Gardner Leader

News

• Common misconceptions in Family Law

  In this article, Jo Beasley, Family Practitioner in Thatcham, addresses some of the common misconceptions that she encounters from clients, such as 'quickie' divorces, legal aid and the rights of grandparents.

• Property Matters: Cohabitation

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader LLP, examines how cohabiting couples should safeguard their interests in a property if they are not married or have a civil partnership.

• Debunking legal myths about common-law partnerships

  Collette Bailey, Partner in the Family Team at Gardner Leader LLP solicitors, clears up some common misconceptions about the rights of unmarried partners and their entitlements if they should separate / divorce.

• Social Networking Sites - the impact on employers

  Recent press articles have highlighted the growing impact of social networking sites on the employment relationship. Julie Taylor, Employment Solicitor at Gardner Leader LLP explores some of the key issues and the steps employers can take to manage the risks.

• The Merits of Video Wills

  Video Wills have been a hot topic in the news lately, after research commissioned by Remember a Charity found that 63% of the population would consider making one.

• Changes to paternity leave

  The Government intends to introduce additional paternity leave by allowing leave to be transferred between parents, with the new rights applying to parents of children born on or after 3 April 2011. Julie Taylor, Employment Solicitor, reviews the developments.

• 'Fit Notes' - What do they mean for employers?

  The Statutory Sick Pay (amendment) Regulations are due to come into force in April this year, bringing with them a new system to replace the current sick note scheme. The aim is to promote well-being and reduce the huge cost of sickness absence to UK businesses. Employment solicitor Julie Taylor answers some key questions about the forthcoming changes.

• Wills – Your New Year’s Resolution?

  Many of you will have an item at the bottom of your “to do list” reminding you to make a Will, or maybe this is one of your New Year resolutions? Rob Jobson, Partner in the Inheritance Protection Team at Gardner Leader, sets out some of the benefits of making a Will to encourage you to get this ticked off on your list early in 2010!

• Considering separation - where do you turn?

  In this article Seona Myerscough, Partner within the Family Team at Gardner Leader LLP solicitors in Newbury, answers a question that may be troubling many at this time of year – what should you do if you are considering separation or divorce? And the simple answer is – seek advice early.

• Property Surveys reduces risk

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader LLP, is surprised that nearly 80 per cent of homebuyers still do not bother to obtain a professional survey when purchasing their new home. The risks in not doing so can be enormous.

• Verbal Contracts – why they should be avoided!

  Greg Humphreys, a partner in the Commercial Team at Newbury solicitors, Gardner Leader, considers a recent case which serves as a reminder that clients should ensure that their contractual arrangements are fully documented in writing.

• The Gardner Leader Commercial Team - From strength to strength

  Corporate partner Derek Rodger looks back at the successes of the Commercial Team in recent years.

• Gardner Leader retains ranking in Legal 500 for a third year

  Newbury-based solicitors Gardner Leader LLP have maintained their strong presence in this year’s Legal 500 law directory, receiving rankings for their corporate/commercial, commercial litigation, family, personal injury and commercial property teams.

• MBOs – TAKING CONTROL

  The management buyout or ‘MBO’ is an increasingly common means for business owners to achieve an exit from their business. Selling to the existing management can be an attractive option for both sides. In this article, Derek Rodgers, Commercial Partner at Gardner Leader solicitors, looks at what is involved.

• What does a Conveyancing Solicitor actually do?

  Robert Parsonson, Associate in the Property team at Gardner Leader LLP, looks at what activities a Conveyancing Solicitor has to undertake in each property transaction.

• A Watertight Website Disclaimer?

  Chris Felton, Dispute Resolution Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury looks at the Courts’ recent guidance in relation to the potential liability of a website to its visitors.

• Probate – what is it and how does it work?

  This month Lucy Samara, Inheritance Protection Solicitor at Gardner Leader LLP, takes a look at the often confusing issue of Probate.

• Security for costs - Don’t let your legal defence leave you out of pocket

  Chris Felton, Partner in the Dispute Resolution Team at Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury explains in what circumstances the courts will grant security for costs to protect a defendant should the claimant be financially unsatble.

• Cohabitation versus Marriage – how does the law intervene when it all goes wrong?

  Seona Myerscough, Partner within the Family Team at Gardner Leader solicitors, takes a look at how differently cohabitation is treated by the law to marriage.

• An Inspector Calls: The value of Energy Performance Certificates

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, takes a look at the value of Energy Performance Certificates.

• New Partner for Gardner Leader

  Newbury-based law firm Gardner Leader is pleased to announce the promotion of Robert Jobson to Partner in the Inheritance Protection Team.

• Deputyship Applications

  Lucy Samara, Solicitor within the Inheritance Protection Team at Gardner Leader LLP Solicitors, explains what happens with your affairs on the loss of mental capacity

• Deposits – truly non-refundable!

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader LLP, explains the true meaning of a deposit and its consequential loss should you default on the purchase of a property.

• Ready to Retire?

  On Tuesday 14th July 2009 the Government announced that a review of the default retirement age planned for 2011 will be brought forward by a year. Julie Taylor, Employment Solicitor at Gardner Leader LLP, briefly looks at what the current UK retirement provisions are and why these are going to be reviewed.

• Listed Building Consents

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, examines what it means for a building to be listed and advises what to look out for when purchasing such a property.

• The perils of online defamation

  Chris Felton, Partner in the Dispute Resolution Team at Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury comments on the increasing risks of defamation on the internet.

• Hidden fees when selling retirement properties

  Robert Parsonson, Conveyancing Associate at Gardner Leader Solicitors, reports on the sale of retirement properties and an unexpected fee that can crop up within the lease.

• Company succession: planning for the inevitable

  Robert Jobson, Associate within the Inheritance Protection Team at Gardner Leader LLP Solicitors, explains why it is important for business owners to prepare a will.

• Changes in Discipline and Dismissal Procedures

  Under the Employment Act 2008, the Statutory Discipline and Dismissal Procedures have been repealed with effect from 6 April 2009. Gardner Leader Employment Lawyer Julie Taylor highlights some of the key changes that employers should look out for when taking disciplinary action or considering dismissing an employee.

• Experienced fatal accident lawyers offer help to Super Puma families.

  Two leading litigation lawyers have offered their legal experience and expertise to the relatives of the victims of the Super Puma helicopter tragedy which killed 16 people last month.

• Choosing the right Personal Injury Lawyer

  Litigation Solicitor Andrew Shipp of Gardner Leader LLP examines the benefits of exercising careful consideration when choosing a solicitor to represent your personal injury claim.

• Solicitors advise on economy-boosting £30m investment fund

  Newbury-based solicitors firm, Gardner Leader LLP, has recently advised Aberdeen Asset Managers Private Equity (“Aberdeen”) following their appointment to manage a new investment fund, designed by the Government to support small and medium sized enterprises (‘SMEs’) which are fundamentally sound but facing funding difficulties as a result of the current economic situation.

• When you can’t afford to pay maintenance…

  Couples who were divorcing six to twelve months ago, may have reached a settlement based on a vastly different set of financial circumstances than they have before them now. Seona Myerscough, family lawyer at Gardner Leader solicitiors, offers some advice to those who have found themselves in this position.

• Under the Hammer

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, offers some advice to those interested in buying a property at auction.

• Employment Law Update

  With the arrival of April comes another round of Employment Law changes, from an increase in the amount of statutory holiday to the complete repeal of the Statutory Discipline and Dismissal procedures. Gardner Leader Employment Lawyer Julie Taylor highlights some of the key legal changes and examines what these might mean for your business.

• More scope to improve your home

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, examines the changes to planning permission that have made it easier for home-owners to improve their home.

• Safeguarding your business against the insolvency of others

  Greg Humphreys, a partner in the Commercial Team at Newbury Solicitors Gardner Leader, is keen to ensure that his clients carefully consider the benefits of a shareholders’ agreement, before its absence causes them significant additional headaches (and wasted costs).

• A Dog's Day is Done:

  Greg Humphreys, a partner in the Commercial Team at Newbury Solicitors Gardner Leader, is keen to ensure that his clients carefully consider the benefits of a shareholders’ agreement, before its absence causes them significant additional headaches (and wasted costs).

• Shareholders’ Agreements: A lesson in saving costs?

  Greg Humphreys, a partner in the Commercial Team at Newbury Solicitors Gardner Leader, is keen to ensure that his clients carefully consider the benefits of a shareholders’ agreement, before its absence causes them significant additional headaches (and wasted costs).

• Extending Your Lease - Property slump could produce an unexpected windfall for flat owners

  Stuart Durrant explores the reasons why now is the best time to extend your lease, making your property more saleable.

• Lasting Powers of Attorney

  There may come a time when, because you are incapable of managing your property, financial affairs or personal welfare, you will need someone to do this for you. Inheritance Protection Lawyer, Lucy Samara provides a useful update on Lasting Powers of Attorney, now that they have been available for over a year.

• Making a big withdrawal from ‘The Bank of Mum and Dad’?

  With the mortgage market tightening its reigns, more and more people are entering property transactions using financial support from their parents. Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, advises on the best way to enter such an arrangement.

• Caution: References Ahead

  Gardner Leader Employment Lawyer Julie Taylor examines this thorny and confusing subject of work references and answers some of the most commonly asked questions.

• Divorce options where no-one loses

  Seona Myerscough is a family lawyer and examines the options available to those experiencing a breakdown in family relationships.

• The latest changes to Home Information Packs

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, reports on the changes recently announced to Home Information Packs (HIPs).

• Is Mediation the answer you are looking for?

  For those involved in commercial disputes, mediation can offer a faster, cheaper and more constructive option than litigation. In fact, an estimated 80% of cases that go to mediation are settled as a result, and nearly always in a fraction of the time. Gardner Leader partner and accredited mediator Derek Rodgers explains what mediation is and the vast array of benefits it can offer.

• New Year Resolutions

  Seona Myerscough is a Partner in the Family Team at Gardner Leader solicitors in Newbury. With over 20 years’ experience, she specialises in divorce, separation and child care issues, and offers some advice to those experiencing a breakdown in family relationships.

• Equity Release Schemes

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner, examines the merits of equity release schemes.

• How important is your Driving Licence to your employment?

  In these times of credit crunch and boom or bust, to keep your job is an obvious priority. However, apart from the financial crisis and threats of redundancy, motoring offences resulting in the loss of your driving licence could lead to the loss of your employment. John Jackson, Litigation Partner at Gardner Leader LLP takes a close look at the types of motoring offences that can result in the loss of a driving licence and the impact on certain areas of employment.

• Gardner Leader raise the bar in Legal 500

  Gardner Leader LLP have further elevated their profile in this year’s Legal 500

• Legal questions – Intestacy Rules

  This month Lucy Samara, Solicitor within the Inheritance Protection Team at Gardner Leader LLP, provides brief details about dying without leaving a Will.

• The Buildings Regulations Minefield

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, has recently been approached by a number of clients confused by the requirement for Building Regulation approval in a variety of situations. Every other year there seems to be a new scheme (often with a strange name) regulating how we undertake our home improvements, and such schemes are essentially building regulation approval.

• Lost or recoverable? - Tracing Your Assets

  Chris Felton, Partner in the Dispute Resolution Team at Gardner Leader Solicitors, examines how wronged businesses often overlook the possibility of recovering losses by tracing the proceeds of its misappropriated assets in equity.

• Child Contact and Child Support following a Relationship Breakdown

  Separating parents have much to contend with, particularly in the current economic climate. When a relationship breaks down, it is often a challenge to find a financial solution that is fair and acceptable to both parties, whilst ensuring that the needs of any dependant children are met. Lucy Savage, Legal Executive in the Family Team at Gardner Leader LLP, takes a closer look at the separate issues of child contact and Child Support that arise in these circumstances.

• How Good Is Your Agreement?

  Alastair Goggins, Partner at Gardner Leader LLP, takes a look at the pitfalls of unwritten agreements.

• Obtaining Consent to Property Covenants

  Most houses built in the last thirty years (or sold by the local authority) will have a covenant on the title prohibiting the alteration or extension of the property without the consent of the developer, an individual or the local authority. Sometimes these covenants are limited for a period of five years from the date of sale, but often they are not. In this article, Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader LLP, takes a look at the issue of who can and should provide consent to property covenants.

• Three Promotions at Gardner Leader

  Newbury-based solicitors Gardner Leader have promoted associate Robert Green to Senior Associate, while solicitors, Fiona Tighe and Robert Parsonson have both become Associates.

• Divorce and the Family Business

  Divorce not only affects those directly involved in the relationship, but it can also have an impact upon their business interests. Collette Bailey, Partner within the Family Team at Gardner Leader LLP, looks at how separation and divorce can have an impact on owners of family businesses.

• Gardner Leader handles venture capital investment by YFM Group in York company

  York-based e-learning company MyKnowledgeMap has received a £250,000 investment to realise its expansion plans from YFM Group managed Yorkshire & Humber Equity Fund (YHEF). Gardner Leader LLP acted for YFM Group in connection with the investment.

• Testing Times

  A new trend has emerged recently in property transactions, with a worrying proportion of property chains faced with a party in the chain dropping their offer last minute. This practice of gazundering leaves their seller, and possibly other parties in the chain, in a quandary over whether to take the financial blow or go through the hassle and the inevitable delays of putting the house back on the market. Fiona Tighe, Residential Property Solicitor at Gardner Leader LLP, takes a closer look at just one of the impacts of this practice.

• Topsource Acquires Practical Payroll

  The Commercial Team at Gardner Leader LLP has advised TopSource Global Solutions Ltd. (TopSource), a leading provider of outsourced finance and payroll solutions to growing UK businesses, in its acquisition of Practical Payroll Solutions Ltd. (PPS). The Gardner Leader team consisted of partners Derek Rodgers and Greg Humphreys, assisted by trainee solicitor Anna Hart.

• Funding Your Business Through Venture Capitalists

  The credit crunch means that many companies will need to look at different sources of funding. Derek Rodgers of Gardner Leader solicitors in Newbury looks at some of the common features involved where funding is obtained from a venture capitalist (‘VC’).

• Age Discrimination - Retirement Age

  The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations came into force on the 1st October 2006 to implement the age discrimination strands of the European Equal Treatment Directive.

• Associative Discrimination

  The European Court of Justice has ruled in the case of Coleman v Attridge Law that under the Equal Treatment Directive people may suffer direct discrimination or harassment in their employment if they are associated with a disabled person even if they are not themselves disabled. In this article, Julie Taylor, Solicitor at Gardner Leader LLP, provides an overview of the meaning and importance of this recent ruling to both employers and employees.

• Companies Purchasing Their Own Shares

  Derek Rodgers, commercial partner at Newbury solicitors Gardner Leader LLP, outlines some of the issues involved with private companies; there are, however, further restrictions relating to public limited companies (PLCs).

• Delayed Completion

  Everything’s packed, all the meters are read and the removal men arrive to start loading up your possessions. You then receive a telephone advising you that completion will not be taking place today due to an unforeseen problem. Other than the practical considerations of possibly unpacking your tooth brush again, what happens next? Robert Parsonson, Property Solicitor at Gardner Leader Solicitors, offers some helpful advice.

• St Bartholomew’s girls travel in style to York

  Three girls’ lacrosse teams from St Bartholomew’s School in Newbury will be touring in style next month after receiving a new set of polo shirts, thanks to local solicitors, Gardner Leader.

• Opportunities for Women to ‘make a difference’ at Gardner Leader

  Opportunities for Women to ‘make a difference’ at Gardner Leader Gardner Leader Solicitors has benefited immensely over the last few years from its investment in training highly motivated and key personnel. Its outward success and inward growth is reflected by its ability to attract high-calibre individuals, train them and upon qualification as solicitors, retain these individuals over all areas of its practice. Charlotte Anns, Julie Taylor, Joanne Tovey and Lucy Samara have all been recruited by Gardner Leader over the last five years and have all now successfully, or are about to, qualify as Solicitors.

• The Unavoidable Tax - Stamp Duty Land Tax

  The Unavoidable Tax - Stamp Duty Land Tax Rarely a week goes by when Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, doesn’t get a call from a client believing that they may have discovered an amazing new loophole in the Revenue’s Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) provisions. In this article, Stuart takes a closer look at suggested ‘loopholes’.

• Reclaiming Dividends

  Reclaiming Dividends When a company is liquidated, unsecured creditors are often left with nothing after fees and secured creditors are paid. Chris Felton, Dispute Resolution Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury, explains how dividends paid to directors of an insolvent company can be recovered.

• What employers should know about forthcoming amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act

  What employers should know about forthcoming amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act

• Inheritance Tax Update

  We asked Robert Jobson, Associate in the Inheritance Protection Team at Gardner Leader Solicitors, to answer some questions about the recent changes to inheritance tax.

• 'Leylandii Law'

  They say that good fences make good neighbours. Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, has a privet hedge and on the other side of it is a very pleasant neighbour who he has never met or even seen but they speak, not over the fence but through the hedge as it were, and exchange views about the height of the hedge which divides us. What Stuart views as a fantastic boundary feature, his neighbour (he suspects) views as an oppressive blanket of light-sapping foliage. In this article, Stuart explains the legal issues relating to hedge disputes between neighbours.

• 'The Mediation Mystery'

  It seems that whenever it has the chance, the Court of Appeal reminds disputing parties of the benefits of mediation. Chris Felton, Dispute Resolution Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury, comments on how, despite this recommendation, many courts are still not compelling parties to mediate.

• The Complexities of Inheritance

  We asked Robert Jobson, Associate in the Inheritance Protection Team at Gardner Leader Solicitors, to consider a situation that is becoming more common in these times of high property prices.

• Legal Considerations When Improving Your Property

  Robert Parsonson, Property Solicitor at Gardner Leader Solicitors, was delighted to be asked by Jones Robinson to deliver a seminar at their Talking Property Exhibition on 1st and 2nd February 2008, at the Corn Exchange in Newbury. One of the issues he is always keen to stress to his clients is for them to 'get the paperwork right' when they alter or improve their property. Robert highlights the potential pitfalls below.

• Breach of Warranty Claims

  Chris Felton, Business Dispute Resolution Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, explains in the following case study how valuable warranties are in disputes concerning commercial transactions.

• 'Employing People'

  Gardner Leader – Legal Question Time article – March 2008 This month Julie Taylor, Employment Solicitor with Gardner Leader Solicitors, takes a closer look at the details relating to Contracts of Employment.

• Protecting Your Trade Mark

  Chris Felton, Business Dispute Resolution Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, provides some tips on protecting trade marks through the following scenario.

• Corporate UK feature Gardner Leader

  Gardner Leader has advised Yorkshire & Humber Equity Fund, managed by YFM Venture Finance Limited, in the successful completion of a £200,000 investment in Williams of Harrogate Limited (which trades under the name Drivestyle). Drivestyle is using the funding to obtain two additional premium sports car franchises: Lotus and MG.

• Gardner Leader advises on Yorkshire deal

  Gardner Leader has advised Yorkshire & Humber Equity Fund, managed by YFM Venture Finance Limited, in the successful completion of a £200,000 investment in Williams of Harrogate Limited (which trades under the name Drivestyle). Drivestyle is using the funding to obtain two additional premium sports car franchises: Lotus and MG.

• Talking Property exhibition on 1st & 2nd February

  Gardner Leader Solicitors have announced that they will be attending the Talking Property Exhibition at the Corn Exchange in Newbury on 1st and 2nd February 2008.

• Gardner Leader Secures Damages for Cyclist Hit by Car

  Gardner Leader Solicitors has recently secured damages for a cyclist who was left with a seriously broken leg after being hit by a car on the roundabout at the A34 junction with Monk’s Lane.

• Legal Executive attains Fellowship Status

  Andrew Shipp of Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury has been made a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

• Gardner Leader announces New Conveyancing Solicitor

  Jo Tovey of Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury is now a qualified conveyancing solicitor.

• Gardner Leader host private viewing of unique exhibition

  A unique art exhibition was held in Newbury at Gardner Leader Solicitors

• When the Festive Season takes its toll on families

• Acting for vendor in US purchase

  Gardner Leader have acted for ECI during its acquisition by a US company.

• Local Solicitors make it into Legal 500

  Newbury-based solicitors, Gardner Leader have been recognised by the legal profession’s leading analyst the ‘Legal 500’, which publishes an annual list of the UK’s top legal firms.

• Gardner Leader secures substantial damages for client

  Newbury-based solicitors Gardner Leader have recently succeeded in securing damages for a former-slaughterman who was seriously injured at work, after a difficult legal battle.

• Pre-Budget Tax Changes

• Property ownership can be very ‘Taxing’!

• Termination of Contracts

• Taking the heat out of faulty old boilers...

• Hidden Dangers

  Alastair Goggins, Litigation Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, considers what Tenants and Landlords ought to be considering if commercial buildings are to be altered and improved in any way.

• A 'knotty' problem

  Robert Green of Gardner Leader Solicitors in Newbury, takes a look at the Code of Practice for dealing with Japanese Knotweed on development sites and suggests how developers might overcome this problem.

• Deposits

  Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, clarifies the situation regarding the payment of deposits in relation to property transactions; an area that often causes confusion to the parties involved.

• Separation and Divorce

• Playing hardball with your software

• Why make a will?

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