Williamsons Solicitors News Stories
Patents made simple
Responding to many representations about the cost of obtaining intellectual property (IP) protection in the UK, the Intellectual Property Office have announced a new, free patent system called Ipsum… Read More
Immigration rule changes – NHS debts
Some NHS treatment is only free to those who are ordinarily resident in the UK or who are exempt from the charges under the law. Changes to the Immigration Rules currently before Parliament will mean… Read More
Tax man after life coach..
Life coaches may need help to get their lives back on track if HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is successful in its latest blitz. Life coaches, music teachers and other private tutors are being… Read More
First Bribery Act conviction
The Bribery Act 2010 came into force on 1 July 2011 making it an offence for a person to request, agree to receive or accept a financial or other advantage intending that, in consequence, a relevant… Read More
Horses for courses
It is generally accepted that property valuation is at best an imprecise science. Accordingly, when the accuracy of a valuation is in dispute, the courts have adopted the idea of a ‘bracket’ or… Read More
Disabled husband wins extra
A recent dispute over a divorce settlement dealt with an unusual situation. The husband had been in an accident and was partially disabled. He had received £500,000 in compensation as a result. The… Read More
Sister fights £5,000,000 gifts to ‘Favourite Daughter'
A ‘favourite’ child often inherits a disproportionate share of the estate of their parents, but the scale of inequality which arose when a Jersey multi-millionaire died was such that there is… Read More
Blow for wind farm shareholders
When the co-founder of two companies in the wind farm business was effectively ‘frozen out’ of them by his fellow shareholders and excluded from participating in their management, he went to… Read More
Tax exiles face HMRC onslaught
The Supreme Court has handed down its decision in Gaines-Cooper. The case involves a businessman who has been defending his right to be treated as a non-resident for UK tax purposes on the basis that… Read More
Houseowner not to blame for pool injury
An experienced swimmer who dived into a pool at a friend's late-night party and was rendered tetraplegic after hitting her head on the bottom of the pool has lost her claim for compensation. The… Read More
Pub protection plans
The Government is to consult over the use of restrictive covenants in the licensed trade following representations that the sale of pubs subject to covenants that they will not be used as pubs again… Read More
Dogs home
The question of where somebody is 'resident' is important not only for tax purposes, but also to determine where divorce proceedings can be brought. For those who lead the ‘jet-set’ lifestyle… Read More
Accident claimant jailed for false claim
A claimant who grossly exaggerated his injuries and claim for compensation following a motoring accident has been given a nine-month prison sentence for contempt of court. The claims were… Read More
Stress levels in the workplace
For the first time, stress has been reported as the most common cause of long-term sickness absence according to a survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. 39% of… Read More
Companies warned as informal strike-off rules change
Friday the 14th of October 2011 is a date almost certain to be remembered with sorrow following a poorly-publicised change to the rules governing the informal striking-off of companies. It has long… Read More
IP Infringement in the workplace – IPO Guide
Legal liability for some actions can result even where these are performed by someone else. The concept of ‘vicarious liability’ can apply in a number of situations and means that (for example)… Read More
Qualifying Period for unfair dismissal claims to rise
The Government has announced its decision to extend the qualification period for the right to claim unfair dismissal from one year to two. The change will come into force on 1 April 2012. The… Read More
Supreme Court outlaws young spouse ban
The Supreme Court has accepted that the UK legislation which prohibits the non-EU national spouse (if under 21 years old) of an EU national being granted the right to remain in the UK as of right… Read More
Mobile advertisements - planning permission
Landowners are reminded that the placing of a mobile advertisement in a field or other space next to a road may well need planning permission. There is a widespread belief that the provisions in the… Read More
A different age..
We reported in April this year on the Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provisions) Regulations 2011. These rules are now with us. Consequently, any dismissal by reference to retirement… Read More
Landlords beware!
Most landlords who have tenants on assured shorthold tenancies will be aware of their obligations to tenants with regard to the protection of their deposits and the provision of information to… Read More
Company insolvencies rising
Accountants PwC have reported that corporate insolvencies have rocketed by 9 per cent compared with the same quarter last year. Particularly hard hit were the construction (up 11 per cent)… Read More
Damages for botched hip
A woman who was left permanently disabled after a routine hip operation went wrong has won over £100,000 in damages. Margaret Peabody, 51, was suffering from painful osteoarthritis and, in 2008… Read More
VAT refunds – who benefits?
If you charge a customer VAT and subsequently discover that the transaction was exempt or zero-rated (so that VAT should not have been charged), can you just reclaim the output VAT paid incorrectly… Read More
Supernova dazzles Sky
A pub landlady, who has fought all the way to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for the right to use Nova, a Greek satellite TV company, to show Premier League matches at her pub in Portsmouth… Read More
Injury time
There is a general rule that an action for damages for personal injury must be brought within three years of the claimant becoming aware of his or her injury. Recently, a man sought damages from his… Read More
Employer not employee must assess risk
A recent case illustrates the danger for employers of falling into the trap of believing that because some training has been given, that is sufficient for them to fulfil their duty to adequately… Read More
Patents and design rights
A new regulation should make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to bring actions to protect their patent and design rights. The Patents County Court (Financial Limits) order (No. 2)… Read More
Tobacco – new limits
For travellers within the EU, there is – technically – no limit on the amount of tobacco products that can be brought into the UK for ‘personal use’. However, the importation for resale of… Read More
Parish council survives!
In the first case of its kind, the proposed abolition of a parish council has been blocked after the decision was judicially reviewed. Residents of the parish of Offerton Park objected to the… Read More
Fancy a Swift 2/3rds?
From 1 October, pubs and restaurants have been allowed to sell draft beer and cider in 2/3rd pint glasses (called ‘schooners’). Fortunately for those favouring a more traditional approach… Read More
Agency Workers Regulations
The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (AWR) came into force on 1 October 2011. All agency workers are now entitled to access certain workplace facilities and information on job vacancies from day one… Read More
Employment law "Red tape challenge" – act now!
If you have any suggestions as to how employment law regulations could be improved, simplified or even abolished, now is the time to act. From 3 to 19 October, the Government is conducting a ‘Red… Read More