Cartmell Shepherd makes senior appointment in Wills, Probate and Inheritance team
November 24th 2025AN EXPERIENCED solicitor has joined Cartmell Shepherd’s Wills, Probate and Inheritance department. Emma Pringle joins the firm’s Hexham office as Senior Associate, bringing nearly two decades of experience and a specialist knowledge of rural estate management. Emma previously worked for respected law firms in Manchester and Newcastle and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the global professional body for experts in inheritance and succession…
Roadmap published for implementation of Renters Rights Act
November 20th 2025Following the Renters Rights Act 2025 receiving Royal Assent on 27 October 2025, the government has published its roadmap for implementation. The legislation will be introduced in three phases, with several key changes taking effect from as early as 1st May 2026. These include the banning of no-fault evictions (otherwise known as Section 21 evictions), fixed-term tenancy contracts and rent bidding, among other changes. The MHCLG Policy Paper, published on…
Supporting Each Other on Mental Health First Aid Day
November 11th 2025By Terri Hope, Marketing Manager, Mental Health First Aider & Wellbeing Champion at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors At Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, we believe that good health and wellbeing are just as important in the workplace as they are at home. That’s why, this Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate our commitment to supporting one another not only as colleagues but as people. We’re proud to…
Court rules on tenancy deposit information after scheme transfer
November 4th 2025A County Court appeal has clarified when landlords must serve fresh deposit information if a tenant’s money is moved between protection schemes. Laura Murphy, Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The issue arose after the tenant paid a deposit that was protected in the MyDeposits scheme. Prescribed information was served correctly at that stage. The landlords later transferred the deposit to the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) custodial…
New Renters’ Rights Act – What It Means for Landlords
October 29th 2025The government’s new Renters’ Rights Act has now received Royal Assent, introducing sweeping reforms to the private rental sector in England. While much of the media focus has been on the 11 million tenants who will benefit, it’s equally important that landlords understand how these changes affect their rights and responsibilities. Rob Winder, Senior Associate Chartered Legal Executive and Head of Property Litigation in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. At the…
Judge criticises parents who secretly monitored children’s movements
October 24th 2025A judge has criticised a father and mother who secretly used tracking equipment to monitor the movements of their children, who were involved in care proceedings. Sarah Tweedie, Associate Solicitor in our Family Law team, reports on this recent case. His Honour Judge Sharpe, sitting in the Family Court, found that devices had been concealed in toys and a bag given to the children by their parents while they were…
High Court rules in favour of driving instructors in franchise dispute
October 21st 2025A group of driving instructors have won their High Court case against their franchise company after the judge found it had breached an implied duty of good faith in their agreements. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The court ruled that the instructors were entitled to treat their franchise contracts as terminated, after concluding that the franchisor’s conduct had undermined the trust and confidence central to…
Cartmell Shepherd recognised in prestigious legal rankings
October 17th 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has been recognised for the outstanding achievements of its agriculture and Wills, probate and inheritance departments. Published this week, the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2026, has ranked the firm’s agriculture team as one of the best the in the country for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition comes just a few weeks after the team also retained its Band 1 rating in the Legal 500 professional legal…
Joanne Stronach Appointed Managing Director of Cartmell Shepherd
October 13th 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors is delighted to announce the appointment of Joanne Stronach as its new Managing Director. Joanne, who has been with the firm since 2018 as Director and Head of Employment and HR, succeeds Peter Stafford following his retirement at the end of September. As Managing Director, Joanne will lead the entire Cartmell Shepherd team, which comprises 130 staff across seven offices situated in Carlisle, Penrith, Cockermouth, Brampton, Haltwhistle…
Father jailed for breaching court orders in child abduction case
October 7th 2025A father has been sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court after repeatedly failing to comply with orders to return his 11-year-old daughter from Iran to England. Joanne Grey Senior Associate Solicitor in our family law team reports on this recent case. Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting in the High Court’s Family Division, ruled that immediate custody was the only way to secure compliance after what she described as “deliberate and…