulnerability. Ministers hope it will reassure all those who need…

Injunction granted against ‘poaching and competing’ employee Our associate solicitor in dispute resolution, Rebecca Armstrong, brings us an overview of this remarkable case which illuminates the complexities of the question – is poaching employees illegal in the UK? In a landmark case, a UK-based logistics company, JM Solutions UK Ltd, successfully secured an injunction against a former employee named Dave, accused of employee poaching and working with a rival company.…

A university lecturer was unfairly dismissed after she was accused of being ‘unnaturally loud’. Jennifer Cafferky, solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. The case involved Dr Annette Plaut, who was an experimental physics lecturer at the university of Exeter until she was fired in 2019. She had been at the university since 1990. Her style involved leading many heated discussions which included expressive gestures, hand movements and…

The government is introducing new powers to clamp down on directors who dissolve companies to avoid paying their liabilities. Rogue directors may be required to pay compensation to creditors. Carly Davies Debt Recovery Manager provides an update. The new legislation extends the Insolvency Service’s powers to investigate and disqualify company directors who abuse the company dissolution process. The Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Act will also help tackle directors…

A supplier has failed in its bid to use a force majeure event as a reason to avoid repaying a customer after it failed to fulfil a contract. Sam Lyon, Head of Corporate & Commercial, reports on this recent case. The issue arose after the two parties entered into a contract in February 2019 for the supply of sulphur diesel. In accordance with the contract, the buyer made a significant advance…