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There has been an increase in the number of casual staff, consultants and seasonal workers.  Employers also report that the number of people requesting the right to work flexibly has gone up on average by over 75% in the last three years. Employers...

As we reflect on the first anniversary of the effective date of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we set out four key steps that employers should take to ensure GDPR compliance: 1. Audit and analyse your data Employers should work...

Recent reports of homeowners being stuck in a leasehold trap have highlighted the importance of understanding the difference between freehold and leasehold properties. With the Competition and Markets Authority announcing an investigation into possible...

Neurodiversity is a relatively new term that is used to refer to the different ways the brain can work and interpret information.  It is estimated that around 1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, this includes Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Autism,...

Recent years have seen a determined crackdown from the Government on legitimate forms of Inheritance tax (IHT) planning. Fortunately, there are still a variety of ways to mitigate IHT. One such route is to take advantage of heritage tax relief. Some 85,000...

A client recently presented to me his relative’s homemade Will: there was one glaring problem. The Will, written in beautiful handwriting, had not been witnessed and, therefore, in law, was invalid. The relative died, therefore, intestate (without a...

This may seem like an appealing service as it can be quicker, simpler and lowers the cost but is it really appropriate for such an important document? A Will is one of the most important documents that you will ever make. It is essential to make sure that...

Whistleblowing is a subject that regularly hits the headlines, particularly recently with the Health Secretary vowing to outlaw non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for NHS staff and whistleblowing charity Protect calling for the government to adopt new EU...

As a parent of a child or adult with a learning disability it can be hard not to worry about what will happen in the future when you are no longer around.   Reading Mencap is delighted to be hosting a free seminar on Monday...

Another hugely successful fundraising run for the Rowberry Morris team! We had a great run, everyone finished with good times, the weather was fabulous (though a little hotter than expected) and there was good support around the town again. A big thank you...

Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”) are legal documents that allow a person (“the Donor”) to choose one or more individuals (“Attorneys”) to handle their affairs in the event that they can no longer do so themselves. ...

In November 2018, the government revived its proposed change to probate fees from a flat fee of £215 (£155 for applications by solicitors) to a banded structure based on the value of the estate which passes under the will.  At the time of...

If so, you may be eligible to a partial refund of the registration fee paid from the OPG.  The amount of the refund will depend upon when the application to register was submitted to the OPG, but you will also receive 0.5% interest. The claim must be...

Surprisingly, over half of adults in the UK haven’t made a will. Yet, as life decisions go, drawing up a legally-binding document that details what you want to happen to your estate after death is extremely important, particularly for those you leave...

Divorce or separation are one of life’s most stressful events. If there are children involved in the process, it becomes even more complex. Though it can be hard to reach a resolution in what are often contentious circumstances, putting children first...

In this case we recently handled an Age Discrimination Claim, where our client was left feeling humiliated after being sacked from her secretary job in the NHS. As you might have seen, the employment tribunal case of Mrs Eileen Jolly has been all over the...

Not many people enjoy conflict. When we face a difficult time in our lives, we all want to find the quickest, least stressful and most sensible solution to our problem. When the problem is a civil dispute, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) can often be...

Potholes. They’re the bane of every motorist, motorcyclist and cyclist in the land. They’ve even been known to claim the odd pedestrian or two, and it seems that the problem is getting worse. With hundreds of thousands of miles to look after,...

If you’re a property owner, one of the biggest worries is that ‘squatters’ will move into a vacant property and take up residency. If they are not removed quickly then there is the possibility that they can acquire the ownership of a...

If there’s one place you’re pretty much guaranteed to spot a bargain, it’s an online auction site. Ebay is now one of the world’s biggest buying and selling portals, with millions of transactions taking place every year. It’s...