When the real owner of an asset is different from its formal owner, that fact should always be recorded in writing. However, as a High Court case showed, repeated judicial warnings to that effect all too frequently fall on deaf ears. The case concerned a
Not every breach of contract is so serious as to justify its complete cancellation. The Court of Appeal made that point in a case concerning student accommodation blocks which were not built precisely to specification. Prior to construction of the blocks, a company that specialised
It is sadly common for wealthy people to exhibit extreme reluctance to disclose their assets if their marriages end in divorce. However, as a case concerning a husband worth more than £300 million showed, family judges have all the powers they need to punish those
Money spent on ensuring that health and safety rules are religiously met is money well spent. The point was resoundingly proved by a case in which a car parts manufacturer’s failings led to outbreaks of Legionnaire’s disease. The company’s plant had an extensive water system
Few would fail to appreciate the irony of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) being embroiled in a dispute with a trade union representing its own employees. However, the falling out provided the occasion for an important test case on the extent to which
It is sadly not unheard of for judges to have the wool pulled over their eyes and it is only right that judgments obtained by fraud should be set aside. The Supreme Court made that point in a guideline case concerning a property owner who
When commercial leases expire or are terminated, tenants are generally entitled to have them renewed – but there are exceptions to the rule. One such exception came under analysis in a guideline High Court case concerning the future use of a historic airfield which saw service
Transparency and public consultation are the bulwarks that ensure the fairness of the planning system. However, as a High Court case concerning a social housing development showed, not every lapse in those respects will result in a planning permission being overturned. A social housing provider
Trade marks are amongst the most valuable assets of many companies and careful professional monitoring of the trade marks register is necessary to protect them. In a case on point, a member of the Virgin group of companies successfully resisted registration of the word ‘Virginic’
The courts in London welcome litigants from all corners of the world and, even if their opponent is a British ministry of state, they can expect fair and equal treatment. The Court of Appeal made that point in a case in which an Iranian bank
