News & Articles -
Articles
Dispute Avoidance and Resolution in a Recession (posted December 2008)
With money being scarce at the moment for many, disputes present new issues for some. Jason Hunter looks at approaches to dispute avoidance and resolution in these recessionary times.
Full Article
go to the Contentious Property Team pages
Recognition of Civil Partnerships: An Update (posted November 2008)
Whilst the UK recognises most foreign equivalents as Civil Partnerships and thus gives them all the same tax exemptions and reliefs, the reverse is not the case. Read more.
Full Article
go to the Civil Partnerships pages
Service Charge Consultation: Recent Developments in the Law (posted November 2008)
A landlord who wants to protect its right to recover service charges from tenants will frequently need to undertake a consultation procedure. Ed Cracknell looks at some of the pitfalls of consulting, and recent cases on what mistakes the courts will consider are fatal to a landlord's rights.
Full Article
go to the Contentious Property Team pages
Dangers for beneficiaries of Estates involving France
– A cautionary tale!
(posted November 08)
We have seen several cases recently where the Estate of an English national living in
France is left on their death to an unrelated person or a distant relative, often living in
England and unable to speak French. The French department explains.
Full article
First Among Equals: New Equality Legislation
(posted October 08)
Jane Klauber writes for Charity Finance October 2008 edition on the equality bill.
Full Article
Testaments sans frontières
(posted October 08)
Where preparation of a will raises cross-border issues, practitioners must dig deep in order to determine and correctly deal with all the jurisdictional factors, Richard Frimston explores.
Full Article
Lasting Power Of Attorney:
Summary of the First 12 Months
(posted October 08)
Read the review of the past year including extracts from an article by Denzil Lush, Senior Judge of the Court of Protection
Full Article
Corporate Documentation: A Time for Review
(posted October 08)
What changes can charitable companies expect from the Companies Act 2006? James Sinclair-Taylor examines the implications.
Full Article
What to do if someone dies leaving French assets?
(posted September 08)
If someone dies while living in France or lives outside France but leaves French property the situation is markedly different to that in the UK. The French department explains.
Full article
England & Wales – France: Incapacity of Adults
(posted September 08)
This article examines Incapacity of Adults in England, Wales and France. It was written by Richard Frimston for Private Client Business - Issue 4, July 2008.
Full Article
Cohabitation Contracts
(posted August 08)
This guide highlights some of the misconceptions about co-habitation and offers practical steps to protect your legal rights.
Full Article
Members of your charity - Why have them?
(posted July 08)
Charities vary in many ways and one of the most striking is the vastly different role
that the members play within organisations in the sector. James Sinclair Taylor
takes a look. This article was pubished in the July 2008 Issue of Governance Magazine (Issue 19).
Full Article
Evicting a disabled person - LB Lewisham v Malcolm (posted July 2008)
The House of Lords gives important guidance on the application of disability discrimination legislation to landlord and tenant law.
Full Article
Trustee Liabilities - Over exposed?
(posted July 08)
Changes introduced under the new Charities Act have highlighted the
personal risks trustees face in undertaking their duties. James Sinclair Taylor
takes a look.
Full Article
Taxation of Pre-Owned Assets
(posted June 2008)
Rita Bhargava explores the position regarding the taxation of pre owned assets in relation to use by the donor and gifts with reservation of benefit. This thesis paper was originally written as part the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners’ membership requirement for which Rita received the Qualified Practitioner Student of the Year award in taxation.
Casual Status - Article from Charity Finance Magazine.
(posted June 08)
Jane Klauber looks at casual status. One of the hallmarks of employment status is mutuality of obligation, ie. whether there is some obligation on an individual to perform work offered and some obligation on the employer to pay for it. Employees are true casuals only if the irreducible minimum of mutuality of obligation is absent.Full Article
Legal Matters - Members of your charity - Why have them?
(posted May 08)
Charities vary in many ways and one of the most striking is the vastly different role that the members play within organisations in the sector.
Full Article
Frequently Asked Questions about Assured Shorthold Tenancies
(posted March 2008)
Rakhee Kotecha considers questions frequently asked by private landlords about assured shorthold tenancies.
Full Article
When does a tenant become a tolerated trespasser?
(posted February 2008)
Tolerated trespassers used to be narrowly defined as public sector residential tenants who remained in occupation following an order for possession. A recent decision has expanded the definition to include private sector tenants as well. James Sandiford describes how the status of a tenant can become confused and summarises some proposals under consideration that might resolve the problem.
Full Article
IMPLICATIONS FOR CHARITABLE COMPANIES OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006 - December 2007
The Act seeks to simplify company law. Unfortunately it has created a situation
which will require most charities to review their memorandum and articles and
supporting governance policies to:
> Take account of new rules on conflicts
> Reflect provisions that overrule your memorandum and articles
> Take advantage of new deregulations
> Clarify directors’ duties
This article is published in 'Caritas - January 2008'.
Full Article
Pre-Budget Report on Capital Gains Tax Simplification - November 2007
The Pre-Budget Report unveiled the Government’s proposals for simplifying the Capital Gains Tax regime as from the 6th April 2008. The main consequence of this simplification will be the withdrawal of taper relief and indexation allowance and the lowering of the rate of CGT from the current top rate of 40% to a standard rate of 18%. How will these new rules affect you?
Inheritance Tax and the Pre-Budget Report - November 2007
The Pre-Budget Report 2007 has been heralded as making the greatest change to Inheritance Tax since this tax was introduced in 1986. Headlines announce that Inheritance Tax thresholds have been ‘doubled’. Yet, are the changes really that sweeping, will couples really be able to leave £600,000 tax-free when they die and, most importantly, how will these new rules affect you?
Possession Claims and Disability – What does the Future Hold
(posted October 07)
In recent years, the Courts have increasingly had to consider the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (‘the 1995 Act’) on landlord and tenant law. That consideration has led to a number of interesting decisions, in particular involving residential possession proceedings.
go to the Contentious Property Team page
Companies Act 2006 -
General Meetings And Resolutions
(posted September 07)
The next set of changes to company law under the Companies Act 2006 will be coming into force on 1 October 2007 and will affect all charitable companies. This article explains the key changes.
go to the Charity Team pages page
Companies Act 2006 - Directors' Duties
(posted September 07)
From 1 October 2007 the first raft of statutory duties for company directors will become law under the Companies Act 2006. Read full article for more.
go to the Charity Team pages page
What is a Trust?
(posted September 07)
The concept of a ‘Trust’ is unique to common law countries and has been part of the English legal system since medieval times. Under English law there is a distinction between the legal and equitable ownership of property. In simple terms, it is possible for a person to be able to administer and manage property as a legal owner without being entitled to the enjoyment of that property as its beneficial owner.
go to the Trusts pages
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
(posted September 07)
Lasting Powers of Attorney were introduced pursuant to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. From the 1st of October 2007, Lasting Powers of Attorney replace Enduring Powers of Attorney as the primary method of choosing substitute decision-makers to act for you. This guide provides you with what you need to know.
go to the Elderly pages
Division of Assets on Divorce When a Property in France is Concerned
(posted August 07)
Family law practitioners are increasingly confronted with a situation where a couple’s assets include French property. Problems inevitably arise when the issue is addressed within a wholly UK context, ignoring the need for early specialist advice as to the implications of any proposal for the French property. Dawn Alderson and Richard Frimston look at the issues involved.
go to the French Law pages
Incapacitated Adults, English and French Perspectives
(posted August 07)
This article examines the issues faced when a client lacks the mental capacity to manage their own property and affairs. In particular, it focuses on circumstances when an English national owns property in France, and the incapacitated adult (hereafter, ‘the adult’) wishes to dispose of that property.
go to the French Law pages
Estate Planning and the Family Home
(posted August 07)
Chris Young writes on the issues and concerns with estate planning using the family home.
go to the Taxation pages
Enduring Powers of Attorney and Lasting Powers of Attorney
(posted August 07)
An update on the new regime of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), which will replace the existing Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs).
go to the Elderly and incapacity matters pages
Lease or licence – and why it matters
(posted May 07)
The difference between a lease and a licence is of critical importance to occupiers of property. Paul Greatholder looks at a recent case which illustrates the point.
go to the Contentious Property Team pages
Lease or licence – and why it matters
(posted May 07)
The difference between a lease and a licence is of critical importance to occupiers of property. Paul Greatholder looks at a recent case which illustrates the point.
go to the Contentious Property Team pages
Collaborating in Harmony
(posted February 07)
Partnerships between arts organisations can entail legal risks. Shivaji Shiva explains how to avoid the potholes.
go to the Charity Team pages
Inheritance tax changes - don’t get caught in the Act
(posted December 06)
In the last Budget Gordon Brown Chancellor of the Exchequer, without any prior consultation, announced far-reaching changes to the taxation of trusts created both during lifetime and upon death. Kieran Bowe looks at these changes.
go to the Wills, Probate and Trusts pages
The Smart Set?
(posted December 06)
"Despite revenue restrictions, chambers' purchase lives on". Scott Leonard writes for the Money Matters supplement of Counsel magazine.
go to the Corporate & Commercial pages
Stepping Up
(posted December 06)
The STEP Journal speak to Richard Frimston about his new role advising the EU on harmonising laws and his catchy new title as a member of PRM III/IV
go to the Wills, Probate and Trusts pages
French Leaseback Scheme
(posted November 06)
If you are purchasing a French property under the popular “leaseback” scheme, bear in mind that the duration of the lease, the rental increase and the refund of VAT are subject to very strict rules. Patrick Delas looks at the issue.
go to the French Law department
Missing Landlords:Buying the Freehold
(posted September 06)
Ed Cracknell looks at how to purchase the freehold of a building when a landlord is missing.
go to the Contentious Property department
A New Common Purpose
(posted September 06)
Shivaji Shiva reports on an alternative approach to the management of intellectual property for the September edition of Charity Finance Magazine.
go to the Charity Team pages
Charity Mergers
(posted September 06)
Shivaji Shiva writes about the legal issues surrounding charity mergers for Third Sector magazine.
go to the Charity Team pages