I am part of the debt recovery team at Roythornes. Outside of work, I play bowls at a competitive level and have been fortunate to win national and international titles -including the national singles in 2016, world mixed pairs in 2017 and a gold medal at...
The most vital piece of paperwork in any waste transaction is the description of waste transfer note. It is a criminal offence to not produce a valid and accurate transfer note, to not ensure there is one (if you are not the one producing it) and to not keep...
In the second installment of 'cementing the basics' I am going to be looking at the other two factors that need to be considered for the successful procurement of a project: understanding the parties; and attention to detail. ...
Disagreements in construction projects can quickly become costly, stressful, and time-consuming. By taking proactive steps at the outset, parties can minimise risk, protect relationships, and keep projects running smoothly. Pre-qualify before...
News 📰 Government launches four consultations on Employment Rights Bill reforms The Government has launched four consultations in relation to four new rights and protections that may be introduced by the Employment Rights Bill. The consultation...
Family Investment Companies (FICs) have been in use since 2006 as a tool for tax planning among high-net-worth individuals. With upcoming changes to pension legislation and proposed reforms to inheritance tax, FICs are experiencing renewed interest....
Successful procurement is mostly about three things: understanding the deal; understanding the parties; and attention to detail. Here I am looking at the first one, as it is the first issue to consider, and sets the project up for success. Understanding...
You’ve read our last three blogs on waste and have determined that the material you want to dispose of, move or use is likely to be classified as waste and you know you have a duty of care to ensure that the waste is dealt with in accordance with...
Unlike many areas of regulatory law, where each person is only responsible for their own small section of the chain and only need have knowledge of the person who gave them a product and the person they sold it to, waste law is different and far more...
The legal definition of waste is at first blush simple, a material which the current holder has discarded is waste. However, this apparent simplicity is deceptive. When determining whether a material has been discarded and is therefore legally...
Following a successful pilot scheme, Martha’s Rule has been extended across all of England’s acute NHS hospitals as of the 4 th of September 2025. The Success of Martha’s Rule and extension of the Scheme After extensive campaigning by...
The law on waste is quite frankly a minefield of utter nonsense drafted originally by the EU and further refined, and complicated, by the UK parliament and the Environment Agency. Sometimes, waste is exactly what you think it is - a load of...
News 📰 National Living Wage Rates likely to be between £12.55 to £12.86 from April 2026 On 5 August 2025, the government published the Low Pay Commission’s remit for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW)...
James Dinsdale, an accountant, died in 2020 leaving behind an estate worth £1.8 million. James was survived by his legal wife, Dr Victoria Fowell, and his partner Margaret Dinsdale. James had married Victoria in Las Vegas in 2012. They later separated...
In a press release dated 30 June 2025, the Environment Agency announced that they are doubling the funding for inspections of farms “as part of a wider drive to help farmers slash agricultural pollution”. But what will that mean practically for...
Being a trustee of any type of trust (and there are many!) is a serious responsibility. Whilst the word “discretion” might suggest freedom to make decisions, trustees are bound by a framework of legal duties, designed to protect beneficiaries and...
As a popular baking show returns to our screens, its blend of precision, patience, and occasional drama offers a surprisingly apt parallel to the world of debt recovery . Just like baking a flawless Victoria sponge, collecting outstanding debts requires the...
Passwords and passkeys go hand in hand with sensitive and confidential information - emails, bank accounts, digital assets, and data stored on the cloud. From having one password for everything (definitely not recommended!), to separate passwords for...
October 2024’s Budget announced a raft of changes to Inheritance Tax (“ IHT ”) which have been extensively covered in the press and by this Firm. To summarise (very briefly!): Agricultural Property Relief (“ APR ”) and...
A recent High Court ruling has demonstrated the critical need for transparency within financial remedy proceedings upon divorce . Mr Mario Michael, a successful property developer in London with an interest in 200 properties, was ordered to pay his ex-wife...
As the Government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill is still working its way through Parliament, a new section has been added that will make non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) relating to discrimination or harassment unenforceable. What are the...
News 📰 It has been a quiet month, but section 1 of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 did come into force on 1 August 2025. The legislation prevents English higher education providers from entering into a non-disclosure agreement with...
The UK data protection law requires all businesses which are collecting, receiving and dealing (ie. ‘processing’) personal data to adhere to the ‘ transparency principle ’ - i.e. to ensure transparency with the individual whose...
In order to be valid, a Will must be signed by the testator (the person making the Will) in the presence of two witnesses. But what happens when there are suspicions that the testator’s signature is not genuine? The recent case of Khatun v Hasan &...
In light of the recent CEO and HR Manager cheating scandal that is taking the internet by storm, it draws the mind to the consequences of such affairs on the relationships and marriages of the individuals involved. Sometimes life throws curveballs and you...
Your spouse may have a Will in place which leaves some or all of their estate to you. However, over 50% of UK adults have no Will in place. If your spouse dies without having a valid Will, their estate will be governed by the intestacy rules. The intestacy...
Does the ice cream van jingle really mean they're out of ice cream? No, but your overdue invoices might mean you're out of cash - a common challenge for seasonal businesses and SMEs. As summer is here, we are using the ice cream van for our story,...
If you are the owner of a small company, particularly one where you are the sole director and shareholder, it might be easy to think of the Company’s money as being your own. You may be tempted to withdraw money from the company to fund your own...
Professionals do not like to admit it, but sometimes mistakes happen. This may be incorrect advice or drafting a Will or trust that does not quite make sense, fails to reflect the individual’s intentions, or even creates rather than reduces tax...
While details are still emerging, yesterday it was announced that Christian Horner, principal of the Red Bull F1 team has been dismissed with immediate effect after 20 years. Mr Horner faced allegations of sexual harassment and coercive and controlling...
