Read our latest articles, news briefs and legal updates across all our different services.
A firm of surveyors who secured a business rate reduction for a shop had provided a ‘claims management service’ and were entitled to payment in full as agreed in the contract. The issue arose after Bias Harrogate Ltd engaged RVA Surveyors Ltd to secure a reduction in the business rates it paid to the local
The Employment Tribunal has ruled that the supermarket chain Lidl failed to properly investigate the case of one of its caretakers who caused alarm to colleagues when, among other things, he showed off a swastika tattoo. It ruled that Mr I Horvarth, from Hungary, was unfairly dismissed following various complaints against him. In one incident,
The government is continuing its support for tenants to protect them from being evicted during the Covid-19 pandemic, even though lockdown restrictions have now been eased. As part of a phased approach back to normality, notice periods – previously extended to 6 months as an emergency measure during the pandemic – are now set at
The government is introducing new legislation to target company directors who dissolve their businesses for their own gain and leave staff or taxpayers out of pocket. The Insolvency Service will be given powers to investigate directors of companies that have been dissolved, closing a legal loophole and acting as a strong deterrent against the misuse
A company has lost $3m dollars because it had agreed to contradictory contract terms when entering into a purchase agreement. The case involved Septo Trading Inc, which contracted to import fuel oil supplied by Tintrade Ltd. The terms were recorded in an email confirmation (the Recap). A clause in the Recap stated that a quality
Three well-known national companies have failed to stop a rent arrears claim against them despite arguing that their businesses had been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The case involved two commercial landlords and their tenants Cine-UK Ltd, Sports Direct and Mecca Bingo. The landlords applied for summary judgment in claims for rents due under
Samantha is a 2nd year trainee at Machins Solicitors. Having worked previously in another Bedfordshire firm as a conveyancing assistant, Samantha’s background leans mostly towards property matters. Samantha’s seats have included Commercial Property (6 months), Family (9 months), and is finishing her training contract in Dispute Resolution (9 months). Samantha is due to qualify in
Training Contracts are highly sought after and what follows is an extremely competitive market where only a lucky few are successful in their bid to obtain one. Accordingly, it’s crucial to make the most of the golden opportunity so that by the end of your Training Contract, you can look back with no regrets having
Similar to my predecessors I accepted a Training Contract offer at Machins a year in advance of my start date. In what should have been a year full of anticipation, I spent the latter part of it frantically expecting a dreaded phone call or email to explain that my start date was due to be
In the management of any business, the balance between cost and risk is critical. We recognise that taking legal advice on employment matters is a cost to our clients’ businesses and it is important to drive that cost down as far as reasonably possible; however, where cost is squeezed, risk can increase. By waiting to