Category: Legal

With the deadline fast approaching for the Government’s public consultation on resolving workplace disputes, employers are being urged to respond with their views.

It was has been announced that the implementation of the Bribery Act will be delayed while the guidance around the defence of the Act is finalised. We have spoken to Rupert Nevin, partner at the law firm DWF, who explains that this is good news for businesses throughout the country…

“We don’t need a contract, let’s do it on a handshake.” How often have you heard that said? What people really mean is “Contracts are expensive, long-winded documents that no-one understands and I will feel handcuffed to you.”

The rise of e-commerce has been one of the most significant business trends of the last decade. According to the British Retail Consortium, online sales account for 6% of the UK’s retail sales, which increased in September and October 2010 by 19.1% and 12.8% respectively over the equivalent monthly figures for 2009.

An innovative new method for business debt collection has been launched allowing Small & Medium Sized businesses the ability to radically speed up the process collecting their outstanding debts using Twitter.

The new parental leave rules will give parents and adopters greater flexibility in the amount of leave they choose to take following the birth of a child. Chris Inson, partner with leading commercial law solicitors Capital Law explains how the changes will affect businesses.

Many starting at university over the past few days are aware of the need to earn whilst they learn and this is fuelling a boom in part-time working. This growth in part-time students could turn out to be a bonus for small businesses, as many students committed to studying part-time for up to six years will seek part-time work that will support their long-term career plans.

We spoke to Chris Sherliker, founding partner of the London based law firm Silverman Sherliker, who gave us a non-exhaustive 50 point checklist designed to help you avoid some very common legal pitfalls and maximise the legal security of your business.

The London law firm, Silverman Sherliker LLP, has just launched Namesearch TM Legal, an interactive application for iPhone and Blackberry smart-phones that helps you protect your trade marks, business names, logos and brands without being tied to your desk.

Is your company ready for ‘fit notes’? If you’re unsure, then you are not alone. A new survey shows that a third of employers are unaware of the system replacing the 62-year old sick note, and a further 64% haven’t received any guidance on how to manage the new notes.

Tens of thousands of businesses could benefit from a loophole and receive VAT payback following the introduction of VAT on some Royal Mail services such as Parcelforce.