Blog
24th April 2019
Option agreements and promotion agreements have become increasingly popular both with landowners and property developers – so what are they, when can they be used, and what differentiates one type of agreement from the other? Option and promotion agreements are ways of extracting capital from land with development potential. Both types of agreement give entitlement to an interest in the land – either to the…
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12th April 2019
If, like me, you would have thought the 2002 Proceeds of Crime Act was all about recovering funds from the proceeds of fraud or drug deals, think again. As an example, a businessman has been ordered to pay almost £40,000 after illegally lopping back a mature oak tree in his back garden. Mr Wilson added a Juliet balcony to the master bedroom of his luxury…
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11th April 2019
I suspect I am not alone in acknowledging that the issue of mental capacity can be devilishly challenging. However, I am strongly of the opinion that all professionals working in the field of capacity carry a grave responsibility, in the interests of justice and of human rights, when seeking to protect some of the most vulnerable in our society. In this article, I will seek…
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04th April 2019
Last year marked the centenary of votes for women – this year marks a different centenary: it is 100 years since women were admitted to the law profession. Although Eliza Orme became the first woman to gain a law degree in 1888 it was not until 1919, an astounding 31 years later, that women were permitted to take any part in the legal profession as…
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29th March 2019
Neurological rehabilitation therapy – neurorehabilitation – teaches or re-trains patients how to recover or improve their communication skills and mobility, as well as other aspects of their daily lives. The main aim of such therapy is to get patients’ skills working at the highest possible level as a step towards adopting a positive mood and rebuilding their self-esteem. Neurological rehabilitation can offer all patients great…
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22nd March 2019
A recent survey revealed tailgating, the practice of driving too close to the vehicle in front, as the UK’s most loathed driving habit. Amongst the 1,000 people surveyed, tailgating finished ahead of not indicating, leaving full-beam headlights on at night, and cutting in. Interestingly, middle-lane hogging and drivers who refuse to let a vehicle pull out were further down the bad-habit list. While these practices…
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15th March 2019
In the course of my professional work, especially when advising clients about making or updating a will, I am often asked for advice on the best way of giving to charity. Charities carry out excellent work of great public benefit, nevertheless from time-to-time press reports highlight criticism of some charities, reflecting various concerns about day-to-day administrative matters or costs for example. So for anyone seriously…
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08th March 2019
Now that the Automated and Electric Vehicles (AEV) Act is enshrined in law, will the government deliver ‘automatic’ compensation for injured victims of driverless cars? According to recent media reports, fully driverless cars are expected to take part in advanced trials on Britain’s roads by the end of 2019 under government plans to scrap a previous requirement for a dedicated safety driver. Recently there have…
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01st March 2019
In the Eighteenth Century, Benjamin Franklin reputedly said that in this world nothing is certain except death and taxes. His famous quote still rings true today – but are you one of the many people who do not have an up-to-date will? According to research, the number of people in the UK without a current will is at an all-time high, with more than half of…
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25th February 2019
Anecdotal evidence continues to point to a steady growth in the number of wills being challenged, although no clear evidence is emerging to explain this increase. Influential factors could include the increasingly complex nature of modern family structures, the economic climate, and perhaps an increasing reliance by some on the internet for legal advice. Unsurprisingly, any solicitor would suggest that a matter as important as…
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