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Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act – What Does it Mean?

Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act – What Does it Mean?

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...

De Facto Directors and the High Court – Where Do You Stand?

De Facto Directors and the High Court – Where Do You Stand?

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...

Why Litigation isn’t Always the Most Cost Effective Option

Why Litigation isn’t Always the Most Cost Effective Option

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 1954 Act: Is Modernisation Set to Become Reality?

The 1954 Act: Is Modernisation Set to Become Reality?

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...

Is Litigation cost effective?  

Is Litigation cost effective?  

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...

Is a Settlement Agreement a Good Idea?

Is a Settlement Agreement a Good Idea?

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...

What to do as a business owner chasing debt 

What to do as a business owner chasing debt 

 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...

What to know when selling your Pharmacy

What to know when selling your Pharmacy

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...

What to look out for when buying a retail pharmacy

What to look out for when buying a retail pharmacy

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...

Your Options When an Employee Contravenes a Settlement Agreement

Your Options When an Employee Contravenes a Settlement Agreement

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...

Preparing your pharmacy for sale

Preparing your pharmacy for sale

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...

What to know when buying a pharmacy

What to know when buying a pharmacy

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...

Key Steps to Navigating Redundancy Proceedings

Key Steps to Navigating Redundancy Proceedings

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...

What is the Difference Between Redundancy and a Settlement Agreement?

What is the Difference Between Redundancy and a Settlement Agreement?

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...

Five things you probably didn’t know about Intellectual Property Law

Five things you probably didn’t know about Intellectual Property Law

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...

Including a Reference as Part of a Settlement Agreement

Including a Reference as Part of a Settlement Agreement

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...

Why you need a Shareholders Agreement

Why you need a Shareholders Agreement

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...

The Role of TUPE in Restructures and Redundancies

The Role of TUPE in Restructures and Redundancies

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...

6 things to look out for when buying a franchise business

6 things to look out for when buying a franchise business

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,...

Corporate Insolvency for businesses: 6 things you need to know first

Corporate Insolvency for businesses: 6 things you need to know first

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...

What to consider when selling your business

What to consider when selling your business

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...

Building a business with an exit strategy

Building a business with an exit strategy

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...

Why is Independent Legal Advice Important And How Does it Benefit Me?

Why is Independent Legal Advice Important And How Does it Benefit Me?

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...

Buying share capital vs buying assets

Buying share capital vs buying assets

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...

What is a deed of postponement between creditors?

What is a deed of postponement between creditors?

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...

What is the difference between a Warranty and an Indemnity?

What is the difference between a Warranty and an Indemnity?

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,...

7 things to consider when starting a business

7 things to consider when starting a business

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...

5 reasons why you need to have a Shareholder’s Agreement

5 reasons why you need to have a Shareholder’s Agreement

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...

Staff Handbook Vs Employment Contract – Knowing the Difference

Staff Handbook Vs Employment Contract – Knowing the Difference

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...

Redundancy Selection Pools and How to Use Them

Redundancy Selection Pools and How to Use Them

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...

Understanding the Redundancy Consultation Period

Understanding the Redundancy Consultation Period

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...

7 things to consider when lending money to friends & family

7 things to consider when lending money to friends & family

Lending money to a friend or family member often results in issues like late payments or accusations of non payment. Nonetheless, there may come a time when you are asked to give a loan to a friend or family member, so here are seven key points to consider as the...

What is a confidentiality agreement and why do you need one?

What is a confidentiality agreement and why do you need one?

In the UK, confidentiality agreements are often referred to as non disclosure agreements (or NDAs), and they can offer critical protection for your businesses and as individuals. need to safeguard trade secrets, sensitive information and confidential data when working...

Leases for squat dental practices and existing dental practices

Leases for squat dental practices and existing dental practices

What do we mean by “Squat practice”? Squat practices are dental practices that are set up from scratch and are often established in an empty property or a property that is used for another purpose for example a retail unit, residential property or office building. A...

6 clauses every business contract should have

6 clauses every business contract should have

In business contracts, the clauses typically found at the end of an agreement are known as the boilerplate clauses, which set out provisions for specific aspects of the contract. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to drafting these clauses, as they will...

How to dismiss a company director

How to dismiss a company director

Directors bear a great deal of responsibility and are legally bound to work in the best interests of the company. As such, any non compliance with the company’s articles, or any breach of duty must be treated seriously and in certain circumstances, a director’s...

Everything you need to know about Independent Legal Advice

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. ILA is required in order to protect the party deemed as not benefiting from the...

What are your duties as a company director?

What are your duties as a company director?

When the Companies Act 2006 came into force in the UK, company directors were legally bound to fulfil certain duties or risk facing severe repercussions, including dismissal or disqualification by court order. Here is an overview of some of the general duties to give...

Non-Compete Clauses – Can you rely on your contract?

Non-Compete Clauses – Can you rely on your contract?

A non-compete clause is intended to protect the business interests of employers or franchisors by preventing the other contracting party from taking and using their trade secrets, customer information, business relationships, or any other information that may be...

How TUPE impacts you if you are selling your business.

How TUPE impacts you if you are selling your business.

If your business hires employees, it is more than likely that they are protected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations, also known as TUPE. This means that if you’re selling your business, you must act in compliance with TUPE’s...

How to vary an employment contract

How to vary an employment contract

There are different steps to be taken when changing the terms of an employment contract, depending on whether the changes are being proposed by the employer or the employee, and depending on the nature of the changes. First, obtain the employee’s written consent by...

Six things your solicitor can teach you about business

Six things your solicitor can teach you about business

Although there is a common misconception that lawyers are only needed for drafting complex legal documents and mediating disputes, the reality is that the insight and guidance of solicitors can be more important for your business than you think. The right legal advice...

Essential legal tips for every start-up business.

Essential legal tips for every start-up business.

Launching a start-up business is more than coming up with a great business idea, and it can be daunting to tackle all the legal requirements for your new company. That’s why we’re sharing a few key tips for every soon-to-be start-up founder, to set you and your...

What to write on your website’s terms and conditions page

What to write on your website’s terms and conditions page

Today, a well designed and well written website is the expected standard in the business world. However, there’s more to consider than cutting-edge design and engaging copy when launching your business website; there are essential legal elements that must be included...

Everything you need to know about Independent Legal Advice

Everything you need to know about Independent Legal Advice

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. ILA is required in order to protect the party deemed as not benefiting from the...

Looking to buy or sell a dental practice?

Looking to buy or sell a dental practice?

Just like life, the market conditions for the sale of a dental practice go in a cycle – once popular NHS practices no longer are in favour over private specialist practices. Where does that leave most sellers, and how does the process of selling affect this? When I...

What Are The Consequences Of Not Obtaining Independent Legal Advice

What Are The Consequences Of Not Obtaining Independent Legal Advice

The term Independent Legal Advice 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. Independent Legal Advice is required in order to protect the party deemed as not...

What Legal Documents do I need when starting a Business?

What Legal Documents do I need when starting a Business?

There are lots of crucial nitty-gritty elements to starting your business, including key legal documents which could help you avoid pitfalls in the long run, from customer disputes to employee claims and the illegal disclosure of your company’s confidential...

Employee-friendly Settlement Agreement FAQ

Employee-friendly Settlement Agreement FAQ

1. What is a Settlement Agreement? A Settlement Agreement is a legally binding agreement between you and your employer. The purpose is to resolve a dispute between you and your employer; however, a Settlement Agreement is usually entered into on termination of your...