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A Trustees' Duty to Ensure Public Benefit Always Outweighs Private Benefit

Craig Staten-Spencer
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As a charity trustee, you hold a position of trust and responsibility. One of your most fundamental duties is to ensure that your charity operates for the public benefit,   not for private gain. This principle is at the heart of charity law and...

Renter's Rights Act to Come Into Force on 1st May 2026

Kelly Willows
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Last week the Government confirmed that the first phase of the changes under the Renter’s Rights Act will take effect on 1 st May 2026 which means that from this date, all existing and new private tenancies in England will move on to the new system. ...

Back to Basics: Divorce and Finance

Ellen Nicholas
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Divorce can feel overwhelming and when finances are involved, the complexity often multiplies. From dividing assets to understanding maintenance and pensions, there are countless questions people face during this process. In this blog,...

A Practical Guide to Probate

Lyndzey Smissen
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Probate is one of those terms that is often mentioned without any real context or explanation as to what it really means. It is often used generally when discussing the need to administer an Estate after someone dies. This blog aims to answer those initial...

Why Incorporating Contract Terms Can Make or Break Your Case

Lauren Pitts
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In commercial disputes, the contract is everything. When a dispute lands in court, the first question is: what did the parties actually agree to? If key terms were not properly incorporated, even the strongest position can quickly unravel. So what does...

A Guide to Planning for the Future with Roythornes

Elizabeth Young
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It’s something to celebrate that more people enjoy longer lives these days, but it also brings with it the challenge of planning for future care needs. Advance care planning is about preparing for the possibility that you or your loved ones may need...

A Guide to Selling Property Under a Lasting Power of Attorney

Fiona Yorath
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Over one million Powers of Attorney are registered in England & Wales every year, with the most significant asset attorneys need to deal with often being the donor’s home. However, many attorneys may not fully understand what is required of them...

Why the Family Court Refused a Move to Dubai

Layla Babadi
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A family court has denied permission for a mother to relocate her child to Dubai, citing the child’s welfare and the importance of maintaining his relationship with his father. His Honour Judge Willans made the ruling in the case of  SA v JR...

Government to Remove Presumption of Parental Involvement from the Children Act

Ellen Nicholas
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The Government have today, 22 October 2025, announced their plans to reform the Children Act 1989 and to remove the Presumption of Parental Involvement. The Effect of the Presumption of Parental Involvement The Presumption of Parental Involvement guided...

Trustees and CRBOT: What You Need to Know About Registering Irish Trusts

Craig Staten-Spencer
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If you’re a trustee of a trust with any connection to Ireland, you may be legally required to register that trust with the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Trusts (CRBOT) . This obligation is part of Ireland’s anti-money laundering...

What is a 'No Contest' Clause in a Will?

Jak Ward
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A ‘no contest’ clause is a clause which is commonly found in Wills, also known as a ‘forfeiture’ clause. What does a no contest clause do? A no contest clause aims to discourage disputes over the estate . It typically reads...

Could Your Business Survive a Cyber Attack?

Julia Seary
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Recent high-profile cyber incidents demonstrate how attacks on businesses can seriously disrupt operations and damage profitability and reputation. The government has recently written to all FTSE companies as well as a number of other leading UK firms with a...

Modernising Marriage: The Latest on Wedding Law Reform

Layla Babadi
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Couples “tying the knot” are to have more freedom over how/where they say “I do”, with reforms allowing them to get married on beaches and at heritage sites. Under the reforms, couples will be able to marry in a wider range of...

Two Years On: Why Are So Many Still Unaware of the Part 2A Building Regulation Changes?

Derryn Rolfe
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On 1 October 2023 the changes to Part 2A of the Building Regulations came into force, yet every week I come across developers, contractors, consultants and sub-contractors who have no idea that the not-very-new duties even exist, much less what it means to...

Understanding Waste Regulation: Part six - Transport Companies

Rebecca Ironmonger
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In earlier blogs in this series, we have detailed the general duty of care all parties handling waste need to comply with and what information needs to be included in a waste transfer note. Here we look specifically at what you need to do if you are a...

Playing It Smart: The Bowls Approach to Debt Recovery

Martin Spencer
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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...

Understanding Waste Regulation: Part five - Waste Transfer Notes

Rebecca Ironmonger
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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...

Cementing the Basics - Part two

Derryn Rolfe
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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. ...

5 Ways to Avoid a Construction Dispute

Derryn Rolfe
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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...

Employment Law Update - October 2025

Phil Cookson
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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...

Go Green This Halloween

Megan  Thomas
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Halloween is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the world, but it can also be a little scary for the planet. With a bit of planning and some conscious choices, you can enjoy the festivities sustainably by reducing waste and minimising your carbon...

Estate Planning After Pension Reforms: The Growing Role of Family Investment Companies

Joanna Grewer
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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....

Cementing the Basics - Part one

Derryn Rolfe
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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...

Understanding Waste Regulation: Part four - Permits, Exclusions, Exemptions and Position Statements

Rebecca Ironmonger
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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...

Understanding Waste Regulation: Part three - The Waste Duty of Care

Rebecca Ironmonger
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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...

Understanding Waste Regulation: Part two - Getting Back to Basics

Rebecca Ironmonger
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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...

Photography Competition 2025

Ann Barrasso
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Twenty-seven staff members took part in our Best of Nature Photography Competition, submitting a fantastic range of images celebrating the beauty, wildlife and landscapes of the natural world. Entries were judged anonymously against three key criteria:...

Martha's Rule Goes National: Strengthening Patient Voices in Healthcare

Jake Fish
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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...

Understanding Waste Regulation: Part one - The Law on Waste

Rebecca Ironmonger
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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...

Employment Law Update - September 2025

Phil Cookson
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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)...

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