Law firm receives top ranking for work in agricultural sector
October 22nd 2021The agricultural team at a leading law firm has been named among the best in the country. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ Agriculture and Estates department has been recognised for its expertise and knowledge of the farming sector in a national legal guide, which ranks lawyers and law firms throughout the UK. The Chambers UK Guide 2022 placed the team in the top tier of legal firms for the second year in…
Rise in probate fees ‘must be matched by better service’
October 21st 2021The Law Society has told the government that a rise in probate fees should be matched by improvements to the service. Ingrid Fraser Solicitor in our Wills, Probate and Inheritance team provides an update. The current fees are £155 for professional users and £215 for non-professional users. These would change to one single probate fee of £273 for all applications under proposals put forward by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).…
Director awarded £30,000 after role downgraded during maternity
October 20th 2021A marketing director was discriminated against when she was dismissed for refusing to accept a reduced role and a £20,000 pay cut while she was on maternity leave. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment and HR reports on this recent case. The case involved Mrs S Shipp, who had worked at City Sprint UK for 10 years from 2010-2020. She became pregnant in 2019 and was asked by the director of operations…
Covid testing company granted injunction against employee
October 18th 2021A company that provides Covid testing equipment has been granted an injunction to prevent a former employee from working for a rival business for a period specified in a restrictive covenant. Mark Aspin Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The case involved Source Bioscience UK Ltd, part of a group of companies that provide laboratory services to clients in the pharmaceutical industry, the NHS and private healthcare providers. The…
Solicitor lands dream job after fitting seven years of studies around raising three children
October 15th 2021When Selina Gonzalez became pregnant at the age of 17, her aspirations of becoming a solicitor were put on ice. But a determined Selina, now 38, didn’t give up on her dreams and has juggled seven years of studying law with raising three children to realise her ambition of being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales. Landing her dream job working as a Dispute Resolution solicitor…
Teachers’ redundancy dismissal without appeal ruled unfair
October 14th 2021Two teachers have won their claim of unfair dismissal after they were denied the right of appeal against being made redundant. Joanne Stronach Head of Employment and HR reports on this recent case. The teachers had been employed by the local authority to work at a community secondary school (School 1). Due to a reorganisation of education provision, the local authority decided to close School 1 and replace it with a…
Families need access to digital assets of deceased loved ones
October 12th 2021Probate lawyers are urging the government to introduce reforms to make it easier for families to access the ‘digital assets’ of deceased relatives. Kendra Winter Associate Solicitor provides an update. A new report carried out by STEP – the professional body for inheritance planning advisers – highlights the extent of the distress caused by being cut off from digital assets when family members die or become incapacitated. The research was carried out…
Farming award for Cumbrian solicitor
October 8th 2021A recently qualified agricultural solicitor has been recognised for her work in the rural sector. Emma Blamire, 25, who lives on her family’s farm at Thursby, near Carlisle, picked up the Agricultural Student/ Rural Skills Award at the inaugural Cumbria Farmer Awards 2021. Emma is part of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ Agriculture and Estates team, one of the leading agricultural law practices in the north of England. Judges praised how she…
One in five couples now start married life with a prenup
October 6th 2021There’s been a large rise in the number of married couples using ‘prenups’ over the last 20 years, according to a new survey. Taylor Chanter Solicitor in our Family department reports. The survey, carried out by Savanta ComRes for the Marriage Foundation, found that one in five couples married since 2000 have some form of a pre-nuptial agreement in place. This compared to just 1.5% who were married in the…
Appeal Court considers whether external doors are landlords’ fixtures
October 6th 2021The Court of Appeal has clarified whether external doors are landlords’ fixtures and so subject to landlord control. Natalie Tatton Solicitor reports on this recent case. The case involved a tenant who was the registered proprietor of two long-leasehold flats with terms of 999 years. The leases included a covenant by the tenant at cl.3(4) not to “remove any of the landlord’s fixtures” without first having made a written application…
