Staff

“We might all be forgiven for feeling a bit under the weather: farmers have a lot of change to cope with, and we all have the ongoing ‘stuff’. So when there’s some good news, we should celebrate it – having our Agriculture team ranked in the top band by both main legal reviews; expanding the team with two bright, young Cumbrian lawyers; Katherine Pretswell-Walker joining the Board of Directors. That’s really good…

AS THE clocks have now gone back and it begins to get pitch black outside before we leave work or to pick our children up from after-school activities, we all really need to start taking extra precaution in order to protect ourselves and others. Thinking it over with Carol Fish Director & Head of Serious and Catastrophic Injury… While we enjoyed that extra hour in bed last Sunday, we must now contend with…

The increasing use of unregulated online will writing services could lead to a surge in family disputes over a loved one’s estate, researchers have warned. Deborah Flynn Director & Head of Wills, Probate & Inheritance provides an update. Online services have become more popular over the last few years, particularly during the Covid lockdown periods. The consultancy firm, Funeral Solution Expert (FSE), analysed 26 online will writers. It found several…

Nearly half of all businesses have a positive outlook for the future, according to research from Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors. The legal firm, which carried out the research in conjunction with the UK200Group, a collaborative of the country’s leading professional services companies of which Cartmell Shepherd is a member, revealed that 48 per cent of the businesses surveyed across the UK were positive about the future, and only 16 per cent…

Two directors did not breach their legal duties when they paid themselves a total of £1.2m from their failing company. Sam Lyon Head of Corporate & Commercial reports on this recent case. That was the decision of the High Court in a case involving, Brookmann Home Ltd (In Liquidation). The company had been formed as a vehicle to purchase a textile business. Most of the purchase price was raised from money…

Bonfire night will shortly be upon us and part and parcel of that includes fireworks.  By Carol Fish Head of Catastrophic and Serious Injury. Many people have mixed reactions with regard to the private use of fireworks with some pet owners calling for private firework displays to be banned completely whilst others see fireworks as a great way to celebrate and have fun with family. Some supermarkets have taken on…

Every employee is to be given the right to request flexible working – regardless of time served – under Government plans to modernise working practices. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment and HR provides an update. There will also be a day one right to one-week’s unpaid leave for carers balancing a job with caring responsibilities. Ministers say the changes will make for more productive businesses, whilst accommodating both staff and…

A couple have been prevented from building a new home in their garden because of a covenant dating back 60 years. Stephanie Johnson Senior Associate Solicitor reports on this recent case. Covenants are promises or conditions often inserted into title deeds that affect or limit how a property can be used. They are legally binding on whoever later buys the property unless overturned by a court. The couple in this case…

Employers in the hospitality sector could face tribunal claims if they are found top be withholding tips from workers, under new regulations being introduced by the government. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment and HR provides an update. The move is set to help around 2 million people working in one of the 190,000 businesses across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors, where tipping is commonplace and can make up a large…

A landlord could not get round the requirement to make a “demand for payment of the service charge” within the 18-month time limit specified in law. Natalie Tatton Solicitor reports on this recent case. That was the ruling of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a landlord that held the head lease of the residential parts of a large mixed-use development. Several residential flats in the building were let…