News & Blog
Interest Rate Swap Mis-selling – March 2013
(08/04/13)Mis-Selling of Interest Rate Hedging Products (IRHPs) The mis-selling of IRHPs (also known as ‘interest rate swaps’) to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) has been frequently reported. It is a sensitive topic, as it is thought by many that SMEs will be responsible for carrying the UK out of recession. The financial consequences of IRHPs upon SMEs can be catastrophic. What are IRHPs IRHPs are designed to help manage interest rate risk and are often sold alongside business loans. The purpose of ...Continue Reading
DEBT RECOVERY – TOP 10 TIPS
(04/12/12)All businesses will experience good and bad periods, but it is when cash flow slows, that businesses fail. A healthy cash flow is the key to success. The late payment or non-payment of invoices has a detrimental affect on cash flow. There are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of late or non payment of invoices to allow your business to thrive. Our top 10 tips are listed below: 1. Know your customer You need to ...Continue Reading
Businesses will welcome a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) finding that, in some straightforward redundancy situations, where a decision is made to eliminate a single role, it may be reasonable for an employer not to consider establishing a selection pool. In this case, the EAT overturned an employment tribunal's finding that a golf club steward had been unfairly dismissed because the club had not considered the possibility of establishing a selection pool when planning the redundancy. However, in most cases employers ...Continue Reading
Dispute Resolution Update – September 2012
(18/09/12)Court of Appeal gives guidance on appeals made out of time As a general rule, a Notice of Appeal must be filed at the appeal court within 21 days after the date of the decision of the lower court unless the lower court orders otherwise. In a recent case[1], the Court of Appeal has considered whether an appeal made seven and a half months late should be allowed to proceed. For the following reasons, the Court of Appeal held that it should ...Continue Reading
Setting up a Social Enterprise
(12/09/12)We are regularly approached for advice by clients on how to set up a social enterprise. The first thing to establish is that there is no such legal structure as a ‘social enterprise’. The term is a loose definition that is used by very many business structures; both for profit and not for profit including charities and co-operatives. Generally speaking the following legal structures are used by social enterprises; Unincorporated Associations Community Interest Company Limited by Shares or by Guarantee; Industrial & Provident Societies; Company ...Continue Reading
Third Sector Newsletter – Autumn 2012
(12/09/12)WELCOME to the autumn edition of Third Sector Law covering issues affecting Charities, CIC’s, Trusts and Associations. Despite the sluggish economy we are increasingly seeing clients wanting to launch new businesses in the third sector, in particular social enterprises. In this issue we have focussed on what a social enterprise is, and what legal structures might be appropriate. Our next issue will be out in the New Year so if there is a particular article you would like covered then please email ...Continue Reading
Commercial Property Update – September 2012
(07/09/12)The key to successful new lettings The market is still difficult, especially in the North. Most city centres have a multitude of empty commercial units and offices. There has been a shift in Landlords’ attitudes towards lettings in the last twenty years in a competitive market. But some Landlords continue to be reluctant to change. Notwithstanding the competition, tenants feel daunted and bemused, particularly for new start up companies. The key to successful new lettings is to offer simplicity, flexibility and fairness ...Continue Reading
My favourite Not Soho bar & restaurant @Caravanexmouth has just opened no 2 and morphed into a fully fledged Motorhome @CaravanKingsX. Following the success of their Exmouth market, Miles, Chris & Laura wasted no time in developing plans for a No. 2 older brother, and after looking around West and Central London found the perfect site next door to the new St Martins Art College in the very impressive KingsX redevelopment. Fountains and greenery stand out in Granary Square where the ...Continue Reading
Watch out for the Landlord (LL) and the extra costs when planning to make alterations to your apartment. Lots of apartment owners don't factor in the likely extra costs they will have to pay for the pleasure of altering their apartment or it's layout . Redecorating is clearly no problem but move the bathroom or kitchen or rewire or replumb or even change the old carpet for wooden flooring and you can run into trouble. Many people go straight to their ...Continue Reading
JST Lawyers – the Liverpool based law firm - was on a winning streak last week when trainee solicitor, Iona Horsburgh, won the prestigious Liverpool Law Society’s Timpron Martin Prize for her professional exam results. Iona studied at Chester College of Law and has just collected a First Class Honours law degree. Iona joined JST Lawyers in 2009 having worked in the charity sector for over 15 years. She now specialises in assisting charities and social enterprises with legal advice. On ...Continue Reading
