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…
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…
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…
Help to Buy ISA Scheme – What’s It All About?
Since 1st December 2015, first-time buyers have been able to save up to £200 a month in a Help to Buy: ISA, which many banks and building societies are now routinely offering. An individual can only open one Help to buy ISA. They are not available to couples although, more than one government bonus can…
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…
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…
Ison Harrison Team Up With Radio Aire for #MissionChristmas
The Mission Christmas Cash for Kids is a charity appeal which works with local radio stations to help support children in communities throughout the UK. The appeal, which successfully raised £15.7m in 2014, operates in 21 areas and each region works with local businesses that act as ‘drop off points’. These drop off points are…
Corporate Fines to Increase Dramatically Under New Sentencing Guidelines
Health and Safety – Sentencing – Corporations Companies will face fines of up to £20,000,000 and jail terms of two years under strict new sentencing guidelines which were published on 3 November 2015 and come into force next year. Courts have had the power to impose unlimited fines for breaching health and safety regulations for some…
New legislation and regulations – protecting tenants or penalising landlords?
Landlords will be no doubt aware of the regulations currently in force surrounding Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) and due to new legislation this area of law is to be even more tightly regulated from 1st October 2015. The Deregulation Act 2015 (DA 2015) came into force on 1 October 2015 and the main provisions are summarised…
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…
Ison Harrison Sponsors Ilkley Charity Quiz
We’re pleased to announce that Ison Harrison will be the headline sponsor at this year’s Ilkley charity quiz, part of the Ilkley Breakfast Rotary Networking & Charity Group. The quiz, which is for businesses, organisations and individuals, takes place on Thursday 22 nd October 2015 at the Ilkley Rugby Club Clubhouse. Ison Harrison have strong…
Private Landlords face stiff penalties for failing to police immigrants
Last year we wrote about the introduction of new Immigration laws, which meant private landlords would be fined for renting properties to people living in the UK without permission. The fines can affect any landlord who fails to make sure that the person who they are renting to has immigration status, a task which the…
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…
Is testamentary freedom dead?
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a mother’s will be varied so as to leave her estranged daughter £164,000, representing 1/3 of the estate. In her will the mother, Mrs Jackson, left her estate to charity, expressly cutting out her daughter Heather Ilott after Heather eloped aged 17. Heather challenged the will under the…
Accountant Reprimanded for Affray Conviction
Upon becoming a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a client disclosed a historic criminal conviction for Affray. The offence was committed in 2001 and took place in the Isle of Man, the client pleaded guilty and was fined by the magistrates. He now faced disciplinary proceedings before the ACCA Disciplinary Panel. The…
Your Most Important Rights in any Regulatory or Police Investigation
Few people realise that when officers from a regulatory body such as the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency or Trading Standards come knocking, they could well arrive with a warrant for your arrest and the power to seize your records and equipment. Even if you are not arrested, you will be interviewed under…
Over 1,300 babies left dead or maimed after NHS errors
Today it has been publicised that over £1bn was paid last year by the NHS in compensation to families of babies who died or were left with serious brain injuries due to negligence during childbirth. Over the last decade this sum has been increased by over £488 million. Figures that were obtained by the Times…
New drug driving criminal offences now in force
Although for many years it has been an offence to be driving or being in charge of a vehicle whilst under the influence of drink and drugs, there are now new offences in force for being over the specified limit, which can see a person convicted even where there is no concrete evidence of impaired…
NHS Contract Reform: Is the die cast?
The Department of Health has recently published what it calls its “prototype approach” i.e. a more advanced stage of testing of a new possible NHS Dental Contract. As an overview the prototype is supposed to be a blend of capitation, quality and activity payments. Path to Date According to the Department of Health the principles…
Ison Harrison secures top accolade from national Law Society
The Leeds law firm, Ison Harrison, have secured the national Law Society’s law management quality mark, Lexcel. Lexcel is developed specifically for the legal profession. It is an optional, recognised accreditation scheme for law firms and in-house legal departments which gives assurance that a practice meets high client care and business management standards. To gain…
Seven year old girl awarded £10m in damages from King’s College Hospital Trust
Eva Totham, was starved of oxygen at birth in 2007 and now suffers from severe cerebral palsy. The compensation pay-out of £10.1m was awarded to cover Eva’s past and future care, as she is now entirely dependent on others for all aspects of day-to-day living. This was also to cover her loss of earnings as it…
Ison Harrison Proudly Sponsors the 2015 Ilkley Film Festival
Leeds Law firm, Ison Harrison, is the proud headline sponsor of the 2015 Ilkley Film Festival. This exciting festival showcasing a wide range of film genres will take place across five days from 18th to 22nd February 2015. Following the success of the first Ilkley Film Festival which attracted 3,200 local and visiting audiences from…
Automatic pension enrolment: key facts
This business development briefing just provides an overview of the law in this area. You should talk to us for a complete understanding of how it may affect your particular circumstances. This business development briefing explains the obligations that the automatic pension enrolment requirements place on a business. What is auto-enrolment? From a date after…
New law on domestic violence
The new law on domestic violence announced recently by the Home Secretary, Theresa May, comes after the government’s consultation earlier this year which sought views on whether the current law on domestic abuse needs to be strengthened to offer better protection to victims. The new offence created is intended to protect victims from “coercive and…
Victory at Accountant’s Disciplinary Tribunal
On 25 November Ison Harrison appeared on behalf of a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in order to contest three allegations of misconduct. It was alleged that the accountant had been dishonest in not disclosing his criminal past, that a police caution he had received for drug possession was proof of…
Forming a Company? Choice of Company Name
If you are thinking of forming a limited company or incorporating your business some new Regulations may help when it comes to choosing your company name. Under existing Regulations the use of certain “sensitive” words requires the approval of the Secretary of State and other bodies. Such approval is required if a word in a…
Entrepreneurs’ relief: business development briefing
This business development briefing just provides an overview of the law in this area. You should talk to a lawyer for a complete understanding of how it may affect your particular circumstances. This business development briefing highlights the key features of entrepreneurs’ relief. What is entrepreneurs’ relief? Entrepreneurs’ relief is a relief from capital gains…
New Regulatory Service for Expanding Leeds Law Firm
Ison Harrison, The Leeds Law firm, has opened a new Regulatory Department within its expanding operation. Ian joins to spearhead this new service. Ian has experience of defending clients facing allegations of corruption, fraud, false accounting and large-scale money laundering in some of the most complex criminal and regulatory investigations conducted nationwide in recent years….
Mission Christmas 2012
Ison Harrison are proud to be supporting Radio Aire’s Mission Christmas 2014. This campaign encourages people to buy an extra gift this Christmas which will be given to a local disadvantaged child to make their Christmas a little brighter. If you wish to donate a Christmas gift you can drop one off at any branch of…
When is a business partner entitled to apply for a new lease?
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 provides a tenant of commercial premises with a statutory right to apply for a new tenancy, as long as the nature of the tenancy satisfies certain preliminary criteria. Once the criteria have been satisfied, there is usually no controversy over whether the tenant can exercise its statutory rights. However,…
Isons competing in the Abbey Dash 2014
On Sunday November 16th, 10 members of the Ison Harrison team will be taking part in the Age UK Abbey Dash. The race that attracts over 10,000 runners, kicks off on Wellington Street on Sunday at 9.30am. Several members of the team who took place in the Jane Tomlinson Leeds 10k in July will be…
Ison Harrison Expands Commercial Property Arm with New Appointment
Leeds Law Firm, Ison Harrison has extended its Commercial Property operation by appointing Sean Gallagher to swell the existing team to six. Ison Harrison are ideally placed to take advantage of the burgeoning Leeds building thrust, acting particularly for house builders and commercial landlords. Sean now brings his 10 years of experience to the team…
Court of Appeal decision on Section 38 Agreements
Court of Appeal confirms that highway authorities may impose commuted sums in section 38 agreements The Court of Appeal decided on the 31 October 2014 that highway authorities may, when entering into agreements under section 38 of the Highways Act 1980, legitimately charge commuted sums for the future maintenance of highways after adoption. The practice…
The Politics of Immigration
The party conference season has now ended and Immigration looks likely to be high on the agendas for each of the major political parties. Early election manifestos are already being published and Immigration is being put under the same headings as Crime and Welfare Benefits, once more putting it across in a negative light to…
Law Society – Access To Justice
In a speech made recently Andrew Caplin, the recently installed President of the Law Society, announced a new campaign which aims to highlight the increasing difficulties faced by people who find themselves needing to take legal action. The Access to Justice campaign was introduced with three core aims: To raise public awareness of lawyer-aided access to…
Meeting with employee’s son amounted to constructive dismissal
A woman has won her case of constructive dismissal after her employers approached her son about her faltering performance rather than speak to her directly. The woman worked for an accountancy firm. She was a competent member of staff and received a positive performance review. However, months later she didn’t receive a pay rise as…
Make a Will Month
Ison Harrison Solicitors are proud to be supporting St. Gemma’s Hospice Make a Will Month campaign this October. What is Make a Will Month? St. Gemma’s Hospice has teamed up with Ison Harrison and others to give you an opportunity to have your Will written for free if you make a donation to the hospice. Although…
Sex discrimination claims rise as other employment claims fall
The number of sex discrimination claims has risen over the last two years. There were 13,700 cases in 2013 compared with 10,700 in 2012. Research from the Times newspaper shows that they now make up 55% of all discrimination claims, whereas they made up just over 33% two years ago. Sex discrimination claims are now…
CQC: a Fresh Start???
The CQC has published a document entitled “A fresh start for the regulation and inspection of primary care dental services” in which the CQC sets out its “early thinking” regarding a new inspection and monitoring approach for dental practices. This note summarises the key points from that document. Overview The CQC reports that, from the…
Home Office House Calls
We’ve recently become aware of a new tactic from the Home Office in checking up on people who are reliant on their family relationships for their legal status in the UK. Immigration Officers seem to be not only making house calls to make sure people live with who they say they do, but knocking on…
Implications of the Immigration Act 2014
Shortly before jetting off on their summer holidays, Parliament passed a new law, called the Immigration Act 2014, which aims to make it increasingly difficult to live in the UK without legal status. An understandable aim, but the way in which the Government has gone about it is perhaps less commendable. The onus on keeping…
Law Society fears online LPAs could be open to abuse
The Law Society has raised concerns that the online service for lasting powers of attorney (LPA) could be open to cases of fraud and abuse. LPAs are well established documents that enable you to nominate someone in advance to look after your affairs should you become incapable of doing so yourself at some point in…
Naming Rights to Sports Stadiums: the key legal issues
Match Day ticket sales increasingly constitute a smaller part of a sports club’s income. Attracting commercial income is now a key priority. As such clubs are looking to sell naming rights to the very ground they use as a key income generation tool. Set out below is a note explaining what is likely to be…
Immigration Facts & Soundbites
Last week, Nick Clegg MP, the Deputy Prime Minister, made a speech on Immigration. This is a topic that is going to be at the forefront of the upcoming election. He set out his position on more effective immigration control as essentially being one of big, strong walls at the borders but with doors open…
Ison Harrison open 8th office in Chapel Allerton
Leeds Law firm Ison Harrison today announced the opening of a new office in the Chapel Allerton suburb of North East Leeds. The new office will be the firm’s eighth office in Leeds and builds upon its reputation for making legal service easily accessible to local people across the city… “We are extremely proud to…
Non-competition clauses – do they work?
Traditionally the Courts have been reluctant to enforce these types of clauses giving more preferential treatment to non-solicitation and non-dealing clauses. However the case of Merlin Financial Consultants Ltd V Cooper seems to show the Courts changing their stance particularly in circumstances where the covenants are contained in a business sale agreement and/or there is…
How to make a claim for medical negligence
Time limits It is important that that you speak to a solicitor as soon as possible as there are time limits which apply to pursuing a claim. Court Proceedings need to be issued within 3 years of the negligence or within 3 years of the date that you become aware of the negligence. In cases…
Ison Harrison act for alleged victims of a property development scheme in Northern Cyprus
The National Crime Agency –v– Robb If you have any questions concerning the Order please contact Jonathan Robson at jonathan.robson@isonharrison.co.uk
Private Family Law team complete Corporate Relay Challenge
The finishing time was 2:03:27 and the team was ranked respectably, 33rd out of 53 corporate team entrants. Members of the team competing in the race were Tahira Rahman, Pascale Adam, Ruth Flowers, Allen Bailey, Nathalie Mannion, Shaun Hulme. We are delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile local charity that makes such a significant…
Ison Harrison Solicitors are proud to be supporting the Leeds Children’s Charity Corporate Relay Challenge 2014
For well over 100 years, the Leeds Children’s Charity has been raising funds for disadvantaged children to provide free residential respite, enabling the children to have a holiday away from their worries at home. Children suffering from poverty, neglect, abuse, learning difficulties, illness or young carers themselves, get the chance to visit the seaside, make…