Blogs
Get ready for 2020 Good Work Plan Legislation
Anxious to demonstrate that they are not using Brexit as an opportunity to roll back on workers' rights, the Government plans to introduce a raft of new employment laws as part of: 'the largest upgrade in a generation to workplace rights'. The legislation will implement the proposals set out in the....
Inheritance Tax – complex, old-fashioned and unfit for purpose?
In autumn 2018, the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) published a report following a request from then Chancellor Philip Hammond for a comprehensive review of the IHT system. One of two reports, the first dealt with the administrative side of IHT, while their second report, presented to Parliament....
Dismissal and redundancies during the COVID-19 outbreak
During these difficult times, many businesses are struggling financially, and some are unable to continue paying their employees’ salaries. To avoid mass job losses, the government has introduced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as ‘furlough leave’, through which employ....
Buying or selling a house during the COVID-19 outbreak
According to government data, nearly 104,000 property transactions completed in the UK in February 2020. For the thousands of people whose properties are due to complete in March, however, the government’s restrictions on movement and social contact to curb the spread of coronavirus have rendered....
Spike in couples experiencing marital difficulties
We are living in exceptional times; times that are forcing us to stay at home almost around the clock to curb the spread of coronavirus and save lives. During this crisis, the heightened stress and anxiety that many people are feeling, as well as the effects of prolonged self-isolation, have led ce....
COVID-19: Commercial landlords and tenants
We recently produced a blog on the disputes that could potentially arise between landlords and tenants unable to pay their rent during the coronavirus outbreak. But what of commercial tenants? With businesses across the UK suffering a heavy blow to their finances, particularly those in the leisure,....
COVID-19 and child arrangements: co-parenting in troubled times
We’re all hearing how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the stock market, businesses, employees and the property market. But on an individual level, it is also proving hugely disruptive for families – particularly separated ones. With movement now seriously restricted, many co-parents are c....
Government increases financial support as coronavirus measures intensify
On Thursday 19 March, our Employment Law team published their first blog on the support available to protect businesses and employees financially, and therefore avoid business closures and job losses, as the coronavirus pandemic intensified. Just days later, the situation has already changed beyond....
Controversial IR35 tax changes confirmed but delayed
The Spring Budget confirmed many self-employed individuals’ worst fear: controversial changes to IR35 ‘off-payroll’ tax rules were to go ahead with effect from April. However, with both employed and self-employed workers experiencing significant financial difficulties amid the coronavirus cri....
Coronavirus in the workplace: what you need to know
Over the past few weeks, it seems that a single topic of conversation has been on the lips of the entire nation: the COVID-19, or coronavirus, outbreak. In response to the country’s concerns, new Chancellor Rishi Sunak wasted no time in outlining a £30bn fiscal stimulus package during his Spring....
Coronavirus – a force majeure event?
The COVID-19 outbreak is wreaking havoc on businesses across the nation, leaving many worrying about what would happen if reduced staff numbers or forced shutdown meant they were unable to fulfil their contractual obligations. As a result, companies are asking the question: would a ‘force majeure....
What do conveyancers actually do?
When purchasing a property, conveyancing fees are often considered the inconvenient cherry on top of the already expensive cake of moving costs. In this blog, we explain what our expert conveyancing solicitors do throughout your transaction, giving you a better understanding of where your hard-earn....
