Moving house? We’ve got an app for that!
August 18th 2026Buying or selling a property? Ashley Shepard, Solicitor Apprentice at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, explains how technology is helping to simplify the conveyancing process while retaining the personal service that clients value. Buying or selling a home is one of life’s biggest milestones, but it can also be one of the most stressful. From gathering paperwork and arranging searches to waiting for mortgage approvals and agreeing completion dates, there are many…
Getting Your Affairs in Order: Why Now is the Time to Review Your Will
August 13th 2026Life rarely stands still. Families grow, relationships change, finances evolve, and new opportunities arise. Yet one task that many people put off is reviewing or updating their Will. Deborah Flynn, Director & Head of Wills, Probate & Inheritance at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, explains why regularly reviewing your Will is just as important as making one in the first place. While making a Will is one of the most important steps…
Farming Wills: Why It’s Important to Keep Them up to Date
August 3rd 2026By Robert Hudson, Senior Associate Solicitor and Head of Agricultural Wills and Probate For many farming families, the farm is a home, a livelihood, and often a legacy that has been passed down through generations. With many demands on your time, updating your Will may not be top of the priority list. However, taking the time to update your Will ensures that it remains fit for purpose in light of…
Recognition for two Cartmell Shepherd solicitors
July 21st 2026Two members of the Wills, Probate and Inheritance team at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors have been promoted, rewarding them for the high level of expertise they bring to the team. Claire Wilson, who heads up the West Cumbrian office in Cockermouth is now Head of Trusts, while Robert Hudson, who is based at Rosehill, Carlisle, has become Head of Agricultural Wills and Probate. Claire has been a solicitor for 18 years…
Internal company messages ‘can be protected by legal advice privilege’
July 14th 2026A company’s internal messages can be covered by legal advice privilege, even if no lawyer is involved, the High Court has found in a decision addressing a long-running uncertainty in English law. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The ruling came in Aabar Holdings S.À.R.L. v Glencore plc & Ors, where the court was asked to decide whether privilege applies only to communications between lawyers and…
Network Rail worker ‘unfairly dismissed after years of workplace bullying’
July 7th 2026An employment tribunal has ruled that a Network Rail employee was unfairly dismissed after years of workplace bullying and racial harassment which managers failed to deal with properly. Jennifer Cafferky, Associate Solicitor in our Employment Team, reports on this recent case. The tribunal heard that Parm Singh Bassi had worked for the company for 24 years before his dismissal. The case centred on a long-running breakdown in workplace relationships at a…
Renters’ Rights Act is just the start there are more reforms to come
July 2nd 2026The Renters’ Rights Act came into force across England on 1 May 2026, marking the most significant overhaul of private renting in decades. While the changes have already been widely publicised, the government has made clear that this legislation is only the first stage of a broader reform programme, with further measures expected over the coming years. Hayley Howells, Apprentice Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The…
Pension Inheritance Tax Changes: Why 2026 is the year to review your estate planning
June 26th 2026From 6 April 2027, the Government intends to bring most unused pension funds and death benefits within the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT). This represents one of the most significant changes to estate planning in recent years and may affect many individuals who have viewed pensions as one of the most tax-efficient ways to pass wealth to future generations. Amy Shaw, Legal Assistant in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance Team…
Success for Cumbrian legal experts
June 23rd 2026One of Cartmell Shepherd’s Apprentice Solicitors is celebrating the next step in his legal career. Joseph Halvorsen has completed his Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQEs) and been admitted to the national roll of solicitors. Meanwhile, his colleague Carolina Brianezi- Melchior has finished stage one of her SQEs as well as receiving the joint highest score for her MA Law degree cohort nationally at the University of Law. Joseph has qualified into…
Nestlé worker ‘unfairly dismissed’ after refusing to admit vaping
June 10th 2026An employment tribunal has ruled that a Nestlé employee was unfairly dismissed after being accused of vaping in workplace toilets, despite accepting that the company had reasonable grounds to believe the misconduct had taken place. Jennifer Cafferky, Associate Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. The case involved a long-serving technical operator who was dismissed for gross misconduct after a factory fire alarm was triggered in October 2023.…
