Legal
Fifteen new partners at Trowers & Hamlins
Top property-specialising law firm Trowers & Hamlins has promoted fifteen new partners across its London, Manchester, Exeter, Dubai and Bahrain offices.
High Court slashes estate agent’s ‘outrageous’ money laundering fine
A £169,652 fine imposed on a Northamptonshire estate agency for failings related to money laundering regulation has been ridiculed by a High Court judge, who called the amount "seriously disproportionate",…
Developer faces record fine after ‘most significant conviction for bat crime ever recorded’
A property developer has been handed down a record £10,700 fine in what's been described as "the most significant conviction for bat crime ever recorded".
Employers should add commission to holiday pay – Employment Appeal Tribunal
Employers of commission-led teams will need to take total earnings - rather than just basic pay - into account when calculating holiday pay, after a ruling (which is being appealed) by the Employment Appeal…
Identity Crisis: Property fraud and how to protect against it
Seeing as you can never be too careful, here's legal eagle Ed Allan with a run-through of the most common types of property fraud and some effective preventative measures...
If a Tree Falls in a Forest: The implications of Moorjani v Durban Estates
A recent judgment centring on 'whether inconvenience exists if there is no one present to experience it' will send reverberations right through the prime lettings sector, explains Rupert Higgins...
Scottish e-conveyancing portal gears up for a Spring launch
The ghosts of Veyo - the English Law Society's attempt to bring conveyancing into the digital era - are still restless less than two months after their ship was scuppered.
Winckworth Sherwood hits £1.3bn in deals
The resi sales department of law firm Winckworth Sherwood has reported a significant boost in business, completing on over £1.3bn worth of transactions in the last 12 months alone.
‘Ground-breaking’ tech product promises speedier conveyancing
A firm reckons it's significantly sped up the conveyancing process by improving accuracy and "cutting out an entire step" from the rigmarole of ordering searches.
The Nightmare Deal: What happens when a sale fails to complete?
Thankfully it doesn't happen very often, but when the contractual time for completion has come and gone, what are the options for the non-defaulting party?
‘Shocking’ lack of knowledge about leases is a ‘ticking time bomb’
A law firm has warned of a "shocking" lack of knowledge about how leases work and the consequences of failing to extend, after carrying out a major survey of UK property owners.
Required Reading: How to work with restrictive covenants
Although you might think your hands are tied, there are a number of ways to deal with the existing private agreements that may be hanging over a site, says Glenda Ferneyhough...