Legal
Ask the Legal Expert
Q: We have a new product that we want to advertise on local television. We believe that our product is much better than a similar product sold by our main competitor. Can we refer to our competitor’s product in...
Law firm in ‘Top 100 Best Companies’ list for 5th year running
Howes Percival is ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the fifth year running and has also been awarded the highest level of accreditation for ‘world-class’ levels of workplace engagement.
The list celebrates excellence in workplace engagement...
CLARE MORETON STARTS NEW LEGAL JOURNEY AT FISHER JONES GREENWOOD LLP
A new partner has joined the Wills, Planning and Probate team at Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP (FJG).
Clare Moreton has over two decades of experience in private client work, which will help boost the firm’s capabilities in complex estate planning...
Ask The Legal Expert – Consumer issues: refunds, returns and liability
As Christmas and the busy sales season approach, it is essential to be prepared for the common questions that arise around refunds, returns, and consumer rights. Here, we answer three key questions that retailers are likely to face over...
Preparing your business for Labour’s potential corporate law reforms
Ashton Carter, Head of Corporate Law and Partner at Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP, a well-established and respected law firm with offices across Suffolk and Essex, explores the potential impact of the Autumn budget on businesses, particularly in light of...
Former office junior turned CEO nominated for national award
Law firm CEO Paula Fowler is a finalist in the prestigious 2024 National Business Women’s Awards in the £10m-£25m turnover category.
Paula runs Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP (FJG), - which has nine offices, including in Suffolk - and has helped...
A passion for mentoring the next generation of solicitors
As a Partner at Spire Solicitors LLP, Rebecca Johnstone has carved out an impressive career in the legal industry. With a strong commitment to her clients and a passion for mentoring the next generation of solicitors, she’s a shining...
What are the legal risks for my business allowing our staff to use AI in the workplace?
Ask the Legal Expert
Q: What are the legal risks for my business if I allow our staff to use AI in the workplace?
A: While AI applications have undergone rapid development in recent times, they are not perfect. Any gaps...
Legal firm appoints strategic land development partner in Cambridge
Howes Percival has added strategic land development expert Tim Bacon as a Partner to its Commercial Property team in Cambridge.
Tim specialises in strategic land work and property development, including promotion, option and collaboration agreements and acts for promoters and...
Policies and terms for your business website
Samantha Woodley, Senior Associate, Birketts LLP
Q: We supply our products to both consumers and other businesses. Do we need to have separate terms and conditions on our website for both B2C and B2B?
A: You do not necessarily...
Top law firm appoints new senior partner
UK Top 50 law firm Birketts has elected a new Senior Partner.
Current UK Head of Property Chris Schwer has succeeded James Austin and started his new role on 1 April 2024.
Chris trained at Birketts between 1986 and 1988, and...
Ask the legal expert
By Andrew Priest, Partner, Commercial & Technology, Birketts LLP
Q: I have heard that it is now much easier to send personal data to the US – is that correct?
A: Following the introduction of the new data bridge between the...
Stark warning over employment of illegal workers
Restaurants and businesses across the region have been warned to get their employee ‘right to work documents’ in order before the fine for illegal workers triples by the end of January.
Under changes to Government legislation, which come into effect...
Ask The Legal Expert
Q: What is Natural Capital?
A: Natural Capital describes the earth’s stock of both renewable and non-renewable resources, such as minerals, soil, water, air, animals and plants, that have value or benefit to people from a social, environmental or financial...
Immigration expert appointed to tackle growing workload
Law firm Howes Percival has appointed specialist corporate immigration lawyer Bilal Ehsan as a Director, to help meet the growing demand from clients faced with significant recruitment pressures and an increasing need to look for talent outside the UK.
Bilal,...
ASK THE LEGAL EXPERT
Andrew Priest, Partner, Commercial & Technology, Birketts LLP
Q: We want to engage a company in India to help with our software development. As part of their work, they will access some personal data about our customers. Do we need...
The 4-day working week – what employers need to know
Lloyd Clarke, Head of Employment Law at Attwells Solicitors, outlines the pros and cons of introducing a shorter working week.
Calls for a 4-day working week have increased since the pandemic and the results of the world’s largest 4-day working week trial were released. According to...
ASK THE LEGAL EXPERT
Q: I am thinking about appointing a sales agent to help me expand my business overseas, what are the pros and cons of appointing an agent?
A: A sales agent is an individual, or company, who you appoint to conclude...
More businesses seek advice as financial crisis bites deep
A legal firm is offering a free initial consultation to any local businesses concerned about their future.
Ellisons Solicitors, based in Suffolk, says rising numbers of firms are seeking advice on insolvency as they look to find a way through...
Corporate law expert joins Cambridge team
Howes Percival has added specialist corporate law solicitor Josie Rogers to its Corporate, Commercial, and Banking team in Cambridge.
Josie’s recruitment follows the appointment of James Stephen in January, as head of its Corporate Law team, at the city office.
Josie...
Ask the Legal Expert
Q: My company engaged a consultant to develop our company website. Other than a simple purchase order, there was no formal contract. Who owns the intellectual property (IP) rights arising from the consultant’?
A: In the absence of any express...
Ask the Legal Expert
Q: We are a start-up company developing an innovative engine that will have significant environmental benefits. What should we be doing to protect our intellectual property and ensure that others cannot copy our technology?
A: Your IP will be very...
The best HR Strategy for real business impact
The success of any business will always be down to your people so make sure you know what makes your business tick, says Lizzy Firmin, chief operating officer at Ellisons Solicitors.
I’ve always believed an HR Strategy needs to be...
BDO advises on sale of Ipswich-based general insurance specialist
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has advised on the sale of Ipswich-based general insurance broking specialist, WM Brokers Limited.
The company, formerly the general insurance arm of Woodward Markwell Insurance Brokers Limited, was acquired by Global Risk Partners...
The Birketts Clean Energy Team: your legal one-stop-shop
East Anglia in Business spoke to Jeremy Stanton and Gemma Goddard – Partners at Top 100 law firm Birketts, (ranked 60 in the latest listings) – to learn about the rapidly evolving world of renewables and technology. They also...
Returning to the workplace: awareness of employee disabilities
Now is a time of transition as employees return to the workplace either on a hybrid basis or for all their working time. The impact of the pandemic on some of your employees’ health may only come to light...
New anti-terror law could affect your business
Businesses across the country could soon be subject to new anti-terrorism legislation, as part of a government commitment to improving public safety. Local security expert John Dolan looks at the implications for businesses in the East of England.
The Protect...
Can a ‘Right to Disconnect’ code of practice work for employers and employees?
Working from home: call to ban out-of-hours emails from bosses
By Valerie Lambert, partner at HCR Hewitsons
The right to disconnect effectively gives employees the ability to switch off from work and not engage in electronic communications, such as emails, during...
New partner appointed to Larking Gowen Corporate Transactions team
Regional accountancy and business advisory firm, Larking Gowen, has appointed a new partner to its Corporate Transactions team based in its Norwich office.
Jack Minns qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2011, and joined Larking Gowen in 2013, working his...
HCR HEWITSONS: A LAW FIRM WITH A PASSION FOR PEOPLE
A new legal force with a passion for people is the result of a merger between two legal firms, both of which have a strong presence in the city.
Award-winning top regional lawyers Harrison Clark Rickerbys (HCR) and long-established and...
