tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90329244804381300812024-02-07T15:01:28.373-08:00Dixon Phillips SolicitorsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-27008037166636477562016-11-08T02:47:00.001-08:002016-11-08T06:29:31.347-08:00Lexit before Brexit<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: right 390.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The judiciary
has just reminded us of its role as the guardian of our constitution which,
although unwritten, is clear about the division of powers between the executive
and the legislature.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite the people having spoken in a referendum, Mrs
May is not able to trigger Brexit without an Act of Parliament to authorise it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So held three eminent judges last week, who
ruled that the government’s attempt to give notice under article 50 of the
Lisbon Treaty would otherwise be unlawful.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was Parliament which first subjected us to European
law, making it directly applicable in our own domestic law by the European
Communities Act 1972.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under our
constitution, this can only be changed by further Parliamentary authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1972 Act did not reserve executive power,
even with popular support, for the government to reverse the position and cast out
European law on its own, so a fresh Act of Parliament is needed for this to
happen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The government is entitled, by virtue of the Crown
prerogative, to act independently in matters of international law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, as Brexit would also affect the laws
of the land, the government’s claim to be able to use Crown prerogative for giving
notice under article 50 was “flawed at this basic level.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">MPs are elected to make our laws and we can’t pass
the role to the executive, even on one off issues by referendum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brexiteers may consider that this is
undemocratic, Leavers that it prevents mob rule but the High Court has said it
is the law.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">If the government loses its appeal to the Supreme
Court in January (and assuming Mrs May doesn’t contemplate a further appeal to
the European Court of Justice!) a bill will in due course be laid before Parliament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever political twists and turns
accompany it, the result will no doubt be an Act of Parliament to authorise
Leave, in support of the referendum decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brexit therefore still seems inevitable but the issue behind the current
constitutional diversion begs the question “what actually would be the effect on
our own laws when European law no longer applies?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll give some thoughts on this next time…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Link to art 50 <a href="http://www.lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the-lisbon-treaty/treaty-on-European-union-and-comments/title-6-final-provisions/137-article-50.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the-lisbon-treaty/treaty-on-European-union-and-comments/title-6-final-provisions/137-article-50.html</span></a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-6424876564777850112016-06-03T06:26:00.000-07:002016-06-03T07:49:43.883-07:00Changes to the Companies Act 2006 - The PSC or 'persons with significant control' register and "confirmation statements"<br />
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The PSC Register<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As from 6 April 2016 most UK companies and LLPs are required to keep a
new statutory register called the PSC register in order to ensure that their <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">ultimate beneficial owners and controllers</span>
are identified and that details of their holdings are made public. It is one of
a number of recent amendments to the Companies Act 2006 and is designed to
combat tax evasion and money laundering. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">PSCs are individuals who meet one or more of the following conditions:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">- <span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">they hold more than 25% of shares in the company;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">- <span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">they hold more than 25% of voting rights in the company;</span></span>
<br />
- <span style="font-family: "arial narrow";">they hold the right to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors of the company;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">- <span style="font-family: Arial Narrow;">they do not fall under the conditions above, yet have the right to exercise, or actually exercise, significant influence or control over the company; and/or</span></span>
<br />
- <span style="font-family: "arial narrow";">they hold the right to exercise, or actually exercise, significant influence or control over the activities of a trust or firm that would, if they were an individual, satisfy one of the first four conditions.</span><br />
</div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "arial narrow";">Confirmation Statements</span></strong></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As from 30 June 2016 the information held on the PSC
register will be required to be filed at Companies House as part of the company’s
“confirmation statement”.</span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The confirmation statement will replace the existing annual return and
will broadly cover the same areas but with some amendments to reflect the other
changes to the filing regime also being introduced (including </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">the
information held on the PSC register</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">). It should ease the administrative
burden on companies as it will not require information previously filed at
Companies House to be repeated. Instead a confirmation will be given by
the company that all specified information has either already been filed as
required, or is being delivered with the confirmation statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Unlike the annual return, there will be no set date each year on which
the confirmation statement needs to be made. It can be made at any time,
although no more than 12 months must elapse between confirmation statements. Once
a confirmation statement has been made a new 12 month period starts to run. </span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial narrow" , "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-17778876100405145792016-04-25T02:39:00.002-07:002016-04-25T02:39:30.299-07:00Adverse Possession - 1066 and all that
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For William the Conqueror, possession was not nine
tenths of the law, it was ten tenths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the thousand years since then and still today (save for the last 13 years in
the case of registered land) physical possession has been the foundation of land
ownership under English law.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Adverse possession of land (sometimes known as
‘squatters rights’) is when someone is in physical possession of the land,
without the express permission of the owner on the deeds. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 12 years adverse possession, the prior
owner will be time barred from recovering the land, which will then belong to
the squatter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are qualifications to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The squatter must demonstrate ownership
intention (for example, in the case of a field, by fencing it off and working it)
and may not occupy the land by “force or secrecy” but otherwise, if he can
prove 12 years possession (by statutory declaration and such other independent
evidence – e.g. of payment of rates and bills – as can be provided) then he can
apply to the government Land Registry to be registered as the new owner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The main qualification, since 2003, is with registered
land, i.e. of which the ownership has already been registered at the Land
Registry, being the case now with most land in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
old rules continue to apply only to unregistered land (i.e. where the owner on
the deeds has not yet applied to become a registered owner).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still possible, under the new rules,
for a squatter to apply to the Land Registry for ownership of already
registered land by virtue of adverse possession but notice of the application
would be given to the prior registered owner, who can then defeat the
squatter’s claim by mere objection to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The result of the new rules is rather odd, in that
ownership of land is decided (once there has been adverse possession) by simple
process rather than underlying land law and can be lost by an easy oversight on
the part of the prior registered owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A practice point for registered owners who are not owner/occupiers is to
ensure that the Land Registry has their up to date contact addresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Land law is complex and the above is necessarily a
simplification of the rules but these are still an example of how English
common law is rooted in pragmatism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-76669937989676234432015-12-23T01:10:00.000-08:002015-12-23T01:10:06.495-08:00Living in the office? Make it official!
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Since
2013, it has been possible to convert offices to residential use without having
to apply for ‘traditional’ planning permission. Instead permission has been
obtainable via a much simpler ‘prior approval’ process, saving an applicant
time and cost and reducing the risk of refusal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">This
temporary right was due to lapse in May 2016 but the Government announced last
month that it is to continue longer term across the country (although there are
some areas such as London and Manchester where the rights will not apply). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
Government has committed to the delivery of one million extra homes by 2020 and
the announcement is a means of supporting this commitment while at the same
time helping to preserve agricultural and greenbelt land by using up redundant
office space instead. Planning minister Brandon Lewis said these “measures will
mean we can tap into the potential of underused buildings to offer new homes
for first-time buyers and families long into the future, breathing new life
into neighbourhoods and at the same time protecting our precious green
belt". The Government considers
that it will provide opportunities for first-time buyers by providing more
affordable homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Further
details of the scope of the on-going prior approval mechanism will be published
in due course but the key<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>points
included in the Government announcement are: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Those who already have approval under the
existing temporary rules will now have until May 2019</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">to complete the change of
use and those who secure prior approval will have 3 years to complete the
change of use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The new extended rights will allow the
demolition of office buildings and their replacement by new build
residential, subject to approval of final plans and to other conditions
yet to be announced. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
extended relaxation of planning restrictions is good news for many commercial
property owners and developers. However, the likely reduction in office stock
may bring its own problems for businesses and society.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-70251231788371428502015-11-27T02:45:00.001-08:002015-11-27T02:45:38.782-08:00At the gameDixon Phillips were in amongst the scrum of Cambridge professionals who touched down at the 68th annual Steele-Bodger rugby match at Cambridge University's rugby ground this week.<br />
<br />
Michelle Oliver, Paul Dixon, Oliver Phillips and Matt Dempsey lined up at a packed Grange Road for the always well-supported Cambridge event.<br />
<br />
The Light Blues fared better than the England team had on their own turf in the recent Rugby World Cup by banking a 36-33 victory over the select Steele-Bodger's XV in what is the traditional final dress rehearsal ahead of next month's Varsity Match against the old enemy, Oxford University, at Twickenham.<br />
<br />
It is also one of the main professional networking events of the year, so we made a try at converting opportunities, throwing ourselves into the line, binding with clients and contacts and tackling the opposition. Three quarters went home after extra time but one of us played on with another pack, propping up the bar into the night and conceding a penalty in the morning...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-80525183845175593202015-11-23T03:59:00.000-08:002015-11-23T03:59:40.814-08:00That's how we roll
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dixon Phillips have been
rolling high both on the lanes at the annual Handelsbanken bowling evening and
at the blackjack tables at the COEL casino night. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Oliver Phillips and Matt
Dempsey were on opposing teams</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">, Tayabali Tomlin & White and McTear Williams & Wood
respectively,</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> at the Cambridge Leisure Park
where all 28 lanes were filled with local businesses from accountants,
solicitors and estate agents. Matt scored respectably and Oliver less so, but
both struck out on the charity raffle as part of the Handelsbanken bowling
event which raised more than £4,000 for its chosen charities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Oliver then swapped his bowling shoes for a dinner jacket and joined
Paul Dixon to try their luck at blackjack, roulette and wheel of fortune along
with other COEL clients and contacts at 12a Club. Oliver was a winner last year
but over-confidence was his downfall this time – John Russell of Cater Jonas
taking the gambler crown with the most COEL dollars in his pocket at the end.
It was a rocking night, with excellent company, music and food to accompany the
fun (but professionally managed) gaming tables.</span><br />
<i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Zdg6wDFlEYJNZ0_YsjI42lgXyHgyf5gjn_ikK9MLTh3RngBmo0c9g0MPtg2oevZ5wb-RwfRa3TY3OGX7F4VLqdmXsFR4jwwD6_srVvrFIufmWlfvQ8YYeDTMdXnLzBoVP09myD1PKoE/s1600/DSC_1589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Zdg6wDFlEYJNZ0_YsjI42lgXyHgyf5gjn_ikK9MLTh3RngBmo0c9g0MPtg2oevZ5wb-RwfRa3TY3OGX7F4VLqdmXsFR4jwwD6_srVvrFIufmWlfvQ8YYeDTMdXnLzBoVP09myD1PKoE/s400/DSC_1589.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-73739160088054674062015-10-28T09:20:00.001-07:002015-10-28T09:20:34.385-07:00Limitations of Liability and the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA)
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Under UCTA any terms in a company's standard terms
of business which seek to exclude or restrict liability need to be deemed reasonable
to be upheld and be enforceable.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The High Court has
recently decided that various limitations of liability in standard
term contracts were unreasonable under UCTA. (</span><em><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Saint
Gobain Building Distribution Ltd (t/a International Decorative Surfaces) v
Hillmead Joinery (Swindon) Ltd).<o:p></o:p></span></em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The usual thinking is
that limitation of liability clauses have a good chance of passing the
reasonableness test if the buyer at least has some remedy, for example,
replacement of the goods or a refund. If such remedies are available, then it
is often considered reasonable to exclude any liability beyond what is commonly
referred to as indirect or consequential loss. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In the
present case, the judge was not prepared to accept clauses whose effect would
deny the buyer of any remedy in certain circumstances, even if total denial
would only occur in those circumstances, and a refund or replacement was
available in other circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The case
raises a number of old and new points for suppliers to consider:</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Where the UCTA reasonableness test is likely
to apply, it is dangerous to exclude the implied statutory terms without
offering something reasonable as an alternative, for example, a warranty
of compliance with a written specification.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It may be dangerous for a seller to exclude
"all liability" in certain particular circumstances, even if
some limited liability is accepted in other circumstances. The safer
course may be not to exclude liability completely in any particular
circumstance, but subject all different types of liability to an overall
cap, covered by insurance, and expressed as a generous percentage of the
value of the contract. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It may be prudent for a seller to accept
liability for some defined forms of loss that might otherwise be
considered indirect and not recoverable, but again subject to an overall
cap.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The decision in the present case is consistent with
the view of some lawyers that a prudent rule of thumb is to employ drafting
which results in the buyer ending up with at least a right to compensation that
amounts to something like 125% or 150% of the invoice value. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
case did, however, turn very much on the facts, and in other </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">cases it has been held reasonable to cap liability
at the contract price</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Dixon Phillips
solicitors would be pleased to have an initial, no obligation discussion or
meeting with any local business which has a query or concern about commercial
law issues.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-85520868482525716652015-09-14T03:21:00.000-07:002015-09-14T03:21:31.231-07:00Snapped at Vodka Revolution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyPLiqR0nG2t9nrMiJiAEoLZ6iRDaP6lOptOz4EW-jgHOGxOAwPzlutvwBsoHkhR8KpzfmvQZa3g95gT7WW4hvEI_biJj5f9dD2GIfYyGFrq8-tw_L7_uoeIE6gD41N4s9v6Aj0TRcs0/s1600/DSC_7576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyPLiqR0nG2t9nrMiJiAEoLZ6iRDaP6lOptOz4EW-jgHOGxOAwPzlutvwBsoHkhR8KpzfmvQZa3g95gT7WW4hvEI_biJj5f9dD2GIfYyGFrq8-tw_L7_uoeIE6gD41N4s9v6Aj0TRcs0/s320/DSC_7576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The Cambridge Professionals Network lunchtime meeting on Friday,
organised by McTear Williams & Wood, was well attended. This may have
had nothing to do with the fact that we were sponsoring it this time and that
Paul made a short speech. However, this didn’t seem to put off the
other lawyers and sundry accountants, bankers, IFAs and insolvency
practitioners present. The free food helped too! Paul’s topic
was the value or otherwise of making plans for things. He thought it went
down reasonably well and at least extracted a nervous laugh from the audience
by quoting Mike Tyson “It’s fine for you to make plans but just wait until I
punch you in the mouth!” A bonus was that we got our pictures in the
paper. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-68880777289273519012015-08-21T07:53:00.001-07:002015-08-21T07:53:16.289-07:00Stand and Deliver
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Go<span style="color: #244061;">o</span>gle are doing it,
Facebook are doing it and now Dixon Phillips are doing it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve decided that we sit on our bottoms far to<span style="color: #244061;">o</span> much in this office so we now have
sitting-standing desks! Some studies suggest that sitting for long periods
increases your chances of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and blood
clots or thrombosis. According to some reports, men who sit more than 6 hours a
day have a 20% higher mortality rate and women <span style="color: #244061;">who
do so </span>have a 40% higher mortality rate. So we are on our feet and
looking forward to the benefits of standing up more, including increased
energy, alertness and productivity, as well as burning more calories … which
means, of course, we can eat more biscuits guilt free!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtj8e8_LYMexOUEllqkrfU9TRWo8K531Wu3_Zu5SxJR5EY5WBY4geom6D7nwe2qkQVZnhCjGU8OWmlkIMm8ZR8fJaHLhrfHUGDEzTyKWfoHCBKvqjrinjPvCbGYXIr2-P1rbadRR2V7o/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtj8e8_LYMexOUEllqkrfU9TRWo8K531Wu3_Zu5SxJR5EY5WBY4geom6D7nwe2qkQVZnhCjGU8OWmlkIMm8ZR8fJaHLhrfHUGDEzTyKWfoHCBKvqjrinjPvCbGYXIr2-P1rbadRR2V7o/s320/photo.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On his feet: Paul Dixon at our new sit-stand desk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-60949101135386517682015-08-12T06:51:00.000-07:002015-08-12T07:14:25.956-07:00Do your Terms and Conditions work for you?<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Terms and conditions are not often a priority for businesses, whether
it</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">s
creating new Ts&Cs for a new company or reviewing existing Ts&Cs for an
established company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Here are a few of the main areas to consider when preparing or
reviewing your standard terms and conditions of business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Narrow"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Avoiding a battle of the forms</strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It is
important to establish whose Ts&Cs apply at the point a contract is formed,
particularly if your business depends on a series of repeat orders. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The last
party to put forward its Ts&Cs, which were not explicitly rejected by the
other side, will be incorporated into the contract. It is important to make
sure your Ts&Cs are included in the contract process before the contract is
formed and to be aware of any Ts&Cs sent by the other party with any
counter offers which could then apply instead of your own. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Dealing with conflicting terms</strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Each
business deal may be different and not every term of the Ts&Cs may be
relevant. Some standard terms could conflict with any specially agreed terms
for a particular deal giving rise to doubt on what was actually agreed.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">When a
contract comprises more than one document (an order form/invoice and standard
Ts&Cs for example) it is important to check that key terms across the
documents, such as services to be provided or timings, do not conflict and, if
they do, to provide that any special terms agreed (which should be clearly set
out on the order form/invoice) will override the relevant standard term. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Indemnity warning</strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Indemnities
(a promise to pay a particular amount should a particular liability arise) are
a serious contractual protection which should never be entered into without
proper thought.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">You
should usually resist granting indemnities, but try to include them in your
Ts&Cs to protect you if there is a particular issue of risk. If you have to
give an indemnity, try to cap the level of liability or limit the particular
circumstances and time periods in which it applies so that any potential
liability is clear and limited.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Right of termination</strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Bold","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Thought
should be given to how a business can end a contract if the relationship with
the other side breaks down or you simply no longer wish to do business with
them. This point can be covered by a termination clause setting out the
circumstances which would allow this to happen.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-10125822689677743062015-07-31T07:22:00.000-07:002015-07-31T07:22:10.533-07:00At The Races
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF4ZuhUmH2qjCsVFYqXbbKITaxpe-gRw9ifL4cjP-gs-N4R4JaIjcEJ93yn5iAgFtpJ4LzhQNfWXq2FZMGyShItvFTo66AVV19Ol0ghbLKCjXTSjrhWsuyZa_MNWN3mQ1Eqq9tKlzVIk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF4ZuhUmH2qjCsVFYqXbbKITaxpe-gRw9ifL4cjP-gs-N4R4JaIjcEJ93yn5iAgFtpJ4LzhQNfWXq2FZMGyShItvFTo66AVV19Ol0ghbLKCjXTSjrhWsuyZa_MNWN3mQ1Eqq9tKlzVIk/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had the pleasure of joining these lovely ladies at
Newmarket Racecourse this month for Ladies Day. The sun was shining, the Pimms
flowing and the hats donned. We fancied a flutter but as none of us were
seasoned gamblers we carefully selected our horses based predominantly on name
and jersey! The lawyers of the group decided to bet on anything that slightly
resembled the law and we were thrilled when TUPI crossed the line a nose ahead
of the competition! Thank you to Price Bailey Legal Services LLP for the invite
and a fabulous day out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-33319791573193521302015-07-21T03:19:00.000-07:002015-07-21T03:19:20.982-07:00Michelle joins the equity
<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">We’re extremely pleased to announce that Michelle Oliver (aka
Michelle Atkins, since she got married last year!) has taken a stake in the
firm. She is now a shareholder, as well as a director, alongside us (Paul
Dixon and Oliver Phillips.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Michelle has been with the firm nearly 5 years and become a key
member of it, not only serving clients but also in a management role, in
particular helping to develop Lauren’s skills and in maintaining the firm’s
good reputation with other professionals and contacts. She has bags
of common sense as well as being responsible in large part for the positive,
friendly and mutually supportive atmosphere in our office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">… We think she’ll be bringing a cake in soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="color: #244061; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Paul and Oliver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-23446239127183916802015-02-26T05:59:00.000-08:002015-02-26T06:26:30.054-08:00Boring but importantNew law on business insurance contracts was enacted this month and comes into force in August 2016.<br />
<br />
The Insurance Act 2015 <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/4/pdfs/ukpga_20150004_en.pdf">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/4/pdfs/ukpga_20150004_en.pdf</a> improves the position for businesses.<br />
<br />
Amongst other things, the Act includes provisions that:<br />
<br />
1. will abolish clauses in insurance contracts which automatically convert prior information supplied to insurers into contractual warranties (i.e. actionable promises or assurances by the insured);
<br />
<br />
2. will abolish also any rule of law that a breach of warranty (express or implied) results in complete discharge of the insurer's liability;<br />
<br />
3. if there is a breach of warranty, the insurer's liability should be suspended, rather than discharged, so that insurance coverage may be restored after a breach has been remedied; and
<br />
<br />
4. that no breach of contract should allow an insurer to refuse to pay a claim if the insured shows that the breach was completely irrelevant to the loss suffered.<br />
<br />
... not all good if this new law is used by the insurance industry to justify a hike in premiums! However, it will make it harder for insurers to wriggle out of paying genuine claims.<br />
<br />
<br />
Paul Dixon<br />
26 February 2015<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-12401894680268835742014-12-02T03:07:00.000-08:002014-12-02T03:07:17.740-08:00How can a tenant get out of a Commercial Lease?Once you have entered into a lease of commercial premises, you are contractually bound to pay rent and outgoings, keep the premises in repair and comply with the other lease obligations until the end of the lease term. This is the case even if you move out and have no continuing use for the premises. So what can a tenant do in order to get out of the lease obligations?<br />
<br />
The first thing is to consider the detailed terms of the lease, in particular any early break rights and those relating to assignment and subletting. Assuming no early break rights, the options available include:<br />
<br />
- a negotiated surrender of the lease;<br />
- assignment; or<br />
- subletting.<br />
<br />
A surrender is best if it can be achieved at manageable expense. The landlord may be happy to take the premises back to use himself or to relet but the tenant is still likely to have to pay a premium. Otherwise, the tenant needs to find someone else to take the premises over. The two main ways to do this are by assignment or by subletting.<br />
<br />
<strong>Assignment</strong><br />
<br />
This is where a new tenant (the assignee) takes over the lease.<br />
<br />
Typically, assignment requires landlord consent, not to be unreasonably withheld. The landlord is entitled to be satisfied that the assignee is suitable and able to pay the rent and may impose conditions to his consent. These may include a rent deposit being provided or personal guarantees (where the lease is assigned to a company).<br />
<br />
Of most significance to the outgoing tenant, is the usual requirement of an Authorised Guarantee Agreement. This is a guarantee by the outgoing tenant to the landlord that the assignee will pay the rent and comply with the lease obligations. Although the assignee will be primarily liable to the landlord, the tenant will still have fall back liability until either the assignee has in turn assigned the lease to another new tenant or the lease term has ended.<br />
<br />
<strong>Subletting (also known as Underletting)</strong><br />
<br />
Subletting is where a tenant grants a new, subsidiary lease to another tenant (sub-tenant). The original (head) lease remains in force and the tenant will have the same liability to pay rent and carry out repairs, etc but will in turn collect rent from the subtenant and (depending on the terms) be able, in effect, to pass on the other lease obligations.<br />
<br />
Subletting is sometimes prohibited outright, even if assignment is not and will nearly always be subject again to landlord consent (not to be unreasonably withheld). Again, the landlord will have various requirements, particularly in relation to the sublease terms, which usually have to reflect the existing lease, and the landlord will expect its legal costs to be paid.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-29723251807689564492014-10-31T07:22:00.002-07:002014-10-31T08:35:28.737-07:00The Consumer Rights BillThe Consumer Rights Bill, which is expected to receive Royal Assent early on in the next Parliamentary session, will mark a significant change in consumer law.<br />
<br />
The existing framework of consumer law is set out in over 100 separate pieces of legislation, placing a significant administrative and compliance burden on businesses and creating confusion and uncertainty for consumers. Consolidation of these rules should create a better compliance framework for businesses and make it far easier for consumers to understand and use their rights.<br />
<br />
The existing framework is also considered to be out of date (e.g. in relation to digital content) and inconsistent (e.g. as between contracts for goods and contracts for services) and the Bill looks to modernise and streamline these areas.<br />
<br />
The legislation proposed also strengthens consumer’s rights in some important areas. Provisions within the Bill which have the potential to make a significant difference to consumers include:<br />
<br />
- consumers only having to accept one repair or replacement before being entitled to a refund;<br />
- consumers being entitled to require a trader to reperform a service if the initial service was not carried out to a satisfactory level, or receive a partial refund if this is not done; and<br />
- consumers having the right to receive a full refund when they return faulty goods within 30 days.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-91963957982191358012014-10-07T03:58:00.000-07:002014-10-07T03:58:00.847-07:00Lauren’s Conveyancing Exam Success <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lauren Simper took her CILEx Level 3 Conveyancing exam in May, and was awarded a merit. This result together with her previous result from January gives her a Level 3 Certificate in Conveyancing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is now working towards her Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice, which involves studying Criminal Law, Contract Law, Law of Tort and Employment Law.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well done Lauren, and good luck for the next exam.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-18499899970870332552014-05-20T01:56:00.001-07:002014-05-20T01:56:40.273-07:00Matthew Dempsey's New Arrival<span lang="EN-GB">Everyone at Dixon Phillips would like to congratulate Matthew, Lisa and Henry on the arrival of baby Ruby, who was born on the 9th of May.<br />
<br />
Congratulations!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-41419821888051341592014-05-06T03:05:00.002-07:002014-05-20T03:15:40.590-07:00Lawyer of the future<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Lauren Simper joined us in an administrative role, but is now developing her skills towards a paralegal role. As part of this, Dixon Phillips is supporting her in working towards qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><div align="LEFT" dir="LTR">
Lauren has recently achieved a distinction in her Introduction to Law exam and a pass in Land Law. She has also received passes for written assignments about client care skills and legal research.</div>
<div align="LEFT" dir="LTR">
<br />
Congratulations to Lauren from everyone at Dixon Phillips!</div>
<br />
Kelly Phillips</span></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-51229069130286848362014-04-28T02:00:00.000-07:002014-04-29T02:38:36.887-07:00Beware of income-shifting dividend waivers - 28th April 2014<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">OWNER-managed businesses may need to review
arrangements for shifting income from higher rate taxpaying shareholders to
their lower rate taxpaying spouses if those arrangements involve dividend
waivers in the wake of the recent decision of the Tax Chamber’s First-tier
Tribunal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Tribunal held that dividend waivers made
in favour of shareholders' wives were settlements and did not fall within the
outright gifts to spouse exception. </span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Settlements legislation is intended
to stop individuals (settlor) gaining a tax advantages by moving their income
to another person who is liable to tax at a lower rate or is not liable to tax
at all. Where this legislation applies to dividend waivers all of the income
waived is treated as that of the settlor. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6LC_VYVBgrB_De1Stdjsn_rgYgdfxeq8pVnqDlk7-LYjeAAc-g0yb2LSAl4JIgT2bd4dkDDyRCvQyBA4ZRU3uXy8YkZnaIddJ-4yXpnKBvSEipCQFoXdBmkaLEhqWhZwCiCqYhun8KE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6LC_VYVBgrB_De1Stdjsn_rgYgdfxeq8pVnqDlk7-LYjeAAc-g0yb2LSAl4JIgT2bd4dkDDyRCvQyBA4ZRU3uXy8YkZnaIddJ-4yXpnKBvSEipCQFoXdBmkaLEhqWhZwCiCqYhun8KE/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is an exemption for outright
gifts to spouses, but the exemption only applies if the gift carries the right
to the whole of the income arising from the property and the property is not
wholly or substantially a right to income.</span><br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A dividend waiver
may therefore constitute income shifting, to which the settlements legislation can
apply most typically to husband and wife companies where one spouse (a higher
rate taxpayer) waives a dividend and the other spouse (not a higher rate
taxpayer) receives a substantial dividend as a result.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Matthew Dempsey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-41924532838394680732014-04-21T23:47:00.000-07:002014-04-21T23:47:17.557-07:00Landlord and Tenant Update: Recovering Rent Arrears - 22nd April 2014<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">Until now, if a commercial
tenant fell behind on rent a landlord could, without warning, instruct bailiffs
to attend the leased premises and seize assets belonging to the tenant to sell
to recover rent arrears (known as distress or distraint).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Commercial Rent Arrears
Recovery (CRAR) replaces the common law right of distress and came into force
on 6 April 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">A
major change</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">: If a landlord
wants to use CRAR he must give the tenant at least 7 clear (complete) days
advance written notice of his intention to exercise CRAR, giving details of the
rent arrears and how and where payment can be made. The advance notice is supposed
to allow the tenant opportunity to seek legal advice or pay the rent (rather than
allow time to dispose of assets!!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Other
key points to note: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">CRAR</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"> will only apply to the rent (and any
interest and VAT) payable under the lease e.g. services charges, insurance,
rates will not be recoverable through CRAR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">CRAR
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">cannot be exercised to
collect rent on residential or mixed use premises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">A</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"> minimum of 7 days’ rent must be owed before
CRAR can be exercised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a tenant pays
part of the rent arrears, it could prevent the landlord from exercising CRAR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">If</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"> a tenant is likely deliberately to remove
or dispose of goods during the notice period, a landlord can apply to Court for
an order that a shorter notice period can be given (although this will impose a
considerable administrative and cost burden on the landlord).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Enforcement</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"> action may be taken on any day, including a
Sunday, and may take place at any time between 6am and 9pm or other normal
trading hours of the business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Only</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";"> Enforcement Agents (similar to a
certificated bailiff) instructed to act on behalf of the landlord can enforce
CRAR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Only
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">the tenant’s goods may be
taken. Goods which are necessary for the tenant’s personal use or in connection
with the tenant’s employment, business, trade, profession or education are
exempt up to an aggregate value of £1350.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow";">Whilst a tenant struggling
with its rent will welcome these changes, they will frustrate landlords and may
make the recovery of arrears a more time consuming and costly process. A
landlord may be inclined to seek rent deposits on a more regular basis, which
they can dip into in the event of tenant breach without undue administration.
Negotiating and agreeing such key commercial terms at the outset and having
well drafted lease documentation is essential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<o:p> Michelle Oliver</o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-61728818336927919782014-03-25T04:11:00.000-07:002014-04-28T02:01:29.419-07:00Speed awareness course - a quick appraisal - 25th March 201420 other mature students joined me at St Johns Innovation Centre to receive 4 hours of driver speed awareness training the other day. All of us were there to avoid 3 points, having each driven past yellow boxes marginally above the speed limit. <br />
<br />
Let me stress, right up front, I am NOT an apologist for speeding motorists! I think dangerous speeding should be punished more severely than it is. However, that doesn’t mean I have to agree with the yellow boxes or with the merits of courses for those caught by them.<br />
<br />
The trainer, Peter was articulate, knowledgeable and entertaining, even if (only my opinion) a little patronising. “I’m not here to tell you what choices to make. However, what do we need most, in order to be as safe as possible on the road?” “Space!” we all shout, after two hours of priming. “..and what else?” “Time!” “.. and what does that mean we should be doing?” “Slowing down!”<br />
<br />
I did learn quite a bit, including how ignorant most people are about the Highway Code. I wasn’t alone in being wrong about national speed limits. We were also told several interesting statistics.<br />
<br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What are the national (default) speed limits for cars on a) urban roads b) single carriageways c) dual carriageways and d) motorways?<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How many people were killed on the UK’s roads in 2012?<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What percentage of these were a) in towns b) on rural roads and c) on motorways?<br />
<br />
See the answers at the end.<br />
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None of the students wanted to be a class troublemaker and risk longer detention. Accordingly, no-one tried to argue that driving above the speed limit might, on its own, not always be irresponsible and wrong; nor was there any challenge to the assertion, made by Peter, that yellow boxes are positioned in accident hot spots, primarily where there have been deaths. <br />
<br />
I later checked the County Council <a href="http://my.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/mycambridgeshire.aspx?&tab=2&StartZoom=5000&layers=Accidents&layers=Accident%20Clusters" target="_blank">accident map</a> on this. The camera that clocked me is on Victoria Avenue, where there have been no deaths or even serious injuries, only minor incidents. It is positioned beyond the main cluster of the recorded incidents, partially obscured by a bus lane sign and on a wide, straight stretch of road with two lanes and good visibility each side. An accident hot spot, or a lucrative one?<br />
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There is a 30 limit on Victoria Avenue but (as I learned on the course) if there happened to have been no street lights or repeater signs, it would be 60 (single carriageway, national limit). I was clocked on a bright, clear day with no other vehicles, cycles or pedestrians anywhere near. It is submitted, m’lud, that my speed of 37 was a safe one in the conditions. I also suggest, m’lud, that the camera (£40k+ investment) was positioned at least in part for maximum revenue raising, not to promote safer driving. OK, there is no legal excuse to exceed a speed limit but isn’t it wrong to target for enforcement (by cameras which exercise no discretion, regardless of the conditions) those places on the road where speeding is most likely to occur rather than where it is most dangerous? <br />
<br />
The course was instructive but it was also too long and attended by the wrong people. Most of my fellow students were women and nearly all the men were middle aged or older – not a boy racer in sight. Peter was preaching largely to the converted. <br />
<br />
The consequences of not being able to stop in time were starkly shown to us in several videos in which we saw the possible effects (hitting pedestrians as opposed to just avoiding them) of the longer stopping distance required by just a couple of miles an hour extra speed. No-one disagreed with the overall message but I still thought there was no proper perspective on the real risks of not keeping scrupulously to a fixed speed limit along every stretch of road. <br />
<br />
In short, for me, the course was a useful reminder of the dangers of speeding but I wasn’t alone in feeling resentful at having to be there. It certainly didn’t change my view that those wretched cameras encourage people to perceive speeding not as dangerous or socially reprehensible but just as another thing on the road to look out for. They undermine not only the moral case against speeding but also respect for the rule of law.<br />
<br />
Answers<br />
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a) 30 b) 60 c) 70 d) 70<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1,754. Lower than you might expect. 7 or 8 times lower than in earlier decades.<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>a) 21% b) 73% c) 6% - surprising eh! Rural roads are relative death traps, partly because it takes longer for the medics to get to you. Motorways are relatively very safe. <br />
<br />
Paul Dixon<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-24613939901441866622014-03-04T01:45:00.000-08:002014-03-04T01:45:37.978-08:00Bigger and Wackier - 4th March 2014Cityscapes in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai up the coast are “must sees” of modern architecture. Put them high on your bucket list, advises Paul, just back from visiting friends in Abu Dhabi.<br />
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Parts of the cities look like an architects’ playground, with buildings of every shape and colour, and all big! <br />
Paul’s favourites in Abu Dhabi were the circular <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldar_headquarters_building" target="_blank">Aldar building</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Zayed_Mosque" target="_blank">Grand Mosque</a>. This is truly enormous, with 82 domes, 12 ton chandeliers and the world’s biggest (50,000 sq ft) single carpet. You wouldn’t want to lease it with a full reinstatement obligation at the end of the term.<br />
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<br />
Cruising along the main drag into Dubai in his friend’s open top Mustang, through a corridor of futuristic skyscapers, Paul felt like he was Catnis in the Hunger Games being ridden into the Capitol. Dubai of course has the tallest building in the world - the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa" target="_blank">Burj Khalifa</a>. Paul couldn’t get on a tour but reports that it is truly stunning from the outside and quite enough to admire without touching!<br />
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<br />
Whole new high rise business, leisure and residential communities are in development around Abu Dhabi and on its Islands, not to mention multi-billion pound palaces and huge infrastructure projects. It’s a dynamic – and wacky – place.<br />
<br />
…And finally, it’s a little known fact that people in Dubai don’t much like the Flintstones… but those in Abu Dhabi Do!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-61818657716670295962014-02-11T03:56:00.001-08:002014-02-11T03:56:56.716-08:00Networking Cambridge Style - 11th February 2014We are lucky enough to be members of a professional networking group which gathers once a month to eat fine food and drink fine wines at one of the many magnificent dining rooms of the Colleges of the University of Cambridge.<br />
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The focus is very much on having an informal chat and a laugh and it is surprising how infrequently the conversation turns to work. This is despite the fact that the group is largely made up of lawyers, accountants, bankers and surveyors who, usually, can’t resist talking about their latest big deal or blue chip client win. In this relaxed environment, mercifully free of forced elevator pitches and referral slips, we have developed a number of valued professional relationships.<br />
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<br />
Last week the venue was the impressive Fellows Dining Room at Gonville and Caius. The room is designed in Ancient Greek style with details from the Temple of Apollo at Bassae including a large painted ceiling and gilded column capitals. The dinner was suitable sumptuous - spiced butternut squash soup with sour cream and croutons to start followed by marinated venison steak with chestnut mushrooms and a peppercorn and brandy sauce then profiteroles with a hot rum and chocolate sauce to finish off. Superb!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-40320272541531867102014-02-10T02:20:00.001-08:002014-02-10T02:20:59.267-08:00The Dangers of Letting on a Handshake - 10th February 2014My last blog, on tenancies at will and on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (the “Act”), is relevant to the following two tips – one for landlords and one for tenants:<br />
<br />
(1) Landlords of commercial premises are unwise to let tenants in on a handshake. <br />
<br />
To do so will often result in the tenant acquiring unintended security of tenure rights under the Act. <br />
In outline, these mean that a minimum 6 months notice to quit is required and that there are only limited grounds, involving payment of compensation, on which the landlord may refuse the grant thereafter of a new, written lease for a period of up to 15 years. It is possible, therefore, for a landlord to let a tenant in just for a few months and then find he is stuck with him for much longer.<br />
<br />
(2) Conversely, tenants of commercial premises are taking a risk if they continue in occupation beyond the end of a lease but don’t get the landlord to grant a new one.<br />
<br />
If the lease is protected by the Act, then there isn’t a problem for the tenant (other than an obligation to give a minimum of three months’ notice to stop rent continuing) but if the lease excluded the Act, the position is different. To keep costs down, it is tempting for a tenant to rely on the landlord’s acquiescence or verbal agreement to him carrying on in occupation. However, the cases show that this is likely, in the absence of the Act applying, to be under an implied tenancy at will. Even if the tenant is intending to stay on for a few weeks only, he will be at the mercy of the landlord’s discretion on whether to allow the arrangement to continue longer than on a day to day basis. He risks being given immediate notice to quit and becoming a trespasser at any time. <br />
<br />
Paul Dixon<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032924480438130081.post-15177875699141760322014-01-27T02:03:00.000-08:002014-01-27T02:03:21.211-08:00Easy Come Easy Go - Tenancies at Will (27th January 2014)Clients recently signed a tenancy at will of new office premises, in order to get the keys on a temporary basis. This was fine. I then became involved in regularising the short term overlap period of occupation of their existing offices. This was initially proposed also to be by way of a tenancy at will. I advised against signing. <br />
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The clients had been in occupation for a couple of years, on a handshake with their landlord. He in turn was also a tenant, having been granted a lease by the freeholders but didn’t need the offices for himself. The freeholders had just found out about my clients and were insisting on the occupation being clarified and properly documented. They were concerned about my clients changing their minds about leaving and claiming statutory security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The freeholders’ property manager (their City of London solicitors keeping somewhat sneakily in the background) had presented my clients with the tenancy at will to sign. <br />
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The problem for my clients would have been that a tenancy at will legitimises ongoing occupation only on a day to day basis, so is very precarious. Either party can end it on immediate notice. My clients probably did have statutory security of tenure under the handshake arrangement, as it applies by default to any tenancy (written or implied) of premises occupied for business purposes. They shouldn’t have been giving this up lightly, just to accommodate the freeholder’s concern, however difficult this may have been to their own landlord. <br />
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All parties eventually agreed to a new underlease, outside the Act, for a one year period with mutual, rolling 4 week break rights. This was more cumbersome than a tenancy at will but the only way to satisfy everyone. <br />
A tenancy at will is generally appropriate only where it suits all parties for the arrangement to be on a day to day basis and where it doesn’t cause significant problems for any of them if the occupation is brought suddenly to an end. <br />
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Paul Dixon</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05438185203230309847noreply@blogger.com0