Clarke Willmott secures landmark ruling in eight-year Will dispute
News
Private wealth
Leading national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has successfully represented Fiona Burgess in Burgess v Whittle & Anor [2025] EWHC 2633 (Ch), securing a court ruling that officially recognised her mother’s 2014 Will and brought an eight-year battle to an end.
Written by
Emma Ironside
Read more on Clarke Willmott secures landmark ruling in eight-year Will dispute
Experts warn private clients to prepare for potential tax changes
News
Private wealth
Private clients and advisors are being urged to review personal wealth and estate planning strategies as speculation grows over potential tax reforms ahead of this month’s Budget.
Written by
Esther Woolford
and
Michelle Seddon
Read more on Experts warn private clients to prepare for potential tax changes
Give us a business-friendly Budget, Clarke Willmott urges Chancellor
News
Corporate and commercial law
The Chancellor must deliver “a much more business-friendly Budget” later this month if the UK is to be set on the path to growth, according to leading corporate and commercial lawyer, Richard Swain.
Written by
Richard Swain
Read more on Give us a business-friendly Budget, Clarke Willmott urges Chancellor
Renters’ Rights Act: Landlords – there’s still time to act
News
Agriculture
With the Renters’ Rights Act having received Royal Assent on 27th October, many landlords are understandably concerned about the future of Section 21 notices and their ability to regain possession of their properties.
Written by
Esther Woolford
and
Sophie Kemp
Read more on Renters’ Rights Act: Landlords – there’s still time to act
Reserved legal activities in the corporate context: challenges for non-lawyer employees
News
Commercial litigation and disputes
The recent High Court ruling in Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys 2025, examined the scope and limits of conducting reserved legal activities. The court held that employment by an authorised law firm does not entitle a non-solicitor employee to conduct litigation even under the supervision of a qualified solicitor.
Written by
Owen Williams
Read more on Reserved legal activities in the corporate context: challenges for non-lawyer employees
Could proposed tax changes prompt law firms to reconsider LLP status?
News
Corporate and commercial law
With speculation mounting that the Chancellor may introduce National Insurance levies on LLPs in the upcoming 26 November Budget, many law firm leaders are beginning to assess their structural options in order to try to mitigate any additional tax.
Written by
Kelvin Balmont
Read more on Could proposed tax changes prompt law firms to reconsider LLP status?
Maile v Maile: Farm succession dispute settled in high court
News
Agriculture
A High Court ruling has brought closure to a long-running inheritance dispute over West Hook Farm, a 170-acre mixed farm near Okehampton, Devon. The case offers important lessons for farming families planning succession and for rural professionals supporting them.
Written by
Esther Woolford
Read more on Maile v Maile: Farm succession dispute settled in high court
England’s first tenant farming commissioner : A new era for the landlord and tenant relationship
News
Agriculture
The Commissioner’s focus is on improving relationships between tenant farmers, landlords, and agents, as well as promoting fair and transparent conduct within the farming sector. Alan Laidlaw brings over 25 years of experience in agriculture and land management, including senior roles at the Crown Estate and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
Written by
Esther Woolford
Read more on England’s first tenant farming commissioner : A new era for the landlord and tenant relationship
New fraud regulations: What UK farming businesses need to know
News
Agriculture
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduces a new offence: failure to prevent fraud. This is largely aimed at bigger organisations, but some farming businesses could be caught by the rules, especially those operating at scale or within larger groups.
Written by
Sam Harkness
Read more on New fraud regulations: What UK farming businesses need to know
