Legal Updates and Articles

Will the changes in the Budget reduce my Inheritance Tax bill?
This article discusses the changes to inheritance tax following the Budget on 23rd March 2011

Data Protection
This article highlights the key legal obligations your business should consider when dealing with personal data about customers, suppliers, employees and any other individual who you may encounter in the course of business

Corporate Manslaughter
This article sets out the factors which can lead to your business being prosecuted for corporate manslaughter and the penalties for breaching the legislation.

Discrimination in the provision of goods and services
This article sets out the duties your business owes to members of the public when you provide them with goods, services or facilities. Since 1 October 2010, these rules are set out in the Equality Act 2010.

April 2011 changes to employment legislation
This article summarises the forthcoming changes to employment legislation coming into force in April 2011.

Disability discrimination – reasonable adjustments
Discrimination legislation imposes a duty on your businesses to make reasonable adjustments to premises or working practices where a disabled job applicant or employee is placed at a substantial disadvantage. Failing to comply with this duty is a form of disability discrimination. There is no limit to the amount of compensation that can be awarded for a successful disability discrimination claim. (READ MORE...)

First fines for data serious protection breaches
The Information Commissioner has sent a strong message to businesses by imposing the first monetary penalties on two organisations for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998. The fines were imposed despite both organisations voluntarily notifying the Commissioner of the breaches. (READ MORE...)

Avoid boiling water and get your boilerplates checked
Commercial contracts are a key cog in many businesses across a broad spectrum of industries. These can range from a simple contract in respect of your photocopier to contracts of greater importance like an agreement with a distributor or key supplier of goods or services that are essential to your business (READ MORE...)

Making a Will – Why use a Solicitor?
Over 60% of the adult population have not made a Will although it is relatively inexpensive and ensures that your assets will pass to your loved ones (READ MORE...)

Changes to the Intestacy Rules
When somebody dies without leaving a Will then the distribution of their assets is governed by the Intestacy Rules. The capital amount which a surviving spouse or civil partner takes outright, known as the statutory legacy, has been increased from £200,000 to £450,000 where there are no surviving children, and from £125,000 to £250,000 where there are surviving children (READ MORE...)