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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.
Learning never stops even after you get that job at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers. Due to the nature of our business our staff have a variety of backgrounds and join the firm with varying qualifications . Joanne Ormston , Practice...
Following an increase in media attention in recent years, a recommendation from the Parliamentary Women and Equalities Select Committee has led to new Government guidance concerning dress codes, and how to avoid them being discriminatory – particularly...
“I truly am grateful for all the work you have done and the support you have offered me.” We recently settled an employment case for a client and secured a substantial settlement for him after he was poorly treated by his employers whilst on...
Volunteering plays a key part in our communities without which many charities, social events and community activities wouldn’t exist. This week is all about celebrating volunteering, recognising what is done behind the scenes and celebrating the huge...
The General Data Protection Regulation is now in force as of 25 May 2018 and has introduced sweeping changes to the way that businesses and organisations can hold data and information, strengthening protection for individuals. Non-compliance with the new...
The World Cup will soon be upon us, the traditional team song may have been ditched this year, but for employers the habitual problem of absenteeism during sporting events, hot on the heels of warm weather days offs, is a perennial headache. ...
Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke and the effects can be cruel, devastating and life-changing. Stroke is a brain attack. It is a medical emergency which affects millions around the country. We are often approached by patients and...
Minority shareholders may find themselves in the precarious position of being forced out of a company against their will. This can happen during disputes between a minority and majority shareholder, and in a recent case, it was ruled that a majority...
For the 16th year on the run we have been awarded the prestigious Lexcel quality mark. After an exhaustive and detailed inspection of our files and office procedures, including interviews with our solicitors and staff, the Law Society’s practice...
Should you be able to divorce without blaming your spouse in divorce proceedings? Resolution, the family justice body, are currently campaigning for the law surrounding divorce in England and Wales to be changed into ‘no fault’ divorce allowing...
Emily Gardner , Office Administration Assistant in our Family Team, has just completed Level 2 Office Administration at Oldham College. It’s ‘Learning at Work Week’ so we’d like to acknowledge Emily’s success of her...
The Government’s Director of Labour Market Enforcement, Sir David Metcalf, has now published his report, “Labour Market Enforcement Strategy”, covering issues such as low paid workers and holiday pay rights. Here’s what this new...
Introduction It looked for a long time that the main headline for this commentary would be the opening salvos in a trade war between China and the USA. The International Monetary Fund published a bullish report on world trade, saying that global growth...
Between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) generated a surplus of £89m from Lasting Power of Attorney fee overpayments. This happened because the OPG’s operating costs were reduced, but LPA application fees...
Equity release plans, also known as lifetime mortgages, allow those over the age of 55 to borrow against their home. Thanks to decades of rising house prices, for some older homeowners this can mean there is plenty available to borrow. The number of people...
If you’re unclear on what the term ‘pound cost averaging’ means, the simplicity of what it describes is perhaps best demonstrated through an example. Abbie is an investor who has already decided where she wants to make a long-term...
Appointing a solicitor can seem daunting and potentially expensive – you might be tempted to have a go online, say with a Will, conveyancing or even divorce, but in most cases an expert is what’s needed to get the compensation you deserve and...
A Warwickshire businessman has had to pay over £12,000 for falsifying information on the company register. The facts of the case In 2013, Kevin Brewer incorporated John Vincent Cable Services Ltd, and appointed former business secretary and current...
If you have been served a County Court Judgment (CCJ), it may have occurred without your knowledge due to unfair practices. There are actions you can take to defend yourself from such sharp practices ahead of potential governmental changes to how CCJs...
Claimants at an employment tribunal may make a claim for “injury to feelings” in situations where they have suffered discrimination which has led to humiliation, hurt and degradation, or the discrimination has persisted for a lengthy period of...
New tax rules announced at the 2016 Budget are now in force as of 6 April 2018. Income tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC) will now need to be made on all payments in lieu of notice (PILONs) upon termination of employment. Pre 6 April 2018 rules ...
2017 was a good year for Emerging Markets, which continued their recent strong run, keeping them on track to outperform Developed Markets in back-to-back years for the first time since 2009/10. Compared to 2016, which offered only marginal outperformance...
A recent study has found women are generally less well prepared for retirement compared to men. The research, carried out by savings company Standard Life, reveals that whilst over half (55%) of men own a pension, this figure falls to just over a third (36%)...
The start of 2018 has been an eventful time in the world of the stock market. After hitting highs at the end of January, both the Dow Jones and Standard & Poor’s 500 saw a considerable drop at the start of February, a fall from which the markets...
Introduction To say that March was a busy month is an understatement. Russia went to the polls to elect a new President and, in the least surprising result of the year, Vladimir Putin won another six year term. With the Chinese Communist Party removing...
If you have been following the news recently, you’ll no doubt have heard of “Cambridge Analytica” (CA). CA is alleged to have ‘mined’ information from Facebook users without consent and used it for various purposes. ...
Employers have a statutory duty to make contributions to certain employees' pension funds. Failure to do so can lead to a substantial pension bill later on as well as a heavy fine and court costs. The Pensions Act The Pensions Act 2008...
A recent decision from the Employment Appeal Tribunal indicates that employers need to take extra steps when considering the dismissal of pregnant employees before they accrue the two years required to enable an employee to issue a claim at a tribunal, even...
A recent report, “ Life on Debt Row ”, acknowledges what many people know all too well: debts are bad for a debtor’s physical and mental health. Debts also have a negative effect on a debtor’s family and friends. The RSPH report,...
The daffodils are blooming, the days are getting longer and spring is officially here. Traditionally, this time of year sees a pick-up in the housing market as more people start to get serious about finding their new home. If you’re house hunting...
In 2017, the Government consulted on the operation of the leasehold system in the UK. Reforms are now imminent. Developers should be aware that this issue is on Parliament’s action list: new legislation to ban leaseholds is coming “as soon as...
Statistics released by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in March 2018 show that the number of employees taking claims to employment tribunals (ET) has risen dramatically. Employers need to review their workplace procedures and ensure they follow them...
Introduction “The first month of 2018 was a good one for the major stock markets which we cover in this Bulletin. We report on 12 markets and 11 of them made gains in January – in some cases, spectacular gains, which many investors would...
It may seem as though the year has barely begun, yet the month of March is already upon us. That means that spring is just around the corner. It also means that the ISA deadline of 6th April is rapidly approaching. Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are...
Recent research has suggested that those in the baby-boomer generation should be prepared to pay higher wealth taxes in order to pay for healthcare costs likely to climb steeply in the near future. According to think tank the Resolution Foundation, this...
A national saving and investment survey has shown only 7% of people have spoken to their parents about inheritance. One of the most important parts of planning to leave an inheritance is to talk about it. This is obviously not an easy topic and it may be a...
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force in the UK on 25 May 2018. With little more than two months to go before the new regulation comes into force, do you understand how your rights and obligations will change in relation to the...
Introduction In 2016 Britain voted to leave the EU and new Prime Minister Theresa May invited George Osborne to consider an alternative career and replaced him as Chancellor with Philip Hammond, the MP for Runnymede and Weybridge nicknamed...
The rules on Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are about to change. Landlords only have until April 2018 to prepare for a tightening of the rules. Failure to do so could mean they will not be able to rent out their properties. What is an EPC? Whenever...
It’s 100 years since some women first got the vote and 48 years since the Equal Pay Act came into force. Nevertheless, many women in the workplace are still discriminated against in the workplace. It’s estimated that it will be a long time...
Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a rare condition which is caused by extreme pressure and swelling of the nerves at the base of the spine. The nerves become compressed and the condition can have a devastating effect on sufferers and their families. Someone...
We love to talk about our erratic weather in the UK, but patience is wearing thin for many during the current freeze – especially for employers and those struggling to get to work. With red warnings from the Met Office, motorists stuck for hours on the...
In a recent case, a fireman was required to do one week in four on "stand-by". In his case, being on stand-by meant being able to get to the station within 8 minutes. The court found that this duty affected his ability to engage in any leisure...
The government updates most of the employment pay and compensation rates on an annual basis. Here's a summary of the current key rates. New rates have been proposed which will be applicable from 1 April 2018. These are shown...
Please note that our GDPR Breakfast Seminar at Hollinwood Business Centre has been cancelled tomorrow morning, 1 March 2018, due to poor weather conditions. We will notify you of the new date in due course and please accept our apologies for any...
A new Land Transaction Tax (LTT) will replace Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in Wales from 1 April 2018. The changes will make the rate of tax on Welsh properties cheaper at the lower end of the market, but more expensive at the higher end. The changes are set...
The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt has today acknowledged that drug errors in England cause appalling levels of harm and deaths ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43161929 ). His comments come as new data suggests 237 million errors are made each year...
Large organisations across the UK economy have started to publish reports on their gender pay gap. The reports make sobering reading and reflect the low numbers of women at senior levels. From public institutions like the NHS and the BBC to law firms...
We all know that when purchasing a property you want it to be a smooth and stress free experience. Buying a property which has not been registered with the Land Registry can cause huge headaches and delays in a property transaction. Our experienced...
The Government has set aside £60 million of grants for small businesses in the farming industry to help them improve productivity. The grants scheme enables farmers to bid for cash to help them buy new farm equipment. Farming Minister George...
