Latest News
Having your will drawn up professionally by a qualified solicitor is always a sensible precaution, especially in later life. In a recent case, the High Court ruled that a retired businessman lacked testamentary capacity when he made a will less than three...
The Court of Appeal has ruled on a dispute between supermarket giants Lidl and Tesco, upholding the decision of the High Court that signs used in a promotion run by Tesco amounted to trade mark infringement and passing off. In September 2020, Tesco began...
When an asset falls in value to the point that it is almost worthless, it may be possible to make a negligible value claim under Section 24 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 . The asset will then be treated as if it had been sold and immediately...
The Supreme Court has handed down its decision in a long-running case concerning whether protections against detriments short of dismissal for engaging in trade union activities are extensive enough to comply with the UK's obligations under the European...
Landlords would be well advised to ensure all records regarding their properties are kept up to date. Recently, however, the Upper Tribunal (UT) agreed with a residential landlord that she had a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with an Improvement...
The courts are often called upon to sanction treatment for patients whose ability to make decisions for themselves is impaired. In a recent case on point , the Court of Protection had to decide whether it was in the best interests of a man with mental...
Supplies between companies in the same VAT group are disregarded for VAT purposes by virtue of Section 43(1)(a) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 . A case that recently reached the Court of Appeal concerned whether this disregard applies if the supplying...
In law, adopted children are regarded as having been born to their adoptive parents. The Family Division of the High Court recently considered whether that fact precluded a parental order being granted under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008...
The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2024 came into force on 1 April and provided for the following changes to the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates: The NLW, which now applies to those aged 21 and over...
When building owners carry out works on their property, are they liable for damage to adjoining properties that results from pre-existing structural issues? The Court of Appeal recently provided welcome clarification on that question . The owner of a...
When partners resign or retire from a partnership, the partnership agreement will normally govern their rights and responsibilities following their resignation. However, where the terms of their departure are not agreed, are they entitled to the value of...
The best way to ensure your assets will be distributed as you wish is to have your will professionally drafted by a qualified solicitor. In a recent case, a challenge to the validity of an elderly man's will was dismissed by the High Court. The man had...
New guidance aimed at helping employers to understand their legal obligations relating to employees who are going through the menopause has been published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The resource also provides details on the support...
Custodial sentences very rarely come into play in the family courts. Where there have been repeated breaches of court orders, however, judges may have little choice but to clamp down. This was illustrated in the High Court during committal proceedings that...
When buying a property consisting of more than one residence, it may be possible to claim multiple dwellings relief (MDR) against Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). However, there are certain conditions that must be met for an MDR claim to succeed, as a recent case...
The issue of bigamy and its potential impact on a person's ability to seek financial remedies in a divorce came under the legal spotlight recently . A husband made an application to strike out his wife's financial remedies claim on the basis that she had...
Umbrella companies across the UK will be taking note of an Upper Tribunal (UT) ruling which focused on tax-deductible expenses. An umbrella company that serviced clients in the construction industry appealed a First-tier Tribunal (FTT) decision, the FTT...
The Law Commission has proposed draft legislation regarding a third category of personal property into which crypto-tokens and other assets could fall. This is the latest stage in the Commission's work on law reform that is designed to ensure the law can...
Influencers on social media, and anyone involved in advertising and promoting products, would be well advised to make sure they are aware of their legal responsibilities. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published guidance on financial promotions...
A new report commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a list of recommendations aimed at removing employment barriers for autistic people. The Buckland Review of Autism Employment was commissioned after figures from the DWP...
