Many new driving laws will come into force in 2017. Are you aware of what they are and how they could affect you? From road tax to speeding fines, the new laws are designed to make roads safer and hit offenders hard where it hurts the most – their wallet. more
The terms ‘assault’ and ‘battery’, are classed as Summary Offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Both charges can lead to incarceration of the accused if he or she is found guilty; therefore, it is advisable to seek legal advice from an experienced criminal solicitor upon arrest. more
The UK’s Data Protection Act was passed almost twenty years ago. Since then, the collection and use of data by organisations, both public and private has changed enormously. Mobile phones now dominate how we receive and assimilate data. Giant corporations like Google and Facebook keep track of your online activities, so they can sell the information to advertisers and governments are demanding ‘big brother’ powers to access citizens’ data to protect people from terrorist attacks. more
There comes a point where every business owner needs to consider what is the best way to grow their business. If you have built up a solid brand and a proven business model, you might want to consider franchising. more
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to change the world. And not in the next 100 years. Most experts are saying we will see massive changes in the next 20 years. A recent article in the New York Times states that recent advances in AI has led lawyers to worry that they will soon be collecting unemployment benefits, having been made redundant by robots. Is this the end of law as a profession? more
Over the past few years, the Home Office has been clamping down hard on employers who it believes are not in compliance with the Sponsor Licence duties and responsibilities. This has led to the downgrading, suspension and even revocation of Sponsor Licences becoming increasingly common. There are however two steps that businesses can take to ensure they not only maintain their Sponsor Licence but also, crucially, their A-rating. more
Are you tired of being a leaseholder? Would you like to own the freehold of your building, so you can make your own decisions without being subject to your landlord’s whims? You may not be aware that subject to various qualifying criteria, tenants who hold long leases of flats have a collective right to buy the freehold of the building containing those flats together with any common areas (e.g. gardens and car parks). This is known as collective enfranchisement. more
The Equality Act 2010 outlines nine protected characteristics which it is illegal to discriminate against. It can be confusing for employers and employees to know how each characteristic is protected by law. This article is designed to help clear up any confusion. more
Pursuing litigation using funding provided by a third-party has rapidly gained a strong foothold internationally in the commercial world, becoming increasingly popular in the USA and Australia over the past few years. British lawyers and businesses have on the other hand been reluctant to embrace third-party litigation funding models, for reasons that can be traced to the ancient law of ‘Champerty’ and ‘Maintenance’. more
One of the lesser known functions of a notary involves the notarisation of matters relating to international shipping. Given that for most of civilisation’s history, the sea has been the main avenue for transporting goods and conducting trade between nations, the notary profession has had a long and distinguished involvement in the law of the sea. For example, during the colonisation of America, notaries, who were selected from individuals of the most principled character, where depended upon to provide impartial reports as to the cause of damage or loss of goods at sea. more
The housing situation in Britain reached crisis point long ago. Many of those moving into a home of their own are buying new houses, a move that is supported by the government through schemes such as the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme. But what if your dream new build turns out to be a nightmare of shoddy workmanship and numerous faults? Recently, Bovis Homes, one of the biggest housebuilders in the country was forced to pay £7 million to repair badly built homes have complaints from owners. Does this revelation mean more regulation is needed to ensure newly built homes meet a certain standard? And what can buyers do if their home has numerous serious defects? more
When you think of the crime of slavery, what period of history does your mind automatically think off? Chances are, like most people, your mind immediately flashes to images of cotton and sugar cane-filled fields in North and South America, being toiled over by African slaves, shipped by the millions through the dreaded ‘middle passage’. more
Mesothelioma is a death sentence. There is no cure and suffers usually die in agony, gasping for every last breath and finally suffocating. Terrifyingly, the cause of mesothelioma is all around us, in our homes, schools, government buildings and offices. more
Setting up a company in China requires in-house counsel teams who are tasked with ensuring the correct documentation is in place, to essentially forgo their Western sensibilities regarding how they believe that things ‘should’ work and understand and embrace Chinese corporate culture. Little things make such a difference when working in China. For example, a business card should be handed to the recipient using both hands, with the writing facing them. Also, Chinese people are very concerned about losing/saving face, so it is imperative to keep this in mind when negotiating. more