The rise of cryptocurrency in divorce
The division of property and other assets is a key part of the divorce process. It is important for separating couples to understand their value as some assets, such as...
Have you been offered a settlement agreement?
With the end of furlough looming, we are seeing an increase in employees needing settlement agreement advice. Settlement agreements are legal documents that prevent an employee from making an employment...
Helping a membership organisation bring a £1.2m negligence claim against software developers
We helped a professional membership body bring a c. £1.2 million professional negligence claim against a software development company. The membership organisation had engaged the software development company to develop...
Bringing a wrongful trading claim against the director of an insolvent golf tour company
We helped an individual at an insolvency practitioners’ firm bring a claim for wrongful trading and breach of duty against a director of a golf tour company. Before the company...
New self-isolation rules – key implications for employers
From Monday 16 August people who have come into contact with a positive covid case and are double-jabbed or under 18 years old will no longer be legally required to...
The role of domicile in succession planning
“Domicile” is a key concept in successful estate planning. In England and Wales, domicile has a specific legal meaning. It is often incorrectly understood to be your place of residence...
Court of Protection disputes
The Court of Protection (COP) is the specialist court that makes decisions on financial or welfare matters for people who lack mental capacity to make decisions at the time they...
Court of appeal overturns case based on strict wording in break clause
The case of Capitol Park Leeds PLC v Global Radio Services Limited, highlights that attention to detail is needed with the wording of property break clauses. as “vacant possession of...
Protecting a surviving husband from eviction
We represented a surviving spouse in a matter concerning his late wife’s valuable estate interest in a Hertfordshire property. Following negligent property and will writing advice given to the couple...
Defeating an Inheritance Act 1975 claim by the deceased’s child
Our client was the main beneficiary of her late partner’s estate and subject to a claim made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975. The claim was...
Debenhams Ottaway is the leading private wealth legal adviser in the area
Debenhams Ottaway continues to be the only firm ranked in band 1 for private wealth law in the recently published Chambers High Net Worth 2021 guide, firmly establishing the team...
Small claims track trial success recovering Property Management Company’s letting fees
We have recently been instructed by a leading national residential property management agency in relation to the recovery of letting fees owed to them by a landlord. Our client locates...
Practice Direction: New rules will not necessarily prevent witness statements from expressing an opinion on the facts
Practice Direction 57AC came into force in April 2021, introducing new rules to deal with “over-lawyered trial witness statements” in the business and property courts. The first case where the...
Helping with the acquisition of a holiday lodge business and residential dwelling
We helped our clients with the acquisition of: i) a holiday lodge business operated in Cambridgeshire by one of the two sellers ii) a residential dwelling owned and occupied by...
Helping sellers of shareholdings in a care home group in the West Midlands
We helped three of five sellers of significant shareholdings in five private limited companies, which together own and operate three care homes across the West Midlands. The purchase price comprised:...
Negotiating leases for a charity’s new leisure centres
InspireAll is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee that provides community sport, recreational and arts services. After a successful bid to run two multi-million-pound leisure centres in Hertsmere and Milton Keynes, they...
Helping a property developer with a complex lease and its assignment
We helped a property developer with a particularly complex lease and its assignment in central London. The developer owned a freehold property in Fleet Street, which unusually did not include...
Renewing the lease for an educational charity’s head office
We acted for an educational foundation on the lease renewal of its head office. The charity had occupied the property (two adjoining buildings) for around five years under an excluded...
Advising on a contested Will with major UK charity beneficiaries
A million pound plus valued estate included some major UK charities as beneficiaries. A family member who was unhappy with the legacy left to them threatened a legal challenge on...
Helping a famous band bring a £13m negligence claim against its tax advisors
The members of a famous band engaged well-known accountants to provide tax planning advice between 2013 and 2016. The advice received was to use an Employee Shareholder Scheme (ESS) to...