Staff

Businesses struggling with debt due to the Covid-19 crisis have been given extra breathing space to help them avoid insolvency. Mark Aspin Director & Head of Dispute Resolution provides an update. A temporary measure introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act restricting the use of statutory demands and winding-up petitions, which was due to expire on 31 December 2020, has been extended to the 31 March 2021. This will…

The number of insolvencies has fallen slightly but there are fears that the figures could soon rise and that ‘a wave of business closures could be on the horizon’. Sam Lyon Associate Solicitor and Head of Corporate & Commercial reports. Corporate insolvencies decreased to 856 in October 2020 compared to September’s figure of 925 and remained well below October 2019’s figure of 1,485. Colin Haig, president of insolvency at trade…

A cryptocurrency firm has successfully taken legal action to prevent its former managing director competing against it and from revealing confidential information. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports. The case involved Gemini Europe Ltd and Sawyer (2020). Gemini was part of a group of companies dealing in cryptocurrencies. In November 2019, it had engaged Mr Sawyer as its managing director. The contract included a non-compete clause preventing…

With the pandemic still causing huge problems for many businesses, it’s perhaps not surprising that many remain focussed on survival without too much thought for the future. If possible, however, it’s still important to consider what will happen once the pandemic is over, especially if you are planning to retire from your business and hand it over to the next generation. It could even be that a reduction in business…

A LEADING legal firm has proved its commitment to the high street by opening a new town centre office. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors will move into a new office in Cockermouth later this month as part of the firm’s continued expansion. Staff based at its current West Cumbrian office in Dovenby will transfer to the new base, which is in an historic building on Main Street, close to Cocker Bridge and…

Thinking it over with Carol Fish Director & Head of Serious and Catastrophic Injury… THE prospect of Covid vaccines starting to be rolled out in December and being widely available by Spring has given everyone reason for hope this Christmas that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. There is no doubt 2020 has been a tough year for everyone. And as we prepare for a festive…

Protection for people who rent their homes is being extended while the Covid-19 restrictions continue to affect people’s livelihoods. Natalie Tatton, Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The measures include a ban on evictions until 11 January 2021 at the earliest. The only exceptions to this will be the most egregious cases, including where tenants have demonstrated anti-social behaviour or are the perpetrator of domestic abuse in…

The government has provided brief but useful advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and how they can be used to help people who are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. Michelle Hayes, Solicitor, provides an update. An LPA is a legal document that you can draw up when you’re fit and healthy authorising someone you choose to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer…

A company has been granted a court order preventing a former employee from disclosing or using its confidential information after they copied files, Mark Aspin Director & Head of Dispute Resolution reports. The company, Rentrack Ltd, collected ticket sales data for cinemas. One of its employees, Mr Green, was approached by a competitor and offered a job in June 2020. You’re leaving your job, can you copy files? Before resigning,…

A 24 hour, online global learning symposium event for family businesses was used to engage in peer to peer learning and knowledge transfer. Through the symposium a community of family businesses from across the world, engaged in peer to peer learning and the opportunity for sector specialists to transfer their own knowledge to new groups. This unique event was aimed to share informative and educational content, encourage connectivity and positively…