On 19 September 2024 the Care Quality Commission published its report on the state of Maternity Units in England. The report was based on inspections of 131 Maternity Units over a two year period. It found 47% of services were inadequate or required...
Many sufferers of allergies arising out of products of animal origin, for example lactose from dairy, have rightly identified that food shopping is fraught with difficulties and the range of truly ‘safe’ products is small. They have therefore...
Following a flurry of news reports involving individuals who have been injured at fairgrounds, this article discusses the obligations of theme park, funfair and fairground attractions and how we can help should an injury occur. A family day out at an...
Rebecca Ironmonger provides a legal update following the passing of the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act 2024 (“DMCC Act”) earlier this year and explores the potential impacts of this piece of legislation on businesses. In May...
Recent equine news reports have been full of the court case involving Eric Lamaze and a $572,000 dispute. Whist disputes on this scale are quite rare, disputes over alleged mis-selling are becoming commonplace in the UK. There appear to be a number of...
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has just reported on it’s main findings after seven years. The Chairman, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, architect Thouria Istephan and housing expert Ali Akbor spoke. The inquiry has found that decades of failure led to the fire in...
News 📰 Compressed hours proposal At the end of August, it was suggested that, as part of their employment law reforms, the Labour government may allow employees to work a four-day week. Beyond the current provisions allowing employees to request...
Over the last thirty years the number of divorces between men and women aged 60 and over has increased by an astounding 85% despite an overall decline in divorce rates. The last decade has shown men over 65 divorcing has risen by 23% and the number of women...
Disputes concerning finances, inheritance and property are often complex, and therefore expensive to resolve through court. These types of disputes also frequently involve family members, which can make them particularly distressing. These factors mean that...
Providence Building Services Ltd (“Providence”) entered into a JCT Design and Build Contract (2016 Edition – “the JCT Contract” ) with Hexagon Housing Association Ltd (“Hexagon”). Hexagon were late paying on...
In this short blog, Julie Robinson looks at whether tenant farmers faced with a Case B notice to quit can successfully challenge that notice where land continues to have some agricultural use following development. The grounds for a Case B notice to quit...
In the recent case of Coulson v Paul the court considered whether Emma Coulson could inherit from the estate of her biological grandfather, Allan Paul, despite having been adopted. Allan Paul died in 2021, leaving a Will that dated back to 2012. Allan had...
Testamentary capacity is the ability of someone (a “testator”) to give instructions for, and then execute, a Will. The test for testamentary capacity is determined by the court, and follows principles laid down in case law. This is different from...
Every horse owner knows the hard work and cost that comes with it. The payoff, however, is having a deep connection with your horse, and forming a team with them. This applies to people who ride simply for pleasure, as well as those who compete. It is...
The expansion of renewable energy projects across the UK has significant legal implications for the farming sector. These projects, ranging from wind turbines to solar farms and bioenergy production, offer both opportunities and challenges for farmers....
“Testamentary freedom” is a fundamental principle of English and Welsh Law. This means that the starting point is that a testator (someone making a will) can leave their estate to whoever they wish; they are not under any obligation to leave a...
The details of the recent case involving the children of Lauryn Goodman and Kyle Walker have been played out in the tabloids and on social media for all to comment. Quite understandably, it may seem arguing about hot tubs, bespoke stair gates and astro turf...
The Daily Mail recently published an anonymous article titled “ I got Mum to change her Will so I’ll get more than my sisters without them knowing – because they barely lift a finger to help her ”. The anonymous author states...
Whether it’s a large American barn with all the fancy trimmings or a couple of wooden field shelters, building new stables is a major outlay, and you really can’t have it going wrong. There are a few things you can do to protect your cash and...
News 📰 In the first King’s Speech since the general election, the new Labour government has confirmed that it will introduce an Employment Rights Bill within its first 100 days and will publish a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. On...
As announced in the King’s Speech today, "Legislation will be introduced to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes, including ending no-fault evictions and reforming grounds for possession." Currently, Section 21...
When administering an estate, it is common for executors (or administrators when dealing in estates with no Wills) to have questions about the administration of the estate. These questions can arise through disagreements between the executors themselves, or...
A common trend in child proceedings is for parents to become overly absorbed in their own opinions and vendettas, whether consciously or subconsciously. This often results in parents losing sight of the true focus of the proceedings and what is paramount to...
On 8 July 2024, the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced Labour’s headline new planning reforms and it will be to Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (with the previous “Levelling Up”...
Following Labour’s election victory, we can expect some big changes to employment law. We covered their proposals in last month’s employment law update and they have pledged to bring in most of these within their first 100 days in office....
A Will should be drafted so that it is clear and carries out the intentions of the testator (the person making the Will). However, sometimes errors, misunderstandings or poor drafting can mean that a Will fails to carry out the testator’s intentions or...
There are many reasons for a parent wanting to relocate following a separation and divorce, including to move closer to family or a new partner or for job opportunities. Relocation will have a big impact on any children of the relationship, as well as any...
A deathbed gift, or a “ donationes mortis causa ”, is a gift made in contemplation of death. This type of gift may be a source of dispute, as it allows someone to give away their assets shortly before death, but without needing to comply with the...
News 📰 Labour’s Green Paper The big news in the employment world this month is Labour’s proposals set out in their Green Paper on changes they intend to make to employment law, should they become our next government following the...
An accident at work claim may be brought by an individual who has suffered an accident in the workplace which was someone else’s fault. Recent statistics have revealed that the number of accident at work claims registered with the Compensation...
