A common concern, in the UK especially, is about the surrogate changing her mind and seeking to keep the child. Whilst on the flip side the government are also concerned about the vulnerable nature of some surrogates who could unfairly be taken advantage of by financially dominant Intended Parents (“IPs”). That said, you may also remember […]
Bulk redundancies are appearing in industry publications and news articles more and more frequently. High Street Retailers and those manufacturers moving overseas are causing serious ripples across the UK. Many businesses, including the larger law firms, are having to make a significant number of employees redundant at the same time whether this is due to […]
An article published in the Independent on 28 August 2018 reported that data breach complaints had increased by 160% since the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into force. This staggering statistic does not come as surprise, given the amount of media attention and government campaigns there were for GDPR. The media attention has raised […]
Due to their flexibility and that fact Drones are now so small yet sophisticated they could soon become as common on-site as trucks and diggers. A recent report by Goldman Sachs makes it clear that the largest expected take-up for commercial drones is in construction, primarily in surveying and mapping sites. […]
Blockchain and smart contracts 101 There are a number of question marks over blockchain security, dispute resolution and data protection compliancy. Should companies take legal advice before engaging with this technology and what are the legal pitfalls? By Jacqueline Watts Technology has substantially impacted the many of the business functions of different companies across various […]
To much fanfare, Apple has just released the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. However a matter of hours before the launch, Apple’s own website seemingly leaked key features of the new products including their names, colour and storage size (a key feature of the new products). A City Law Firm looks at what steps […]
To much fanfare, Apple has just released the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. However a matter of hours before the launch, Apple’s own website seemingly leaked key features of the new products including their names, colour and storage size (a key feature of the new products). A City Law Firm looks at what steps […]
THE GOVERNMENT’S LGBT ACTION PLAN: BANNING CONVERSION THERAPY Following the UK government revealing its LGBT Action plan, our lawyer takes a look at the logistic of enforcing the proposed ban of the controversial practice of conversion therapy… The UK government’s LGBT Action Plan sounds a little like the blueprint for an upcoming war game, rather […]
Karen Holden of A City Law Firm has represented hundreds of tech businesses and sees the same issues time and time again. Here’s what to look out for and how to navigate the legal minefield. This month my company (A City Law Firm) marked our ten-year anniversary, which has made me think back to our […]
It shouldn’t take a car crash for us to react. It shouldn’t take sensationalist journalism and broadcasting to prick up your ear. It shouldn’t take a parent losing their child for common sense to takeover the driving seat. Society and the law are interesting bedfellows. One is usually reacting to the other in an eternal […]
The first working Monday of the year is dubbed Divorce Day by family lawyers, but if you’re in business with your partner, things can get complicated A divorce is one of those things you don’t anticipate, plan or want to be party to. It’s tough to go through, especially when children are involved, but throw a […]
It has been over 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality started – and since then we have made some phenomenal steps forward when it comes to protecting the rights of people in the LGBT community. Perhaps the biggest and most seminal piece of legislation in recent memory was the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act […]
From 25 May 2018 the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) will be replaced by The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and it will bring important changes to the ways data is stored and processed by businesses. The introduction of GDPR is designed to set clear rules for businesses to follow when collecting and storing personal […]
The Data Protection Act is about to be changed becoming tougher, and only about a third of businesses are ready for it – particularly those in the arts and creative industries. It will bring the UK into line with Europe and nothing, not even Brexit, will slow its implementation. Lawyer Karen Holden, who has made […]
There has been an incredible revolution over the past 100 years, which has transformed the lives of women. Opportunities have been created, expectations have been surpassed, and women are working to (successfully) achieve equality. Changes in the law have empowered women to gain the right to vote, right to an education, right to divorce, the […]
WE HAVE ALL READ THE CHALLENGES MADE AGAINST UBER, DELIVEROO, ADDISON LEE AND PIMLICO PLUMBERS BY MEMBERS OF STAFF. The issue is not new and boils down to whether certain self-employed staff should be considered as employed (and subject to employers NI) and in turn whether they should then have employment rights and benefits. We […]
This month my company (A City Law Firm) marked our ten-year anniversary, which has made me think back to our first year, how we started and some of the early mistakes we made. For one thing, within a year of our launch, we had to restructure the entire business and there were so many hurdles […]
Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. If you are receiving less cash than you are spending, you cannot meet your immediate needs and you could risk insolvency. Due diligence and well drafted terms and conditions can reduce the risk of negative cash flow. Some challenges for small business There is a never-ending list […]
Potentially. Where staff must be diverted from their usual tasks, damages for significant disruption caused to the business may be recoverable. This must not be confused with time spent by your staff preparing for court proceedings. Damages for business disruption will not extend to time “lost” building your case against the Defendant. They are limited […]
The recent global cyber-attack wreaked havoc at dozens of NHS trusts and hit thousands of computers in over 150 countries.The NHS trusts that were affected have been criticised for not adding the patch despite warnings from NHS Digital a month ago that they were vulnerable to a possible attack. Security experts say that computers were […]
Funding and investment are words I hear daily as many of my clients start their enterprising journey. These words are used interchangeably, but I actually define these as very distinct opportunities. I fear many do not honestly understand the array of options available to them, the risks and benefits of each, but often dive right […]
New legislation has been implemented to prevent intermediaries and individuals using deceptive methods to reduce employment tax and avoid the provision of employment rights. Such methods include the portrayal of false self-employment and the supply of workers from an off-shore location. Intermediaries are organisations that make arrangements for someone to work for a third person, […]
Late last year we fought a case for a transgender woman who was being discriminated against and harassed by her employer and colleagues. This woman had worked for the company happily for an astounding 23 years, yet despite the rapport and connections that she had built up, things changed frighteningly quickly following her transition.We find […]
Many businesses need investment to be able to develop their product, launch it to market or expand into new countries. The common route is to get an equity share or bank loan – but whilst these are readily available options, they are not without pitfalls and obstacles. As a leading entrepreneur law firm we have […]
Separation and custody battles are extremely distressing. Allegations made between the parents can be easily made yet difficult to refute. Perhaps you have a way to prove otherwise though? Ever been tempted to leave your iPad ‘accidentally’ in a room, recording a conversation? Ever wanted to sew recording devices into children’s clothes to record your […]
On 27 January 2017, the Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill received its second reading in the House of Lords. It has been progressed to the Committee stage however a date is yet to be announced. The Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill is a Private Member’s Bill put forward by Baroness Deech to amend the law relating to […]
A transgender woman has been refused direct access to her children due to the discriminatory and trans-phobic practice of Ultra-Orthodox Judaism (Charedi). Despite the resilience of the children and the inherent best interests being served by a child having direct contact with their parent, a High Court Judge has nonetheless supported the birth mother in […]
Had enough of your regular 9-5pm job, had a baby and can’t face returning to work or just bored and need a new challenge. A Franchise arrangement can open a whole new world to you, but are you genuinely ready and capable of successfully embracing a new business? Are you too old? Never, you can […]
When rolling out a franchise business either as a Master Franchise or a Franchisor one of the most difficult things to navigate can be the allure of a keen franchisee versus the reality of whether they actually have the funding and business savvy to make it work.
A pension feels very personal and the thought of your ex-spouse acquiring a share now and/or in the future can be disturbing. If an agreement cannot be reached between you and your spouse, and there is no pre-nuptial agreement, a sizable pension can lead to a lengthy and protracted court battle. We have experienced […]
The first working Monday of the year is dubbed Divorce Day by family lawyers, but if you’re in business with your partner, things can get complicated. A divorce is one of those things you don’t anticipate, plan or want to be party to. It’s tough to go through, especially when children are involved, but throw […]
Have you secured your ‘business pre-nup’? Read here how to protect your business should the worse happen when you are in business with your spouse… It is proven that divorce enquiries in the UK jump in January, rising by as much as 300 per cent. With January 2017 upon us, divorce lawyers up and down […]
Intellectual property is typically one of the most important and valuable assets of any business. Intellectual property (IP) is typically one of the most important and valuable assets of any business. It can be found in anything you have created or designed such as a product, software, logo or even the business name itself. Before […]
I own my own business and have recently separated from my partner, but I was not married. Could my partner have any rights over my business?There is nothing worse than a separation from someone you loved, but sorting out the house and finances can feel like a minefield. You want it to be amicable , […]
Karen Holden of A City Law Firm shares her views It is often debated whether women can ‘have it all’ and I truly believe we can. There is nothing stopping us climbing the career ladder whilst being doting parents, providing you are willing to work hard and sacrifice. I started my own legal practice after […]
So you’re pregnant, but you love your career, do you have to choose between your family and your success? In short, you shouldn’t have to and the law is there to protect you , but what’s the reality ? There are so many protections and options for mums that there is no reason why you […]
A Single Father’s Journey: The Trilogy The Family Courts have recently had to grapple with the particularly thorny issue of a single man seeking a Parental Order for a child born through surrogacy. Under the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 2008 (HFEA), S54(1) and (2), only a couple who are married, civil partners or in […]
A City Law Firm – Awarded ‘Innovative Law Firm of 2016 London’ We pride ourselves on being the ‘leading entrepreneur law firm in the City of London’, offering our clients alternative options, out the box ideas as well as traditionally sound legal advice. What does 2016/2017 hold for you and your business? I am not […]
My partner took out a loan so I could buy a motorbike – now she’s told me to pay her back in full or hand over the bike, what are my options? By Rebecca Rutt for thisismoney.co.uk Two years ago my partner took out a loan so I could use the money to buy a […]
There are many people who will refer you to companies and accountants that can take in your investment, but these agents often take a referral free for doing so, but make no real attempt to check whether that company is able to perform the immigration processes you require or that it is sustainable for the […]
Not necessarily but be warned! Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation being the most well-known example, is now being strongly encouraged by the courts, more than ever before. The rationale is easy to follow. The courts are becoming increasingly burdened by an ever growing number of litigants and ADR, if used properly, increases the chances of […]
So you’ve come up with an awesome idea for a startup. You know that you have the potential to be the next big thing. So you look at your budget and break down where you need to spend – be it marketing, networking events, hiring of staff or technology… but how safe is your very […]
Entering into a commercial lease is a fact of life for many businesses but failing to obtain proper advice before doing so can have dire financial consequences. By seeking assistance from our commercial property team at A City Law Firm we can help remove the uncertainties and flag up legal pitfalls. As we act for […]
Franchising is a popular way of quickly growing a business and sharing the successful blueprint of a good product, service or idea. If you have a strong business brand which is suited for development as a franchise model i.e. it is a profitable business that has a proven track record and a broad appeal that can be replicated, finding franchisees may […]
You work hard to start your own company and invest time and effort into making it work, only to have problems either with fellow colleagues or, more personally, at home. So how do you protect your assets when either starting a business with other people or in the unfortunate breakdown of a marriage?Business Start-up So you […]
Confidential information is non-public privileged information pertaining to a company’s business. Such information can include, trade secrets, proprietary information, know-how, technical, business or financial information and personal information.Are you worried that an employee will leave and take confidential information with them to benefit your competitor? Employees can be bound by confidentiality clauses in their employment […]
How much control can you afford to relinquish? It is essential you decide on this early on , as it is very easy to accept an investors terms when they are offering you a much needed cash injection. What level of control do you need to retain to be able to operate your business on a […]
Empty Judgments: What to do when faced with an insolvent defendant company. It is a claimant’s nightmare: succeed in obtaining a judgment against a defendant company only to find that the company is insolvent or does not have sufficient means to satisfy the judgment debt. This is what is known as an empty judgment, which […]
Terms and Conditions (Ts & Cs) are an essential part of all businesses. They should provide clarity for customers and strike a fair balance to encourage business while offering you sufficient protection from the distraction and cost of disputes. Inadequately drafted and you could find yourself facing serious problems such as cash flow problems, business […]
Google has become so renowned and ingrained in our daily lives that it’s the first thing that pops into your head when you want to know the answer to almost anything. “Google it” has become an in-built reaction to being asked a question you don’t know the answer to. Why then, would this tech giant choose to change their […]
What I have observed in practice is that many businesses overlook the fact that fundamentally IP is a business asset. Where the asset is protected by law and exclusive to you its value increases as does the business.IP can create an income stream for your business. How? Licensing, patenting and commercially packaging IP as products for […]
Christmas lists have been created and movies, music and apps for loved ones are now being sourced & downloaded. Business will be booming for digital moguls, but be aware the amended rules give your consumers protection never before bestowed. The Consumer Rights Act 2015, is in place to protect consumers of goods and services provided […]
It is important that all business owners and those contemplating commencing a business are aware of the issues surrounding shadow directors and how someone may accidentally become one. What is a shadow director? A shadow director is someone who is not a registered director of a company but exercises control or influence over a business […]
“Can I recover my costs from the other side?” This is one of the first questions asked in any dispute in which solicitors are involved and an important consideration when weighing up the commercial viability of pursuing a person for money owed to you. The general rule is that the person against whom judgment is […]
You meet a man, you fall in love. You decide to commit, you do not wish to be un-romantic and discuss pre-nuptial agreements. You enter into your Civil Partnership or marry. You then wish you hadn’t. It seems what’s yours is his and what’s his is his. Suddenly the pre-nuptial seems like it had some merit… […]
In 2014, the President of the Family Division had a case before him where he updated the more literal statutory interpretation of the Parental Order process with a more flexible child focused version. Although it will remain fact specific, an application not made within 6 months for good reason can therefore still be made after […]
As a Director, you will probably already understand the day to day decisions for the company and the metaphorical buck now stops firmly with you, but what about company procedures, legal duties, lifetime liabilities and the ‘fine print’ of being a Director? The Fine Print of the Law As a Director on a Board, you […]
A City Law Firm Limited started up in 2009 right smack in the middle of the recession, how hard could it be? Well 6 years later growing from 2 to 10 fee earners, triple turnover, a whole floor of offices and consultants aboard I, as the founding partner, can happily say “the hardest thing in […]
All change The landscape of litigation has changed considerably this year. The guiding principle of the courts to deal with cases justly appears to have been qualified by the requirement that cases are run efficiently and at proportionate cost. In short, this means that the courts’ tolerance of non-compliance with the procedural rules has all […]
Every family is different; every child’s upbringing unique. However, having more than two adults in a child’s life is not particularly uncommon in a modern family, as couples separate and new partners arrive on the scene. Step-parents have been an accepted form of parenting for a significant period of time. In contrast to step-parents however, […]
Do Intended Parents have the right to receive maternity or paternity leave where a surrogate mother has given birth to a child? As from 5th April 2015, the Children and Families Act grants applicants for Parental Orders in surrogacy arrangements the ability to choose to take shared Parental Leave within the first year after their child’s birth. […]
The standard route is to commence proceedings in the County Court. In exceptional circumstances you can issue in the High Court. In the Claim Form you will be seeking an Order for Summary Possession. A hearing can be given within a week or 2 days in urgent circumstances. Once the Order for Summary Possession is […]
Challenging rent terms in your lease: Canonical UK Ltd. v TST Millbank LLC In this case a tenant sought to break a lease, which clearly specified (as is normal practice) that for a break notice to be valid, all the rents payable under the lease had be paid up to the date of the break. It […]
So…You find yourself on the wrong side of an unfortunate business agreement. Money is owed to you. You try to negotiate, but the other side is either unwilling to be reasonable or even to negotiate at all. As with all legal disputes, prevention is cheaper than the cure. Even with simple debt recovery matters, legal […]
Debt Recovery Across EU Borders Is a company that owes you money based in another country in the European Union? Perhaps an individual debtor has dissipated his assets in England and moved abroad within the EU to frustrate your attempts to enforce locally. Unfortunately, these are not uncommon scenarios that can complicate enforcement to the […]
New legislation has come into effect which will allow employees to become shareholders in a company in exchange for surrendering key employment rights. Significant tax reliefs are available for employees who enter into one of these schemes. The provisions are expected to come into force in Autumn 2013. The “Exchange” Employees who enter into the […]
Crowdfunding is a new phenomena for businesses to raise capital by selling their equity to a large number of individuals, typically over the internet. Crowdfunding is also used for raising funds for individual projects or campaigns. The practice of Crowdfunding is popular in the USA and is now beginning to gain momentum in the UK. […]
Family Care asks: With National Careers Week and International Women’s Day falling in the same month, what better time than to discuss where equality in the workplace is for women. From your viewpoint, has the equality gap begun to close? And what needs to be done to progress to the next level? The Past is […]
Legal considerations when choosing your childcare provider A parent has a number of important decisions to make in relation to choosing who will care for their child when they are not able to do so, especially if they intend to return to work. This article considers the legal issues concerning the traditional child care providers, […]
An employer’s duty, to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled employee, does NOT extend to an employee who is “associated” with a disabled person. What does associated mean? The Court of Appeal in Hainsworth v Ministry of Defence [2014] EWCA Civ 763 determined on 13 May 2014 that an employer’s duty, to make reasonable adjustments […]
You have a great concept or product, funding and perhaps a friend, relative or colleague that wants to join forces with you. The key to any successful business is good advice, support and above all appreciate the risks, liabilities involved and how you come out on top to fight another day if it all goes […]
As parents we have a number of important decisions to make. One is who will look after and care for our children , where we cannot do so, due to returning to work for example. This article focuses on Nurseries, but please see our other articles on nannies and child minders if this is applicable. […]
As a Director, you will probably already understand the day to day decisions for the company and the metaphorical buck now stops firmly with you, but what about company procedures, legal duties, lifetime liabilities and the ‘fine print’ of being a Director? Entrepreneurs and new Directors will always see the benefit to Limited Liability status […]
You are legally entitled to take a reasonable amount of time off to deal with certain emergencies involving certain dependants. This leave is called Time Off For Dependants. Time Off For Dependants can be taken, for example, if a dependant falls ill or is injured, if care arrangements break down, or to arrange or attend […]
The legal recognition of a Grandparent, within Child Proceedings, has not sadly altered to reflect the change in society. More and more parents are relying on Grandparents for childcare and they have a very active role in the child’s up-bringing. There are also now greater expectations on mothers to return to work relatively swiftly after […]
It is a common misconception that a “common law marriage” is recognised in UK law; it is not. Regrettably, irrespective of the length of your relationship or the time you have been living together or whether you have children, there is still no legal recognition of this status and it can leave you vulnerable upon […]
Do you know your maternity rights or rights on returning to work? At A City Law Firm Limited, we have a team of lawyers offering specialist advice on all aspects of employment law. We appreciate the stress (and joy) of becoming a mum and are here to support you with legal advice tailored to you […]
Statutory Paternity Leave is a maximum of two weeks’ leave, following the birth of a child, taken in order to support the mother or care for the new child. It can be taken as a single week or two consecutive weeks. It cannot be taken as odd days or as two separate weeks. Statutory Paternity Leave […]
Pregnant employees are entitled to take 26 weeks’ Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks Additional Maternity Leave, irrespective of their length of service or the number of hours worked each week. You may not return to work during the two weeks immediately following the birth of your child (four weeks for women who work in factories). You […]
The recent reforms have implemented a new auto-enrolment scheme where employers are required to enrol eligible employees into a pension scheme automatically. Employers are also required to contribute to their employees’ pension funds. Auto-enrolment Employees that are eligible for the auto-enrolment scheme are: Employees aged between 22 and the state pension age who are earning […]
Relying on social media in recruitment could expose you to a discrimination claim. Employers should aware of the risk of researching candidates on social media resources exposing them to potential discrimination claims. Referring to information in the public domain, posted by the candidates themselves, may seem like a harmless exercise. However, the information gained via […]
One of the most significant judgments on age discrimination was handed down on 25 April 2012 by the Supreme Court. However, critics warn that the judgment may have left the door open for businesses to set their own retirement age for staff. The case involved a former law firm partner who brought a claim of age discrimination […]
The Government has responded to Law Society calls for clarification about the validity of compromise agreements (now known as Settlement Agreements) drafted under the Equality Act. These Settlement agreements are used extensively on termination of employment. Terms usually provide for a severance payment to be made to the employee, in return for their agreement not to pursue […]
If I am treated less favourably because service providers or my employer THINKS I am gay, but doesn’t know for sure is this still discrimination? The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 prohibit discrimination and importantly, the law not only makes it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of a person’s actual sexuality but also their perceived […]
Employee’s and Employer’s should be forewarned that Facebook, Twitter and other social media cites can lead to grievances, disciplinary action and employment cases/ hearings…. People assume that because social media sites are social and they have set their own private profiles nothing can be used against them by their employer….wrong. If you discriminate against fellow […]
The Court of Appeal has upheld the County Court’s decision confirming that Christian Hotel Owners Mr & Mrs Bull discriminated against Civil Partners Messrs Preddy & Hall by denying them a double bed. In accordance with their religious belief, Mr & Mrs Bull operated a strict policy permitting only married couples to share double beds […]
The Reading Employment Tribunal is the first Tribunal known to have allowed a case to conclude via Skype. The Tribunal rules allow all hearings to be wholly or partly conducted using electronic communications (such as video conferencing) where it is considered just and equitable to do so. However, the Reading Employment Tribunal recently allowed a witness to give […]
Have you been offered a franchise or do you need to renew or sell yours? If so, let our team assist you, with clear and swift legal advice. We offer comprehensive advice for a fixed fee, which remain competitive and are also transparent. We will take you through the terms of the agreement, advise you […]
TUPE is a complicated area of law and if you do not comply fully with the rules, or take time to consider the consequences carefully, it can be expensive and disastrous for those buying or selling their businesses. If you are going to buy, sell, or transfer the ownership of a business or take on a […]
If you are a creditor you will still be able to recover your debt and the costs are not as prohibitive as you may think. In particular this is easier if the debtor is within an EU country; the country has a reciprocal agreement and/or you have a term in your contract submitting the relationship […]
A divorce legally puts an end to your marriage and enables you to separate and legally divide your assets and finances from your partner’s. In contrast, during a legal separation you draft together a settlement agreement that sets out the rights and responsibilities that will apply to each spouse while they are living apart. During […]
A Settlement Agreement is a legally binding agreement following the termination of your employment between your employer and employee. It is used often as a means of resolving a grievance or disciplinary during your employment or in some cases of redundancy. A Settlement Agreement formerly known as a compromise agreement is just that; a resolution / […]
How long do you have to be married in order to apply for a divorce? You cannot start a divorce until you have been married for at least 12 months and you will have to show that the marriage has broken down irretrievably and cannot be reconciled through mediation or other means. How do I […]
It is a difficult time for all concerned when a relationship breaks down and it is essential that you receive clear and supportive divorce advice in what are usually emotionally difficult circumstances. Our divorce solicitors focus on you and your needs at all times. Our aim is to resolve matters both swiftly and painlessly, where […]
An Injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a Court Order that usually requires a person to do or refrain from doing something. However, they may also require a person to positively do something to prevent what would be unlawful conduct leading to damage to the claimant. Injunctions are discretionary remedies and it […]
Q: What is Intellectual property? A: Intellectual Property (IP) ascribes the legal right that exists in products of human creativity. IP is divided into two categories: Industrial property, which includes inventions (patents), trademarks such as your logo, company name or slogan, industrial designs; and Copyright, which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems […]
Whether you are operating your business as a sole trader, partnership, LLP or limited company you will have given it a name. You may well also have developed a logo, which together will be used to distinguish your business from your competitors. A considerable amount of time and money can be spent creating your brand identity […]
If you’re thinking about selling your business, the process can proceed more smoothly if the business owner has prepared their business for sale. This applies whether you’re selling the assets or the shares (which is an option if the business operates through a company). Preparation – Due Diligence It is advisable for a buyer to […]
It is important that your company is correctly formed. Most companies intend to be limited by shares, but you will be surprised by the frequency of companies ‘accidentally’ set up to be limited by guarantee. Is your company correctly formed? It is important that your company is correctly formed. Most companies intend to be limited […]
Business website: What should it contain? Your business has a website, have you ensured there are no restrictions or requirements that you should display? If your business operates a web-site which is used to market your business i.e. advertise services or goods or actually sell goods or services online (whether it is to other businesses […]