MERCERS SOLICITORS

CURRENT NEWS

What the new employment changes mean to business - 1/2/2012
As we enter a new year employers are being reminded to prepare themselves for changes set for introduction over the coming 12 months.
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More marriages are breaking up, but couples should jaw jaw, not war war - 1/2/2012
As Spring is traditional for weddings, so January has earned a reputation for the time to kick off a divorce.
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Homeowners warned to watch out for squatters - 30/1/2012
The housing market is sluggish, prices static, and more people are staying put and renovating or extending.
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Flower power wins the day in Interflora trademark battle - 16/12/2011
Internet advertisers who use competitor names to draw traffic have been dealt a rap on the knuckles following a high profile battle between Marks & Spencer and Interflora.
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Common sense comes out on top in contract dispute - 18/11/2011
Victory for common-sense as judgment is given in long running battle over bank payout.
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Cooking up confusion on what counts as family assets - 18/11/2011
Confusion reigns in the divorce courts over the division of matrimonial assets in England and Wales with the news that the High Court has refused to award a man a half-share of his ex-wife's lottery prize but elsewhere the Court of Appeal has included a husband’s inherited wealth in a payout to an ex wife.
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Is your head in the clouds ? Have you protected your electronic assets ? - 18/11/2011
Online assets could end up in a black hole or in the hands of fraudsters, if individuals do not find a secure route to pass on to their family confidential passwords and account information in their wills.
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Murphy’s Law threatens premiership football revenues - 19/10/2011
European ruling opens the way for Premier League football to be shown using cheaper foreign decoders.
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When bothersome building work can lead to harassment - 10/10/2011
Property owners who carry out building works could find themselves liable not just for nuisance, but also for harassing their neighbours if their behaviour amounts to deliberate and persistent tormenting.
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Chewy lesson for business as Bertie Bassett fires the last shot - 10/10/2011
In a battle over contract terms, a Court ruling has left a company with a £110 million liability, saying that it comes down to who fires the last shot.
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When bothersome building work can lead to harassment - 1/9/2011
Property owners who carry out building works could find themselves liable not just for nuisance, but also for harassing their neighbours if their behaviour amounts to deliberate and persistent tormenting.
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Innovating companies need to shine up their patents - 1/9/2011
Innovation companies need to gear up to maximise the advantageous tax regime that’s set to be introduced later this year for patented products.
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Say what you mean, and mean what you say - 1/7/2011
When you mean what you say, are you saying what you mean? As the Mad Hatter told Alice, the two are not the same at all.
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Business must ready itself for new temp worker rights - 1/7/2011
Getting ready to balance up permanent and temporary worker rights and benefits with the October deadline for introduction of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010.
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Inheritance Dispute involves fake will - 24/5/2011
The partner of a millionaire estate agent who died suddenly has been found guilty of creating a fake will, when she discovered his divorce had never been finalised.
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Landlord left with £270,000 property repair bill after consultation blunder - 26/4/2011
Failure to consult with tenants over works means landlord has to carry the cost say Court of Appeal.
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Don’t panic says Bribery Act Guidance - 28/3/2011
“Be prepared, but don’t panic” is the message being sent out to business by the Ministry of Justice in its long awaited guidance on the Bribery Act 2010.
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Research and property look set to gain in Osborne’s “budget for growth” - 28/3/2011
Chancellor George Osborne’s delivered his second budget this week, saying it was intended to provide “enduring growth for the future”.
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Householders need not fear administration of Tchenquiz’s Peverel Group say experts - 22/3/2011
Aftershocks of Tchenquiz investigation raises concerns for 300,000 homeowners across the UK living in property managed by their Peverel Group company.
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Employees have rights even when company is insolvent - 7/3/2011
Companies entering so-called pre-pack administration arrangements will have to deal with TUPE rights for employees. click here to read more

Estranged daughter takes disinheritance to appeal - 7/3/2011
An estranged daughter who eloped at 17 and was disinherited is challenging her mother’s will in the Court of Appeal.
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How businesses can keep the cash flow flowing - 8/2/2011
In times when profits are being squeezed, cash flow becomes all the more important, especially to small, owner-managed businesses. click here to read more

Courts refuse to help law breakers use loophole - 8/2/2011
Councils get go ahead to use powerful weapon in planning permission enforcement. click here to read more

As more snow drives in, employers need to check the small print - 12/1/2011
Companies hoping for a return to full production after December’s severe weather and Christmas look set to be disappointed with the first snowfall of January working its way across the country. click here to read more

Negotiating a happy Christmas for the children - 20/12/2010
Divorced and separated couples who cannot agree on arrangements for children over Christmas should consider mediation to work things out, rather than an application to the court, according to family law experts. click here to read more

House sellers warned how to deal with gazundering - 30/11/2010
House sellers are being warned to watch out for “gazundering” in the current tough conditions of the residential property market.
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Clearing up the case for redundancy during maternity leave - 24/11/2010
A tribunal has ruled that redundancy during maternity leave does not automatically mean unfair dismissal, but employers have been warned that this is not a green light for change.
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Deadline looms to get real people on the board - 27/9/2010
The deadline is approaching for every company to have at least one director who is an individual not a corporation.
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Unfair double taxation is under the EU spotlight - 26/8/2010
EU Commission launches consultation on ways to tackle cross border inheritance tax obstacles within the EU.
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Landlord sets testing homework for the Revenue - 26/8/2010
A blow for victory was struck for small time landlords when HM Revenue & Customs were forced to back down over their challenge of tax deductions for repairs that were part of a refurbishment project. .
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When an employer may say “Get yer hair cut” - 11/5/2010
A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) ruling has clarified the law relating to sex discrimination and dress codes at work and will make it harder for employees to claim successfully for discrimination.
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Employers get clear guidance on holidays . - 11/5/2010
A ruling by the Employment Appeal Tribunal has given employers a clearer picture of the limits that they can place on the holiday rights of employees.
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The debate about the future of long-term care funding has continued for several years. - 14/4/2010
There remains widespread resentment felt by many families at seeing sick and seriously ill elderly relatives, who have worked hard and saved carefully all their lives, having to sell the family home to pay for care home fees, which can run at over £1,000 a week, over £50,000 a year.
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Justice Minster urges action to protect personal financial affairs - 3/2/2010
The Court of Protection is facing a barrage of criticism for its red tape and inefficiencies, which include relatives waiting up to six months to be given control of financial affairs.
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Don’t rush into divorce - 3/2/2010
The new year is traditionally a busy time for divorce lawyers. Many families pour so much time, effort and money into Christmas, the reality can fail to match up to expectation.
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BACK OFF ON BULLYING OR ELSE - 22/12/2009
With research showing that bullying at work is soaring, employment experts are encouraging companies to tackle workplace
bullying.
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SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM WILL SAFEGUARD DEMENTIA SUFFERERS - 15/10/2009
One in three people over 65 will die with dementia and many are leaving it too late to appoint someone they trust to make decisions on their behalf.
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EMPLOYERS MUST GET SET FOR NEW SUNSHINE-SICKIE RULING - 6/10/2009
With a landmark European ruling allowing workers to claim back holidays lost due to sickness, employment law experts are urging employers to take the initiative in tackling the new requirements, to avoid being caught out.
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Important changes to the National Minimum Wage - 20/8/2009
Important changes to the National Minimum Wage are set to come into force on 1 October, and all businesses that employ low-paid people, or have staff who receive tips from customers, should familiarise themselves with the changes.
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Consider how fortunes can change when agreeing a divorce settlement - 20/8/2009
The outcome of a recent court case, which prevented a newly divorced woman from claiming more money from her former husband after the value of his shares rose sharply, may have important implications for many separating couples.
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How will Budget 2009 affect property and savings? - 30/4/2009
While many of the headlines generated by Chancellor Darling’s Budget of 22 April have focused on its bleak economic background, cuts in public spending and the new 50% rate of income tax for the highest earners, one or two areas have not as yet received the attention they deserve.
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New HIPs rules place more demands on home-sellers - 21/4/2009
If you are hoping to sell your home you need to understand recent changes to the law surrounding Home Information Packs (HIPs) if you wish to avoid unnecessary delays.
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Businesses must understand major employment law changes - 21/4/2009
Sweeping changes to employment law, introduced on 6 April 2009 have changed the way workplace grievance and disciplinary disputes are handled and it is vital that employers understand the implications of the new Code of Practice or face the potential of more costly Tribunal awards.
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“TAX PLANNING IN THE RECESSION” - 3/3/2009
The current economic climate has caused widespread falls in the value of property and share portfolios. While this unfortunate situation is of course generally unwelcome, in some cases it does provide an opportunity for tax planning arrangements, especially given the reduction in the rate of Capital Gains Tax to 18%.
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Protecting yourself against the unknown - 3/3/2009
Younger people should consider drawing up a Lasting Power of Attorney as a way of protecting their dependents.
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ARCHIVED NEWS

Pension reform matters for every business - 28/11/08
Employers need to take very seriously proposed changes to the Pensions Bill, which are set to make the forthcoming new pensions regime for the UK even stricter.
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When are job candidates really equal? - 28/11/08
Following the announcement of the new Equalities Bill by Equality Minister Harriet Harman, amongst other reforms, businesses will be allowed to ‘positively discriminate’ in favour of female and ethnic minority job candidates if they are equal to their rivals in every other respect.
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How to drive down the cost of absence from work - 10/09/08
Absence from work costs UK businesses a combined £13.2 billion in 2007, according to a survey by employers’ organisation the CBI and insurance giant AXA
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Care Home Fees - 20/08/08
In May this year the Government announced a consultation about the future of long-term care funding.
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Planning is key to coping with new employment legislation - 20/6/08
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) described as a disaster an announcement that, under the forthcoming EU Agency Workers Directive, temporary (or ‘agency’) workers are to be extended similar employment rights to fulltime workers after 12 weeks.
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The misconception of the flexible working rule - 20/6/08
It has been widely reported that the right to flexible working is to be extended to include a further 4.5 million parents of children aged up to 16, amid concerns that it could damage small businesses.
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The ‘immense’ risks of breaking anti-discrimination law - 19/5/08
Businesses may be risking unlimited financial penalties by breaking anti-discrimination laws.
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The dangers of office ‘banter’ - 19/5/08
The legal dangers of making what might be regarded as ‘sexist’ remarks in the workplace are greater than ever before, following changes to the law that came into force on 6 April 2008.
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