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…