Search site
Call our office
Make an enquiry
Are you looking for high quality legal advice? You have come to the right place.
We regularly write about different legal topics and welcome your comments on our posts. If you would like more information on our services, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
“No oral modification” clauses (hereafter, NOM clauses) are oftentimes employed in commercial contracts to prevent parties from varying terms of a contract via means which are other than the agreed upon form, e.g. varying the contract in writing...
Since increased pensions freedoms were established in April 2015, the FCA says that £3 billion worth of annuities have been rejected by over 55s. Now, nearly three in five over 55s are refusing the guaranteed annuity rate (GAR) offered to them by their...
Introduction It is always difficult writing a report like this, as you are always trying to ‘hit a moving target.’ While you can record the stock market levels at the close of business on, say, 30th November, there is always the...
For women returning to the job market after a long career break, getting back on track can seem daunting. Many are reduced to applying for graduate-level and admin work, far below their level of experience. They feel that their skills are outdated or they...
Retirement planning means taking into account a whole host of factors. You have to navigate tough questions like, ‘What will the impact of inflation be?’ or ‘When will interest rates start to creep up?’ As well as these, there is...
RECENT POLL FINDS SUPPORT for 100% MORTGAGES Considerable support for 100% mortgages has been shown in a recent YouGov report showing that some 48% think that reintroduction of 100% mortgages is a good idea. 100% mortgages let people buy homes without...
Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers' staff better not forget their foodbank donations and #sillysanta costumes and I’m telling you why - Oldham Food Bank and Action Oldham need donations to support our town. On Friday 14th December, the team...
Can a series of small acts of misconduct from an employee, over time, amount to a reason for dismissal, despite none of the acts being classed as gross misconduct? Yes – answered the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in Mbubaegbu v Homerton University...
It’s the season of goodwill to all men and women, even financial advisers and although a pension may not be top of your Christmas wish list here’s a tongue in cheek look at what your financial adviser could be giving you this festive season: On...
Asking a patient for consent when treating them was at the heart of a recent case for medical negligence solicitors - a client who reacted badly to his antibiotics and was left with life changing disabilities has received a settlement when Pearson Solicitors...
We are proud to announce that we are the headline sponsors of the Oldham Business Awards 2019. Entering their 11 years, the awards attract scores of entries each year from all sectors of the Oldham business community and culminate each year in a gala dinner...
In the recent case of Colino Sigüenza v Ayuntamiento de Valladolid and Others , the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was asked to consider whether a five-month halt in business between contracts could preclude the possibility of a transfer...
As temperatures are set to plummet this week there is no time like Road Safety Awareness Week to remind people to be safe out on the roads. Road Safety Awareness Week coordinated by the Brake Charity this year focuses on the safety of those on two...
The question in the recent case of Bellman v Northampton Recruitment Ltd was whether a company could be legally liable for the actions of their employees even at after work parties. Yes, answered the Court of Appeal – but it depends on the facts. ...
For every commercial business that is bought or sold within the OL postcode the Pearson commercial conveyancing team are donating £5 to help Oldham Mayor Cllr Javid Iqbal realise his charity target. After meeting with the Mayor recently the Pearson...
Introduction October was, to put it mildly, an eventful month. It was a month which saw the majority of markets on which we report down steeply, as fears of higher interest rates in the US combined with worries about the US/China trade war. There was,...
This year Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his autumn budget a few weeks earlier than usual. Normally the budget is released in mid-November, but this year he gave the budget on 29 October. In the run up to Brexit, Hammond didn’t release any huge...
In the UK, we are faced with the challenge of an ageing population. Many of us will live longer than we might have expected. Already, 2.4% of the population is aged over 85. Because of improvements in healthcare and nutrition, this figure only looks set to...
Sustainable investing has grown rapidly over the last couple of decades. Investors are increasingly committed to the social and environmental impact of where they put their hard- earned money. Getting good financial returns and having a positive impact on...
Pimlico Plumbers and another v Smith [2018] UKSC 29, will remain a key authoritative legal source when it comes to employers classifying their staff as ‘workers’ or ‘independent contractors’ for the foreseeable future. What was in...
Introduction A Budget for “Strivers, Grafters and Carers” Budgets, as we all know, take place on Wednesdays. After the excitement of Prime Minister’s Questions, the Deputy Speaker calls ‘the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ and he...
Only a week to go until the next Professional Oldham event, tickets are going well and so we would encourage businesses to sign up now as it promises to be a good night. The group always try to offer something different with the events, whether it’s...
When is notice for dismissal effective? Is it when the letter is received, signed for, or only effective upon when the employee reads the letter and is informed of their dismissal? In 2017 the Court of Appeal held that notice of termination begins to run on...
At this time of year our minds inevitably turn to the government’s budget, now set for October 29th, and any likely new measures that could impact your financial goals. The chancellor of the exchequer, Phillip Hammond, has stressed that any major...
Before pursuing a claim for a breach of contract, you should be clear on what damages you may be able to pursue if your claim is successful. What are damages? ‘Damages’ refers to the amount of compensation you are able to pursue if your claim...
A job well done is the best way to please clients, according to property lawyer, Victoria Marshall. Choosing a conveyancer for your house move is a big decision and in a recent survey our clients reported high levels of satisfaction and were pleased to...
Discrimination in relation to the provision of goods and services is prohibited under Part 3 of the Equality Act 2010 but has, in more recent years, seen a rise in prevalence, and there remain a few important distinctions between discrimination in...
Introduction On Tuesday, 3rd November 2020 the United States will go to the polls to elect its next President. All the indications are that Donald Trump will stand for a second term and if the words of Bill Clinton – “It’s the economy,...
What has the financial services sector learnt? The financial crash after the Lehman Brothers collapse saw the biggest global monetary crisis since the end of WW2. It led to a lost economic decade for many – average incomes in the UK still languish...
In normal years, the Autumn Budget (formerly the Autumn Statement) is announced in November. However, with less than 6 months left on the countdown to Brexit, this year is far from a normal year. At the end of September, Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed...
Taking out health insurance is a big financial commitment. However, private healthcare is an attractive option to some because it allows you increased choice, private hospitals, reduced waiting times and more personalised care compared to free NHS treatment....
Employers need to take head as Tribunal claims have increased over the past year now fees have been scrapped. The Ministry of Justice has published the employment tribunal quarterly statistics for the period April to June 2018. During this period, single...
One of the main objectives of Companies House’s ( CH ) business plan for 2018-2019 is corporate transparency. At the heart of CH’s business plan is the proper identification and accurate presentation of information relating to Persons with...
An estimated 40 million people in Britain have not produced a will. It’s, therefore, no surprise that the term ‘wills apathy’ has been widely used to illustrate a behavioural trend among the general public. This trend shows that the public,...
The Court of Appeal is the most recent court to review the case of Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake and Shannon Rampersad [2018]. Principally, the case deals with zero-hour contracts in the social-worker industry on what qualifies as paid employment,...
It’s been a summer of successful deals for the corporate team at Pearson Solicitors, who have recently completed the third acquisition in quick succession for award-winning telecoms and IT provider, Communicate Better, helping their expansion into new...
Pensions freedoms introduced three years ago mean that people are able to do what they like with their retirement savings. If you are on a defined benefit (DB) pension scheme you may be offered the opportunity to transfer out of your pension scheme in return...
Introduction August used to be known as the ‘silly season’. Everyone who made the news was away on holiday, nothing happened and newspapers were desperate to fill their pages. So rather more obscure stories made it into print… That, of...
As autumn approaches many students are preparing to start university for the first time. For most, this will mean leaving the place they grew up in behind as they embark on a life far from their home comforts. This will bring with it plenty of new academic...
You may well have seen the headlines that victims lost an average of £91k each in pension scams last year. Worryingly, in a recent survey, 32% of pension holders aged 45-65 said they were unsure how to verify if they were speaking to a genuine pensions...
Pimlico Plumbers and another v Smith [2018] UKSC 29, will remain a key authoritative legal source when it comes to employers classifying their staff as ‘workers’ or ‘independent contractors’ for the foreseeable future. What was in...
Not making a Will can have an effect on all the family – as shown this weekend when it was revealed that Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died intestate. Aretha Franklin, who died last month at the age of 76, did not leave a will. Her four sons and...
You may have heard about the recent case involving the Penning Acute Trust, where a number of inquests have been delayed after the Senior Coroner for the Manchester North Jurisdiction, Joanne Kearsley, arranged for a review of the reports of Pathologist Dr...
A Southport woman who had to pay huge care home fees for her mother has been able to recoup over £36,000 when she challenged South Sefton NHS. The 96-year-old was a resident a care home in Great Crosby from 2009 until her sad death in 2015 but was...
I acted for a client recently who was knocked off his pedal bike by an uninsured van driver but was still able to claim from the Motor Insurers Bureau after taking advice from us. My client was wearing appropriate clothing, with cycling trousers, hi...
In the recent ruling of Robert Bou-Simon v BGC Brokers LP [2018] EWCA 1525 (Civ) the Court of Appeal was tasked with ruling over whether the initial trial judge had been correct to imply a contractual term into a loan agreement between the Appellant, Mr...
When is notice for dismissal effective? Is it when the letter is received, signed for, or only effective upon when the employee reads the letter and is informed of their dismissal? In 2017 the Court of Appeal held that notice of termination begins to run on...
A number of inquests have been delayed after the Senior Coroner for the Manchester North Jurisdiction, Joanne Kearsley, arranged for a review of the reports of Pathologist Dr Khalid Ahmed following post-mortem examinations. Concerns were raised about...
Pearson were delighted to welcome young members of the National Citizens Service to our offices, and support them in their charitable endeavours last week. The National Citizens Service provides a 3-4 week experience for 15 to 17 year-olds, aiming to...
What happens if you agreed to loan money to someone, but didn’t discuss whether they should pay you added interest? If the person to whom you loaned money lives abroad, would you be able to claim your money back in the UK, or would proceedings have to...
