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Residence And Domicile Rules
Published April 2008
6th April 2008 saw the introduction of the controversial new residence and domicile legislation. The new legislation applies to non-domiciled individuals who have been present in the UK for at least seven out of the last ten years.
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Corporate Manslaughter Act
Published April 2008
Most businesses should be aware by now of the new offence created by the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which came into force on 6th April 2008. However, it seems that not all businesses are taking note of the new legislation.
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Energy Performance Certificates
Published April 2008
6th April 2008 saw a new requirement for buildings introduced. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are now required for all newly built homes and any commercial buildings built, sold or rented with a total floor area that exceeds 10,000m2.
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Delayed Maternity Leave Legislation
Published April 2008
The government have delayed the implementation of changes relating to entitlement during Additional Maternity Leave. The changes were expected to apply to women whose babies were due on or after 6th April 2008. They have been postponed and now apply to women whose babies are due on or after 5th October 2008.
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Sexual Harassment Law
Published April 2008
From 6th April 2008, employers can now be held responsible if their staff suffer sexual harassment from customers or any other third party with whom they come into contact while at work, when the employer had a prior knowledge of this occurring previously.
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Lawyer warns of pitfalls in buying agricultural land at auction
Published April 2008
Buyers planning to bid for agricultural land at auction should always seek legal advice before doing so - according to law firm mfg Solicitors.
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City slickers will continue to buy farmland says mfg
Published March 2008
Soaring farm land prices are set to continue despite the slowdown in the commercial and housing sectors, according to agricultural experts at mfg Solicitors.
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mfg gives qualified welcome to Agency Workers Equal Rights Bill
Published March 2008
The head of employment law at mfg Solicitors has given a qualified welcome to the passing of the Agency Workers Equal Rights Bill on its second reading in Parliament.
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Springtime brings raft of changes for commercial property lawyers
Published February 2008
Spring 2008 will be a busy time for commercial property lawyers across England and Wales.
Businesses have just weeks to ensure that they are fully compliant with new Government regulations requiring commercial properties to have Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
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Solicitors Warn Of Potential Pitfalls Of Buying Land At Auction
Published February 2008
Would-be buyers thinking of bidding for agricultural land at auction would be wise to seek legal advice before doing so, warn mfg Solicitors LLP.
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Businesses on energy certificate deadline
Published February 2008
West Midlands businesses have just weeks to ensure that they are fully compliant with new Government regulations requiring commercial properties to have Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), property lawyers at MFG Solicitors are warning.
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Government acts to counter vandalism to beat new business rates
Published January 2008
The Government has already acted to prevent property owners from deliberately vandalising their properties to try and avoid the new empty property rates charges, property lawyers at mfg Solicitors are warning.
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Some improvement on CGT but private company bosses still worse off
Published January 2008
Chancellor Alistair Darling’s CGT announcement was an improvement on his original proposals but it will still leave most business owners, and particularly owners of private company shares, in a worse position post April 6, 2008, according to tax experts at mfg Solicitors.
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Businesses on energy certificate deadline
Published January 2008
West Midlands businesses have just weeks to ensure that they are fully compliant with new Government regulations requiring commercial properties to have Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), property lawyers at mfg Solicitors are warning.
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Bosses face jail for hiring illegal workers
Published January 2008
Midlands bosses could face a fine of up to £10,000 and even a two year jail sentence if they are caught hiring illegal workers under new laws that come into effect in February.
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Lawyers advising on taxing changes
Published January 2008
The taxman will be putting more pressure on tax payers to cough up on time in 2008, according to advisers at law firm MFG Solicitors.
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The right to learn our biological origins
Published August 2007
Changes to the fertility laws on the horizon?
The birth certificates of children born from donated eggs and sperm would be marked with details of the way they were conceived, under proposals advanced recently by MPs and peers.
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Legislation to cut the cost of making calls from abroad
Published August 2007
Mobile phone companies role out a Eurotariff
British holidaymakers will lose out on cheap calls from abroad this summer because mobile operators are dragging their feet over new European Commission laws on the use of mobile phones abroad.
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Data protection
Published August 2007
Is your HR department up to speed?
Over the past three years the Information Commissioner who supervises practices under the Data Protection Act 1998 has issued a code for employers.
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Legal costs
Published August 2007
Company directors and shareholders made personally liable
The UK courts have recently extended the circumstances in which company directors and shareholders can be made personally liable for the other side’s legal costs if their company loses a court case.
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Energy performance certificates
Published August 2007
Reducing carbon emissions
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are to be introduced in phases for residential and commercial property commencing from 2007 to January 2011, the Department for Communities and Local Government has announced.
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Monitoring employee correspondence
Published August 2007
Is your company policy clearly written?
The Employment Practices Code issued by the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 lays down guidelines for the monitoring of employee correspondence.
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Don’t fall foul of poor succession planning
Published August 2007
Getting the biggest pay out requires a strategy
It's never too early to work out your strategy for exiting your business. Sellers who haven't prepared typically get less for their businesses than those who do and in the worst of cases a buyer can’t be found.
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Shareholders agreements
Published August 2007
Fill in the gaps for greater equality
Shareholders may think of themselves as equal partners in their company, even though some have fewer shares. But the minority can be shocked to discover how few rights company law gives them if there's a row - for example, if the company changes strategy or money is being diverted to provide salary or benefits to the majority.
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New Companies Act
Published August 2007
1,300 sections and 16 Schedules set to become law
The Companies Act was passed on 8 November 2006, with some sections in force now, and the rest becoming law in stages in October this year and April and October of 2008, the intention being that every part of the Act will be in force by October 2008.
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Potential liability to increased claims
Published August 2007
New concerns for directors
Among the many reforms introduced by the Companies Act 2006, those that have attracted most attention concern the position of directors and their potential liability to increased claims by both the company and its shareholders.
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Private limited companies prepare for change
Published August 2007
What’s new?
The new UK Companies Act will bring significant changes for UK companies - especially private companies - as it is brought into force. The Companies Act 2006 is the biggest Act ever, and will particularly affect private limited companies.
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Cutting an inheritance tax bill
Published August 2007
It’s good to give
Consistently rising house prices over previous years have exposed many ordinary homeowners to a potential inheritance tax (IHT) bill as a growing number of estates exceed the current IHT threshold of £300,000 (2007/08).
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Intellectual property
Published August 2007
Safeguard your rights
Businesses which have been involved in developing software, a process or other commercially valuable resources, or go into business with someone who has, need to be sure they know exactly who owns the legal rights in it.
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Cash is king!
Published August 2007
What’s your business worth?
The value of a privately-owned business is what someone will pay for it on a particular day. So valuations are opinions, not fact.
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Reducing the risk of personal bankruptcy
Published August 2007
Directors are turning to the company
Directors are now able to ask their companies to foot the bill for legal claims made against them. Less risk of personal bankruptcy for directors, but does that leave the company exposed?
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Protection from disclosure in court
Published August 2007
Court of Appeal provides clarity
A recent Court of Appeal decision has clarified when discussions between an employer and employee, which may take place some time before litigation is started or even threatened, may be protected from subsequent disclosure in court.
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Tenancy deposit protection
Published August 2007
Landlords subject to good practice
From 6 April 2007, all new deposits taken by landlords of Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) are protected by a scheme called Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP). The aim is to ensure good practice, so when a residential tenant pays a deposit and is entitled to get it back, this will now happen.
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Commercial leases
Published August 2007
Protecting your position
When entering into a "full repairing and insuring" commercial lease, the repair obligation is one of the most important clauses to consider in order to ensure that your position, whether as landlord or tenant, is protected.
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Conveyancing
Published August 2007
HMRC has noted that individuals and businesses may have difficulty in meeting their tax obligations as a result of the recent foot and mouth outbreak.
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Tax help for those affected by foot and mouth outbreak
Published August 2007
HMRC has noted that individuals and businesses may have difficulty in meeting their tax obligations as a result of the recent foot and mouth outbreak.
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