Registering your brand’s trademark in every country within which it operates is crucial in order to protect your reputation and IP rights. It is possible to register a trademark in virtually every country, and most jurisdictions have a Trademark Office. When you wish...
ILA or Independent Legal Advice is advice that is supplied by a qualified solicitor who is entirely independent of conflicting or opposing interests and, therefore, will not be tempted to sway you in any particular direction when making a decision. They will be...
While a Settlement Agreement is a common way to settle employment-related issues, they are not appropriate in every case. There are, therefore, three alternatives that may be considered. These are: Taking the matter to tribunal Commencing ACAS EC Dropping the matter...
A Settlement Agreement is a legally binding document once it has been signed. However, as long as the document remains unsigned by one or both parties, either party is entitled to cancel or withdraw from the agreement. If the Settlement Agreement has already been...
Once a Settlement Agreement is signed by both parties, it becomes a legally binding document, and withdrawing from the Agreement is then no longer possible. It is, therefore, crucial to carefully consideration the implications of signing the document and seek expert...
Settlement Agreements are legally binding documents once they have been signed by both parties. It is therefore crucial to understand the potential consequences if the Settlement Agreement is breached. Either party may breach the Settlement Agreement, but there are...
A Settlement Agreement, once it has been signed by both parties, is a legally binding document and can, therefore, be enforced. In the event that either party breaches the terms that were agreed upon in the document, action can then be taken against them as long as...
If your business has spent time and effort in developing its brand, trademark infringement could pose a significant threat to your organisation. It is, therefore, crucial to register your trademark to ensure optimal protection for your brand as well as the services...
Settlement Agreements are legally binding documents once they have been signed by both parties. It is therefore crucial to understand the potential consequences if the Settlement Agreement is breached. Regardless of which party breaches the Agreement, there are...
Settlement Agreements are legally binding contracts that employers use to outline the agreed conditions for either resolving a dispute or ending the employer/employee relationship. Usually, the terms of the Settlement Agreement involve offering a payment to the...
Settlement Agreements contain a variety of provisions that vary depending on the reason the document is being drawn up. These provisions will also vary depending on whether the employee’s contract with the business has been terminated already. Nevertheless, there are...
Should you discover that a competitor has been using your trademark without your permission, it is imperative to act efficiently and speedily. Should you fail to do so, your brand could experience reputational or financial damage. You can take several courses of...
When you meet a professional to obtain independent legal advice, there are several things that you should expect from the meeting. A number of key discussions and considerations will take place in order to ensure that you fully understand all legal consequences and...
For any business that has spent time, money, and effort on building up a strong and reputable brand, discovering that another party is infringing on their trademark can be a worrying and potentially damaging occurrence. Action must be taken rapidly to guard against...
If you are in the process of arranging a Settlement Agreement with your employer, it is imperative to understand whether there are any tax implications involved. An expert solicitor will be able to offer legal advice and explain not only the process of making the...
When making a Settlement Agreement, there is always the possibility of being taken advantage of if you lack the necessary knowledge and expertise in the law. It is, therefore, crucial to seek out advice from a specialist legal professional who will be able to give you...
If your employer has presented you with a Settlement Agreement, it is crucial to take independent legal advice. Not only is this a required element of making a Settlement Agreement legally binding, but it is also the sensible course of action. Some people believe that...
Obtaining independent legal advice is not only advisable in many cases, but sometimes essential. The cost of seeking this advice will vary depending on a number of key factors. Complexity and Nature of the Matter Firstly, and most importantly, the nature and...
In May 2023, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 received Royal Ascent, making it unlawful for employers in the hospitality industry to withhold tips from their employees. This legislation is seen as a positive step forward for workers’ rights and will help...
There are many circumstances in which obtaining independent legal advice is advisable or even essential in order to ensure optimal protection for the rights, well-being, and interests of the individuals who are involved in the legal situation or transaction....
In the case of Aston Risk Management Ltd V Jones and others [2023] EWCH 603 (Ch), the High Court has maintained that any director of a holding company that becomes substantially involved in the matters of a subsidiary must be regarded as a de facto director and...
It is often tempting in cases of dispute with another party to start thinking about legal proceedings early on. Many people have a misconception that legal proceedings are the most effective way of resolving an issue and are keen to inform the other party that they...
The relationships between landlords and tenants have long been supported in law through the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Over the past 70 years, this legislation has supported business tenants with the right of renewal at the end of contracts along with a number of...
Litigation can be a lengthy, costly and stressful process. In this article I will discuss why litigation might not always be the best option and what other options are available to you. It is often tempting in cases of dispute to start thinking about legal...
Terminating employment can be a difficult time for both the employee and the employer. In situations where a workplace dispute has arisen, a settlement agreement can be a good idea to avoid the potentially length legal process of an employment tribunal. However, there...
At Carter Bond, we appreciate that a lot of businesses are still feeling the financial impact of the pandemic. As a result, we have seen an increase in business owners chasing debts that are due to them. Oftentimes, these aged debtors are a product of financial...
It is never easy selling a pharmacy, especially when you have built it up over a long period of time, established a reputation in the local community and have become very accustomed to serving patients for many years. Whatever the reason behind the decision to sell...
As retail pharmacies operate under many strict rules and regulations, it’s important to work with lawyers who have specialist knowledge of how the industry works and if you are considering purchasing a retail pharmacy it’s equally essential that you have an...
In the United Kingdom, a settlement agreement (formerly known as a compromise agreement) is a legally binding contract that is used to settle a dispute or potential claim between an employer and an employee. It is typically used to resolve issues such as disputes over...
Whatever the reason behind your decision to sell your pharmacy, it’s important to give yourself enough time to prepare your pharmacy for sale, as prospective buyers will be looking for a number of factors when conducting their due diligence. Here, we provide an...
Buying a pharmacy can be an exciting but complex endeavour, especially if you’re new to the process. Here are essential factors to consider before when taking the plunge: Money talks… When considering a pharmacy purchase, you will need to delve into the financial...
Here is a simple step-by-step guide to navigating redundancy in the UK: Identify Redundancy Needs - Analyse the business needs and identify the roles that are no longer necessary. Speak to Trade Unions – In situations where more...
Terminating the contract of an employee is not usually a decision that is made without much consideration. The process for terminating employment will be different depending on the circumstances of the employment and the reason for the termination. Whether or not the...
Intellectual property (IP) protection is essential for people working across a wide range of industries, from business owners to people working in creative services. With a proper understanding of IP law, you can ensure that your work is thoroughly protected, and...
It's common practice for an employee to request a reference as part of their Settlement Agreement with you, but what are your legal obligations? Interestingly, unless you are part of a regulated industry, there is no legal requirement for you to provide a reference...
For privately owned companies, a shareholders agreement is absolutely essential. Even if you’ve started a business with friends or relatives, this formal legal document sets out ground rules for ownership of the business, including the roles, the responsibilities and...
According to employment laws in the UK, employers have a legal obligation to consult thoroughly regarding both restructuring and redundancy. This includes not only discussions on the necessity of reducing workforce roles or creating new ones to better align with the...
Investing in a franchise business can seem like a quick and easy route to success: there’s already an established brand identity and goodwill, so you may think that takes a lot of the leg work and risk out of starting a business. While this may be true to an extent,...
In challenging economic times, it is not uncommon for businesses of all sizes to find themselves in dire financial straits, which can lead to a company becoming insolvent. While insolvency is not a desirable scenario, some insolvency procedures can be the life raft a...
When selling your business, the foremost concern is usually getting a fair price for all of the hard work you’ve put into building your company over the years. However, there are also important legal considerations to take into account to ensure the transaction...
With more and more start-ups making headlines for multi-million-pound acquisitions by powerhouses like Facebook and Google, it’s unsurprising that many of today’s entrepreneurs are setting up their businesses with the ultimate goal of selling. Regardless of whether...
The term Independent Legal Advice (‘ILA’) is unbiased and unprejudiced advice given by a solicitor who is not in any way connected to the parties involved in a legal matter or transaction. Some of the instances that you may require ILA include inter alia – personal...
Many buyers of a business are often unclear as to the differences and repercussions of a share purchase versus an asset purchase, yet each type of acquisition involves very different procedural and legal requirements. In a share purchase or share acquisition, the...
It is very common for a company to borrow money from several different creditors for varying reasons and in varying ways. As a result, creditors may be classified as a senior or junior creditor, depending on their level of risk. Junior creditors assume a greater risk...
Warranties and indemnities are frequently used during negotiations over the acquisition of a company, yet there is often confusion over the differences between them and their ramifications. What is a warranty? A warranty is a contractual statement by the seller,...
Starting a business can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it is also a lot of work. Firstly, need to carefully consider the type of business you want to start, determine the industry you want to work in, the products or services you want to offer, and the...
A shareholder’s agreement is an essential part of any business venture involving multiple shareholders. The agreement is a legal binding contract between all shareholders and is designed to protect the interests of the parties involved. We have highlighted the 5 main...
As an employer, providing your employees with clear and legally approved contracts of employment is critical, both to adhere to legal requirements and to set out what is expected from both parties during the term of employment. In addition, many employers also issue...
A redundancy selection pool is a way to group employees with similar roles who are at risk of redundancy. It is crucial to ensure that the selection process is impartial and without discrimination and to document the selection criteria and methodology used. It's worth...
A recent ACAS publication shows that around 20% of SMEs are facing the prospect of making redundancies in 2023 due to the significant economic pressures plaguing the UK. Whether your SME is one of the 20% or not, understanding how to run a redundancy consultation is a...
