Your 5 Year Commercial Lease Is Ending – Do You Really Have to Leave?
Signing a commercial lease? Think the rent should be your only focus? Think again. For business owners, a commercial lease is one of the crucial commitments their business will make. Experienced owners are often confident in negotiating rent, rent review and lease length, though one important question is sometimes overlooked: what happens when the lease […]
Student Visa Granted in 4 Days: How Lisa’s Law Helped
We recently acted for a client seeking entry clearance to the UK as a Student to continue a postgraduate programme at a UK university. The application presented a significant suitability issue arising from the cancellation of a previous visitor visa following an omission concerning family members in the UK. Despite this added complexity, the application […]
An Introduction to Declarations of Trust
What is a Declaration of Trust? A Declaration of Trust is a legally binding document which records the ownership rights of a property. It is commonly used where two or more people purchase a property together to clarify each person’s share and interest in the property. This is particularly useful where owners wish to hold […]
Misrepresentation in Property Transactions: Lessons from Patarkatsishvili v Woodward-Fisher
The conveyancing process balances caveat emptor (buyer beware) with a seller’s strict duty to provide accurate pre-contractual information. The High Court’s recent decision in Patarkatsishvili v Woodward-Fisher serves as a stark reminder of the severe legal and financial consequences when sellers fail to disclose material facts. Written by Surveyn Hoh, Senior Conveyancing Paralegal The […]
A Few Inches of Land, £140,000 in Costs: What Gibson v New Teaches Us About Boundary Disputes
Boundary disputes often begin with something apparently minor. For instance, a new fence, a wall built slightly out of line, a hedge removed, or a disagreement over a narrow strip of garden. However, once relations between neighbours deteriorate, the dispute can quickly become about much more than the land itself. Personal feelings become involved, positions […]
Family and Probate Fees Hiked by Ministry of Justice
From 13 July 2026, the Ministry of Justice introduced a series of increases to court and tribunal fees. The majority of the increases reflect the 2024 – 2025 inflation rate, with around 170 fees rising by 2.6%. A small number of fees have also been reduced where the underlying costs of the service fell. The […]
Supreme Court Clarifies Validity of Home Office Civil Penalty Notices
The Supreme Court has delivered an important judgment in Akbars Restaurant (Middlesbrough) Ltd v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] UKSC 26, strengthening procedural safeguards for employers facing illegal working civil penalties. The decision confirms that the Home Office must provide clear and specific reasons when issuing a civil penalty notice, enabling employers […]
Your Solicitor’s Firm Has Been Closed by the SRA. What Should You Do?
You may be in the middle of buying a property, dealing with a court case, applying for a visa, or completing another important legal matter when you suddenly learn that your solicitor’s firm has been closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This is called an intervention. It can happen with little warning. Your solicitor may […]
Property Tenure in England: Freehold, Leasehold & Share of Freehold
When searching for a new home in England and Wales, you will inevitably come across three key tenure types listed on property portals: Freehold, Leasehold, and Share of Freehold. While location, bedrooms, and layout often dominate a buyer’s initial focus, understanding the legal ownership structure is equally crucial to protecting your financial and legal interests. […]
Welcome Marco
It gives us great pleasure to welcome Marco Ngan to the firm, a recent law graduate from Durham University. Prior to joining the firm, Marco had internship and mini-pupillage experiences in the UK, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, enabling him to gain valuable insights into different legal systems. Marco is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. […]