Search News
News, articles & legal updates
Latest news and legal updates
Clarke Willmott helps drive growth at Cornish Bakery
We are pleased to be playing a key role in assisting to drive the expansion of independent bakery chain Cornish Bakery. The business, based in Paulton, Somerset, reported strong trading across its existing 51 UK outlets during its 2021-22 financial year, with five new store openings and a further six...
Read more on Clarke Willmott helps drive growth at Cornish Bakery
25 May 2023
Clarke Willmott announces raft of promotions
We are delighted to announce a raft of internal promotions as part of our commitment to people development across all of our seven regional offices. A total of nine lawyers have been promoted to partner including Laura Mackain-Bremner, Damian Pitts, Cathy Harris, Louise Goodwin, David Stedman, Jacqui Lazare, Jamie Swan,...
Read more on Clarke Willmott announces raft of promotions
25 May 2023
Disruptive Asset Finance
Disruptive Asset Finance Spring 2023 Welcome to another edition of Disruptive Asset Finance! Despite war, rising living costs and inflation at the start of 2023 the asset finance industry has continued to grow. Perhaps that is not surprising because in tough economic times businesses need to be extremely vigilant when...
Read more on Disruptive Asset Finance
18 May 2023
Careful what you type – Court of Appeal rules informal email exchange is sufficient to transfer property to ex-partner
For unmarried co-habiting couples who jointly own property without a declaration of trust, the case of Hudson and Hathway heard by the Court of Appeal last year highlights the binding power of emails and cautions couples to take great care when composing them. The case involved an unmarried couple named...
Read more on Careful what you type – Court of Appeal rules informal email exchange is sufficient to transfer property to ex-partner
18 May 2023
#Every90Seconds – Action for Brain Injury Week 2023
15 – 21 May 2023 is “Action for Brain Injury Week” – a vitally important time for Headway, the Brain Injury Association, to raise awareness of the issues facing brain injury survivors This year the theme is #Every90Seconds, because every 90 seconds someone in the UK is admitted to hospital...
Read more on #Every90Seconds – Action for Brain Injury Week 2023
12 May 2023
Clarke Willmott strengthens commercial expertise
Our Manchester office has further strengthened its commercial team with the appointment of Stephen Green and Rebecca Hallam. Commercial contracts specialist, Stephen, former head of commercial at Bermans, joins us as a partner. Rebecca, formerly at Kuits, joins as an associate. “Stephen is a highly experienced solicitor with outstanding experience,...
Read more on Clarke Willmott strengthens commercial expertise
10 May 2023
Clarkson’s Farm Season Two – more challenges for farmers ahead
Having been taken in by the first season of Clarkson’s Farm, I was intrigued to see what another year on Diddly Squat Farm may look like and I have to say, I was even more captivated than than before. The second season of Clarkson’s Farm focused on recovering the subsidies...
Read more on Clarkson’s Farm Season Two – more challenges for farmers ahead
10 May 2023
Bias in the Tribunal
In a rare decision, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) have held that a lay member on a panel for an upcoming appeal should be recused from in the case of Higgs v Farmor’s School and anor (No.2) due to a potential perception of bias. Background The Claimant, H, was a...
Read more on Bias in the Tribunal
4 May 2023
Case law update: An employee who said “I’m done” and handed in her keys had not resigned
Background: What does the law say about deciding whether an employee has resigned or not? The starting point is that if an employee resigns using clear and unambiguous language, their employer is entitled to accept it. That said, the courts are aware that sometimes it may be necessary to take...
Read more on Case law update: An employee who said “I’m done” and handed in her keys had not resigned
4 May 2023
HR Consultancy Corner: Creating a menopause-inclusive workplace
There’s no doubt that the menopause and its impact at work is being discussed far more openly now and, in turn, businesses are starting to switch on to this wellbeing issue. The menopause effects women usually somewhere between the ages of 40 and 60. It most commonly affects women between...
Read more on HR Consultancy Corner: Creating a menopause-inclusive workplace
4 May 2023
Fixed term contracts – keys considerations & points in practice
Many employers use fixed term contracts to engage employees for a defined period, and in certain industries, such as within professional sport or further education, the use of fixed term contracts is very prevalent – often reflecting the playing season or academic year. In this article we highlight some key...
Read more on Fixed term contracts – keys considerations & points in practice
4 May 2023
What did you say? Accent bias in Workplace
Does the law protect an employee from being mocked for their regional or national accent? Does it make a difference if their accent is from Liverpool or Australia…Somerset or Africa? Research recently published by the Sutton Trust has found that 25% of professionals report being mocked, criticised or singled out...
Read more on What did you say? Accent bias in Workplace
4 May 2023
Parental orders following informal at home surrogacy arrangement
A recent case has clarified the law surrounding the making of parental orders following a private and informal at home surrogacy arrangement (Y and another v ZX [2023] EWFC 39). The case concerned a same sex male married couple. The surrogate mother was a friend of the couple. One of the...
Read more on Parental orders following informal at home surrogacy arrangement
3 May 2023
Giving land and property to charity need not be taxing
Gifts of property or land to charities can burden people with a hefty tax bill if they are not administered properly, Jacqui Lazare, a senior associate lawyer has warned. Often charities are not able to accept such gifts as they are difficult to administer, says Jacqui, specialist in estate planning...
Read more on Giving land and property to charity need not be taxing
28 April 2023
Cost of living crisis and the impact on service charge recoveries
In February 2023, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted that the bank interest rate would make its tenth increase over the past year by 0.5ppts to 4%, being the highest level in 15 years. With inflation also rising a real strain is being put on Real Household...
Read more on Cost of living crisis and the impact on service charge recoveries
21 April 2023
The regulator is coming: the new thematic review of retirement income advice
On 19th January 2023, the FCA announced it is undertaking a thematic review assessing the advice consumers are receiving on meeting their income needs in retirement. Why is the FCA focusing on retirement income? The FCA is looking to tackle one overarching harm: people not having adequate income, or the...
Read more on The regulator is coming: the new thematic review of retirement income advice
19 April 2023
Divorce and the valuation of farm assets
Providing a realistic valuation of farm assets in the case of divorce can be ‘tricky’ not only because of the inherent uncertainties farmers face such as weather, rising prices and subsidies but now also because of a seven-year Brexit transition rule, says family law specialist Philippa Yeo. Philippa, a partner...
Read more on Divorce and the valuation of farm assets
19 April 2023
Law firm continues long standing partnership with cricket club
Clarke Willmott has renewed its partnership with Somerset County Cricket Club Having provided the club with legal advice for over 30 years, the firm will remain as Somerset’s Preferred Legal Partner. Clarke Willmott will also continue as members of the successful LBW (Leading Businesses in the West) Business Club and...
Read more on Law firm continues long standing partnership with cricket club
17 April 2023
20-week ‘no fault’ divorce moratorium ‘excessive’
A year on from the introduction of the so-called ‘no fault’ divorce law, the legislation is proving effective, but the process can take longer. Adam Maguire, a partner in our Birmingham divorce and family team, says that where once a decree nisi could be applied for straight away on receipt...
Read more on 20-week ‘no fault’ divorce moratorium ‘excessive’
14 April 2023
Prepare for imminent tax changes around divorce
Capital gains tax rules are changing to make it easier for divorcing couples to divide their assets after separating without incurring a tax charge. Leading tax lawyer, Paul Davies, who leads our Manchester private capital team, says the two taxes most affected by divorce are inheritance tax (IHT) and capital...
Read more on Prepare for imminent tax changes around divorce
14 April 2023