Cutting costs with contractual clarity
For every business, it remains important to consider and draft commercial agreements carefully. A coherent and precise contract results in all parties involved knowing the intentions of the agreement. If...
Costs of bankruptcy or winding-up petitions to increase
The Government has made its ninth amendment to insolvency fees under the Insolvency Proceedings (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2015 (SI 2015/1819). The costs of presenting a bankruptcy or winding-up petition will increase for...
Cohabitation and the demise of marriage
The latest research by the Marriage Foundation confirms that the “middle classes” are turning their back on marriage. The past 18 years has seen marriage rates fall by 25% in...
Are your attempts to limit your liability ‘reasonable’?
It is common practice for most businesses to include various limitation clauses in their standard terms and conditions with the hope that, in the event of a fault in the...
Why does it take so long to buy my house?
You’ve found your perfect home, your offer has been accepted and you’re ready to move in – so what’s the hold up? You’ve done what you need to – instructed...
Whose art is it anyway?
The art and legal worlds crossed this month when the Creative Foundation and Dreamland Leisure Limited clashed over who owned a mural attributed to the street artist Banksy. The case,...
Sotheby’s comes to town
Have you ever wondered about the value of a family heirloom? Are you thinking of selling some jewellery? Now you have the perfect opportunity as world famous Sotheby’s is coming...
Should the divorces of the rich and famous be kept secret?
When is it appropriate for the media to report financial details of a divorce? This question was addressed by Mr Justice Mostyn of the High Court recently in relation to...
Recruiters: Don’t sleep walk into losing money
If you supply temporary workers, it’s crucial to have legal contracts in place. If your contracts fail, so may your chance of recovering the fees you charge. There are three...
Lasting powers of attorney are also for the young
Many people combine successful businesses and careers with active social lives, taking skiing and sailing holidays, cycling to keep fit and generally enjoying their hard earned leisure time. The problem...
Landlords must think long-term to safeguard development potential
When granting long leases of flats, landlords should think carefully about what rights they should give over common areas; and, when responding to a claim by the lessees to acquire the freehold,...
Help! The executor isn’t doing their job
An executor is the person appointed in a Will to administer the estate of a person who has died. Acting as executor is a position of responsibility and can be...
Debenhams Ottaway wins national excellence award
Debenhams Ottaway has won the prestigious Law Society Excellence Award 2015 for their private client work. The awards, which took place at London’s Hilton Park Lane last night, celebrate leading...
Debenhams Ottaway raises over £7,000 in one week for charity
Last week Debenhams Ottaway held its second Charity Week. This time it was in aid of their chosen charities for the year Mind in Mid Herts and St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust....
Debenhams Ottaway launches debt recovery product for the recruitment sector
The recruitment sector is particularly vulnerable to the financial risk posed by bad debt and late paying clients. Debenhams Ottaway, a leading Hertfordshire law firm and REC Business Partner has...
Cheats never prosper
What an exciting day yesterday was for family lawyers. At long last the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, decided that not being entirely honest about the financial...
Bernadette Hillman guest speaker at RTPIs annual East of England Planning Law Update
Bernadette Hillman, head of planning at Debenhams Ottaway, will again be talking at the RTPI’s annual East of England Planning Law Update held at Downing College, Cambridge on 6 November 2015. Bernadette...
Who can make decisions on my future care if I can’t?
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) allow you to appoint someone you know and trust (known as an Attorney) to make decisions on your behalf should you lose mental capacity and...
What a team! Debenhams Ottaway’s Nicholas Turner listed as an elite leading lawyer by Legal 500
Debenhams Ottaway’s team of lawyers based in St Albans and Radlett has again come out on top in this year’s Legal 500 rankings. Nicholas Turner, head of the team advising...
Trustees – what are you letting yourself in for?
If you agree to be a trustee of a charity, whatever the nature of that charity, whether it is a charitable company, unincorporated association, charitable trust or otherwise, you will...