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As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the lockdown in England and Wales continues, so does the concern for many SMEs' ability to continue to trade and weather the current crisis. Insurance policies sold before the Coronavirus pandemic stating they...
Whilst many of us continue to work successfully from home there are some businesses, more than others, that have been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak and the contractual and legal issues surrounding it. The hospitality and services industries have been...
Pursuing certain legal disputes during the COVID-19 pandemic might be something you would think about putting off. However, if you find yourself in receipt of a Claim Form from the County Court – this isn’t one of them. You need to...
If you have parked your vehicle in a car park without purchasing a valid ticket, parking companies will make a note of the offending vehicle’s registration plate and check with the DVLA for the name and address of the registered driver. The car...
The Housing Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, has recently announced more than £4 million of funding will be provided to local councils in England and Wales to tackle exploitive landlords and letting agents. The majority of landlords provide decent...
There can be a number of risks for landlords when renting out a residential property such as tenants breaching the terms of an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, rent arrears and alleged claims by a tenant that the landlord failed to provide key documents...
Business success is determined by cash flow, it’s something companies of all sizes struggle with, but some small tweaks can make all the difference and as we approach the end of the year what better time to make some changes. It is the money going...
A new Commercial Litigation Solicitor joins the Commercial team of Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers based at Hollinwood Business Centre near the M60. Usman, aged 30, was born in Bolton, and moved to Manchester as a child. He then...
Get your business working smarter at the start of this financial year by making sure late payment does not affect your bottom line. Late payment of business debts can have an adverse effect on companies and with almost 115,000 businesses waiting up...
When managing wealth, employing a qualified financial adviser is key - however, despite their professional status they are not immune from making mistakes. If you've been given incorrect financial advice you should be prepared to seek out...
Every professional must operate to a reasonable industry standard; solicitors are no exception. If you have entered into a contract with a solicitor or if a solicitor has simply assumed responsibility for providing you with advice which you have chosen to...
Identity Fraud has been in the headlines recently and can be a real problem. A recent case is exemplified below. On 15 May 2018, the Court of Appeal handed down its decision in a case called (1) P&P Property Ltd v Owen White & Catlin LLP and...
“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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Parties with a dispute often regard seeking advice from a solicitor as a last resort – an uncomfortable and expensive step that could complicate the dispute. But those who put off speaking to a solicitor could be affecting their chance of an...
The Government is looking into the current process for issuing money claims in the County Court. In particular, it wants to review the circumstances in which County Court Judgments (CCJs) are made against people without their knowledge. What is the process...
Boundary disputes between neighbours are surprisingly common. Long-running spats between neighbours can become quite acrimonious over time and be hard to resolve without taking the matter to court. In an attempt to simplify the dispute resolution process...
Most people are back at work after the Christmas break and many have returned with a clutch of new year’s resolutions. Popular choices include healthy eating, getting fitter or spending more time with your family. Or maybe you’ve focused on work...
As Christmas memories start to fade, the burden of debt becomes a harsh reality for many. For individuals, over enthusiastic splurges with the credit card mean January will be a tight month. For some, the cost of Christmas might even have tipped household...
As we reach December, many will be hoping for a good rest at Christmas and a fresh start in 2018. But for some, it’s been a difficult trading year - and the looming Brexit, a stagnating economy and the annual costs of celebrating Christmas all place a...
Disputing parties are not using alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures (like mediation), as much as was expected. The Civil Justice Council (CJC) appointed a working body to investigate this lack of take up to try and understand the reasons for...
New debt recovery rules that come into force in October will make debt recovery more challenging for businesses. If you've been putting off collection, there's less than 2 weeks to start the process to take advantage of the current rules. New Debt...
If a formal court claim is made against you, you must take prompt action by acknowledging service and serving your defence. If you don’t do this within the strict court deadlines, you might lose your chance to defend the claim. A recent case has given...
Clients could be due cash back from the Ministry of Justice after it announced that charges for registering LPAs have been too high in recent years. The Office of the Public Guardian (the OPG) has admitted to previously charging too much when registering...
Summer's here - and we have some top tips for you to consider if your business is quiet over the holiday period. If your business is quieter over the summer months, use the time to review your business procedures and do some housekeeping....
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...
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...
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. 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...
Japanese knotweed, or Fallopia Japonica to use its formal name, was originally brought to Wales from East Asia. Once highly regarded for its beauty, it has spread throughout the UK and is having a devastating effect on plant biodiversity and hard...
If expensive fees are keeping you away from dispute resolution in the courts, consider the alternatives. Court fees have risen but there are other dispute resolution options that businesses can use to recover debts and resolve disputes. Rising court...
It’s an unfortunate fact that January can be a hard time for struggling businesses. The double whammy of mounting bills and creditors delaying their payments on what’s due can cause huge stress for those involved. But poor cash flow can cause an...
Not making a will can create problems and inhertiance disputes for the family and employees you leave behind. We’re fast approaching Christmas and the New Year and, when we review 2016 in terms of celebrity losses, it's been a...
This article comments on what is needed to effect the UK’s exit from the European Union – and how the political events of the last month affect that process. It's been over a month since the EU Referendum’s...
What can you do to prepare for a Brexit? Keep tuned in to what the government is doing to leave the EU – and what effect their decisions might have. Talk to your staff – particularly if they are non-UK residents. Theresa May...
So there it is! The UK have voted to leave the EU. It’s the end of era – or will be once the government negotiates how the Brexit will actually work. We’ve set out below a few key points for businesses and some basic guidance on what to do...
What can you do if you receive a CCJ? According to recent statistics (1) , the number of debt judgments against consumers in England and Wales rose slightly during the first quarter of 2016 to 220,832 CCJs. That’s a lot of debt and a...
Has someone started formal court proceedings against you? Have you received a claim form document? What action do you need to take? For a start, don’t just ignore the claim form. It is not going to go away - and ignoring...
Have you received a court claim form document or a County Court judgment (CCJ)? If yes, take action. Don’t just ignore the documents. Receiving any court document can be a daunting and unnerving experience especially if you are unfamiliar...
Parents often let their children live in properties they own on an informal basis. However, one Court of Appeal case stands as a stern warning that the absence of a tenancy agreement can make them liable for any misbehaviour by their offspring. A mother...
In a recent court decision, the court considered whether two businesses had agreed to a change in their contract terms in email correspondence. The court found that they had - despite the existence of a contract clause stipulating that any changes must be in...
Most businesses enter into contracts on a daily basis without even thinking about the process. Office supplies, water/gas/electricity supply and coffee machines are supplied under contracts not to mention agreements with employees, consultants and...
“You’ve got nothing in writing!” “There’s no contract!” “I didn’t sign a contract!” There is a common misunderstanding that contracts must be in writing and signed by all parties to be legally...
Professionals can be held financially liable if ‘freebie work’ goes wrong. Professionals such as solicitors, barristers, architects and engineers have a duty to take care when providing advice and services to their clients. If they do not, and...
A senior judge has recommended that a regime of fixed costs be introduced for all civil claims under £250,000, including personal injury claims. If implemented, this would mean that claimants who are successful at trial, would only be able to recover a...
Do you run a business as a limited company or are you thinking of setting up a company? Have you considered what would happen if you were to fall out with your fellow directors or shareholders? What is a shareholders’ agreement and why do you need...
The government has announced that nearly a fifth of all courts and tribunals in England and Wales are to close. The list includes local courts in Oldham and Tameside. 91 courts and tribunal hearing centres were reviewed as part of an...
A farmer has successfully claimed compensation after a local council pumped floodwater onto his land to save a Yorkshire village from flooding. The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) (‘tribunal’) decided that the farmer was entitled to recover...
Cash flow is the life blood of any business. Taking proactive steps to ensure that debts do not mount up can often mean the difference between a company growing or declining and getting into difficulties. In the last financial year alone Pearson...
What is expert determination? Expert determination is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution ( ADR ). It offers the disputing parties the opportunity to resolve disputes without going to court. The parties must agree to expert determination and...
New regulations came into force earlier this year that affect the routine practices of many trading businesses. The aim behind the regulations is to encourage wider participation in Alternative Dispute Resolution ( ADR ) procedures as an alternative to the...
Running a business can be difficult and disputes with clients, suppliers and other third parties will occur from time to time. But what about internal disputes? What happens when directors, partners or work colleagues fall out? Working closely with...
From 1 October 2015, creditors will only be able to petition for a debtor’s bankruptcy where the debt is over £5,000. Currently the threshold stands at £750 so the increase represents a huge jump. The increase will provide a measure of...
Most businesses have a positive experience when seeking the advice of a solicitor, with legal professionals able to offer expert guidance on a wide range of corporate issues. But what happens when the service is negligent and how can businesses spot the...
As temperatures rise on the approach to summer, the same can be true of tensions between neighbours, especially where boundaries are concerned. Christopher Burke, head of dispute & litigation at Pearson, explains. Tree felling, hedge trimming and...
County court judgements (CCJs) leapt by 25 per cent last year as many claims went undefended, according to recent statistics. The fact that neither claimant nor defendant had legal representation in 14 per cent of these cases is the main reason behind the...
While the financial recovery has helped to boost the SME community, many companies are still struggling to manage cash flow due to late payment and bad debt. Changes to be introduced in April will make it more onerous than ever to recover that money through...
Traditionally Christmas is a time when neighbours get together and old hatchets are buried in a festive spirit of goodwill. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Often boundary disputes that start as a small gripe, escalate to litigation with all...
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time for businesses to think about getting their finances in order, so they can ensure they start 2015 in good business health. Small businesses across the north west experience the greatest number of...
In a recent seminar held jointly between Pearson Solicitors and Chartered Surveyors, Breakey & Nuttall, Commercial Leases, CRAR and Top Tips for Landlords were just some of the topics covered by the speakers --- here is a brief synopsis of what our...
Imagine the days pre email, when a fax machine was a new-fangled machine to be debated over……………….with over 30 years of experience in the law and having seen many changes in his time Andrew Murray joined our...
From April 2013 where a party failed to comply with a rule, direction or court order, any sanction for failure to comply imposed by the rule, practice direction or court order had effect unless the party in default applied for and obtained relief from...
The Court of Appeal has handed down judgments in two cases which clarify the rights of passengers whose flights are delayed. The first case concerned a Jet2.com flight from Malaga to Manchester which was scheduled to depart at 18:25 on 26 October 2011....
Large businesses could be forced to reveal their payment practices in an effort to reduce late payment of commercial debts according to new proposals from business secretary Vince Cable. Mr Cable said: "For too long too many large companies have been...
Near Hurricane winds in Oldham will no doubt have led to many insurance claims, fallen trees, damaged buildings and any other type of storm damage, but if your claim is rejected you can turn to Pearson Solicitors for advice. Many of us have instances of...
Pearson Solicitors Commercial Litigation team recently acted in a dispute between a Land Agent and a national home builder. Summary by litigation solicitor, Nicola Laurie. We recently acted on behalf of a Land Agent who was in dispute with a national...
A person making a Will (the Testator) must be capable of making a valid Will at the time it is made. This means that they must be aged 18 years or over and must be of sound mind, memory and understanding. The Testator must be capable of understanding the...
A company that made substantial losses on the distribution of fragrances bearing the name of a well-known football club has triumphed in a High Court breach of contract claim . The company had been induced to enter into the distribution agreement by false...
