Data Protection and GDPR in a post Brexit World
October 22nd 2020Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR provides an some important information. After the Brexit transition period ends on 31st December 2020, the EU GDPR will no longer be law in the UK. However, as the UK government intends to write the GDPR into UK law, from all practical perspectives, GDPR will continue to apply. This means UK organisations and individuals that process or transfer the personal data…
Leading legal firm expands as new solicitor joins team
October 21st 2020A LEADING legal firm has welcomed a new solicitor to its growing team. Michelle Hayes, 33, has joined the wills, probate and inheritance department of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors and will be based at the company’s Rosehill office in Carlisle. Originally from Bolton, Michelle is looking forward to the new challenge. She said: “Cartmell Shepherd is a well-established law firm which is embedded in the community and I’m excited about developing…
Leading legal firm launches nationwide wills dispute service
October 20th 2020A LEADING legal firm is maximising its expertise by branching out to offer a specialist wills dispute service nationwide. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, the only legal firm in Cumbria to be a member of the innovative UK200Group, has launched a wills dispute resolution website. Peter Stafford, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ managing director, explained why the firm, which has traditionally concentrated on mainly serving communities across Cumbria and Northumberland, has made the move…
Court resolves dispute between partners in restaurant business
October 19th 2020The High Court has settled a dispute between two partners who had worked together for many years in a restaurant business. Tariq Mahmood Malik and Mahboob Hussain Junior had opened a restaurant known as the “Nawaab” in 2003. They were equal joint owners of the property in which it was situated and equal joint shareholders in the company through which it was run (the Stockport Road company). In 2006 they…
SMEs to act now to prepare for Brexit
October 14th 2020Many SMEs are unaware that there are some key things they need to do before the end of the year to ensure they can continue to trade from 1st January 2021. The UK left the EU on Friday 31st January. There is now a transition period until the end of 2020 while the UK and EU negotiate additional arrangements. From 1st January 2021 there are some significant implications for all…
Possession hearings return but renters to get more support
October 14th 2020Landlords can now bring possession proceedings again, but the government has also announced new measures to give tenants extra protection over the winter, especially at Christmas. Natalie Tatton Solicitor provides an update. The government has changed the law to increase notice periods to 6 months meaning renters now served notice can stay in their homes over winter, with time to find alternative support or accommodation. The only exceptions to this are the most…
Government bans business evictions until the end of the year
October 12th 2020The government has extended its ban on landlords evicting businesses until the end of the year. The move is in response to the continuing COVID-19 crisis. Stephanie Johnson Associate Solicitor provides an update. Ministers say that where companies can pay their rent, they should do so, as this support is aimed at those businesses struggling the most during the pandemic. It’s hoped it will enable them to remain in their…
Solicitor joins hospice board
October 9th 2020A SOLICITOR at a leading legal firm has joined the board of a hospice to help her local community. Claire Wilson 37, has become a trustee of Hospice at Home West Cumbria which provides palliative and end of life care. Claire, who is an Associate Solicitor at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said she was looking forward to helping support the charity’s work. Claire said: “Hospice at Home does amazing work, and…
Employment tribunal capacity to be increased due to Covid-19
October 7th 2020The government is introducing a series of changes to increase the flexibility and capacity of the employment tribunal system during the Covid-19 pandemic. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR provides an update. The new measures will also allow tribunals to deal with increasing caseloads, following the abolition of employment tribunal fees in July 2017. It means there will be more remote hearings so tribunals can hear more…
Sons must pay inheritance tax on mother’s pension fund
October 5th 2020The Supreme Court has ruled that a woman’s sons will have to pay inheritance tax on her pension fund because she had not drawn upon it during her lifetime. By Nicholas Devlin Solicitor The court heard evidence that the deceased woman and her former husband had been directors of a company. Shortly before her death, she transferred funds from her company pension scheme into a personal pension plan, nominating her…