How will employees’ rights be affected post lockdown?
March 16th 2021Thinking it over with Carol Fish Director & Head of Serious and Catastrophic Injury… After Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his roadmap to ending lockdown in England, thoughts for many employers are turning to how they will bring their teams back into offices when restrictions ease. The widespread administration of the vaccine in the UK is good news for many employers to help working life slowly return to normal over time.…
Divorced couple in dispute over share of wife’s £2m pension fund …
March 10th 2021A wife has lost her appeal to reduce the amount her husband should be awarded from her pension fund as part of their divorce settlement. For many clients retaining their pension pot is very important. This is a good reminder that the sharing principle is firmly applied to pension accrued during the marriage. Amy Fallows, Head of Family Law reports on this recent case. The husband and wife, who were…
Bullied NHS employee given fake task as a prank awarded £10,000
March 9th 2021An NHS employee has been awarded nearly £10,000 after she was subjected to a series of cruel and bullying tricks by her co-workers. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR reports. Carol Hurley began work as a deputy finance business partner for East Sussex NHS Trust in October 2016. The following summer she received a ‘joke’ email from her line manager Stella Armstrong to ‘remind’ her that she…
SME Outlook Tracker – Your expectations for the next 12 months
March 5th 2021We are now a full year into the Covid-19 pandemic and this pandemic has impacted us all – personally and professionally – in so many ways. We will be feeling the effects for many years to come. With the latest announcements from Rishi Sunak in terms of support and other measures for businesses and individuals, now is a good time to be asking you, as SMEs, how you are faring…
Leading employment lawyer welcomes Chancellor’s furlough extension
March 3rd 2021A LEADING employment law specialist has welcomed the move to extend the Government’s furlough scheme until the end of September. Joanne Stronach, Head of Employment Law and HR at legal firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said the move would give businesses time to recover following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. The furlough scheme, which pays up to 80% of salaries to those who cannot work because of Covid-19 restrictions, was scheduled…
Stamp duty holiday extension welcome news for home-buyers …
March 3rd 2021THE EXTENSION to the stamp duty holiday announced in the Budget today will come as a relief for home-buyers, says a solicitor at a leading legal firm. Jonathan Carroll who is a Director at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said the extension of the March 31st deadline for three months would allow transactions currently underway to take place without the worry of paying the additional tax. The Treasury announced last July that…
Publisher granted injunction against its former chief executive
March 3rd 2021A publishing company has been granted a further injunction preventing its former chief executive officer from disclosing sensitive information obtained during his employment. Mark Aspin Director & Head of Dispute Resolution reports. The executive had worked for the publisher until he was dismissed for gross misconduct in 2018. He threatened to bring employment tribunal proceedings, but the case was settled in July 2018. The settlement agreement defined what confidential information…
People making a will urged to include a Lasting Power of Attorney
March 1st 2021People making or renewing their will are being urged to consider arranging a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) at the same time to protect their interests into the future. Megan Wilkinson Solicitor in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance team provides an update. It follows research carried out by the Law Society, which showed there had been an increase in the number of people drawing up a new will during the…
Supreme Court says Uber drivers are workers, not self-employed
February 24th 2021The Supreme Court has ruled that Uber drivers should be classed as workers rather than as self-employed. Joanne Stronach Director & Head of Employment and HR provides an update. The distinction is crucial as it means drivers gain significant employments rights such as entitlement to the minimum wage and holiday pay. The court’s decision marks the end of a four-year legal battle between Uber and two of its former drivers,…
Ban on tenant evictions by bailiffs extended until end of March
February 23rd 2021The ban on tenant evictions by bailiffs, which was imposed because of the Covid19 pandemic, has been extended until 31 March. Natalie Tatton, Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. Exemptions remain in place for the most serious circumstances that cause the greatest strain on landlords as well as other residents and neighbours, such as illegal occupation, anti-social behaviour and arrears of 6 months’ rent or more. The…
