LATEST BLOGS & NEWS
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?
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
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
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
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?
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?
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.
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
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
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.
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
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...
Independent Legal Advice – Common Questions About Your Obligations: Asked and Answered
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...
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?
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
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?
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
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...
Employer-friendly Settlement Agreement FAQ
What is a Settlement Agreement? A Settlement Agreement is a legally binding agreement between you and an employee. It is usually needed on termination of an employee’s employment, but its general purpose is to aim to resolve a dispute between you and an employee. In a...
What is Insolvency and Restructuring: UK Law
Insolvency and restructuring are covered by comprehensive but complex legislation in the UK. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about how this area of law works in practice within the UK. What is the legal definition of insolvency? There are a number...
CQC Applications
I am a first-time buyer, what CQC applications will I need to have in place to facilitate my dental practice purchase? The CQC application is onerous and will require a substantial amount of preparation prior to submission. The first application is the primary one and...
24 Hour Retirement – the “cash-out” button for your NHS Pension
What is a 24-Hour Retirement? The process is to retire from your current GDS/PDS contract over a weekend (for 24 hours Saturday to Sunday) before returning to work as normal on the Monday. Following your return to work you will receive a lump sum from your NHS pension...
Everything You Need To Know About Holiday Pay For Part Year Workers
In light of the recent court case of Harpur Trust v Brazel, which was heard in the Supreme Court, you may have some questions surrounding the outcome of the judgement and what this means in terms of paid holiday days for employees who have irregular working hours or...
Hashmi v Lorimer-Wing – What does this mean for Sole Director Companies?
Hashmi v. Lorimer-Wing [2022] EWHC 191 is a recent case that exposed anomalies within the Model Articles and raised concerns about the legality of decisions made by private corporations who operate with sole directors. What Are...
Why You Should Use A Solicitor When Submitting Trademark Applications
Many organisations are unaware of the importance of their company's intangible assets, although they are frequently crucial to developing a relationship with customers. A trademark logo or brand-specific designs or colour combinations can help your business stick out...
Selling A Pharmacy – The Four Points To Consider
If you’re selling a pharmacy, there are lots of things that you need to keep in mind, especially if you’ve never been in this position before. With this in mind, here are four key points that you should consider to help streamline the process and ensure that...
How Much Do You Know About Basic Working Rights?
Whatever sector or industry you’re working in, you should know your basic working rights. It’s essential, however, to note these rights will depend on what employment status you have – whether you’re self-employed, an employee, or a worker. If you’re a worker, you’ll...
Top Tips For Purchasing An Optical Practice Without Any Added Stress
Buying your optical practice is exciting, but it can also be very stressful. Even when businesses look similar on paper, the buying experiences may differ wildly. There are several factors to keep in mind, and here, we look at some top tips to help you minimise the...
What Considerations Should Be Kept In Mind When Buying Commercial Properties?
Although some business owners want to lease their commercial premises, others prefer to buy in order to enjoy greater flexibility and freedom. Buy a commercial property represents a good choice for many SMEs that want to expand, but it’s important to understand the...
What Should I Consider If I Want To Sell My Business?
It’s always a good idea to plan your business sale well before you may wish to start the process. However, for everything to run smoothly, you’ll need to know what you need to keep in mind, so here is a list of considerations. Why Do You Want To Sell? You need to...
Specific Provisions To Note With Regard To Dental Transactions When Negotiating Contracts
When negotiating contracts when selling or buying a property, there will be some specific provisions with regard to dental transactions that only arise in this sector. That is one of the most important reasons why you must use an experienced solicitor. Here, we take a...
Which Conflicts Must Be Avoided When Choosing Brand Names And Trademarks?
Although starting a new business is exciting, it can also be daunting. One of the most complicated aspects to bear in mind is using a brand name and a trademark. Although it may seem easy, there is always the potential for conflicts, some knowing how to avoid them is...
Completion Accounts – What Are They And Why Do We Use Them?
Anyone purchasing a business typically bases their offer on the company’s most up-to-date financial statements. Yet, these accounts show only the business’s historical financial position to its latest accounts date, with a period of time before the completion which...
Is Intellectual Property Safe When Stored on A PC?
Your intellectual property is something you’ve created with your own mind, whether your brand name, your invention, your product’s design, or something you’ve written, made, or produced. For many individuals and companies, these are extremely valuable assets. With...
Your Guide To Commercial Property Sales
There are some similarities between selling a commercial property and a residential one, but you’ll need to consider a few more additional matters, and there are more variables to take into account. Furthermore, the procedure is somewhat different and will usually...
Cryptocurrency – What Is It?
Crypto, or cryptocurrency, is a currency which exists virtually or digitally, and which uses cryptography in order to secure the transactions. There is no regulating or central issuing authority for cryptocurrencies. Instead, they use a decentralised system for...
As An Employee, Which Types Of Flexible Changes To My Working Patterns Can I Request?
If you’re an employee, you may be keen to adopt a more flexible working pattern. While there is a common misconception that only carers or parents have the right to ask for changes of this kind, that isn’t actually true. Any employee has the right to request a...
How To Determine Infringement Of Trademarks
If a trademark is officially registered, the mark’s owner has rights conferred on them under the 1994 Trademarks Act. That means they can prevent any unauthorised third-party usage of their trademark with respect to the specified services or goods. Furthermore, a...
A Guide To Arranging A Nursery Sale
Today’s childcare market has a valuation of over £5 billion, and as average nursery fees are increasing by around 6% per year, and occupancy rates are also rising to around 75%, it’s clear this sector is experiencing positive growth. With this in mind, it may be the...
Why Are Settlement Agreements Used By Employers?
Sometimes, employers use settlement agreements when an employee’s employment is being terminated. But why are they used? Here, we take a closer look at what they are and why an employer may choose to use one. What Are Settlement Agreements? Sometimes called Compromise...
Which Key Factors Should I Consider When Buying A Nursery?
If you’re interested in child development and want to run a business of your own, purchasing a nursery is a great option for you. However, there are some significant compliance requirements to keep in mind when making a purchase of this nature, not to mention some...
How Do I Know What Goods/Services I Should Include In My Trademark Application?
Arguably one of the hardest parts of filing a trademark application is knowing what terms you need to include to protect your business. It is important that you cover the goods/services that are applicable to your business in your trademark application as that...
Was My Redundancy An Unfair Dismissal?
Many businesses needing to reduce their workforce offer redundancy to their surplus employees, but occasionally, employers call certain situations redundancy even though there isn’t a genuine business reason for dismissing the employees in question. ...
How Can Social Media Influencers Manage Risk?
Social media influencer is a job that more people aspire to, with the industry now having a value of about $16.4 billion. However, with following numbers on the increase, these online celebrities begin to face more risks. A significant security challenge influencers...
Is Change On The Horizon For Dentists In The Shape Of NHS Reform?
For years now, NHS Dentistry has been ripe for reform, with the government promising time and again to give the system a complete overhaul. Finally, it appears that some changes could be on the horizon. Within the past week, Maria Caulfield MP made a House...
Share or Asset Sale? A Top Consideration When Selling Your Optical Practice
When you’re selling your optical practice, there’s a lot to keep in mind, but one of the top considerations has to be whether you want a share or asset sale. Deciding the kind of transaction to use depends on your circumstances and knowing the differences between both...
Dentists Leave the NHS In Droves Leaving Numbers At The Decade’s Lowest Level
With the news that a thousand NHS dentists have left the health service in only one year, the number of dentists now operating in the UK is at its lowest level for ten years. In 2019-2020, England had almost 25,000 NHS dentists, however during the...
Top Tips For Dealing With Contract Disputes
When contract disputes arising, it can be difficult to deal with them. Not only can it be time-consuming and costly, but it can also be extremely frustrating. Making a decision that is based on your business’s best interests is the most important thing when it comes...
How Can I Evict My Commercial Tenant?
If you own a commercial property and are acting as a landlord, you may at some point wish to take back the possession of your property. Often, this will be due to your tenant’s breach of their lease terms or contract, for example by failing to make rent payments on...
