Winding up petitions are an extremely serious matter for any company and must not be used as a means to apply pressure to pay disputed debts. The Companies Court made that point in granting an injunction that restrained the presentation of a petition in the
In an important decision for owners of student accommodation or houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), the Court of Appeal has ruled that a licensing condition that restricted occupation of two small attic bedrooms to full-time students was lawful. The rooms were both located in semi-detached
Secured creditors stand first in line for payment, but what happens if a debtor’s assets have been frozen by a court order? The High Court has tackled that issue – on which there was surprisingly no previous legal authority – in an important ruling. A
The dividing line between ‘workers’ and ‘employees’ can be very difficult to discern, but is of the greatest significance. That was certainly so in the case of one man who worked for a charity for years without any form of written contract. The man, who
An atmosphere of trust is vital to any workplace but the ease with which confidential material can be downloaded means that sensible employers need to guard against the enemy within. In one striking case, a financial analyst was jailed after stealing valuable algorithms from his
Reasonable people are aware of how important it is to notify neighbours of building works before they commence. However, in one case where such wisdom did not prevail, inconsiderate property owners ended up receiving a High Court injunction and a five-figure legal costs bill. Builders
Being made redundant can be a painful experience but, with expert legal advice, you can at least ensure that you leave with everything you are entitled to. In one case, a senior NHS executive who was just short of her 50th birthday when her employer
It is in the very nature of contract arbitrations that one side or the other will often be left feeling aggrieved by the outcome. However, as one High Court case showed, judges are keen to achieve finality in dispute resolution and it is no easy
No matter how much you may trust relatives or close friends, you should never sign important documents without independent legal advice. In one case that proved the point, a man put his name to a deed that was put before him by his brother but
With changes to business rates upon us, property valuation is very much a live issue. A recent dispute between a property owner and the local rating office has confirmed the principle that if a property is not in a reasonable state of repair, it is
