News - Lawrence Stephens Solicitors

In conversation with our new joiner: Martin Donoghue, Partner, Corporate

We are delighted to welcome Martin Donoghue to the Lawrence Stephens team. Martin brings with him a wealth of expertise and experience which will add immense value to our clients and the firm as a Read more…

Construction Leadership Council publishes its Fifth Edition of Construction Site Operating Procedures – 1 July 2020

The new version of the CLC’s Site Operating Procedures reflected the governments easing of its guidance on lockdown which will apply from the 4 July 2020. The main change which contractors have been looking for Read more…

Electrical safety standards in the private rented sector

New Regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at least every 5 years. Landlords have to provide a copy of Read more…

Why you should have a will

Making a will is an important part of insuring your family’s financial future. Wills are legally-binding documents which provide an essential guide as to how your estate and assets should be distributed after death. This Read more…

The Future Fund: How to fund your future

As the Coronavirus crisis continues to affect businesses all over the country, the government has introduced a number of different measures to help protect the economy and businesses’ futures. One such measure, announced by the Read more…

Suspension of Wrongful Trading and the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (“Bill”) was published on 20 May 2020. The Bill intends to provide businesses with the flexibility they need to continue to trade during the Covid-19 pandemic and ease the Read more…

Lawrence Stephens act on High Court directors’ application

The Lawrence Stephens dispute resolution team have successfully acted on behalf of two company directors applying to the High Court for permission to act as directors and members of a number of companies and Limited Read more…

Property market reopen for business: Has it? Will it?

As of the 13th May, the government has relaxed restrictions imposed on the property sector during the coronavirus lockdown period. Estate agents, removal companies, conveyancers, and surveyors can resume trading; buyers and surveyors can visit properties Read more…

Contesting a Will: FAQs

The impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has raised a number of adverse challenges for families and individuals across the country. More than ever before, families may be in the position of needing to contest Read more…

Everything you need to know about the government’s new measures for the property market

Last week, the government announced its measures to help restart the property market after a period of deep freeze, following the UK’s measures taken to curb the spread of coronavirus. During this period, it has Read more…

Hard Work for Hard Hats

Over the last few weeks, we have been helping clients – both employers and contractors – prepare their compliant Construction Design Management (Health and Safety) and Site Operating Procedures, which understandably involve enhanced COVID -19 Read more…

How to support your colleagues through furlough

The impact of COVID-19 has been felt everywhere. Businesses across the country are feeling the strain, and many of us will have friends, family members and colleagues who have been furloughed through the Government’s Job Read more…

Lawrence Stephens welcomes Paul Marsh as a Partner

We are delighted to announce that Paul Marsh has joined the Partnership at Lawrence Stephens. Paul joined us in 2016 and quickly became an indispensable member of our Real Estate, Secured Lending and Banking team. Read more…

Commercial Property and COVID-19 – FAQs

In this legal insight, Partner Danny Schwarz seeks to provide clarity on practical issues that building occupiers and owners have experienced, by addressing some of the most frequently asked questions he and his team have Read more…

UPDATE – Annual Leave Entitlement: Where Do You Stand If You Have Been Furloughed?

Annual leave entitlement The Working Time Regulations 1998 (the “Regulations”) provide that workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid annual leave per year (prorated for part time employees). This is made up of a minimum Read more…

COVID-19: Witness of Deeds

During the current COVID-19 climate with the government advising on social distancing, many people will find executing documents difficult. So, what advice should law practitioners be giving their clients to assist when executing documents? Can Read more…

Annual Leave Entitlement: Where Do You Stand If You Have Been Furloughed?

Annual leave entitlement The Working Time Regulations 1998 (the “Regulations”) provide that workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid annual leave per year (pro-rated for part time employees). This is made up of a minimum Read more…

COVID:19: What does the future hold for the secured lending market?

In the current lending market, many businesses are under extreme time pressure to refinance existing facilities, complete on purchases committed to before COVID-19, or secure development financing. A big proportion of these businesses are now Read more…

2% stamp duty surcharge overseas purchaser

On 11th of March 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in his budget that from 1st April 2021, a 2% surcharge on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) would be imposed upon non-UK resident buyers of residential Read more…

COVID-19: Advice for employers and employees

In response to rapid changes and developments in employment law during the coronavirus outbreak, this page provides an overview of advice, know-how, and the latest developments relating to all your workplace and people issues.

COVID-19: Corporate Finance Advice

With the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, each day brings new challenges and announcements on the potential support available to businesses and individuals.

Residential Property Transactions and COVID-19 – FAQs

The measures taken by the UK Government to contain the spread of the coronavirus have created profound complications for the UK residential property market. Legal concerns relate to drafting contracts, financing arrangements, force majeure provisions, Read more…

Start-ups: How will Coronavirus affect your business?

Start-ups: How will Coronavirus affect your business? The Coronavirus crisis has meant that many small businesses have been forced to cease trading on a record scale. My previous article (found here) outlined some of the Read more…

Company Employment Sanctions and COVID-19 – FAQs

Last month, businesses across the country adapted to new measures designed to curb the spread of COVID-19. Due to the continually evolving nature of the crisis, this has raised a number of questions related to employment. To offer Read more…

Furlough: What does it mean for you and your business?

With businesses across the country forced to close at an alarming rate, the Government has introduced a number of emergency measures to help try to keep the UK economy afloat. The newly proposed Coronavirus Job Read more…

Lawrence Stephens act on disposal of ITEC Connect to Xerox

We are pleased to announce that the Corporate and Commercial team, led by Jeff Rubenstein, has, despite the COVID-19 virus, completed a corporate sale for the Sellers/Shareholders of ITEC Connect Ltd. ITEC has been sold to the Read more…

COVID-19: Construction sites may stay open

As more and more companies announce the closure of their construction sites, the government’ guidance remains that construction sites may stay open provided the Public Health England (PHE) guidelines, including keeping two-metres from others, can Read more…

Coronavirus Round-Up: What you need to know to help your business get through the crisis

As the UK government announces new, stricter measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, businesses across the country are preparing for a vastly different economic climate when we eventually emerge from the crisis. The effects Read more…

Commercial Tenants: no evictions for 3 months – but what will really happen?

There was an air of inevitability with the announcement, and it is hard to argue against it. The Government announced on the 23 March that given the unprecedented strain on businesses, any tenants affected by Read more…

COVID-19: Business Operations

It is clear that Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be a public and personal threat, creating many challenges for families and businesses worldwide. We want to reassure you that we are here to help you with Read more…

The Government’s attempt at ‘Squashing the Sombrero’: will banning evictions for 3 months on Commercial Tenants really solve the problem?

I miss Brexit. In light of the strict lockdown on 23 March 2020, the Government have implemented further concessions to assist tenants in the short-term and announced that commercial tenants who are affected by Covid-19 Read more…

Business as usual

If you are worried about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and what it might mean for you and any ongoing matters that you have with us, we want to reassure you that we are here to help. In Read more…

Are Your Commercial Contracts Safe as Houses?

In the wake of the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, we consider the general legal principles that apply to commercial contracts and the implications for our clients (particularly those of commercial landlords and tenants). Unforeseeable circumstances Read more…

Reflections on International Women’s Day

What does International Women’s Day mean to us? Sunday 8th March marked International Women’s Day, an event which recognises and celebrates the achievements of women around the world. All as part of the global efforts to Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Carrying over holiday entitlement

The European Working Time Directive entitles workers to at least 4 weeks’ holiday per year. Many countries, including the UK, choose to give workers additional holiday entitlement over and above the minimum. For example, the Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Redundancy and alternative employment

A dismissal for redundancy is likely to be unfair unless the employer has considered whether there is suitable alternative employment within the business (or group). If suitable alternative employment is offered, it might be subject Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Confidentiality agreements

On the back of the globally recognised #MeToo movement, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published some non-statutory guidance on the use of confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements in discrimination cases. The guidance confirms Read more…

Leasehold Enfranchisement: Are leaseholders finally going to see change?

On the 19th December 2019, the Queen’s Speech – delivered at the opening of Parliament, set out the government’s proposed legislative policies for the forthcoming year. High up on the agenda was the issue of Read more…

The future of law – Can the human touch retain parity with technological innovation?

For many, March is simply the start of spring but for those connected to the real estate sector it means much more than that. Each March, the biggest names in property flock to Cannes for MIPIM, the world’s Read more…

Quarterly Update January 2020

Welcome to the first edition of the Lawrence Stephens quarterly update. Through these newsletters we will bring you an overview of activity from across the firm, feature work highlights, and news from our team members. We hope you Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Time limits for employment claims

Most employment claims should be brought within a three-month time limit. If it is not ‘reasonably practicable’ for an employee to present his claim within the three-month time limit, an employment tribunal has the discretion Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Redundancy pay

In a redundancy situation, an employee may be entitled to both statutory and contractual redundancy payments. Statutory redundancy payments are calculated using age, length of service and weekly pay, and is currently capped at £525. Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Sick leave and disability discrimination

A person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to complete day to day activities. To be considered a long-term disability, Read more…

How can tenants manage a disappearing landlord?

A vast number of people throughout London and the UK struggle to purchase a home and renting property has quickly become the norm. However, despite its prevalence, renting certainly does not come without its issues. Read more…

Employment Bulletin – Technology and unfair dismissal

In unfair dismissal cases, both the compensatory and basic awards can be reduced by the tribunal, potentially to zero, based on the employee’s conduct before dismissal. Secret recordings of meetings by an employee can be Read more…

Employment Bulletin – Workplace harassment

An individual harasses another if they do something in relation to a protected characteristic (such as race, gender, etc.) which has the purpose or effect of violating their dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, Read more…

Employment Bulletin – Working time regulations

Under section 45A of the Employment Rights Act 1996, workers have the right not to be treated badly by their employers for refusing to work in breach of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR). If Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Language used in recruitment

Are your job adverts accidentally putting off potential applicants? A recent LinkedIn report looked at the language used in job adverts and found various phrases that can often deter a potential applicant from applying. The survey of more Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Injury to feelings

If an employee wins a discrimination claim, the employment tribunal will award compensation for injury to feelings. There are three bands: top band for the most serious cases (currently £26,300 – £44,000); a middle band Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Gig economy

Worker status is a hot topic in the gig economy, which offers ad-hoc work in the form of taxi rides, food delivery and courier services, to name a few. Workers are entitled to certain employment Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at Dennis Wise in the Community’s Annual Fundraising Ball

Last month, Lawrence Stephens attended the Dennis Wise in the Community’s Annual Fundraising Ball at The Savoy Hotel. Dennis Wise in the Community is a charity which works to support children and adults with disabilities. The Read more…

Achieving a work-life balance as a junior solicitor

Today is World Mental Health Day and individuals across the world are doing their bit to raise awareness of mental health issues. The day also offers the opportunity for industries to reflect on their efforts Read more…

Lawrence Stephens Solicitors welcome two new Partners

Lawrence Stephens Solicitors has welcomed two new Partners to their team of established legal professionals. The pair join the firm’s nine existing Partners and offer over 50 years combined legal experience. David Freedman joins the firm’s Commercial Read more…

September Employment Bulletin – Discrimination against vegans

According to a recent survey of 1000 vegan employees and 1000 employers, almost half of vegan employees have felt discriminated against by their employers. 31 per cent said they had felt harassed at work or Read more…

September Employment Bulletin – Unfair dismissal and permanent health insurance (PHI)

PHI provides employees with pay during long term sickness or incapacity. However, policies can define incapacity differently. Some policies define it as an employee’s inability to return to their actual job. Other policies define it as Read more…

September Employment Bulletin – Disability discrimination

Discrimination arising from disability occurs when an employer treats an employee unfavourably because of something arising from their disability (which cannot be objectively justified). However, an employer will not be liable if they didn’t know Read more…

Lawrence Stephens act on All Star Lanes rescue deal

Lawrence Stephens’ work has been in the headlines this week, following our work on the All Star Lanes rescue deal. Last week, Lawrence Stephens acted on a deal involving All Star Lanes, a chain of Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at the Asian Achievers Awards 2019

Earlier this month, Lawrence Stephens attended the 19th Asian Achievers Awards at Grosvenor House in London. The awards are hosted annually by the Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL Group) to recognise and celebrate the outstanding Read more…

Lawrence Stephens to take part in Will Aid charity Will writing scheme

Lawrence Stephens Senior Associate Hardeep Nijher will be taking part in Will Aid this November, to raise vital funds for nine of the UK’s best loved charities. Will Aid is a charity Will writing scheme Read more…

August Employment Bulletin – Gender pay gap reporting

The Government Equalities Office has told the Treasury Select Committee that it is planning to extend the gender pay gap reporting obligations. The gender pay gap refers to the fact that average pay for men Read more…

August Employment Bulletin – Religion in the workplace

Proselytising is where someone preaches about religion with a view to converting other people to that religion. The Court of Appeal has recently examined when a dismissal for proselytising can be fair. In Kuteh v Read more…

August Employment Bulletin – Parental leave

The Court of Appeal has decided that it is not discriminatory for an employer to pay men on shared parental leave less than birth mothers on statutory maternity leave. The Court of Appeal looked at Read more…

To be or not to be an expert witness

Anne Wright of Lawrence Stephens and barrister James Davison of 3PB provide practical guidance on selecting an expert witness, and advise witnesses how to behave once appointed. ‘The expert witness’s primary duty is to help Read more…

July Employment Bulletin – Unfair dismissal

If an employee wins their unfair dismissal claim, a tribunal can order compensation. They also have the power to order reinstatement (to the old job) or reengagement (to a comparable job). A tribunal might not Read more…

July Employment Bulletin – Holiday pay

The holiday season is upon us and the next installment of the Flowers v East of England Ambulance Trust (EAT) saga has arrived from the Court of Appeal. The case involves voluntary overtime and whether Read more…

July Employment Bulletin – Age discrimination

Indirect age discrimination occurs when a policy that is applied to all employees negatively affects people of a certain age group. An indirectly discriminatory policy can be justified if it is a proportionate means of Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at Prideview Cricket Cup 2019

Last weekend, Lawrence Stephens attended a 6-a-side charity cricket day organised by Prideview Group. The event saw 12 teams go head to head for a chance to win one of three trophies on offer. With Read more…

Lawrence Stephens takes part in City Race 2019

Yesterday Lawrence Stevens took part in the Standard Chartered Great City Race, a 5k corporate running race through the City of London. They competed against other companies in the legal, accountancy, insurance and banking sectors in a challenge offering the opportunity to run Read more…

UK-India Week 2019 Reflections

Last month, Lawrence Stephens attended series of events during UK-India Week, from 24th-28th June. The week is dedicated to British-Indian trade and business relations. The 2019 UK-India Awards concluded the week by celebrating the biggest Read more…

Lawrence Stephens act for Alpha Property Lending on £25,000,000 Care Home Refinance

Lawrence Stephens Partners Steven Bernstein (Banking) and Avi Barr (Property) have led a team, including Craig Mullen and Milana Katz, which acted on a £25,000,000 refinance on behalf of the Lender, Alpha Property Lending. The Borrower, Abbey Healthcare Group Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at the Houses of Parliament for India Week

Last week our Associate Rima Sengupta attended ‘India Day’ at the Houses of Parliament for the launch of UK-India Week 2019 hosted by Manoj Ladwa of India Inc. The day included speeches in the House Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at JTrade Expo 2019: Meet the team

We’re excited to be returning to JTrade Expo this year with an even bigger team and we hope the event again marks the beginning of many successful relationships. You’ll be able to find the Lawrence Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at J-Trade 2019

After the groundbreaking success of the first ever J-Trade last summer, Britain’s only Jewish property and construction expo returns this July and Lawrence Stephens are delighted to be once again exhibiting. J-Trade connects the construction Read more…

June Employment Bulletin – New holiday pay guidance

Are you au fait with holiday pay? The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published new holiday pay guidance. The guidance was issued after a survey revealed an ‘alarming lack of awareness’ about Read more…

June Employment Bulletin – Disciplinaries and criminal proceedings

In professional misconduct cases, a criminal investigation often sits alongside a disciplinary investigation. Employers do not want to wait for the outcome of the criminal case before concluding disciplinary proceedings, especially when the employee is Read more…

June Employment Bulletin – Constructive dismissal

In order to suspend an employee fairly, an employer must have reasonable and proper cause for doing so. If not, suspension could breach the implied term of mutual trust and confidence and create a constructive Read more…

Contracting out the 1954 Act – what can you get away with?

This week the High Court had a rare opportunity to consider some practical issues that arise when commercial leases are excluded from the Security of Tenure Provisions in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, which Read more…

NACFB Commercial Finance Expo

The Lawrence Stephens team are delighted to announce we will be attending the NACFB Commercial Finance Expo again this year. The team heading to Birmingham on Wednesday 19 June will include: Gregory Palos, Avi Barr, Steven Read more…

London Legal Walk 2019

You may have seen the tube posters but London’s mammoth legal fundraiser is back – The London Legal Walk! This annual fundraiser sees thousands of legal professionals walk 10k across the city to raise money Read more…

May Employment Bulletin – Final written warnings

An employee can be fairly dismissed for misconduct (rather than gross misconduct) if they already have a final written warning in place. In Beattie v Condorrat, the Employment Appeal Tribunal considered whether a final written Read more…

May Employment Bulletin – Maternity discrimination

An employer discriminates against a woman if they treat her unfavourably because she is taking maternity leave. In SW Yorkshire NHS Trust v Jackson, the employee was on maternity leave when redundancies were announced. She Read more…

May Employment Bulletin – Disability discrimination

Discrimination arising from disability is where an employer treats an employee less favourably because of ‘something’ which results from their disability and which can’t be justified. The Employment Appeal Tribunal has recently looked at whether Read more…

Lawrence Stephens helps Alpha Property Lending complete £4m development loan

Lawrence Stephens Solicitors has helped Alpha Property Lending complete a £4m development loan, within three working days of formal instruction. Avi Barr, Craig Mullen, Steven Bernstein and Milana Katz from the Secured Lending and Banking Read more…

Lawrence Stephens helps client OakNorth complete loan worth £10m

Lawrence Stephens has helped valued client OakNorth to complete a 5 year term loan worth £10m. The multi-million pound loan saw Lawrence Stephens secure first ranking legal charges across all the sites. Partner Gregory Palos Read more…

Lawrence Stephens take on Tough Mudder 2019

Ten Lawrence Stephens team members are taking on Tough Mudder this Saturday in order to raise money for our charity of the year. The team members taking part in the infamous endurance challenge are Christina Read more…

April Employment Bulletin – Sensitive Employee Data

Is an employer responsible for the actions of an employee who has ‘gone rogue’ and deliberately posted sensitive employee data online? Yes, the Court of Appeal had said in Morrisons v Various Claimants, but this month Read more…

April Employment Bulletin – Holiday Pay

Do workers lose the right to a payment in lieu of holiday at the end of their employment if they did not try to take it? No, said the Court of Justice of the European Read more…

April Employment Bulletin – Unfair Dismissal

Is it fair to dismiss an employee in the transport industry who fails a drugs test? Not always, said the employment tribunal recently. Ball v First Essex Buses looked at the range of reasonable responses Read more…

Upcoming Changes to Tenant Fees – Letting Agents and Landlords to Take Note

From 1 June 2019 the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (“the Act”) will impose restrictions on fees that can be demanded from tenants of newly granted Tenancies (such as ASTS, student lettings and licences to occupy Read more…

Lawrence Stephens Support Tigers Global Logistics with New Thurrock Facility

Lawrence Stephens Real Estate Partner, Avi Barr and Senior Associate Craig Mullen recently supported multi-national logistics firm Tigers Global Logistics with its move to a major new logistics facility in Thurrock. The opening of this Read more…

Lawrence Stephens Helps Got Capital Secure Multi-Million Pound Facility with Shawbrook Bank

Central London law firm Lawrence Stephens has helped SME finance provider Got Capital secure a multi-million pound revolving credit facility from Shawbrook Bank. Jeff Rubenstein, Company & Commercial Partner at Lawrence Stephens, acted for Got Capital to complete Read more…

Lawrence Stephens client Lendhub secures new funding line

Lawrence Stephens client Lendhub, a specialist bridging and development lender, has secured a loan-on-loan facility from specialist bank OakNorth. The new funding line will sit alongside clients’ proprietary funds, with the deal enabling Lendhub to Read more…

March Employment Bulletin – Part-Time Workers’ Pay

Is it unfair to pay an employee 50% of full-time pay for being on duty for 53.5% of the time? Yes, the Court of Appeal said in British Airways v Pinaud, in a case which Read more…

March Employment Bulletin – Dismissal for Long-Term Sickness

Can an employer dismiss an employee for capability reasons when they are contractually entitled to long-term disability benefits? No, not fairly, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has said in Awan v ICTS. Mr Awan went on Read more…

March Employment Bulletin – Whistleblowing

Can co-workers be liable for whistleblowing dismissals along with the employer? Yes, the Court of Appeal has said in Timis v Osipov. Mr Osipov was the employer’s CEO. Two directors decided to dismiss him after Read more…

Lawrence Stephens helps Whitehall Capital loan for £1.4m scheme in just 5 days

25th March, London – Lawrence Stephens assisted Whitehall Capital with the completion of a crucial bridging loan, seeing the deal through in 5 days. Lawrence Stephens acted for the privately funded specialist loan provider on Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at MIPIM 2019: Gregory Palos

Gregory Palos, Partner, Head of Secured Lending, will be the third member of the Lawrence Stephens team in Cannes. We talked to Gregory about the prestigious event, the current property landscape and Lawrence Stephen’s partnership Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at MIPIM 2019: Steven Bernstein

Corporate and Banking Partner Steven Bernstein will also be in Cannes for MIPIM as part of the Lawrence Stephens team. We spoke to Steven about his aims for the prestigious event and what makes the Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at MIPIM 2019: Avi Barr

Real estate Partner Avi Barr will be part of the team representing Lawrence Stephens’ presence at MIPIM this year. We caught up with Avi to gain his property insight and find out what he’s looking Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Veganism and the Equality Act

It looks like it might be a happy new year for vegans. The employment tribunal will decide in March 2019 whether ethical veganism is protected by the Equality Act 2010 as a ‘philosophical belief’, akin Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Tribunal Fees

The Ministry of Justice has suggested that employment tribunal fees may be reintroduced. The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice said that a balance could be reached between increasing tribunal funding (via fees) and Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Redundancy Trial Periods

Is it unfair not to offer a trial period for a more junior role even if the employee did not complain at the time? Yes, if it is a contractual right, said the employment appeal Read more…

Frustrated by Brexit? Not if you are a Landlord!

A significant decision was reached today in the High Court which will allow Landlords up and down the country to breathe a huge sigh of relief. The High Court considered a claim by the European Read more…

Tenant Fees Bill receives Royal Assent

On 12 February 2019, the Tenant Fees Bill 2017-19 received Royal Assent and became the Tenant Fees Act 2019. The Act will come into force on 1 June 2019 for new and renewal leases and Read more…

Pressure to use airspace builds up

A potential way of dealing with the lack of development land space in urban areas is not to build on land but its airspace. Anne Wright and Avi Barr discuss the construction and legal implications developers should Read more…

Property Law In-House Training

No area of law is static and businesses and individuals need to completely understand the latest legal developments and their implications in order to make the most of every opportunity. This week Lawrence Stephens brought Read more…

Lawrence Stephens in the Press

Lawrence Stephens team members have been featured in the press, demonstrating their decades of experience and expertise and their entrepreneurial, commercially aware approach. This month Partner Gregory Palos’ work was featured in Bridging & Commercial Read more…

January Employement Bulletin – National Minimum Wage and ‘Sleeping In’

Are care workers who ‘sleep in’ at work entitled to the national minimum wage for the whole of their shift? In Mencap v Tomlinson-Blake, care workers had to spend the night at or near their Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Should emailing whilst commuting count as work?

A study by the University of the West of England argues that the working day is extended during commutes by advancements in technology. The study looked at 5,000 passengers commuting into London. Many employees were Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Holiday Pay

The holiday season might have ended, but holiday pay remains a hot topic. In Flowers v East of England Ambulance Trust, the Employment Appeal Tribunal looked at whether voluntary overtime should be included in holiday Read more…

Lawrence Stephens helps start-up break crowdfunding record

A Lawrence Stephens Partner has helped break a crowdfunding record in acting for UK savings app Chip. Partner Bradley Lee helped the UK start-up complete a record-breaking funding round on Crowdcube in December 2018, raising Read more…

Lawrence Stephens at MIPIM 2019

We are happy to announce that a team from Lawrence Stephens will be at MIPIM from Tuesday 12 March to Thursday 14 March.

Another problem with the government’s ‘death tax’?

The Ministry of Justice’s controversial proposal to radically increase fees for administering probate has hit another snag, as it has emerged that the government has not assessed the costs attached and the practical application of Read more…

Lawrence Stephens helps Whitehall Capital complete bridging loan worth £750,000

21st January, London – Lawrence Stephens has helped Whitehall Capital complete a bridging loan worth three quarters of a million pounds for a portfolio of Birmingham flats, announced today. Lawrence Stephens helped the privately funded Read more…

Non-resident Investors – The Three-Month Property Supermarket Trolley Dash

The chimes at midnight this week meant more for UK non-resident investors than simply a new year – it marked the countdown to new rules coming into force on the payment of Capital Gains Tax Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – Ambiguous notice

When is notice not notice? When it is ambiguous, said the Employment Appeal Tribunal in East Kent Hospitals v Levy. The employee worked in the records department and she had a poor sickness absence record. Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – Post TUPE variation of contract

Mr Tabberer and his colleagues were electricians. They were originally employed by Birmingham City Council. Their employment transferred several times by way of TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006) over the years. Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – Agency Workers

Mr Matei was employed as a security guard by Brooknight Guarding. He usually worked at Mitie but had been sent elsewhere too. His zero hours contract included a flexibility clause which said that he could Read more…

Long-awaited probate simplification rules come into force

The government has removed several of the requirements around the probate process that would previously have led to contact with a solicitor or probate specialist. As part of an ongoing project to simplify the probate Read more…

Simplifying Inheritance Tax

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published its first report in response to its major Inheritance Tax (IHT) review and has identified a number of administrative formalities that could be reduced in order to Read more…

November Employment Bulletin – Disability discrimination

Is it disability discrimination if an employer deals with an ill health retirement procedure badly? Not necessarily, the Court of Appeal has said. Mr Dunn was employed by the Ministry of Justice and he had Read more…

November Employment Bulletin – Limiting discrimination claims

Can a tribunal make an employee choose their ‘best ten’ allegations in a discrimination claim? Not usually, said the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Tarn v Hughes. Dr Tarn was a GP who brought claims for Read more…

November Employment Bulletin – Establishing disability

Is every medical condition a disability? And if an employee mentions a medical condition, does that mean the employer knew that the employee was disabled? Not necessarily, said the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Mutombo-Mpania v Read more…

What is happening in relation to the Inheritance Tax treatment of trusts?

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have announced the opening of a consultation on the taxation of trusts first touted by the Chancellor last year. The consultation includes scrutiny of the way in which trusts can Read more…

Increase in probate fees back on the agenda

This week, it was announced that an increase in probate fees was back on the agenda following the shelving of initial proposals before the 2017 general election. New legislation would see a flat rate system Read more…

Autumn Budget 2018

In what might be the final Budget before Brexit, Chancellor Hammond announced an end to austerity. Certainly the Budget appears to give more than it takes. However, given that it presumes a favourable Brexit deal, Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – ACAS guidance on overtime

Most employers use overtime at some point, to satisfy increased demands such as a large order or an unexpected increase in work. The new ACAS guidance explains the difference between voluntary and compulsory overtime. It Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Constructive dismissal: the last straw

The law on constructive dismissal has been under the spotlight recently. Sometimes, employees claim constructive dismissal because of a ‘last straw’ which pushes them over the edge. The courts have recently considered whether a fair Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Pay freezes

How easy is it for an employer to impose a pay freeze? In Abrahall v Nottingham City Council, the Court of Appeal decided that a group of employees had not ‘agreed’ to a pay freeze Read more…

Israel-Britain Chamber of Commerce: Eighth Annual Real Estate Event

Our Partner Avi Barr is currently in Tel Aviv and last night attended the Israel-Britain Chamber of Commerce’s Eighth Annual Real Estate Event. The evening focused on the UK real estate market and how to Read more…

Streamlining private sector development lending

Whilst there is no lack of interest in the funding of property and engineering developments in the UK, many developers are finding it much harder to progress deals with their funding parties. To an extent, Read more…

Reforming Leasehold Enfranchisement: Law Commission publishes consultation paper

Last month, the Law Commission published a consultation paper on proposals to reform the law relating to leasehold enfranchisement. The deadline to respond to the consultation is the 20 November 2018. Why was the Read more…

Macmillan Coffee Morning 2018

Lawrence Stephens took part today in the national Macmillan Coffee Morning, raising money in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support to help in their vital work. Since launching almost thirty years ago, Macmillan’s coffee mornings have been Read more…

September Employment Bulletin – Whistleblowing: Protected Disclosures

Sections 43A-43L of the Employment Rights Act 1996 protect workers who report malpractice (a ‘disclosure’) by their employer and are then treated badly. For a disclosure to be protected it must contain ‘information’ which the Read more…

September Employment Bulletin – Discrimination arising from disability

An employer will not be liable for disability discrimination unless it knew about the employee’s disability (or should have known about it). But what if an employer disciplines someone for misconduct that they don’t know Read more…

September Employment Bulletin – Disciplinary action for high sickness absence

High sickness absence can place huge pressure on a business. How easy is it to take disciplinary action against a disabled employee for high sickness absence? The Employment Appeal Tribunal has looked at this issue Read more…

New Service Charge Code for commercial property transactions

This month, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (“RICS”) published a professional statement, titled “Service Charges in Commercial Property (1st edition)”, which set out a new Service Charge Code for commercial property transactions. This Read more…

August Employment Bulletin – Itemised Payslips

The catchily named Employment Rights Act 1996 (Itemised Pay Statement) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2018 requires businesses to provide all ‘workers’ with an itemised pay slip. Previously, only employees were entitled to receive itemised statements. Workers Read more…

August Employment Bulletin – Employee status and ‘umbrella contracts’

Can an individual who is employed as ‘bank staff’, with no guaranteed hours, be an ’employee’? Ms Lane-Angell worked for Hafal assisting vulnerable adults in police detention. Her contract said there were ‘no guaranteed hours‘ Read more…

August Employment Bulletin – Worker Status: Pimlico Plumbers

There has been a lot of publicity lately about the employment status of individuals working in the gig economy. Employees and workers have more rights than the genuinely self-employed, so individuals are pushing for this Read more…

Planning permission: when a house isn’t a home

How hard are planning permission conditions to lift? Recently, a planning inspector was asked to consider a request to remove a planning condition which restricted the use of a dwelling to holiday accommodation. The inspector Read more…

What happens if you die without a Will?

Quite simply, if you do not have a Will in place, intestacy rules will determine where your assets pass upon death. The rules, which are contained in the Inheritance & Trustees Powers Act 2014, highlight Read more…

July Employment Bulletin – Knowledge of Disability

Do you have a duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 for an employee who believes he has a disability when you have no such evidence? Mr Toy worked as a probationery Read more…

July Employment Bulletin – Expectation to work long hours

As an employer you may require your employees to work longer hours from time to time to meet business needs. If you have a disabled employee who cannot work these hours, you may have to Read more…

July Employment Bulletin – Disability discrimination: the definition of cancer

Cancer is listed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, providing sufferers with protection from discrimination. Employers must also make reasonable adjustments to a cancer sufferer’s job to remove any disadvantage they suffer as Read more…

Developers – be aware when entering into Overage Agreements

The recent case of London and Ilford Ltd v Sovereign Property Holdings Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ highlights the need for all developers to be cautious when entering into an Overage Agreement (OA). This decision shows Read more…

Is this the first step towards Rent Act Controls?

Government consultation on minimum three-year residential tenancy with a six-month break clause. With UK home ownership dropping to 63% last year and 8 out of every 10 tenants holding contracts of only 6 to 12 Read more…

Give a tenant a break

Break clauses are far more commonplace in commercial leases than they once were. They are also some of the most litigated provisions. In the case of Goldman Sachs International v Procession House Trustees, heard in Read more…

June Employment Bulletin – Dismissal of a pregnant employee

Do you have to reconsider a decision to dismiss an employee if you later find out she is pregnant? Ms Thompson was employed by Really Easy Car Credit, to do online telesales. She had worked Read more…

June Employment Bulletin – Redundancy Bumping

A redundancy arises when there is a reduction in the employer’s requirements for employees to carry out work of a particular kind. Sometimes an employee whose role is redundant can be redeployed into another role Read more…

June Employment Bulletin – Ignorance of Employment Rights

A woman who was paid 33 pence per hour as a domestic worker and was unaware of her right to the national minimum wage has been successful in her claim for constructive unfair dismissal under Read more…

In support of sub-contractors

‘Contractor’s assets insufficient to pay creditors’ – ‘Sub-contractors owed millions of pounds for work carried out prior to the firm’s liquidation’: such headlines are now horridly familiar. Construction insolvencies account for up to 20% of Read more…

Lawrence Stephens celebrates £6m construction and development deal between valued clients

6th June, London – Polyteck Group has been awarded a £6m construction and development deal by property investment company Anaspel, following an introduction from Lawrence Stephens. Lawrence Stephens has previously worked with both Polyteck Group Read more…

Landlords beware as Caridon Property Ltd v Monty Shooltz case reveals strict approach to Section 21 notices for possession

Residential landlords will be aware of the Section 21 procedure to regain possession of properties let on assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) under the Housing Act 1988. In October 2015, new rules were introduced by the Read more…

Lawrence Stephens Solicitors are proud to sponsor and participate in the Anderson Wilde & Harris Charity Golf Day 2018

This event takes place on Thursday 17th May 2018 at the Hartsbourne Country Club and will be raising funds for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and Barnardo’s Children’s Charities. Andrew Conway, Partner, said: “Our team Read more…

Lawrence Stephens exhibiting at J Trade 2018

Lawrence Stephens will be exhibiting at the upcoming J Trade Expo on 14th May 2018 at the Business Design Centre in Islington. J Trade is a ground-breaking industry networking event, bringing together Jewish construction, development Read more…

April Employment Bulletin – Duty to disclose relationships

The Supreme Court has decided that a head teacher, Ms Reilly, was fairly dismissed for gross misconduct, for failing to disclose to her school’s governing authority the fact that she had a close relationship with Read more…

April Employment Bulletin – HR and disciplinary action

The role of Human Resources in disciplinary proceedings continues to be a hot topic. Managers conducting a disciplinary investigation or hearing may need advice from HR. However, HR should confine their advice to technical matters Read more…

April Employment Bulletin – Sexual harassment at work

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has issued a powerful new report called ‘Turning the tables: ending sexual harassment at work’. The report shares evidence from employers and employees of sexual harassment in the workplace Read more…

March Employment Bulletin – Criminal conviction for failure to give pension

All UK employers have to put workers meeting certain criteria into a workplace pension scheme and pay minimum employer pension contributions. This is called ‘automatic enrolment’ because the employer has to do it without any Read more…

March Employment Bulletin – Weekly rest periods

All employers have to allow workers to have a 24-hour rest period every seven days under European Law. But what does that actually mean? Slightly strangely, the European Court has held that it can actually Read more…

March Employment Bulletin – Right to work documents

Employers need to stay on the right side of the immigration rules. A failure to carry out the right to work document checks on employees can result in a penalty of up to £20,000 per Read more…

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES): basic guide for landlords and tenants

Why is it important to consider MEES now? Well, from 1 April 2018 it will be unlawful for a landlord of a relevant residential or commercial property to grant a new tenancy if that property Read more…

Lessons of Carillion: protecting yourself from insolvent contractors

Carillion’s collapse has caused many sub-contractors to worry over their future. The construction company outsourced work to around 30,000 small companies, the majority of which will not receive any of the payment they are owed. Sub-contractors are now Read more…

Lawrence Stephens supports Metro Bank to provide £14 million funding solution for property group

26th February, London – Lawrence Stephens has supported valued client Metro Bank in their provision of a £14m funding package to Brookway LP and Southgate Views Limited, which was announced on February 15th 2018. Managed by Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Can investigations be too thorough?

Usually employers are worried about their investigations not being detailed enough. However, in the case of NHS 24 v Pillar the question was whether the investigation was too thorough Ms Pillar was a nurse practitioner Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – Whistleblowing

A worker is protected from detriment or dismissal under UK whistleblowing laws if he or she discloses information in the reasonable belief that it is made in the public interest and that it shows certain Read more…

February Employment Bulletin – White lies – a false reason for dismissal

Many of us have told a white lie or two at some stage – a fib designed to spare someone’s feelings. However, in the case of Rawlinson v Brightside Group Ltd the lie tied the Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Free movement rights

It remains unclear what immigration rules will look like after Brexit, but the recent European case of Toufik Lounes v Secretary of State for the Home Department is relevant right now to UK employers and Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Vicarious liability for data breaches

In the first ever class action for a data breach in the UK, the High Court has found that WM Morrisons Supermarkets PLC was vicariously liable for a deliberate disclosure of personal data by a Read more…

January Employment Bulletin – Worker status and holiday pay

Worker status and rights are rarely out of the press at present. The recent EU holiday pay case of King v Sash Window Workshop adds another dimension and could have massive implications if you hire Read more…

Landmark leasehold case could have huge impact for millions of leaseholders

16th January 2018 – Today, the Court of Appeal will rule on Mundy v the Sloane Stanley Estate – a longstanding legal conflict which challenges the way in which the valuation of a freehold and the cost Read more…

Lawrence Stephens Wins Continued Membership Of Metro Bank’s Lending Panel

10th January, London – Metro Bank has announced the outcome of their lending and securities panel review, and we’ve had our place on the prestigious roster renewed. We were first appointed to Metro Bank’s commercial property Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – General Data Protection Regulation

With next year just around the corner, employers are being urged to make preparations for one major shake-up that will take effect in May 2018. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) looks set to change Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – Fees no more

R (on the application of Unison) v Lord Chancellor A four-year challenge to the introduction of tribunal fees has ended in victory for UNISON and, the union says, for employees everywhere. As it stands, people Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – Helping parents of premature or sick babies

According to ACAS more than 95,000 premature or sick babies are born in the UK every year. The organisation has published best practice guidance for employers on supporting employees who become parents in these difficult Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – Monitoring communications

Barbulescu v Romania Back in 2016, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held that a worker in Romania who had been dismissed for his personal use of the internet at work had not been Read more…

December Employment Bulletin – Do’s and don’ts of the office Christmas party – an employment lawyer’s perspective

While the Christmas office party might be the most anticipated event of the work social calendar for some, the free-flowing alcohol and potential for unsavoury incidents might make you want to spare a thought for Read more…

Landlord breaks in commercial leases – not as clever as they look

I often see Landlords on commercial leases counter a request for a Tenant break with a request of their own: for a landlord or mutual break. Yet, this is not always as clever as it seems. The Read more…

Relief from the higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax due following Autumn Budget

By Stephen Messias and Charlotte Hamilton In addition to relaxing the Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”) regime for first-time buyers, the Autumn Budget 2017 also made changes to grant relief from tax due under the Read more…

November Employment Bulletin – OMG! Emoji!

You know those buttons at places like airports and service stations that customers can press to show that they feel happy, unhappy, or indifferent about the service they have received? Well, it seems that Sports Read more…

November Employment Bulletin – Supermarket takes stock of equal pay decision

Asda Stores Ltd v Brierley and others Thousands of Asda employees will have waited with bated breath for the latest development in their equal pay claims. That development was in the form of the Employment Read more…

November Employment Bulletin – Race Discrimination

Kansal v Tullett Prebon Plc Mr Kansal was northern Indian, Punjabi in origin and a UK national. He brought nine specific complaints of direct discrimination against his employer. Two of those complaints made it to Read more…

November Employment Bulletin – More protection for pregnant workers?

Guisado v Bankia SA Pregnant workers in the UK are protected by the Equality Act. The legislation makes pregnancy and maternity discrimination unlawful, the relevant period being the start of the worker’s pregnancy to the Read more…

Tenant Fees Bill 2017

Gregory Palos explains the details of the draft Tenant Fees Bill that was introduced into Parliament in early November. On the 1st November 2017, the government published a response to its consultation on banning letting Read more…

Government Consultation on the Home Buying Process

Lawrence Stephens Solicitor Andreas Panteli looks at what the recently announced Department for Communities and Local Government enquiry could mean for the home buying process, the areas which it will focus on, and who should consider submitting evidence. Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Location, location, location

Aziz v The Freemantle Trust Ms Aziz was a care worker who had relocated to the Trust’s Dell Field Court site. Issues arose between her and two other workers, and this triggered a period of Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Half the pay for half the work?

British Airways v Pinaud People who work part-time are protected from being treated less favourably than their comparable full-time colleagues. The question in Ms Pinaud’s case was whether working more than 50% of full-time hours Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Transfers of undertakings overseas

Xerox Business Services Philippines Inc Ltd v Zeb The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, known as TUPE, maintain an employee’s right to the same terms and conditions of employment when some part or Read more…

October Employment Bulletin – Is voluntary overtime part of ‘normal pay’?

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council v Willetts and others Holiday pay calculations continue to cause difficulties for employers, with uncertainty still existing over the question of which elements of workers’ pay should and should not be Read more…

Injunctions are discretionary, and dependent on context – Lea v Ward (2017)

An injunction is defined as a judicial order restraining a person from beginning or continuing an action that threatens or invades the legal right of another, or compelling a person to carry out a certain Read more…

Statutory Books – Why Keeping a Record Matters For Your Company

Statutory books are a company’s official records relating to all statutory and legal matters. The process of keeping a statutory record might sound innocuous, but they are a recurring source of challenges for us here Read more…

Employment Law Bulletin July 2017

Welcome to the July edition of the Employment Law bulletin. This month we look at the cost of taking a firm approach where workers step out of line. The key is to be clear about what is expected, and about what the consequences of rule breaches might be.