From Cohabitation to Pre-Nups: Legal Considerations Pre-Marriage
For 21st century couples, it’s not just hearts and flowers. They may take a pragmatic approach, considering ways to legally safeguard their positions in a way that their parents’ generation would not. Cohabitation Agreement A Cohabitation Agreement formalises financial arrangements when couples aren’t married and merely choose to live together. It protects assets and how…
Why Your New Year’s Resolution Should Be Speaking to a Solicitor about a Will
It is coming to the time of year when we start to think about tasks that we may have been putting off during previous months. One such task is that of making a Will. It’s not surprising – thinking about your Will may seem morbid and unnecessary. Lucy Holt, a Solicitor in our Wills and Probate…
Hefty Fine after a Manual Handling Operation Goes Wrong
A failure to carry out basic health and safety responsibilities has led to an engineering company in Norfolk being hit by a £20,000 fine, after an employee suffered an injury to three fingers in February this year. Gareth Naylor, Head of Personal Injury, examines the case below. Dantech Engineering of Burrell Way, Thetford, Norfolk, had…
Starting a New Business in 2018? Here’s Some Useful Legal Advice…
It is unlikely that you will wake up on January 1st and suddenly decide to start a business. This is probably something you have been thinking about for a long time, it may even be a lifelong dream or an itch you just have to scratch. Whatever your motivation, starting a business requires a lot…
Personal Injury Firm in Manchester Closed Down By SRA
The Solicitors’ Regulation Authority has this week closed a personal injury firm in Manchester, quoting suspicions of dishonesty relating to its Managing Partner. The firm, Dennison Greer, specialised in personal injury matters. The SRA’s panel took the decision on the basis that it was satisfied that there was a reason to suspect dishonesty on the…
National Cohabitation Week: An Expert’s Guide to the Law
The results of a poll commissioned to mark Cohabitation Awareness Week are being reported in the press-and they make interesting reading! Speaking to 2,000 adults, the poll found that nearly two in five British adults (37 per cent) wrongly think that unmarried couples who have lived together for more than two years are classified as…
Do’s and Dont’s at the Office Christmas Party
The festive season is approaching and chances are so is your company’s Christmas party. Even though you may be physically out of the office, normal rules apply. The venue you’re at is an extension of the workplace for the purposes of the employment legislation: you are expected to conduct yourself to the usual standards expected of…
Female Genital Mutilation Prevention Orders: The Law Explained
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is defined by the NHS as a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there is no medical reason for this to be done. It is often referred to as female circumcision. The NHS also reports that between April 2016 and March 2017, there were 9,179…
The Data Protection Bill 2018: What It Could Mean for Your Business
The advent of a new data protection law may not, at first glance, feel like an interesting or especially urgent topic. Despite the apparent lack of glamour, there is plenty for businesses to digest. The Data Protection Bill is the Government’s way of ‘updating Data Protection laws for the digital age.’ Coming into force in…
Success for the Public Law team: Case Study- AT
Partner and Head of Public Law, Erica Restall, saw success in the High Court recently with an important Judicial Review test case. The Queen (on the application of AT) v the Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWHC 2589 (Admin) challenged a decision made by the Home Office to remove the right of…
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…
What Is An Extravasation Injury?
Extravasation is the leakage of certain harmful medicines into the body from an IV drip or injection into and through a vein. Some medicines will only cause slight damage and they are called irritants. Medicines that cause more serious damage are called vesicants. Medicines such as chemotherapy and penicillin, can be dangerous when they escape…
A Solicitor’s Advice for Buying or Selling Your Business
Buying or selling your business could be one of the most important things you ever do. Whatever your reasons, it could be a life-changing decision. It can be a stressful and anxious time. A trusted solicitor is there to take the weight off your shoulders in this process, by providing diligent and efficient paperwork, good…
Radio Aire Cash for Kids: Mission Christmas 2017
For a number of years now we’ve been involved with Radio Aire’s yearly campaign, Mission Christmas. Organised and delivered by the Cash for Kids Children’s Charity, their aim is to make sure that every child in Leeds and West Yorkshire wakes up to a gift on Christmas morning. Last year, they were able to support…
Newborn Jaundice – Signs, Symptoms & Treatment
Jaundice is a common and usually harmless condition in newborn babies. What is Jaundice? Jaundice is caused by the build-up of Bilirubin in the blood. It can also be called Icterus. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replaces old red blood cells. The liver helps break down Bilirubin so it…
Changes to Stamp Duty for First Time Buyers
In today’s budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond announced that, with immediate effect, Stamp Duty Land Tax has been abolished for First Time Buyers buying properties in England Wales and Northern Ireland that will be their main residence and costing up to £300,000. This represents a potential maximum saving of £5000 (based on…
Clinical Negligence Case Study – Baby T’s Story
Ms M and Mr T were expecting their first child, the pregnancy was considered low risk and although Ms M suffered from morning sickness throughout it was a normal and uneventful pregnancy. Ms M’s waters broke early on Saturday morning and she went straight to the hospital. Following an examination and another gush of waters…
Hypoglycaemia (Low Blood Sugar) in Newborns and Birth Injury
Your baby’s sugar levels are regulated by their hormones, the key hormone being insulin. Insulin helps the body to store sugar (blood glucose) and release it when it is needed. Your baby’s blood sugar levels go down in the first few hours after birth, which is completely normal (Unicef 2013). Your baby gets their glucose…
Fatal Fall Highlights Need for Appropriate Health and Safety Planning
The Health and Safety Executive has recently published a case which illustrates the continuing failure of companies to take suitable care of their employees. Hull Crown Court heard that a worker was contracted to complete electrical work on a motor at a Hull-based bakery in October 2013. The worker was a self-employed electrical contractor and…
Preventing Pressure Sores Could Be Easier Than You Think
Pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue. They can happen to anyone, but they usually affect people who are confined to bed or who sit in a chair or wheel chair for long periods of time as the main cause is prolonged pressure on the…
Discount Rate Changes to Adversely affect Accident Victims
The Government has indicated that they are expecting to legislate on changes to the discount rate early next year. David Hatton, a Solicitor in our Personal Injury department, discusses what this will mean in practice. What is the discount rate? The discount rate is a calculation used in serious personal injury (and clinical negligence) cases….
Transfer Your Personal Injury Case? No Problem
Like all businesses, solicitors must deliver the highest standards to keep consumers satisfied. It is common for dissatisfied clients to change solicitors and look elsewhere; which you are entitled to do so. Clients change their solicitor for a multitude of reasons: Lack of communication Solicitor not following instruction You are being dealt with by a…
Landmark Interest Rate Rise – What Does This Mean For You?
This week has seen a predicted Bank of England rise in interest rates, for the first time in ten years. The official bank rate increased from 0.25% to 0.5%, a reverse of the cuts made last year in the wake of the vote to leave the European Union. Whilst savers will see a modest rise in their…
Case Study: Conspiracy to Defraud
The Regulatory Law team have secured a Not Guilty verdict in a complex case alleging Conspiracy to Defraud. The prosecution, which involved more than 10,000 pages of evidence, was brought by Flintshire Trading Standards against 9 defendants. Put simply, a conspiracy to defraud involves two or more persons agreeing to deceive another, intending to deprive…
Settlement Agreement Advice for Employers
Settlement agreements (previously known as ‘compromise agreements’) enable an employee’s contract to be terminated, usually with a financial incentive being offered to the employee in return for them waiving their right to bring claims in an employment tribunal. Why should I consider using a settlement agreement? Settlement agreements are common where an employee is leaving…
Considering the Impact of Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council
The Judgment in the case of Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council has now been handed down by the Supreme Court. Here, Graham Roberts considers the impact of this significant and long-awaited decision. The law dictates that local authorities are ‘vicariously liable’ for the actions of their employees as long as the actions are within the…
Solicitors are saying ‘No’ to fully digitised Power of Attorney plans
Ison Harrison has joined up with other leading solicitors in the country in expressing caution with regards calls from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to make lasting power of attorney (LPA) registration fully digital. The proposals would remove the need for a ‘wet signature’ in person and would therefore potentially open the door to a…
New Starters Make Ison Harrison Even Stronger
At Ison Harrison we pride ourselves on never standing still and making sure we are always progressing as an organisation. Also, we recognise that people are our biggest asset, and as client care and professional advice are such an important part of our ethos, recruitment is something we take very seriously. We have to make…
The importance of Contaminated Land & Enviromental Searches
Amongst the queries we receive from clients in relation to searches, we are often asked about the position in relation to contaminated land. Here, Ashley Mallett, a Solicitor in our Morley office, looks at the topic in more detail. What is contaminated land? Contaminated land is just one of several risks which are included in…
CICA Denies Compensation For Sexually Abused Minors
A call has been made to ensure that awards for victims of crime is brought into line with the criminal law after a string of cases where children were denied payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) relating to sexual abuse. Several charities – including Barnardo’s, Victim Support, Liberty and Rape Crisis – have…
Repossession of a Residential Property: 5 Things a Landlord Should Do
Evicting tenants can be a complex and stressful process. This might be because they are behind on rent payments, are causing a nuisance or simply because, as landlord, you want the property back to live in or sell. Whatever the reason, you should follow the necessary procedure. Below are things you should consider if things…
Australian Court accepts unsent Text Message as a Valid Will
The BBC has recently reported on an Australian case, in which the Supreme Court of Brisbane has accepted a draft text message as a valid will. Found in the drafts folder of his mobile phone after his death, the man left ‘all that I have’ to his brother and nephew. He also left detailed banking…
#DiscriminateNoMum Campaign: Maternity Discrimination Q&A With Yunus Lunat
This month we’ve launched a campaign to help stamp out maternity discrimination in the workplace. Our Head of Employment,Yunus Lunat, details how important this campaign is and how he hopes it will encourage more women to come forward. Tell us about the #DiscriminateNoMum campaign… The #DiscriminateNoMum campaign hopes to raise awareness around maternity discrimination and…
Ison Harrison Launches #DiscriminateNoMum Campaign
This month, we are launching a “Discriminate No Mum” campaign to help stamp out maternity discrimination in the workplace: #DiscriminateNoMum Ison Harrison has experienced several recent cases where clear maternity discrimination has taken place. We have represented clients in tribunal cases where women have been selected for redundancy who are either currently pregnant, or who have…
Clinical Trial: Investigating Complications When Delivering Bigger Babies
Would delivering bigger babies early lead to less complications during birth? That’s the question being addressed by an upcoming clinical trial. Supported by the Erb’s Palsy Group, the three-and-a-half year trial will study 4,000 pregnant women to investigate whether delivering bigger babies earlier could prevent serious complications during labour and beyond. If a baby is…
Model Behaviour: the Competition and Markets Authority and how it can affect your business
An open letter issued by the Competition and Markets Authority has served as a timely reminder of its powers and the consequences that can be felt when competition law is breached. The CMA refer to a recent case involving modelling agencies and their representative body, in which it was found that they had colluded as…
Property Department Updates – New Build & Residential
The summer weather may be disappointing but our Property teams have plenty to smile about. Here, we take a closer look at what’s happening across the firm. New Build Property – A Flying Start To The Year Our New Build Property department has seen a surge in new instructions during the first half of 2017,…
Erb’s Palsy Clinical Negligence Case Study: Baby J
On the 21st September 1986 Mrs P was admitted to Hospital following a suspected rupturing of membranes followed by the onset of contractions. Mr & Mrs P were eagerly awaiting the birth of their second child having given birth to a healthy baby girl two years previously. Mrs P’s labour was slow to progress and…
Ison Harrison Supports Birth Trauma Awareness Week 2017
Ison Harrison are supporting Birth Trauma Awareness Week 2017, held between 14th-21st August, as a timely reminder of how common birth trauma is and how many people are affected by it. What is Birth Trauma? Birth trauma is commonly referred to as a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can be described as how a mother…
Ison Harrison Sponsors Radio Aire Young Heroes Award
Ison Harrison are sponsoring an award at the annual gathering of Young Heroes in the city of Leeds; the Radio Aire Young Heroes Awards 2017. The event takes place at the Clayton Hotel in Leeds on 21st September 2017, and the aim of the awards is to celebrate all the fantastic young people in the…
Erb’s Palsy Clinical Negligence Case Study: Ms W
Ison Harrison successfully recovered substantial damages on behalf of a young girl whose nerve was damaged at birth causing a form of palsy in her shoulder. This condition is known as Erb’s Palsy. During the antenatal period, it was noted that she was a large baby. Despite this, her mother’s labour progressed well until such…
Inheritance Act Cases: Charity Begins at Home?
Back in March, I wrote about the case of Illott v Mitson, in which I made the point that it merely served to reiterate the existing law under the Inheritance Act. Four months have elapsed since that case was decided- but we find ourselves reminded of the point once again. Nahajec v Fowle is an…
Lease Extensions for Flats- Our Solicitor’s Advice
A lease extension is not necessarily at the top of a home owner’s to-do list, but it can prove to be a shrewd step to take. Here, Steve Neale, a Partner in our Commercial Property department, looks at the benefits of doing so in relation to flats. First and foremost, the key benefit of extending…
Brexit and the Law – What’s Happened post- Article 50?
The UK has taken another step towards leaving the EU with the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill receiving its First Reading in Parliament. The Bill will repeal the 1972 European Communities Act (ECA), which saw Britain become a member of the EU, and which also meant that European law took precedence over domestic legislation. Here, we…
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…
Long Term Sickness Dismissals: What is the Law?
Questions relating to unfair dismissal and their relationship with long term sickness absence are common for employment lawyers. Given how frequently such queries arise, our Head of Employment Yunus Lunat tackles this problematic issue below, in the context of a pertinent case. Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal gave judgment in the case of…
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…
Separating Parents and Child Arrangements: A Helpful Guide
Most separating parents are able to reach an amicable agreement as to decisions relating to their children. If this is not the case, there are options to consider. Lidia Foster is a Solicitor at our Castleford branch, and regularly helps parents in this type of situation. Here, Lidia offers a helpful overview. There is the…
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…
The Gig Economy: What Is It and What’s Next?
The release of the Taylor Review has had the press abuzz, with yet more column inches being filled about the insecure position some workers have, as well as talk of the ‘gig economy.’ Often, people working within niche sectors or under non-standard contracts aren’t clear about their employment status and how it affects them. This…