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In a significant decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that tribunal fees introduced by the Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunals Fees Order 2013 (the 2013 order) are unlawful. The decision opens up access to justice for those who need to...
According to the Office for National Statistics, divorce rates are falling, latest statistics revealed show there were 111,169 divorces in 2014, a reduction of 3.1% compared with 2013, but the question I always get asked in an initial interview surrounds the...
The number of unmarried cohabiting couples more than doubled in the 20 years between 1996 and 2006, from 1.5 million to 3.2 million. As a divorced financial adviser I know just what the tax issues surrounding marriages are. Recent research found that...
The property market in the North is, largely, holding its own and enjoying a brighter outlook than most other regions in the UK - despite the impending Brexit and economic uncertainty. This has been reflected in our results this year: Pearson's property...
The BBC's recent revelations about their gender pay gap is shining a light on the issue of equal pay. Last week, the BBC published the salaries of 96 stars who earn more than £150,000. Claudia Winkleman was one of the few women...
Recent proposals to bring the law around Wills up to date have been welcomed by solicitors after a recent statement issued by the Law Society on the changes. In a response to the Law Commission’s consultation, President, Joe Egan stated: “...
The Taylor Review makes recommendations on a multitude of employment law issues and seeks to establish “good work for all”. On 11 July 2017, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, published his independent review...
This was the interesting issue raised by Malcolm Mackay of United Employment Lawyers, a Scottish firm, a couple of months ago. He was very much of the opinion that it should – and I have to say, I agree with him. But then, as an employment lawyer,...
June was a fairly quiet month. Well, apart from the chaotic General Election in the UK. Oh – and the decisive win for Emmanuel Macron in the French parliamentary elections. And the start of the Brexit negotiations. And Italy was forced to bail out two...
A recent study by HSBC has revealed the main financial worries of the ‘millennial’ generation, recognised as those born between 1980 and 1997. As its title suggests, the ‘Future of Retirement’ survey focuses primarily on how...
Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes continue to be a hot topic in the business and financial worlds as an increasing number of people seek to transfer their pensions from a DB scheme. Recent figures suggest that more than four out of five (83%) of financial...
No matter how often we might have heard soundbites such as ‘strong and stable’ and ‘Brexit means Brexit’ which are intended to reassure us, it seems that every major political event of the past twelve months has delivered an...
... but only in limited circumstances. Can employers check an employee’s personal messages to ensure compliance with employment duties? Can an employee expect an employer to respect their private life and correspondence at work? These were two of...
Making a statutory demand for a debt can prove expensive – this process should be used with discretion. Creditors who deal with multiple debtors will know that making a statutory demand for payment from a debtor may be an effective means of...
As conveyancers, we want to make your house-move hassle free and as smooth as possible. When you first instruct us, we will ask you all sorts of questions about the property. We’re not being nosey – we just need to understand every aspect of...
Court proceedings have a reputation for being expensive and time consuming – and with some justification. Courts and solicitors therefore encourage disputing parties to settle their claims as early as possible to avoid the expense, sheer inconvenience...
A recent fraud case has highlighted how important it is to take legal advice before releasing equity from your property*. Edwin McLaren and his wife Lorraine were found guilty of property frauds that came to a total of £1.6 million. The police inquiry...
Local law firm Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers have been shortlisted for the "Best Small Conveyancing Firm" of the year in the LFS Conveyancing Awards announced this week. The conveyancing team, which deals with hundreds of property...
As we wrote last year, ‘It is tempting to think that Brexit is the only game in town.’ Cross out ‘Brexit’ and replace it with ‘General Election’ and the sentiment holds good. But the rest of the world keeps turning –...
Recent figures have shown that house prices in the UK fell again in May this year, making it the third month in a row which has seen prices go down. Nationwide, the UK’s biggest building society which carried out the research, stated that this is the...
Whilst the country takes in the latest developments in the ongoing saga that is contemporary British politics, one question that many will be looking for answers to, is how the result of the general election is likely to affect them financially. It’s...
Insurance companies have warned that a recent rise in tax could mean that the average family will end up paying £283 more for their premiums every year. The Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) has now increased from 10% to 12%, meaning that the cost of home,...
June is turning out to be wet rather than flaming and most employees will no doubt be looking forward to their annual holiday and a summer of events, festivals and sport. Employers on the other hand are probably wondering how many working hours they...
In a recent appeal hearing, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) decided that employees were entitled to receive holiday pay based on their basic wage plus their non-guaranteed overtime. The appeal in Bear Scotland -v- Fulton case (and...
Those of you who follow us on Twitter or read this blog will know that five of the Pearson team (Ian Wolstenhulme, Rosie Aldcroft, Marie Pauley and Jade Hegarty), set out to raise £1,000 by doing the Snowdon Zip Wire at Zip World in Bethesda on 14...
It’s now a year since the formation of the Professional Oldham networking group and over that time it’s been great to see the group go from strength to strength. The aim throughout has been to introduce some quality networking, some amazing and...
Employers processing job applications should ensure the process offers a level playing field for applicants with disabilities. In The Government Legal Service -v- Brookes , the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) upheld a tribunal’s decision that a...
Pearson Solicitors’ Clinical Negligence Team has recently secured a settlement of £7,500 in a case where the failure to adequately manage an evolving small bowel obstruction led to a patient’s deterioration and eventual death. Pearson...
Holidays should be a relaxing time, we all work hard for our weeks in the sunshine, but if you have been ill and had your holidays ruined through no fault of your own you can make a claim. Have you or anyone in your family suffered from food poisoning? ...
When a client turned to us following delays and misdiagnosis at we secured a £150,000 settlement after her symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome were missed. Our client was an active and independent lady in her mid 50s and had previously been diagnosed...
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new partnership with London councils in an attempt to crackdown on rogue landlords and letting agents in London. Together with local boroughs, the Mayor intends to create a new online database on which...
Our commercial team recently dealt with a property transaction for Linda Lewis Kitchens and helped then expand their offering by moving into amazing new premises. There is however some spare capacity at the units at Belgrave Industrial Estate, Honeywell...
... and why it helps to have a supportive employer! This week we profile Sarah Major, a key member of our residential property team who specialises in conveyancing. When the recession hit the UK in 2007 and 2008, I was working for a national house...
Law Firm, Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers have this month reported a record 28% growth of the business and on top of that have secured the Law Society’s legal practice quality mark, Lexcel for the 15th consecutive year. Highest growth areas...
Introduction It’s difficult to know where to begin this month. In France? Where Emmanuel Macron, the centrist candidate, successfully defeated the far right’s Marine le Pen to become the youngest ever French president, at just 39. In the UK?...
It wasn’t all that long ago that investment in buy-to-let property was seen as a straightforward way to generate an income for yourself. However, recent changes made by the government mean that turning a profit through buy-to-let in today’s...
Whilst the impact of Brexit is yet to be known, one thing that may become trickier is relocating to the continent after Britain leaves the EU. It’s a change that will affect those at the end of their working life as well as those near the start, as in...
Following the findings of the British Heart Foundation that over 20 million UK people are classed as physically inactive, the discussion of just how to tackle this growing problem has emerged once again. One suggestion is that it’s now time for...
Businesses need to review their approach to collecting debts. Debt recovery is a fact of life for businesses: most have debt recovery systems in place to ensure prompt payment and make full use of the courts if debtors do not pay. However, court procedures...
Our support for Action Oldham is on a bit of a roll at the moment. As I write, we are just a few pounds away from reaching our £1000 target in our #zipwire challenge. Karen Piontek, Ian Wolstenhulme, Jade Hegarty, Rosie Aldcroft and Marie Pauley are...
Our support for Action Oldham is on a bit of a roll at the moment and about to hit its highest peak as we set off to Snowdon. Thanks to the generosity of clients and friends of the firm we have recently reached our £1000 target in our #zipwire...
Finding the perfect premises for your business, is both exciting and a relief. Your business plans are starting to take shape and whether you are expanding or reducing your overheads, it is good to know that your business will soon be trading from a better...
This article is not about those who dose off when they are supposed to be working! Rather it reviews the circumstances in which those who “sleep-in [at their work premises]” during their working hours are entitled to be paid the minimum wage...
The government has encouraged employers to review their dress codes. Earlier in the year, the Petitions and Women and Equalities Committees (the Committees) published their report on high heels and workplace dress codes. You may recall that these two House...
We’re pleased to report that the government has dropped its proposals to increase probate fees confirming that there is insufficient time to implement the legislation ahead of the general election in June. In our recent article on the...
The Supreme Court made an important decision* on wills and inheritance last month. The decision gives some comfort to those making wills that their wishes will be usually be respected after they die. The decision also clarifies the rules on when a will or...
The government updates most of the employment pay and compensation rates on an annual basis. Here's a summary of the key current rates. The Minimum Wage The minimum rate for workers varies according to age: for workers aged 21 to 24 it is...
May day bank holiday is here again! Whatever the weather, the extra day’s break from routine will encourage many people to get out there and do some serious house hunting. If you are new to the process of buying and selling a property, we have lots of...
Pearson Solicitors’ Clinical Negligence Team has recently secured a settlement of £56,000 in a case where Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s negligent management of an 87 year old patient’s epilepsy resulted in death. Mr B had...
Be specific about why you are withholding a deposit from a departing tenant. When a tenant departs and leaves their accommodation in a mess, landlords are entitled to retain an appropriate part – or all – of the tenant's deposit to cover the...
