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Insights

Changes to Minimum Wage and National Living Wage

Posted on 28th March 2024 in Employment

Minimum wage increases come into force from 1st April each year and this year is no exception, with the latest rates being announced in the 2024 Budget. If you have not already done so, now is the time to check you have the appropriate pay adjustments in hand.

Posted by

Joanna Parry

Associate and Solicitor

Insights

Probate Service in Recovery After Management Shake-Up

Posted on 21st March 2024 in Probate & Wills, Later Life Planning

The UK government has claimed that the probate service is now in recovery mode after replacing its senior management team following a series of delays and complaints.

Posted by

Sue Halfyard

Partner & Chartered Legal Executive

Insights

Poor Results for Maternity Services Inspection in Devon Hospitals

Posted on 19th March 2024 in Medical Negligence

At the end of 2023, the Care Quality Commission published reports that highlighted concerns about the safety standards of maternity units across the country.

Posted by

Clair Hemming

Partner and Solicitor

Insights

New ‘Complaint Handling Code’ From the Housing Ombudsman Service

Posted on 18th March 2024 in Affordable Housing

Complaint handling in the social housing sector has been the focus of significant attention in recent years, particularly in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and the tragic death of Awaab Ishak.

Posted by

Michael Taylor

Partner & Solicitor

Insights

Can You Prevent People From Bringing an Inheritance Act Claim?

Posted on 14th March 2024 in Dispute Resolution, Probate & Wills

In a recent High Court case, the Court considered whether a deceased’s wife lost the money left to her in her husband’s Will because she brought a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 (“the 1975 Act”). 

Posted by

Martin Laver

Partner and Solicitor

Insights

‘Fake It Till You Make It’: Mitigating AI-Generated Falsified Job Applications

Posted on 12th March 2024 in Data Protection

‘Fake it till you make it’ is a phrase known to many; it means to act confidently in what you’re doing when you don’t feel it until you achieve your objective. This article considers the risks associated with job applicants using artificial intelligence (AI) to complete recruitment exercises and how it may impact your business.

Posted by

Charlotte Yendell

Trainee Solicitor

Insights

NO MORE Week – Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

Posted on 07th March 2024 in Family Law

Domestic abuse covers a range of types of abuse, including, but not limited to, physical, psychological, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. It is defined as any incident of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members.

Posted by

Sophie Charlton-Rigg

Paralegal

Insights

Acting as a Certificate Provider: What Do I Need to Know?

Posted on 05th March 2024 in Probate & Wills, Later Life Planning

The role of certificate provider was introduced by the Office of the Public Guardian as a safeguard for people signing Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). LPAs are used to appoint attorneys to assist with a person’s affairs, which could include their finances and their personal welfare.

Posted by

Emma McAdam

Solicitor

Insights

Buying a Farm as a Home

Posted on 05th March 2024 in Rural Property & Countryside Matters, Residential Property

Fresh air, closer to nature, room to grow, the ability to forge farming and other business ventures, control your own space and to positively affect the landscape and ecosystem around you; there are many reasons why farms can be great places to live, work and raise families.

Posted by

Josh Gilbert

Partner & Solicitor

Insights

Charities Act 2022 – further changes come into force

Posted on 04th March 2024 in Charities and Social Enterprise

This Thursday 7 March will see the third phase of updates to the Charities Act 2022 come into force. The below insight provides a summary of the changes that you need to be aware of.

Posted by

Amy Laver

Partner and Solicitor

Insights

The Snow Globe Wars: Aldi’s Appeal Shattered

Posted on 04th March 2024 in Dispute Resolution

There continues to be many widely publicised examples of retailers taking legal action to protect their much-loved products against lookalike products circulating in the market and IP lawyers have been eagerly anticipating the judgment on Aldi’s attempt to overturn the judgment made last year. The result? M&S were victorious as Aldi’s appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Posted by

Jessica Whittick

Solicitor

Insights

How Remote Witnessing of Wills Changed During the Pandemic and Beyond

Posted on 29th February 2024 in Probate & Wills, Later Life Planning

In September 2020, the UK Parliament passed an order that amended the Wills Act 1837, a law that dates back to the Victorian era. The order allowed people to make valid Wills by using video-conferencing or other visual transmission, as long as the witnesses could see and hear the testator (the person making the Will) in real time. This was a temporary measure to help people who were self-isolating or facing lockdown restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The order applied to Wills made on or after 31 January 2020, and was initially set to expire on 31 January 2022.

Posted by

Sue Halfyard

Partner & Chartered Legal Executive