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Saturday 18 August has been reported as the most common day in 2018 to tie the knot in the UK. However, since the early 1970s, the number of people actually getting married has steadily decreased, dropping a further 3.4% last year. There have been many...
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Otero Ramos v Servicio Galego de Saude has ruled that employers must now carry out an individual risk assessment for breastfeeding mothers returning to their role. This is a change...
When you wish to access your neighbours land there are usually three paths open to you: easements, covenants, and the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992 (ANLA). Easements are rights one person can have over another's land, for example, the right to...
In Quintiles Commercial UK Ltd v Barongo , it was established that Mr Barongo, the claimant, was dismissed, on notice, for concerns over his recent conduct. Originally, this was seen to fall under ‘gross misconduct’, however, on his internal...
Following weeks of soaring temperatures, it seems our long summer is here to stay, and although it has been welcomed by many with open arms, it’s important to remember the impact that the heat could have in the workplace. The Risks When temperatures...
When a contract is drafted, it may be difficult to legislate for every possible scenario, and so a “good faith” clause is often included to compensate for this, and to ensure that the “spirit” of the contract is adhered to –...
The thought of buying your first property can be both an exciting and daunting prospect. Luckily there is a range of options available to aid first time buyers wanting to get their foot on the property ladder. A first-time buyer is defined as an individual...
Yesterday the Supreme Court unanimously rejected Tini Owens appeal to grant her a divorce from her husband Hugh. The couple married in 1978 have two adult children, but as he is refusing to split up, they must remain married until 2020. Lord...
The question of whether or not your contract is legally binding can be straightforward when considering conventional contracts, however, there are circumstances in which greater scrutiny may be required in order to determine the (potentially) binding nature...
Buying your first property, or even simply moving from one home to another can be stressful, especially as for most of us, it could well be the most expensive purchase we make. It’s important that you choose the right solicitor to take the stress...
In its latest release of the Disease Classification Manual, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised excessive gaming (usually online gaming) as an addiction, which could potentially lead to it being reclassified as a disability in the future. The...
Introduction Let us invite you to travel back in time to June 2016, to the day after the Brexit referendum. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, campaigning in the US Presidential election is in full swing. You are offered two glimpses into the future. The...
Keeping track of your pension pots can feel like a full time job at times, particularly as we head towards a world where the average person will have eleven different jobs over the course of their career. It’s becoming increasingly uncommon for people...
Inheritance tax (IHT) has existed in the UK for over 300 years. In its current form, it was brought in to replace the old Capital Transfer Tax; a measure that was brought in itself as a form of wealth distribution in order to regulate disparity between rich...
Staying on top of the latest tax legislation probably isn’t at the top of the to-do list of the majority of UK citizens, and that’s understandable. If you were to miss something though, would you be let off? Or would your ignorance turn out to be...
A recent Coronation Street storyline serves as a reminder of how important the early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis is. In the soap Jack Webster, a promising young footballer, developed sepsis and had to undergo a foot amputation following hospital...
A team of solicitors will be swapping court shoes for trainers this weekend when they take on the Pretty Muddy challenge to raise funds for Cancer Research. The race at Heaton Park will see the team of solicitors and support staff from Pearson...
Part-time workers may compare themselves to full-time workers for the purposes of ensuring that there is no unfair treatment they receive that full-time workers do not. Can zero-hours workers be classified as part-time workers for the purposes of these types...
A BBC survey conducted last year showed that in the UK more than half of women, and a fifth of men, have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, ranging from inappropriate comments to sexual assaults. There are a number of steps that you can take as...
On the day of the NHS’ 70th Birthday we must look back and take inspiration from the compassion and determination of Aneurin Bevan, the man considered to be its creator. A healthcare system free at the point of delivery, accessible by all was...
Restaurants, bars and holidays – we all turn to trip advisor and online reviews before making a booking or a purchase these days and so it is increasingly the same with legal services – whilst the majority of our clients have been with us for...
Property fraud is where fraudsters try to ‘steal’ your property by pretending to be you and selling or mortgaging your property and leaving you to pick up the pieces. It mainly affects residential and commercial landlords. You will...
There has been a significant upturn in the number of businesses providing their customers with the opportunity to submit online reviews towards services and products. This platform has snowballed following the success of companies such as Amazon and Trip...
In many cases a personal relationship between staff will not interfere with work. However, sometimes a personal relationship will be or can become problematic because it adversely impacts on other colleagues or negatively affects business efficiency....
Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), health information is classed as “special category data” and an employer needs to have a lawful basis for processing such information. This means that requiring employees to undertake medical...
Harold Wilson famously said that, ‘a week is a long time in politics.’ A month is a very long time when we come to write this commentary. Looking back to the first few days of May, the Royal Bank of Scotland was announcing plans to...
It’s one of the scary things about growing old, isn’t it? We’re all living longer, thanks to medical science but does that mean more of us are going to end up in a care home, struggling to find the means to pay for it? A year in a care...
Cyber-security is more important than ever before, as Serie A football club, Lazio, found out the hard way in March. After signing Dutch centre back Stefan de Vrij in 2014 from Feyenoord, Lazio agreed to pay his £6.8m fee in installments. Nothing...
You may have seen mini-bonds advertised, offering as much as 10% returns over reasonably short timeframes. Companies such as John Lewis, Hotel Chocolat and Naked Wines have famously employed them as a way of accruing debt-based funding. If you’re an...
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 ...
