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…