News

Are you liable for the misdemeanours of your employees?

What do the following have in common? A managing director punches an employee at a drinking session in the early hours; a self-employed doctor sexually assaults a bank’s prospective employees during pre-employment medical checks; a petrol station attendant violently assaults a customer; and an IT auditor releases personal data for staff at Morrisons?  The...
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Adverse Weather and Employee Travel Disruption

This business briefing highlights some practical steps that a business can take to reduce the risk of adverse weather affecting an employee’s travel to work. There are many reasons why employees may be delayed or prevented from getting to work by major disruptions. The main examples are:

• Weather: Extreme adverse weather conditions can either cause...
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Brexit No-Deal – Supply Chain Implications

With the prospect of a “No-Deal” Brexit on the horizon, there are a number of issues that a supplier or manufacturer should be considering and preparing for. Below are the key points we consider relevant, but you should not hesitate to contact the Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) Corporate and Commercial team...
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Grumbles or grievances – why you need to take employee complaints seriously

Receiving a grievance from an employee is rarely welcome – dealing with it can soak up resources, cause disquiet among other employees and in some cases escalate into a dispute which ends up before an employment tribunal. However, as Richard Porter, employment lawyer with Thompson Smith and Puxon in Colchester...
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Company Voluntary Arrangements

This business briefing explains what a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) is and highlights what the main advantages and disadvantages of a CVA are for a business. A CVA is a procedure that allows a company to settle debts by paying only a proportion of the amount that it owes to creditors; to come to...
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Compulsory Liquidation

This business briefing explains what compulsory liquidation means for a creditor of a business that is in the process of being wound up by the court. Compulsory liquidation (or winding up by the court) is a procedure by which any assets of a company are sold, and the proceeds are distributed to the company’s creditors. A...
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Increase in the ‘Real Living Wage’

A pay increase could be on the way for at least 180,000 people in the UK whose employers are signed up to the ‘Real Living Wage’. On Tuesday 6^th November the Living Wage Foundation announced that the UK Living Wage rate had increased to £9.00 per hour, whilst those working in...
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Increase in Probate Fees Announced

The UK government announced last night amended proposals to increase the fees charged for obtaining a grant of probate on death. Currently the fees are £215 for a personal application, or £155 if solicitors are instructed to deal with the estate. The proposals are a banded fee structure. Whilst the lower estate value threshold is...
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Quick Update for Landlords

Courts are becoming increasingly strict in their approach to granting orders for possession. It is therefore essential that Landlords comply with certain requirements at the start of the tenancy and long before the thought of Court Proceedings crosses their mind. Secure Deposits- Most deposits taken by a Landlord need to be protected in a Government...
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The Budget 2018 – what effect does it have on residential property purchases?

Buyers of shared ownership properties are now able to claim First Time Buyer Stamp Duty Relief In last Monday’s budget Philip Hammond announced that First Time Buyer Relief can be claimed on shared ownership properties on the first £300,000 of any property with a purchase price of up to £500,000. Previously, first time buyers...
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Employee wellbeing: your responsibilities as an employer

Bowls of fresh fruit and mindfulness sessions are becoming increasingly common in the workplace as employers try to promote the wellbeing of their staff. A successful wellbeing strategy can improve employee attendance and retention, as well as productivity.  It can also help shield you from compensation claims brought by employees for stress-related conditions which...
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‘Exemplary’ and ‘Timely’ Client Service Key to TSP’s Continued Legal 500 Success

During a year in which Essex-based Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) has continued to grow, the Legal 500 has recognised and confirmed  the firm’s on-going commitment to client service and effective communication as part of its continued recommendations in nine practice areas. 21 TSP lawyers are individually recommended; of these two are noted as...
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Bakery Wins Supreme Court Appeal in ‘Gay Cake’ Case

On Tuesday 10^th October the Supreme Court ruled that the bakery in the high profile ‘gay cake’ case had won their appeal against a discrimination claim. Richard Porter, head of the Employment Law team at Thompson Smith and Puxon, considers the implications for Employment Law of this...
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Parental Bereavement Leave

The government has introduced new legislation to give parents who have lost a child up to two weeks paid leave. The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 will entitle parents employed in a role for a minimum of 26 weeks the right to two weeks’ statutory parental bereavement pay if they lose a child...
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Excellent Feedback as Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) Once Again Retains Its LEXCEL Accreditation

Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) solicitors is pleased to announce that it has once again been awarded the Lexcel accreditation, the Law Society’s legal practice mark for practice management and client care. TSP has held this accreditation, which is rigorously assessed by an independent auditor on an annual basis, since 2006. It is only awarded...
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BREXIT: What are the Implications for Data Protection?

Currently there is a great deal of speculation along with a lot of political posturing and manoeuvring regarding BREXIT and what it will eventually look like. The truth of the matter is that, as we write, no one is quite sure. What we do seem to be certain of though is that there is...
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