News and Blogs

On 24 September 2020, the Chancellor announced the new Job Support Scheme which will replace furlough, starting from 1 November 2020, and run for six months until April 2021.

The Scheme is designed to protect viable jobs in businesses facing lower demand due to COVID-19. The employer continues to pay its employee for the time they work, but the financial burden of hours not worked will be...

Further to a blog we posted in July 2020 on the subject of witnessing Wills by video link, a Statutory Instrument (SI) has now been laid before Parliament, which will come into force on 28 September 2020. The effect of this will be to change the requirements for witnessing Wills to allow witnessing by video link. This will apply to all Wills made between 31 January 2020 and 31 January 2021.

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Many people are aware that a Will is important; but most people do not have one and don’t appreciate why it is as important as it is, both legally and emotionally for both you and those you leave behind.

You care about your loved ones

A Will makes it much easier for your family or friends to sort everything out when you die – without a Will the process can be more time-consuming...

In recognising the impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on businesses, Companies House introduced easement measures in April 2020 to relieve companies of filing and administrative burdens. One of the temporary measures suspended the compulsory strike off process.

However, from 10 October 2020, Companies House will resume the compulsory strike off process where they believe a company is...

While the answer is anyone over the age of 18 should have a Will, for the reasons discussed in our previous article Why make a Will?, there is arguably a case for asking: do you need a Will; is it essential?

You own a property

Solely

If you own a property in your sole name, you need a Will to ensure this can be dealt with efficiently on your death.

Even if the equity is minimal; due to your...

In addressing the detrimental impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on businesses, the first stage of the SEISS paid out £7.8 billion benefitting over 2.7 million people who were self-employed or in business partnerships. Applications for the first stage closed on 13th July 2020.

On 17th August 2020, the second stage of the scheme opened and is available to claim until 19th...

Any person may inspect and require a copy of a company’s register of members if they submit a request which, among other things, states the purpose for which the information is to be used. Usually, such a request would be made by a member of the company free of charge, but a non-member can also make such a request and would have to pay a prescribed fee to the company.

This right to...

The Government has announced a major change in the procedure for signing Wills, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the advice to avoid close contact with other people.

To be valid, a Will has to meet certain criteria, including that the person making it (the ‘testator’) has the necessary mental capacity and is not being bullied into signing it. The Will also has to be validly...

We are delighted to announce that we have received recognition in the newly published 2020 edition of Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide. Our Private Wealth Law and Private Wealth Disputes teams, and three lawyers within the firm have received recommendations for expertise in their field:

In February 2019, we published an article in relation to the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc (Morrisons) v Various Claimants addressing the liability of an employer for the acts of its employees. At the time, we commented that the appeal to the Supreme Court had much to commend it - that appeal has now been successful, providing some comfort for...