Category: General

steve parkin

Ongoing Worries Persist at Mental Health Trust Following Nottingham Attacks by Triple Killer

A mental health patient was failed in the care he received at Highbury Hospital, Nottingham which led to his death. Steven Parkin was a 52-year-old man who lived in Nottingham with his wife. He had a diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder receiving care within his community, together with a noted medical history of ischemic heart disease,…

sally abbie and megan from Ison Harrison Barnsley

We’re Sponsoring The Proud of Barnsley Awards 2022

Ison Harrison Solicitors are pleased to announce that we will be sponsoring the drinks reception at the Proud of Barnsley Awards which will be taking place on 18th November 2022 at the Barnsley Metrodome. What are the Proud of Barnsley Awards? The awards are a fantastic opportunity for the people of Barnsley to come together…

Simon Helliwell

5 Minutes With…Simon Helliwell, Personal Injury Specialist

Today we’re chatting with Simon Helliwell from our Personal Injury team here at Ison Harrison. Simon is a Senior Chartered Legal Executive and he helps clients with all personal injury claims. Q: How long have you worked at Ison Harrison? I have been working at Ison Harrison for over 23 years! Q: Describe your day…

Ilkley based accountants keep clients updated with the latest government support during the pandemic

Julia Forrester from TaxAssist Accountants based in Ilkley spoke to Ian Oliver, manager at our Ilkley branch. From 20th March Julia and her teams shut their offices and worked from home. “We were lucky really because we were able to adapt quickly to lockdown as all of our systems are cloud based and everyone was…

Steroid Heart

Illegal Steroid Enterprise Produces Convictions

In March 2015, a quantity of steroids was held by customs officers at Heathrow Airport. The subsequent investigation sparked by the seizure uncovered an international operation to manufacture, import and supply anabolic steroids with a street value of £11.9m. Whilst the smuggling ring was spearheaded by Jacob Sporon-Fiedler, aged 38, from his base in Mumbai,…

Animal Skull

eBay Seller Pleads Guilty To Trading Endangered Animal Skulls

In a recent case, a 49 year old Cardiff man was convicted of illegally trading the skulls of endangered animals without firstly having the correct documentation. Perhaps surprisingly, trading the items is not against the law, but you can be prosecuted if you fail to hold an exemption certificate. In exemption certificate is required if…

York River

York Named Best Place To Live In Britain

The city’s ‘perfect mix of heritage and hi-tech’ led to the City storming to the top of The Sunday Times list, ahead of Bath, Bermondsey & Frome. Factors taken in to consideration were job availability, the quality of schools, the quality of the shopping and broadband speed. The gorgeous River Ouse, splitting the city and Middle…

Personal Injury Claims image

Criminal Injuries Rule Abolished

Criminal Injuries Rule Abolished. Previously unsuccessful Claimants can now apply for claims previously rejected under “same roof rule” The Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) is a scheme which compensates victims of crime. For example, victims of terrorism; attacks in the street; sexual abuse. The scheme prevented persons living under the same roof such which prevented…

New build terraced homes

Buying A Property With Friends? Advantages And Disadvantages

Recent media has highlighted an increase in the trend of friends buying with friends. Last year, M&S bank launched a ‘Four Way’ mortgage, saying that demand was there for its use. This was unusual in the mortgage market but more and more millennial’s are choosing to pool resources and purchase with their friends. London & Country mortgages have…

Autumn leaves an coffee

​What the Autumn 2018 Budget Means For You

The Chancellor Phillip Hammond delivered his final Budget before the UK’s exit from the EU at the end of October, with the usual range of areas covered that affect all our customers, whether they are single, married, with or without children, with or without property, or retired. We saw the usual changes to tobacco, fuel and…

Business people using a calculator

​A Non-for-profit organisation seeks tech sector whistle-blowers; offering a witness protection programme

Whistle-blowers are now being offered a witness protection scheme, to aid and expose wrongdoings made in the tech industry. The Signals Network works with a global network of journalists, providing assistance to potential whistle blowers. The purpose is to ensure that large organisations and corporations can be investigated. The non-for-profit founder Giles Raymond stated it…

Legal scales

Sentencing in Criminal Cases: What Happens When There’s a Slip-Up?

A man sent to prison for his part in conceiving a terrorist attack has now had his sentence increased after the trial judge reviewed it under what is called the ‘slip rule.’ This mechanism for amending a sentence generally receives less coverage than the Unduly Lenient review scheme, but is still significant. Here, we look…

Legal scales

Jury returns Damning Verdict following Death of a Young Woman in Prison

Another inquest jury has returned a damning verdict following the tragic, and unavoidable, death of a young woman in prison. Emily Hartley was just 21 when she died at HMP New Hall, Wakefield, in April 2016. She had been sentenced to two years and eight months imprisonment after setting fire to herself, her bed and…

New partners

My Path to Law: Our two Newest Partners

Matthew Channon, a law lecturer at Exeter University, recently started the ‘My Path to Law’ hashtag on Twitter. This prompted a whole host of lawyers to share their stories, detailing how they came to be in practice against the backdrop of a whole variety of backgrounds. In the spirit of #mypathtolaw, our most recently appointed…

If you ever need me

Announcing the Launch of Our New Company Video: ‘If You Ever Need Me’

We’re really pleased to announce the launch of our brand new company video, “If You Ever Need Me”. It’s a law firm video with a difference, featuring a bespoke piece of performance poetry by local playwright and poet Dave Jarman. Our intention was to move away from traditional showcases, which can lack inspiration and quickly…

IBF advert

Ison Harrison sponsors of this year’s Ilkley Beer Festival

This weekend, Ilkley Round Table hosts its yearly Beer Festival. Reflecting our presence in the area with our Ilkley branch, we’re proud to continue our association with the event. This year, we’re Silver sponsors. Every year, the event raises in excess of £40,000 for local good causes. These range from children’s sports teams to senior…

Poetry

An Ode to Ison Harrison….

This year is a very special one for the firm, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. With this in mind, staff were asked to put pen to paper for a different reason to usual- a friendly poetry competition. The winning entry, written by our Ilkley-based Clinical Negligence expert Geraldine Kane, is below. We hope you…

Mobile Phone Driving

Using Mobile Phones Whilst Driving: the Law Explained

There are often many preconceptions surrounding the law in this area. Drivers may think that placing their phone on loudspeaker whilst it rests on the passenger seat can be enough to save them from prosecution- but this is not the case. Put simply, it is illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving unless you…

Hellewell Pasley & Brewer

Hellewell Pasley & Brewer

On 04.05.17 we published an advert concerning the closure of the law firm Hellewell Pasley & Brewer. It has been brought to our attention, and we accept, that contrary to the indications we gave, no allegations of dishonesty have been made against Mr Richard Whitaker. We apologise unreservedly to Mr Whitaker for the advert having…

football discrimination

Is it Time to Tackle Discrimination in Football?

The inclusivity of football should undoubtedly be one of its main qualities, but unfortunately we have had an illustration that this is not always the case. Recently published research conducted by the charity Scope under their ‘We want to show disability discrimination the red card’ campaign contains some eye-opening statistics: Eight in ten of those…

Last Will and Testiment

Wills Reform: Unnecessary Changes on the Horizon?

A review by the Law Commission into the law surrounding wills has revealed some interesting statistics- and shared its view that these laws need modification to being them into step with the modern age. The Commission cites research stating that an estimated 40% of adults die each year without having made a will, with confusion…

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Rules Employment Tribunal Fees are Unlawful

The Supreme Court has just issued a momentous ruling which will not only generate column inches but have far reaching implications for those looking to issue claims in the Employment Tribunal. In 2013, a fees regime was introduced which meant that people wishing to issue claims in the Employment Tribunal would have to pay fees…

Illustration of a courtroom

The Queen’s Speech: What’s next for the Law?

Despite the current turmoil going on in the political arena, it was business as usual as far as the Queen’s Speech was concerned. The legislative programme may not be as extensive as originally intended, but there is still plenty to consider. Here, we take a whistle-stop tour of the key aspects. Personal Injury The Civil…

Handcuffs Criminal Law

Changes to Police Bail: What do they mean?

From time to time, usually with the advent of a high profile case, the length of time a person can be left on Police Bail has been the focus of attention. Reports have well documented lengthy timescales, sometimes as long as twelve months. Now, the Policing and Crime Act 2017 has brought with it changes…

Criminal Finances

Show Me the Money: The Criminal Finances Bill and its Implications

Successive governments have counted the cost of serious and organised crime, but just prior to dissolving parliament the outgoing Conservative Government introduced the most significant legislation in this area for decades. Ison Harrison successfully acting for clients in some of the most complex criminal and regulatory investigations performed nationwide in recent years. Now that the…

Schools Out

School’s Not Out: Supreme Court Rules on Term Time Holidays

Yesterday’s ruling by the Supreme Court, which brought to an end a high profile case relating to term time holidays, will be of interest to parents of school age children. Jon Platt requested permission from his daughter’s head teacher to remove her from school in order that she could attend a holiday during term time….

Tax and coins

Do new Inheritance Tax laws mean it’s time to change your Will?

What’s happening? From 5 April 2017 the residence nil rate band (RNRB) comes into force increasing the tax-free allowance on death. It allows married couples to leave assets with a value of up to £1 million free of inheritance tax. Does it apply to me? It applies to individuals who own a house which is…

Blank scroll

Changes to Probate Fees on the Horizon

The Government have confirmed that they intend to introduce changes to probate fees, intended to reduce running costs for courts and tribunals. Gayle Mellard, a Wills and Probate Solicitor based at our Morley office, assesses the new measures and their potential impact. Probate fees are chargeable when an application is made to deal with a…

Guilty stamp

Timing is Everything: new rules for Guilty Pleas

It is widely known that defendants in criminal cases receive credit for guilty pleas; changes announced this week have refocused attention on the rules which govern the amount of credit available. s.144 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 requires a court to take account of two factors: The stage at which the plea is given;…

Illustration of a courtroom

The cost of Informants

According to figures revealed by the BBC, various police forces across the country have paid around £22m to informants over the last five years. Payments to ‘covert human intelligence sources,’ as they are known, were highest in the capital- with the Metropolitan Police paying £5,270,659 from 2011 to 2016. Police forces are not required to…

Arcade

An insight into Gambling and Betting Law

Gambling and betting are big business in the UK. According to figures published by the Gambling Commission in 2016, there are some 8,709 betting shops in Great Britain, employing around 104,896 people. A licensed industry of this scale is no different to any other in terms of having recognisable regulatory and licensing elements- but the…

Prisoner

Record Levels of Prison Suicides In 2016

Chronic overcrowding and staff shortages have been blamed for prison suicides reaching an all-time high in 2016. The prison reform charity, the Howard League for Penal Reform, has reported 102 known suicides this year, which is the highest figure since records began in 1978 (when just 18 were recorded). The previous highest figure was 94…

Castleford exterior signage

New Personal Injury Legal Clinics Launched in Yorkshire

Ison Harrison is pleased to announce the arrival of 2 new drop-in Personal Injury legal clinics at our Castleford and Pontefract branches. Launching on 8th March and 10th March respectively, the Castleford and Pontefract PI clinics are the first legal clinics to be held at our new West Yorkshire branches. Both the Pontefract and Castleford…

Share price chart

Slater and Gordon Share Price Plummets

Slater and Gordon was the first law firm to be listed on a stock exchange when it became listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2007. The firm currently employees over 3,800 employees in the United Kingdom alone, however, on 1 March 2016, Slater and Gordon’s share value stood at an all-time low of AUS$0.33…

Handshake

​Employment Tribunal finds in favour of Starbucks employee on grounds of disability discrimination

Meseret Kumulchew brought a disability discrimination claim against her employer, Starbucks, after she had been accused of falsifying documents. Ms Kumulchew, who is dyslexic, worked as a supervisor in a Starbucks store located in Clapham, South London. Ms Kumulchew was responsible for logging and recording the temperatures of the refrigerators and water throughout her working…

Law gabel

New sentencing proposals announced by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales

On 11 February 2016, the Sentencing Council for England and Wales released a consultation paper on the reduction in sentence for a guilty plea together with new draft guidelines. These will apply to criminal cases covering both adult and youth offenders. The Courts accounting for a guilty plea upon the sentencing of an offender is…

Home and savings concept

​Tax Changes for Buy to Let Landlords

Chancellor George Osborne has recently announced two very important changes to the buy-to-let property market. Firstly, from April this year buy-to-let properties and second home owners will face a 3% stamp duty surcharge. Secondly, as from April 2017 tax relief for buy-to-let mortgage interest payments will be moved to a fixed rate. The announcement has…

Leeds cityscape

Why Leeds Is One of The Best Places to Live (As Voted By Us!)

There are many things that make Leeds great, but for us it’s about the people, the diverse vibrant culture and the social life. Safe to say, we’re proud to say we live here. Here’s a few things we love about Leeds, as voted for by various members of the Ison team: The Shops Emma Garfitt,…

Court gabel

Death Certificate Granted 42 Years After Lord Lucan’s Mysterious Disappearance

Following an application made by Lord Lucan’s son, George Bingham, the High Court ruled on Wednesday 3 February 2016 that a death certificate be issued for Lord Lucan following his disappearance under controversial circumstances in 1974. The High Court’s power to issue the death certificate derives under the Presumption of Death Act 2013, a relatively…

House keys

Tenancy Fraud Awareness Week 1 – 5 February 2016

This week the Leeds City Council has urged residents to report any suspicious housing matters as part of Tenancy Fraud Awareness week, which runs until 5 February. In line with the initiative, social landlords from across the Yorkshire and Humberside region have joined forces to blow the whistle on tenancy fraud and encourage locals to…

Nestle signage

​Nestlé fails to obtain trademark protection for the shape of KitKat in a dispute with Cadbury

On Wednesday 20 January 2016, the High Court ruled that Nestlé, who were seeking trademark protection of their well-known chocolate bar KitKat, were not able to trademark the shape of the same. The Court held that Nestlé had not promoted the shape of the chocolate bar as a selling point and that the wrapper that…

Home and savings pot

Proposed Changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax in 2016

In the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, the government announced proposals to make changes to the rules relating to the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax affecting the purchase of additional residential properties. The proposals are currently subject to consultation which is due to end on 1st February 2016 If approved the changes will…

Christmas Party 2015

​The Ison Harrison Staff Christmas Party 2015 in Leeds

For our Christmas Party this year, the team headed to the Leeds Marriott Hotel for a night of festive food and dancing. We booked a high energy party band called Scream to fill the night with some great dance tunes and they didn’t disappoint. A special mention goes out to Gareth Naylor who had some rather questionable…

Yunus Lunat

Ison Harrison Solicitors Advise on Mirfield Free Grammar School Case

A local school in Mirfield, which has been publicised in the Daily Mail and the Mirror following claims that Muslim pupils were forced to pray outside, has required the assistance and expertise of a top solicitor at our Leeds law firm to help the parents and children of those affected. Yunus Lunat, an employment law specialist…

Bake off morning

The Great Ison Bake Off 2015

We’re all a bit partial to some sweet treats, and what better excuse for us to indulge than to create our very own “Great British Bake Off” at the Ison Harrison Leeds office. Officially named “The Great Ison Bake Off” we raised money for the Leeds Community Foundation and encouraged our legal team to show off their…

Castleford acquisition

Leeds Law Firm Expands Footprint with Merger

At the start of September 2015, Ison Harrison merged with Castleford and Pontefract firm, Maurice Smiths. Maurice Smiths, that was established in 1933, and with staff of over 20 people, specialised in Residential and Commercial Conveyancing, Wills & Probate, Crime and Family Law. Having now merged with Ison Harrison, both offices are able to offer…