Read our latest articles, news briefs and legal updates across all our different services.
Companies that fail to pay their suppliers on time could soon be prevented from winning government contracts. Ministers say the new Prompt Payment Initiative is designed to ease the pressure on small businesses. It’s due to come into force in the Autumn this year and will ensure the government only does business with companies who
A British technology firm has been granted a UK patent for an anti-malware system despite claims that similar techniques already existed. The High Court ruled that the method developed by Glasswall (IP) Ltd (2018) demonstrated an inventive step and was valid. The patent described a method of resisting the spread of unwanted code and data
A tenant has been awarded a refund of more than £18,000 after a wall collapsed at the property he was renting. The court heard that the tenant had signed a two-year lease on a house with no break clause. He paid all the £34,000 rent in advance. After moving in, the tenant contacted the letting
A franchise chain has been awarded £21,000 compensation after a former client breached its trademarks. The case involved Mr Waseem Ghias who owned several trademarks using the words GRILLER and GRILLO, which he used in association with a network of fried chicken restaurant franchises. Muhammad Khalid Malik became a franchisee for a while but then
A landlord has been ordered to cut its service charges covering several years by 50% because they did not represent a reasonable proportion of the costs involved. The case involved a tenant who owned the lease on a flat within a converted factory. The landlord was a residents’ association managed by other tenants. The
Settling contract disputes through court action doesn’t necessarily mean having to go through a full trial. Often, it’s possible to get a ‘summary judgment’ in which a decision is given in favour of one of the parties if it’s felt the other side has no reasonable chance of success. A recent case before the High
The High Court has approved a divorce settlement that shares the couple’s assets 60 – 40 in the husband’s favour, on the basis that it was a fair outcome for both husband and wife. The couple married in May 2008 and separated in June 2016. They had two children, aged nine and six. For the
More than six out of 10 people are unaware that will-writers who aren’t solicitors are unregulated and may have no insurance and very little experience. The Wills & Probate Consumer Research Report 2018 shows that only 37% of adults have made a will. It says the wills ‘take-up’ is skewed towards older age groups with
The government has unveiled plans to ensure home buyers, sellers, tenants, landlords and leaseholders receive the best possible service from property agents. A new working group, chaired by Lord Best, and made up of experts from across the property sector will consider areas that can be improved. This will include the case for regulation
The Court of Protection has appointed a deputy to look after the interests of a woman who lacked capacity to manage her property and affairs. The woman was 71 and prior to becoming ill, had not set up a Lasting Power of Attorney, which would have enabled her to appoint someone in advance to look