Making Sense of the SEN System

The ways in which special educational needs (“SEN”) impact a person’s ability...

Your rights when choosing a school to be named in an EHCP

Choosing a school or educational setting that can meet the needs of a child or young person can...

Birkett Long sets out a plan for a net zero target

Essex law firm Birkett Long LLP is tackling the battle against climate change head on, by working...

Option agreements for landowners and developers

With the ever increasing demand for property,  landowners are considering selling some of,...

Farmland & Farming Partnerships

The Trust Registration Service was set up in 2017 and initially, trusts were only required to be...

Can you vape and drive?

Tell someone with a motoring law background that the theme for an article is “ smoke and...

Directors Disqualification Following Conviction

Director’s Disqualification – The Criminal Law Regime Separate identity of Company ...

Failing to provide a specimen - drink driving

The Road Traffic Act 1988 gives the police authority to request a preliminary breath test (Section...

How do blended families affect the succession of a farm?

Succession planning for farming families has never been more important. In 2019 it was estimated...

Validity of Notices of Intended Prosecutions

Have you received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (“NIP”) from the police? This...

Drinking (and driving?) over the festive period

With Halloween and Bonfire Night over, it isn’t long before the festive season will be upon...

The Autumn Statement - Capital Gains Tax

Hidden amongst the headlines of the Autumn Statement was the announcement by the Chancellor that...

Proprietary Estoppel: Guest v Guest

The law has a way of dealing with certain broken promises, the legal term for which is...

Recognition for pioneering lawyer at the Asian Legal Awards

Birkett Long is delighted to announce that Senior Associate, Suryen Nullatamby, has been named as...

Increased burdens for residential developers

The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA), which received Royal Assent on 28 April this year, introduced...

Extending time to make a claim

The Grenfell Tower fire has resulted in reviews and consultations that aim to increase safety in...

The sources of development finance

I work with a number of property development clients who take different approaches to development...

How specific does an EHCP have to be?

A lack of specificity negatively impacts on the ability of a parent or young person to enforce the...

Agricultural Tie Breakers - advice for landowners

Historically, local authorities have been known to attach agricultural ties (also known as...

Development land - terminating agricultural tenancies

Developers and promoters will want to ensure that vacant possession of a site can be obtained...

The importance of agricultural wills

Succession and inheritance planning are the most important provisions any farming family can make...

Top 10 reasons to review your will

With spring around the corner, why not take the opportunity to do a spring clean and tidy away...

Agricultural Tie Breakers

Local authorities are known to attach agricultural ties to dwellings to restrict who is permitted...

Health and safety law(s) in construction

Health and safety is an obvious concern across all industries. It’s of particular...

Health and safety offence sentencing guidelines

In the event the HSE elects to proceed with enforcement action by way of prosecution against the...

How to avoid common pitfalls in your construction project

The judgment Cartwright Pond Ltd v Wild [2021] EWHC 1600 (TCC)   highlights key issues...

Disputes between homeowners and building contractors

As an Associate Solicitor specialising in dispute resolution and construction law, I am often...

Does your contract cover prior works?

I was once asked to assist a client to draft the construction contracts for a number of projects...

Defending adjudication: How to avoid common pitfalls?

Adjudication has been successful in overcoming problems previously associated with resolving...

Planning an exit from your healthcare business

Whether you operate your healthcare business as a sole trader, partnership, LLP or company there...

Do you have resident care home employees?

Some employees live at their place of work in connection with their employment. This can arise...

Sustainable growth - doesn't have to cost the Earth!

No matter which sector your business is in, or where it is located, we are all coming under...

Private water supplies, good or bad?

Many would extol the virtues of a private water supply (PWS). Well think again.  There are...

Direct employment in the construction sector

IR35 is due to come into force on 6 April 2021.  The Joint Industry Board (JIB) has issued a...

Succession: how to keep it in the family for generations

Over the last 200 years, agriculture in Britain has changed significantly. With the impending...

Public Rights of Way - Landowners Stay Aware

Landowners have experienced an increase in the public encroaching onto their land. Covid-19 has...

RSE and health education now mandatory 2020

Relationship education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education...

The Academies Financial Handbook 2020 - The key changes

The Academies Financial Handbook 2020 (AFH) is effective from 1 September 2020. There are some...

Are GP premises leases "off-putting"?

A GP Partnership Review was published in 2019. The review found that GPs had considered the...

GCSE exam results appeals

Exams and assessments were cancelled this year due to Covid-19. Those that keep up with the news...

Can a company in liquidation recover outstanding payments?

The case of Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (in liquidation) v Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd...

Construction industry: Flexible furlough and holiday

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was modified on 1 July 2020, so employees who have...

Reforming Agricultural Tenancies

Onerous provisions imposed by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (“the 1986 Act”),...

Construction services VAT reverse charge

Many in the construction industry were unaware of the significant change, which was due to take...

Holiday pay for permanent workers who work part of the year

A recent Court of Appeal decision (Harpur Trust v Brazel) has shown how holiday pay must be...

Will you need to be licensed to be a builder?

A task force has recently been set up to look at whether a form of mandatory licensing for the...

When all is not what it seems

Who owns the farmland that the farm operates on? It’s a fairly straightforward question,...

Occupiers' liability for visitors

If you occupy land, you should familiarise yourself with the duties you have for visitors, whether...

Personal injury and discrimination in education

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (“NASUWT”) has...

Has the SPV failed to pay you?

Development companies often set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (‘SPV’) when they wish to...

Can you trust Building Inspectors' certificates?

In a construction project, a Building Inspector examines the works to certify that they comply...

New low cost adjudication service

The Technology and Construction Solicitors Association (TeCSA) has launched a fixed costs service...

Are you paying your CITB Levy?

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Levy is collected to provide training to people...

Websites, cookies and data protection

Many online business owners ask me about the significance of “cookies”. They question...

Farm business structures: Tenancy Agreements

Farming families are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of reviewing their business...

What to consider when resigning as a charity trustee

Hopefully, as all trustees of charities will be aware, whilst appointed as a trustee you owe the...

Enforceability of an unsigned contract

A recent case, Tenon FM Ltd –v- Cawley, has highlighted the dangers to employers of...

Two years' service and unfair dismissal

Employers will be aware that unless an employee has acquired 2 years’ service, the...

Grazing Licences: avoiding the tax pitfalls

Who occupies agricultural land and what activity is really carried out on the land are questions...

Proprietary estoppel - the expectation of inheritance

There are a variety of claims that can be made against a deceased’s estate, such as a...