News

31 August 2021

As many employers are now looking to move forward with their return to the office / site arrangements, now is a timely reminder of the measures that employers should be considering if they are moving towards a blended or hybrid working model for some / all of their workforce. We touched on the issue in […]

19 August 2021

Kelly Cassemis, Commercial Property Associate at Berry Smith Lawyers, considers pandemic clauses within commercial leases. COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on all aspects of daily life and business. Recent case law provides an interesting insight into the emerging impact of pandemic induced rent suspension clauses in commercial leases. Two recent cases; WH Smith and […]

19 August 2021

Leading Welsh law firm, Berry Smith, is celebrating the success of a triple nomination at the Wales Dealmakers Awards 2021 this Autumn. The awards, which are set to be held on 9th September 2021 at the Mercure Holland House hotel in Cardiff, will recognise the top acquisitions, funding deals and buyouts in Wales, bringing together […]

18 August 2021

Nick Parker, a Partner at Berry Smith Lawyers, considers the ways that legal disputes are expected to be dealt with in the future Businesses may not yet know it, but there is a significant wind of change blowing in the way in which legal disputes will be dealt with in the future. If it comes […]

18 August 2021

Mutual Wills are different to Mirror Wills. Most couples who have made their Wills together, will have Mirror Wills. Mirror Wills are so named because they reflect each other (for example, on the first death everything passes to the survivor and on the second death, everything passes to your children). Mutual Wills, however, are a […]

18 August 2021

Berry Smith has recently joined the Legal Sustainability Alliance, a network of leading UK based law firms committed to sharing best practice and to work together to ensure that the legal sector plays its part in improving its environmental performance. Membership includes measuring and monitoring carbon emissions to commit to Net Zero by putting sustainability […]

4 August 2021

Many will have seen in the news recently that a number of employers across England and Wales are facing staff shortages as a result of what is being termed the “pingdemic”. Recent figures have shown that more than 600,000 people in England and Wales between 8th – 14th July 2021 were notified/”pinged” by the NHS […]

4 August 2021

With the sun shining, employers may be receiving a higher number of annual leave requests than usual as COVID-19 restrictions start to ease and from staff that are keen to make the most of the good weather. With that in mind, this article considers some frequently asked questions regarding holiday entitlement in the workplace. How […]

9 July 2021

Benjamin Delve of Berry Smith Lawyers tells us about the routes couples need to take in order to split. Traditionally, divorce (or dissolution of a civil partnership) in England and Wales is viewed as an adversarial process, with many couples resorting to pointing blame at their partner for the breakdown of their relationship regardless of whether […]

6 July 2021

Unfortunately most employers at some point in time will need to address issues concerning a badly behaved or underperforming employee. This can, understandably, be a daunting task for many employers, especially as slip ups in process and procedure can lead to costly unfair dismissal claims. It is therefore imperative that employers have adequate policies and […]

6 July 2021

The recent Employment Tribunal case of Kane v Debmat Surfacing Ltd has gained much attention after an employment judge found Mr Kane was unfairly dismissed, despite him being spotted smoking and drinking while on sickness absence.  While not being a reported case, it does provide some useful guidance. Mr Kane suffered from a lung condition […]

17 June 2021

Berry Smith’s Commercial Property team has once again been shortlisted for Property Law Firm of the Year at the Insider Wales Property Awards which will take place on Wednesday 15th September 2021 at Cardiff City Hall. Berry Smith LLP is a well-established, Cardiff based, commercial law firm comprising 11 partners and more than 70 staff, […]

16 June 2021

Dan Dowen, Commercial Contracts Senior Associate Solicitor at Berry Smith Lawyers considers the UK’s new Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regime: what is it and what does it mean for my business? Corruption and the exploitation of both citizens and the economy is a worldwide concern as, among other things, it undermines global trade, threatens national security […]

16 June 2021

Benjamin Delve of Berry Smith Lawyers considers the new rules of the divorce process. If you are looking to bring your marriage to an end, you have two broad options: to lay the fault for the breakdown in the relationship on your spouse or, if neither of you want to blame the other, wait for […]

1 June 2021

A new Acas report has estimated that workplace conflict costs UK employers £28.5 billion every year, an average of just over £1,000 for every employee. With the report also estimating that nearly half a million employees resign from their jobs each year as a result of conflict, it is crucial that employers know what to […]

17 May 2021

Dan Dowen, Commercial Contracts Senior Associate Solicitor at Berry Smith Lawyers, considers 3 points that businesses should consider when assessing the potential impact of Brexit on their commercial contracts Brexit will likely, in some form, impact the commercial contracts of many business across the nation. The simple question is, to what extent? The answer will […]

7 May 2021

Where are we now Although the stay-at-home rule is no longer a legal requirement in Wales, guidance from the Welsh Government is clear that employees should continue to work from home if they can, at least for the time being. Nevertheless, we would suggest that it would be beneficial for employers to build in some flexibility […]

7 May 2021

Not only has the past year brought about a number of changes to the world of work, but a number of significant judgments have been reached in employment-related cases and are worth taking note of. In this article we take a look at some recent judgments as well as looking ahead to an important upcoming […]

13 April 2021

Berry Smith are delighted to have advised Courtenay Probert and Rachel Probert on the management buy-in of Cardiff-headquartered Learna Holdings Limited which also trades via Learna, Diploma MSc and StudyPRN brands. Since 2010, Learna have established themselves as the leading provider of Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters and MBA courses with over 5,000 students progressing their career […]

13 April 2021

Leading commercial law firm, Berry Smith, has further strengthened its teams with a series of key promotions. The independent Welsh law firm has promoted five of its team members. Sarah Alford has been promoted to Partner and Michael Shutt to Senior Associate in its Employment team, Dan Dowen to Senior Associate in the Commercial department, […]

6 April 2021

From 6 April 2021, all witness statements prepared for trial in the Business and Property Courts must comply with the new Practice Direction 57AC. The changes apply to any witness statement prepared for trial which is signed on or after 6 April 2021.  This applies to Part 7 and Part 8 claims, along with unfair […]

31 March 2021

Clare Fowler, Associate at Berry Smith Lawyers, considers the future challenges for businesses if employees decide to leave to work for a competing business or to set up their own in competition. The last year has seen fundamental changes for most businesses in dealing with the challenges presented by the pandemic and having to make […]

30 March 2021

April 2021 will be an important month for both employers and us as employment lawyers, with a number of changes to the law being implemented.  IR35 and off-payroll rules As of 6th April 2021, medium and large private sector organisations which engage workers through personal service companies (PSCs) will have to assess the individual’s employment […]

25 March 2021

How do I deal with my financial affairs if I get divorced? When a relationship breaks down a couple’s minds will often turn to the question of how their property, and income, will be divided upon separation. However, there is no requirement for you to do so and, if you choose, matters can be left undetermined. […]

24 March 2021

Berry Smith is delighted to have advised Malcolm Pearce and Jonathan Templar on their sale of Bridgend-based Customised Sheet Metal Limited to the management team. Customised Sheet Metal owned by Malcolm and Jonathan, was founded in 1992 and since then has gained the expertise and experience to be able to deliver bespoke and seamless metal […]

2 March 2021

Whilst most employers appreciate the importance of providing training for members of staff, the question is, how often should training be provided? For example, is it enough for employers to provide equality and diversity training once, during an induction? Or should regular training be undertaken? The Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) shed some light in response […]

2 March 2021

Since the COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out, we have received a number of queries from various employers. We have therefore addressed the main questions below, which we hope you may find useful. Can an employer force its employees to be vaccinated? The simple answer is no, an employer cannot force its employees to be vaccinated. […]

17 February 2021

Berry Smith is hosting a virtual training seminar aimed at HR professionals and managers with HR responsibilities which will be hosted by Sarah Alford, a senior associate and Caitlin Rees, a solicitor in the Employment & HR team.           Date: Tuesday 23rd March 2021                […]

3 February 2021

What are Business Rates? Business Rates are a tax charged on a property (or part of a property) which is used for business purposes. The level of Business Rates payable is calculated using the property’s rateable value which is based on the property’s estimated value on the open market. Business Rate reliefs There are various […]

3 February 2021

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, a number of changes have been made to the Statutory Sick Pay Regulations. More recently, on 24th December 2020, the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 2020 (the “Regulations”) came into force to amend the Sick Pay Regulations in respect of the changes made to self-isolation requirements. […]

28 January 2021

The Supreme Court decision has handed down a critical judgment in a test case to seek clarity on Business Interruption Insurance policies and how insurers should treat claims arising out the coronavirus pandemic. Such a policy enables the claimant to seek recovery for losses arising out of the closure of commercial premises as a consequence […]

13 January 2021

As a Brexit trade deal has now been agreed, many have been left wondering what the implications will be for UK Employment Law. This is understandable given that a large proportion of the UK’s employment law comes from the EU, including, collective consultation obligations, discrimination rights, duties to agency workers, family leave, transfer of undertakings […]

13 January 2021

                             Free online webinar – Tuesday 26 January 2021                                         1:00 p.m. (1 hour including Q & A)           […]

11 January 2021

Residential – The Welsh Government suddenly announced in their budget on the 21st December 2020 that from 22nd December 2020 there will be an increase in the amount of Land Transaction Tax payable for the purchase of additional residential properties or buy to let properties by an additional 1%. Land Transaction Tax is a tax […]

8 January 2021

It was over 4 years ago that the UK voted to leave the EU but at long last a Brexit trade deal has finally been agreed, albeit some matters will be agreed in further detail at a later date. The deal was agreed just in time before the Brexit transition period expired, much to the […]

21 December 2020

The UK will officially cease to be a member of the EU on the 1st January 2021.  We are currently in a transition period whereby the UK for most purposes, is still treated as though it is an EU member state. However, this transition period will come to an end on 31st December 2020 and […]

21 December 2020

Legislation Currently, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) is the primary legislation that governs the use of data in the UK. The Government have already stated that upon the end of the transition period, from 1st January 2021, the EU GDPR will be incorporated into the UK law to create a new UK […]

21 December 2020

The Brexit transition period will come to an end on the 31st December 2020 and from the 1st January 2021, the UK will begin to experience the full impact of Brexit. Supply chain & commercial contracts There will be changes in import and export rules and a change in customs, tariffs and duties. These changes […]

23 November 2020

Further to our article published last week regarding the extended furlough scheme, the Government has updated its guidance with regards to the timescales for submitting a furlough claim with HMRC. Under the extended furlough scheme, employers cannot submit claims more than 14 days before the claim period end date. The Government guidance helpfully sets out […]

20 November 2020

As the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt throughout the construction sector, Gavin Hoccom, Senior Associate at Berry Smith, reviews the position of the construction company entering or facing insolvency as a consequence of non-payment by an employer. In 2019, the Court of Appeal observed in Bresco Electrical Services Ltd. v. Michael J Lonsdale […]

19 November 2020

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) (or the furlough scheme as we know it) has been extended further from 1 November 2020 until 31 March 2021. HMRC’s guidance for employers on the CJRS and guidance for employees has been updated to reflect the rules for the extended scheme period. The government has also published a policy paper […]

11 November 2020

Covid-19 has presented numerous challenges for many businesses across the nation; including disruptions and delays to supply chains, reduced custom, staffing issues and the overwhelming need to reformulate their business operations to adjust to lockdown rules and restrictions. The pandemic is very much still ongoing and with the restrictions being intensified and local lockdowns being […]

6 November 2020

The Coronavirus pandemic and associated government interventions have affected all aspects of life. The result has been a significant blow to the economy and new challenges for companies. Businesses, more than ever, are required to be agile and to adapt to the new normal when making commercial decisions. Companies contemplating corporate transactions, whether that be […]

3 November 2020

In a very last minute announcement on Saturday evening, the Prime Minister announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) (or furlough scheme, as we know it) will be extended until December 2020 (although the precise date is unclear). This means that the Job Support Scheme (JSS) that was due to come into effect as […]

30 October 2020

Berry Smith has again featured prominently in the recent publication of the leading independent guides to the legal profession in the UK. Following an exhaustive research programme, involving submissions from law firms, references from clients and peers the Legal 500 has placed Berry Smith in leading categories in Wales for Real Estate, Corporate & Commercial, […]

29 October 2020

It is all too common an occurrence: a construction company or employer seeks advice in respect of a dispute under a construction contract, only for it to transpire that no contract has been entered into in writing. Although the relationship of the parties may nevertheless be governed in part by implied terms under, for example, […]

28 October 2020

One of the most valuable assets that individuals will accumulate during their working lives is their savings for retirement. It is not uncommon, therefore, that when a marriage, or civil partnership, comes to an end, parties will be concerned about the impact of any financial arrangements on their retirement plan. Historically, the courts have been […]

28 October 2020

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, thousands of employers have continued to suffer financially. A new Job Support Scheme (JSS (Open)) will come into effect on 1st November 2020 and will run for a period of six months. This new scheme replaces the furlough scheme which ended on 31st October 2020. There is a separate Job […]

28 October 2020

With 2020 having been dominated by Covid-19 and its implications Brexit has, until now, taken a bit of a back seat. And yet, come the end of the year, when the transition period ends, there are some significant implications for all businesses. We want to ensure you have the information and support to help you […]

21 October 2020

In the midst of Covid-19, business owners have been concentrating on trying to appropriately manage risks and achieve some sort of certainty in relation to their commercial arrangements.   Dan Dowen, Commercial Contracts Associate Solicitor at Berry Smith, has been advising clients on how to put in place commercial and contractual measures to protect themselves […]

13 October 2020

Saturday 10th October 2020 was World Mental Health Day and has been termed the most important one yet since World Mental Health Day was observed for the first time on 10th October 1992. 2020 has been a tough year for everyone and months of lockdown has significantly impacted the mental health of millions of people […]

13 October 2020

In the early stages of Covid-19 many businesses contacted their insurers to see whether they had business interruption cover that would provide at least some compensation to them. In many cases insurers declined cover. To seek clarity across as many cases as possible as to whether cover should have been granted, the Financial Conduct Authority […]

6 October 2020

New regulations came into effect in England on 28th September 2020, meaning that employers could face fines of up to £10,000 if they knowingly allow or force staff to attend work when they should be self-isolating. These fines only apply in England currently, but ministers are discussing whether the fines should be extended to Scotland, […]

5 October 2020

The government is extending the temporary measures it introduced to protect businesses from insolvency during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures are contained in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act and were due to expire on 30 September 2020. They will now continue until the end of the year and in some cases, into next year. […]

1 October 2020

On 1 January 2021, the existing working rights of EU citizens entering the UK will end. A modified version of the current ‘Points Based System’ that is now in place exclusively for non-EU workers will extend next year to anyone who is not British and Irish. Certain EU and non-EU nationals covered under the existing […]

29 September 2020

As the Coronavirus pandemic has continued to develop here in the UK, thousands of employers and employees have continued to suffer financially and with the furlough scheme due to end on 31st October 2020, many were left wondering whether any further support would be available. On 24th September 2020, the Chancellor announced that a new […]

24 September 2020

Dan Dowen, Commercial Contracts Associate Solicitor at Berry Smith, provides guidance on how to ensure that your hospitality business can adhere to the Track and Trace programme while still complying with the GDPR As most people are aware, the UK Government has taken a wide range of measures over the course of the Covid 19 […]

28 August 2020

With a gradual easing of lockdown throughout the UK, more and more businesses are looking to reopen their doors to their employees and the general public. Many businesses will be required to adapt the workplace in order to be able to enforce social distancing measures to comply with government guidelines. In this article, we will […]

27 August 2020

When the Coronavirus pandemic struck and the UK went into lockdown in March 2020, many employees packed up their workplace belongings and started working from home. As we now approach the end of August 2020, it appears that homeworking is here to stay, at least for the time being. The majority of employers across the […]

26 August 2020

The initial statutory protection given to commercial tenants introduced by the UK Government was due to end on 30th June 2020. However further regulations have since been introduced in England and Wales to extend this period to 30th September 2020. In this article, we will highlight the updated statutory protection given to commercial tenants and […]

20 August 2020

Once again, leading Welsh law firm, Berry Smith, is celebrating the success of a double nomination at the Wales Dealmakers Awards in Autumn 2020. The winners of the Wales Dealmakers Awards 2020 will be revealed at the awards dinner at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff on the evening of 11 November 2020. To […]

18 August 2020

During the current climate it is more important than ever for companies to ensure that invoices and debts are paid on time so as to protect the financial standing of their business during difficult times. There are numerous ways you can seek to recover monies due from a company. However, Covid-19 and legislation introduced as […]

12 August 2020

Witnessing Wills by Video – The recent announcement by the government that, from September, individuals will be allowed to have their wills video-witnessed has been welcomed in some quarters but does it potentially allow greater opportunity for fraudsters? In the early stages of “lockdown” and amidst the uncertainties over the impact of the Covid-19 virus, […]

11 August 2020

Leading commercial law firm, Berry Smith, has further strengthened its teams with a series of key promotions. The independent Welsh law firm has promoted five of its team members in its Cardiff office. Paul Evans has been promoted to Partner and Owen James to Senior Associate in its Corporate team, Matthew Clapham to Senior Associate […]

5 August 2020

With August 2020 already underway and many booking holidays abroad, we have received a number of queries from employers concerning the 14 day quarantine rules which affect employees returning to work. We set out some frequently asked questions below. 1 – Does an employee need to self-isolate if they return from overseas? The Government announced […]

29 July 2020

Unfortunately, as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on businesses’ workloads and income, many employers are finding themselves with no other option than to commence formal redundancy processes. Such processes are time consuming, stressful and unpleasant for both the employees and employers. As a result, in the event that there are a […]

14 July 2020

People buying their main homes in Wales costing less than £250,000 will not pay any tax under temporary measures announced by the Finance Minister today. The starting threshold for land transaction tax will increase from £180,000 to £250,000 for the residential main rates when this new measure is introduced on Monday 27 July. This is […]

9 July 2020

The new Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 came in to force at the end of June. The Act introduces new insolvency provisions into UK law, and was introduced partly as a consequence of Covid-19 issues. However, some of the provisions have been in the pipeline for some time. We summarise below some of the […]

7 July 2020

Berry Smith’s Commercial Property team has once again been shortlisted for Property Law Firm of the Year at the Insider Wales Property Awards which are being held at Cardiff City Hall on the evening of 2 December 2020. The Commercial Property team is led by partners Martin Pursall and Chris Jones with consultant Roger Berry, all of whom are recommended […]

1 July 2020

Practically, now is the time to start considering your workforce requirements post furlough. If you are considering dovetailing the phasing out of the furlough scheme with a redundancy exercise, thought needs to be given to consultation requirements and the impact they may have on redundancies taking effect where minimum consultation periods apply. The last dates […]

24 June 2020

There has been considerable publicity in relation to potential insurance claims businesses may have arising out of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Early on in the crisis the Association of Business Insurers and the UK Government announced that it was unlikely that most commercial insurance policies would cover losses caused by a pandemic. Is […]

19 June 2020

As we enter our 12th week of the UK wide lockdown, it has been impressive how quickly businesses have adapted to ‘remote working’. The current global pandemic has left our economy in a perilous situation and we understand that protecting your business’ intellectual property (IP) may seem a very low priority at the moment. However, […]

18 June 2020

Earlier on this month, the Government published some new guidance covering the changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the “Scheme”) from 1st July 2020. We covered these changes in our previous article, available here.   Specifically, from 1st July 2020, employers will be able to bring back furloughed employees on a flexible, part-time basis. […]

10 June 2020

                                                    A Night in With Rob Brydon                                               […]

2 June 2020

As you will no doubt be aware, the Government are continually releasing new guidance and information with regards to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the “Scheme”) as the pandemic continues here in the UK. On 29th May 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out a number of changes to the Scheme which will come […]

26 May 2020

Currently in Wales the message from the Welsh Government is that people should only travel to work if it is not reasonably practicable for them to work from home. However, please note that the Welsh Government have published a list of all businesses which must remain closed for now – these include bars and restaurants, […]

26 May 2020

Our recent newsletters have provided guidance for employers with regards to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the “Scheme”). As you will no doubt be aware, the Government are continually releasing new guidance as the pandemic continues here in the UK and the need for the Scheme continues. We have addressed some frequently asked questions concerning […]

21 May 2020

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are typically considered and arranged in older age; often used by relatives, to cover a possibility of an aged relativity losing capacity to manage their personal financial affairs. However, the current Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the potential importance of LPAs for business owners in these unprecedented times. If one partner […]

21 May 2020

Health & Safety Ranked Top concern for businesses emerging from lockdown Cash Flow comes second, Client Confidence third Health and safety is the most pressing concern among businesses emerging from lockdown according to the latest poll we have undertaken together with other members of the UK’s leading legal and accounting membership group, the UK200Group. The […]

21 May 2020

                  Business in troubled times Free online webinar – Thursday 4 June 2020 1:00 p.m. (1 hour including Q & A)                                                     […]

12 May 2020

Like everyone, we are truly indebted to those working in the NHS and to the key workers that are playing such a vital part in keeping the country functioning in these extraordinary times. We recognise of course that many do so at an increased level of risk to their own health, which of course brings […]

10 May 2020

As we enter into a new ‘stage’ of the coronavirus world, we have produced a helpful checklist to help you prepare your business for the ‘post lockdown’ era. alongside other members of UK200 Group, an organisation of lawyers and accountants that provide services to a large number of SMEs across the UK. This checklist is […]

30 April 2020

Business in troubled times: Employment Law issues Free online webinar – Thursday 7 May 2020 1:00 p.m. (1 hour including Q & A) Click HERE to register The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on many businesses is unprecedented and far-reaching. Whilst many businesses are unable to predict the long-term impact with certainty, there is no […]

29 April 2020

As the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme online portal is now live, we have produced the below guide to assist employers with making claims for furloughed employees. We have also summarised the government’s guidance with regards to reclaiming statutory sick pay paid to employees as a result of Coronavirus and the interplay between annual leave and […]

28 April 2020

Berry Smith are members of the UK200Group, a UK wide network of lawyers and accountancy firms, representing around 150,000 SME businesses nationally. During April the UK200Group has been asking small businesses across the UK to share information about how their business was faring before the lockdown, what has happened since and outlook for the future.  […]

27 April 2020

HM Treasury has announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the “Scheme”) has been extended to the end of June 2020. There is no doubt that the Scheme has been a life line for many employers. However, organisations will need to start planning for their post-furlough future and will need to establish whether their pre-crisis […]

27 April 2020

April 2020 has been an important month for both employers and us as employment lawyers, with a number of changes to the law being implemented. This article is intended to be used as a checklist for employers to ensure that they have complied with their new legal requirements.  Written statement of key terms/employment particulars As […]

17 April 2020

Following our articles regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“the Scheme”) posted over the past few weeks, further information has been released over the past few days. We have summarised these updates below. The Treasury has now published the full rules for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough Scheme). They take the form of a […]

16 April 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented a multitude of challenges for business including significant disruptions to supply chains and a potential loss of custom which, of course, will lead to an unfortunate loss of revenue. As a result, businesses are questioning whether such losses will be covered by their insurers. Dan Dowen, Commercial Contracts Associate Solicitor, […]

8 April 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s official statement declaring a lockdown in the UK, it is now clear to see how the Coronavirus crisis will severely impact the British economy, however, the full extent is still unknown. It is therefore imperative that businesses take the initiative to address the various risks posed to their business arrangements in […]

7 April 2020

Following our articles regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“the Scheme”) posted last week, the Government has since published some further information regarding the Scheme over the weekend. We have summarised it and set out below the key points. Whilst on furlough leave, can an employee start a new job? The Government has now clarified […]

6 April 2020

As the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic impact on construction sites across the country, an ever increasing number of contractors are taking the decision to cease construction work temporarily. As a result, the construction team at Berry Smith are receiving a high volume of enquiries from contractors and sub-contractors seeking to unlock […]

2 April 2020

The tragic coronavirus pandemic has made many people consider their individual circumstances. We have, like many firms, already seen an increase in instructions from clients who want to make or update their Will, or who want to prepare a Lasting Power of Attorney.  By having a Will in place, people ensure that they have peace […]

2 April 2020

The impact of Covid-19   The Covid-19, or Coronavirus, pandemic has elicited profound and decisive action from national governments across the globe. Lockdown measures imposed by the UK government to curtail the spread of the virus have severely impacted every aspect of life. Business and the economy have been no different. Businesses nationwide are grappling […]

1 April 2020

These are extraordinary times and there are significant challenges for all those running companies. Every company is affected to some degree. Previously healthy companies are having to deal with the immediate problem of not being able to trade at all, or with difficulty, as a consequence of employee absence and postponed order books.    Directors of […]

1 April 2020

The impact of Covid-19   Covid-19, or Coronavirus, has spread like wildfire, eliciting profound and decisive action from national governments across the globe. The so-called lockdown measures, imposed by the UK government to contain the virus, have impacted every aspect of life, including business. Businesses nationwide are grappling with previously unforeseen and uncontemplated legal issues, […]

31 March 2020

Following our article regarding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“the Scheme”) posted last week, the Government have since published some further information regarding the Scheme. We have summarised it and set out below the key points. Who can apply for the Scheme? The Government have now confirmed that provided the other conditions regarding furlough leave […]

31 March 2020

Following the Government’s announcement on Monday 23rd March 2020 that all but essential businesses should remain closed until further notice in a national effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus, many tenants have been forced into uncertainty. Landlords will also be facing a fall in demand for new tenants and requests for rent reductions […]

30 March 2020

The impact of Covid-19   Further to our earlier article on electronic signatures, as companies come to terms with the impact of Covid-19 on the day to day practice of their business, we are advising our clients to consider conducting all business meetings remotely in an attempt to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading. […]

30 March 2020

The government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak moves rapidly with new measures to ease the financial burden on businesses and workers appearing almost daily. This is a round-up of some of the main developments so far: Furlough Leave – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Chancellor Rishi Sunak wants to use furlough leave as the basis of […]