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Read the latest briefing notes upon change or developments in the law.

Legal Updates - August 2008

Archive :

Collins pays £25 million divorce settlement
18 Aug 2008

Phil Collins has agreed to pay £25 million to his third wife as part of the UK''s biggest-ever divorce settlement, according to reports.The former Gen...


Will warnings ''still being ignored''
18 Aug 2008

Many people continue to ignore warnings over the dangers of dying intestate, it has been claimed.According to Sheffield-based solicitor Mary Butler, r...


Sex discrimination decision upheld by tribunal
18 Aug 2008

An employment tribunal has upheld its decision to rule in favour of a London lawyer claiming to have suffered sex discrimination at work, it is report...


Families "suffering due to lack of legal aid"
15 Aug 2008

Government restrictions on the availability of legal aid are placing increasing strains on the resources of bereaved relatives, it is claimed.Accordin...


New regulations ''could affect mortgage availability''
15 Aug 2008

Prospective landlords seeking buy-to-let mortgages may see financiers may becoming "more cautious" with their lending, it has been claimed.New Council...


Business insurance ''a legal and practical necessity''
15 Aug 2008

Business owners must take out the insurances required by law, regardless of the budgeting constraints placed on their activities, it has been claimed....


Councillor ''slur'' partner loses unfair dismissal claim
14 Aug 2008

A woman who claimed she was bullied out of her job has lost her claim for unfair dismissal, it has been claimed.Susan Parry, who worked for Sunderland...


Landlords warned over Energy Performance Certificates
13 Aug 2008

Landlords with buy-to-let properties have been urged to ensure they have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place.From October, those int...


Divorcing baseball star ''has a pre nup''
13 Aug 2008

Alex Rodriguez, the US baseball player recently linked with pop star Madonna, has a pre-nuptial agreement with his wife Cynthia, it has been revealed....


Cadbury probate ''still not finalised'' after two years
13 Aug 2008

The estate of chocolate heir Peter Cadbury has still not been distributed, two years after his death, it has been reported.According to the Daily Tele...


Wills are public documents ''available for inspection''
12 Aug 2008

Wills become public documents once a Grant of Probate has been issued, according to one trust and succession partner.Commenting on the issue of will s...


Government ''has reneged on planning consultation promises''
12 Aug 2008

The current planning bill has been criticised for a failure to involve local communities, according to one planning lawyer.Speaking to the Lawyer.com,...


English worker wins compensation after racism claim
12 Aug 2008

A Dublin-based English pipe fitter has received £15,630 in compensation after being racially abused work, according to reports.The man, whose identity...


Insolvencies ''could rise by a third'' in Scotland
11 Aug 2008

Scottish business failures will rise by a third in the second half of 2008, according to on business lawyer.Corporate recovery and insolvency expert G...


Equalities bill sparks pay-audit fear
11 Aug 2008

Fears are growing over the new equalities bill, with business groups concerned that it will include provisions requiring private sector pay audits and...


Disabled worker sues Sainsbury''s for unfair dismissal
11 Aug 2008

A disabled warehouse worker has taken Sainsbury''s to an employment tribunal, accusing the supermarket giant of sacking him over complaints made about...


Mediation ''can be effective''
08 Aug 2008

Mediation is a more constructive, calm and less costly way of ending a same-sex civil partnership, according to one legal expert.Geoff Mountjoy, regio...


Concern over illegal CV checks
08 Aug 2008

Concerns have been raised over employers carrying out illegal criminal record checks on staff.The law states that the checks should only be carried ou...


Employees ''should be warned '' over possible redundancy
07 Aug 2008

Employers have been warned not to act hastily over staff redundancies, especially where senior management staff are concerned.Leading employment lawye...


Widows and widowers ''missing out'' on inheritance tax entitlements
07 Aug 2008

Complex inheritance tax rules are causing thousands of UK widows and widowers to lose out on entitlements amounting to millions of pounds, it has been...


Home working ''can help firms satisfy corporate social responsibility''
07 Aug 2008

Business owners can help embrace the "green revolution" by allowing employees to work from home, it is claimed.According Michael Desalles, a strategic...


Government plans crackdown on ''rogue employers''
06 Aug 2008

The government will crackdown on rogue employers who abuse vulnerable workers as it aims to clean up the "dark corners" of the labour market, accordin...


Insolvencies ''fall'' in England and Wales
06 Aug 2008

Fewer professionals in England and Wales were declared insolvent during the past year despite the effects of the credit crisis, according to reports.A...


Reasonable adjustment in disability legislation ''welcomed'' by FSB
05 Aug 2008

Company owners may be interested to learn that the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has spoken out in favour of current disability discrimination ...


MP criticises planning bill amendment
05 Aug 2008

An MP has requested an explanation as to how a "draconian" clause has entered the new planning bill, according to reports.Nick Harvey, member for Nort...


Vorderman pay offer ''could represent constructive dismissal''
04 Aug 2008

A Welsh politician and Unison member claims an ordinary workers could claim unfair dismissal if issued with a 90 per cent pay-cut ultimatum such as th...


Conservatives ''not guaranteed'' to abolish inheritance tax
04 Aug 2008

Estate owners "would be mad" to delay inheritance planning in the hope that a new Conservative government would abolish the charge, it has been claime...


Plaid Cymru still awaiting bequest payment
01 Aug 2008

Welsh political party Plaid Cymru is still to receive nearly half of a £600,000 bequest left to it three years ago, according to reports.The Western M...


Pre-nups can ''ease the pain of divorce''
01 Aug 2008

Despite not yet being legally binding in the UK, a pre-nuptial agreement can help ease the pain of a divorce, it has been claimed.Private equity exper...


Estate holders ''should consult a solicitor'' when forming a will
01 Aug 2008

Estate holders should seek professional advice when forming a will to avoid leaving complications to family members and other loved ones, it has been ...