Corporate governance - the new register of people with significant control
From 6 April 2016, almost all UK companies and LLPs must maintain a PSC Register. The purpose of the PSC Register is to make it possible to see not just who owns shares in a company but also who influences or controls a company discretely (a person with significant control). Woodfines Solicitors explains.
Protecting your IP rights; never straightforward, but always important
Bristol-based design company, Magmatic, has lost its long-running Court battle against Hong Kong-based PMS over the design of its ride-on suitcase, ‘Trunki’, which it said was infringed by PMS’ ‘Kiddee’ case. Woodfines Solicitors considers the issues.
Buying a 16 plate? Beware changes down the road...
Tim Ridyard of Woodfines Cambridge explains the changes that will be made to car tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) from next year. If you are planning to purchase a new car between now and 1st April 2017, you may want to start planning the type of vehicle you intend buying as, in some cases, delaying your purchase until after 1st April 2017 could add significant cost.
LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week, 7-13 March 2016
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Adoption and Children Act (which gave lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adopters the same legal rights as heterosexual adopters), and the number of children adopted by LGBT parents has grown year on year.
North Cambridgeshire MP leads proposal that will see Probate fees rocket
The Ministry of Justice proposes to increase the probate application fees so as to raise an extra £250m a year to fund the courts and tribunal service. Woodfines Solicitors has been invited to comment.
The end of the line for joint enterprise?
The Supreme Court has ruled that “foresight” alone cannot be treated sufficiently probative for a conviction of murder, adding that the law has been wrongly interpreted for 30 years. This move potentially paves the way for hundreds of appeals for past convictions based on the law of joint enterprise. Woodfines Solicitors comments.
Legal forum looks at marriage inequality overseas
Karl Dembicki of Woodfines Solcitors discusses South Australia's refusal to record David Bulmer-Rizzi's same-sex marriage on his death certificate and invites members of the Cambridge LGBTQ community to a forum led by Woodfines to discuss their legal rights.
Drink-drive campaigns: not just for Christmas
This time of year is associated with the usual shopping rush and preparations, parties and celebrations. Police forces also launch their annual Christmas campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of drink-driving. Tim Norris, a motoring specialist at Woodfines solicitors, outlines the law.
Winners announced of Woodfines-sponsored ‘A Carol for Christmas’
A competition to create 'A Carol for Christmas' gave composers across the nation a chance to have their carol performed in the stunning setting of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge this December, conducted by Stephen Cleobury, broadcast on Classic FM and published by Edition Peters.
Woodfines hosts legal forum for Cambridge LGBT community
For the first time, Woodfines Solicitors hosted a legal forum last week, covering themes relating to Family Law, Wills and Probate, and Discrimination specifically for the LGBT community. It was chaired by Senior Associate Solicitor, Karl Dembicki.
Significant fine increases for H&S and other regulatory offences
As anticipated the Health & Safety Offences, Corporate Manslaughter and Food Safety & Hygiene Offences: Definitive Guideline was issued by the Sentencing Council on 3rd November 2015. This sets out the way in which penalties for various offences will be structured and calculated, says Woodfines Solicitors.
Woodfines and Charles Stanley join forces for Duxford Private Client seminar
Woodfines Solicitors and Charles Stanley Stockbrokers and Wealth Managers joined forces to hold a joint inheritance tax and financial planning seminar entitled ‘Estate Planning: New Possibilities’.
Woodfines offers free Business Protection seminar
Woodfines Solicitors invites you to a seminar on Thursday 5th November, providing advice to business owners, executives and HR professionals on protecting legitimate business interests, intellectual property and confidential information against unlawful competition, infringement and misuse.
Law about smoking in vehicles comes into force
Just over a year ago, Woodfines published an article regarding the government consultation on smoking in private vehicles carrying children. Fast forward to the present and the changes are set to come into force from today. For those unaware of this new regime, road transport lawyer Tim Ridyard has put together a brief summary of the changes below.
Woodfines hosts legal forum for the LGBT community
Woodfines in Cambridge will be hosting a 'Question Time' style event, with a panel of legal experts taking questions on a range of legal issues affecting the LGBT community, on Thursday 12th November.
Woodfines recognised in 2015 Legal 500 Directory
Woodfines Solicitors has received excellent rankings in this year’s Legal 500 directory. The UK Legal 500 is a national directory of the best law firms and lawyers, and is split into two regions covering Woodfines’ offices; the South East (covering Bedford, Milton Keynes and Sandy) and East Anglia (covering our Cambridge office).
Restrictive covenants in employment contracts
Is your business protected against the risk of employees leaving and then competing against it? Being unaware of the benefits offered by restrictive covenants in employment contracts or using inappropriate covenants could cost your business as competitors encroach on long-standing customers and/or take your best people. Cambridge employment lawyer Nick Sayer of Woodfines explains.
London Safer Lorry Scheme starts today
Against a background of often high-profile fatal and serious non-fatal accidents, the London Safer Lorry Scheme comes into force today (1st September 2015). Tim Ridyard of Woodfines explains the new regime.
Could Chelsea be exposed to claims over the treatment of team doctor, Eva Carneiro?
Woodfines LLP Senior Associate Maria Gallucci Even examines the employment law implications of the recent treatment of Chelsea Football Club’s first team doctor, Eva Carneiro, by the team’s manager, Jose Mourinho.
Artist 'shoots for the stars' with support from Woodfines
Woodfines client Alex Chinneck has once again defied the laws of gravity with his latest art installation, ‘A Bullet from a Shooting Star’, the landmark project in the 2015 London Design Festival. It will be on display on the Greenwich Peninsula beginning 19th September, and will literally stand an electricity pylon on its head.
Woodfines solicitor appointed as Panel Deputy
Nigel Ashton, Solictor and Partner at Woodfines Solicitors, has been appointed by the Office of the Public Guardian as one of only 68 panel deputies in England and Wales.
Driving licence changes - and what to do before you drive abroad
On 8th June 2015, the counterpart driving licence was abolished. This made way for an online system for employers, car hire companies and individuals to check a driving licence. Woodfines Solicitors explain what this means...
The £1m inheritance tax threshold: what it really means
Karl Dembicki, senior associate at Woodfines LLP in Cambridge, discusses the new main residence nil rate band.
How fair is £550,000 a year service charge?
Brian Hall of Woodfines Solicitors writes:"When the report of the Supreme Court’s decision in Arnold v Britton and others [2015] UKSC 36 landed on my desk, I was not surprised by its content. The decision upheld the ruling of the Court of Appeal that Service Charge provisions are no different from any others in their interpretation; namely that the law will not help you escape a bad bargain.
Woodfines Solicitors secures top accolade from national Law Society
Woodfines Solicitors in Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Sandy has once again secured the Law Society’s law management quality mark, Lexcel.