Drury’s out – to double business

Posted by Communications Director May 26th, 2010, in HD news

(Pictured left to right): Roger Spence, Andrew Bartlett, John Chesworth, Owen McKenna and Rob Salter.

Harrison Drury has announced it is looking to double in size over the next three years as it restructures its business, promotes a number of rising stars and appoints a regional business heavyweight to its board. 

The firm has promoted Andrew Bartlett, Owen McKenna and Roger Spence to partner status.  As part of the growth plan the business has changed its operating structure to a limited (Ltd) company.  

Meanwhile, Rob Salter, former managing partner of Moore and Smalley Chartered Accountants, joins as finance director, a role that will see him oversee the future strategy of the business. 

John Chesworth, managing partner of Harrison Drury, said: “A limited company is a much more flexible structure as it creates a clear distinction between the ownership and management of the business and will allow external investment when the law changes in the next couple of years.” 

John Chesworth joined Harrison Drury in 2007 from Brabners Chaffe Street and completed a buy-out of the firm in 2008. It opened a Garstang office in January 2010. 

He added: “It was always my intention to buy the business and develop Harrison Drury into one of Lancashire’s foremost legal providers. We have shown so far we can be a viable alternative to the bigger firms and a better alternative to small practices, so we are looking to sit as a mid-tier Lancashire law firm. 

“We have launched a number of new service lines through senior appointments and we are also actively looking to grow through strategic acquisitions. We now have a structure which will allow us to do that.” 

Andrew Bartlett heads up the Garstang office, Owen McKenna is a commercial property expert and Roger Spence leads Harrison Drury’s employment department after joining the firm from Napthens solicitors in 2009.

Rob Salter recently left regional accountancy heavyweight, Moore and Smalley Chartered Accountants, after a 45-year career with the firm including a spell as managing partner. 

Rob said: “John and his team have a real desire to deliver great client service and build a business for the future. The opportunities for Harrison Drury are immense. I am working with the team to develop a blueprint for the future and help implement it. It’s an exciting time for the business.”

Five questions you need to ask about your license

Posted by Communications Director May 24th, 2010, in Licensing update

There are still more than 40 pubs closing every week and the licensed trade is now a question of survival of the fittest. 

There is room for improvement in every business – but is your current premises licence holding you back? 

Consider the questions below and consider whether it is worth applying to vary your licence. 

1. Can you open for all the hours that you and your customers want – during the week, at weekends and at Bank Holidays?
2. Are there any special dates when you would like to open for longer – Bank holiday weekends, Burns Night, Valentines Night, St. Patrick’s Day, St. George’s Day, Halloween, ‘A’ level results night, over the Christmas period, New Year’s Eve?
3. If you ever thought of applying for Temporary Event Notices – could these events be included within your license?
4. Does your license allow regulated entertainment and (if so) can you provide all the regulated entertainment that you and your customers want (for example, can you hold pool / darts competitions)?
5. Can you do anything to minimise the effect of the smoking ban? 

If you decide that you do not want to vary your license – that is fine, you have what you want/need but we would suggest that you repeat the exercise every so often in case any of your answers change. If you decide that you may want to vary your Licence – give Andrew Bartlett a call and we can have a chat either over the phone or at our offices.

Why should you make a Lasting Power of Attorney

Posted by Communications Director May 4th, 2010, in Wills and probate update

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which allows you to appoint a person or people you trust to look after your affairs.  There are two types of LPA.  A Property and Affairs LPA allows you to appoint someone to look after your money and property and a Health and Welfare LPA allows you to choose someone to look after your health and welfare decisions. 

Both documents need to be made whilst you are still mentally capable.  A Property and Affairs LPA can be used by your attorney(s) whether you have mental capacity or not but a Health and Welfare LPA can only be used when you are not mentally capable of making your own decisions. 

Why everybody should make a Lasting Power of Attorney: 

- It allows you to choose who you want to look after your affairs if you can’t do so for yourself.  If you don’t make an LPA and you become unable to manage your affairs anyone can apply to take over. This person may not be who you would have chosen and the application is very expensive 

- A Property and Financial Affairs LPA can be used by your Attorneys to help you on a temporary or permanent basis whether you are physically or mentally unable to do something for yourself 

- It makes things easy for your chosen attorneys to help you to look after your money or to make the right decisions about your welfare needs 

- An LPA is good preparation for the future

Employees stranded by volcanic ash: advice for employers

Posted by Communications Director Apr 26th, 2010, in Employment law update

Employees of businesses across the UK have been unable to attend work due to being stranded abroad.  Employers have had to make arrangements at short notice to cover the duties of absentees, often at additional expense.  This poses the question whether employers are obliged to pay employees who are stranded abroad. 

Only rarely will a contract of employment provide for paid time off where the employee is unable to get to work due to travel disruption.  In almost all cases there will be no contractual obligation to pay the employee.  Typically, the employer only has a duty to pay an employee who is willing and able to turn up to work.  Therefore if an employee is unable to attend work the employer has no obligation to pay the employee.  (more…)

New fixed price scheme for commercial tenants

Posted by Communications Director Apr 19th, 2010, in Commercial property update

Harrison Drury has launched a new fixed price legal costs scheme, available to tenants taking on leases of commercial premises which have annual rents up to £20,000 (exclusive of VAT).  (more…)

No fault divorce: lawyers demand reform

Posted by Communications Director Apr 12th, 2010, in Family law update, HD comment

Liz Hebden, a partner of Harrison Drury comments on ‘no fault divorce’

At its National Conference on March 21 in Bristol, Resolution, the organisation representing Family Lawyers called on the Government to take the blame out of divorce and separation by introducing a no fault divorce. 

Under current law, it is insufficient to show simply that there has been an irretrievable breakdown of marriage. If you want to divorce by mutual consent, you have to wait two years.  If there is no consent, it is five years. 

The only immediate grounds for divorce in this country remain adultery or unreasonable behaviour which reinforces a “blame” culture.  In my experience, this causes unnecessary delay and acrimony at the outset in an already distressing process. 

Previous attempts to reform the law have failed on the basis that a no fault divorce would increase breakups rather than help families.  It is my view that it is only after much soul-searching and often counselling that steps are taken to commence the divorce process and a change in the law would be unlikely to cause people to rush into something they subsequently regretted.  

I am a supporter of any steps that can help prevent or reduce the trauma for the whole family that inevitably accompanies a split and would call upon the Government for an overhaul of the divorce laws to achieve this.

New employment legislation

Posted by Communications Director Apr 6th, 2010, in Employment law update

Today sees a number of new employment rules come into force. They include: 

“Fit” rather than “sick” notes

New “fit notes” come into use from April 6 2010. The stated intention is to focus minds on what can be done to assist a return to work and prompt useful discussions between patient/GP and employer/employee. 

The GP is required to complete a tick-box section to confirm whether they consider a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties and/or workplace adaptations would enable the employee to return to work. The GP is required to select “you may be fit for work taking account of the following advice…”, which essentially shifts the onus onto the employer to determine whether an employee is fit to return to work.  (more…)

Trust rate of income tax increases

Posted by Communications Director Apr 1st, 2010, in Wills and probate update

Rachel Conroy, a Harrison Drury trusts’ expert, outlines the new trust rate of income tax that comes into place 6th April 2010.

From 6 April 2010 the trust rate of income tax increases by 10% to 42.5% for dividends and 50% for all other income.  

Trustees should consider:

1. Their investment policy – is income necessary or would investments producing capital growth rather than income be appropriate?  Capital Gains Tax would be charged on the increase in value when the investment was sold.  Capital Gains Tax is currently charged at a relatively low rate of 18% so this could result in a tax saving. (If this is to be considered appropriate investment advice should always be taken).

2. Which of the beneficiaries they choose to appoint income to.  If the trustees appoint income in favour of beneficiaries who pay no tax or pay tax at the lower rate the beneficiaries may then be able to reclaim some of the tax paid by the Trustees from HM Revenue & Customs.

3. Whether the trust is still necessary.  In some cases it may be appropriate to wind up the trust and appoint all of the funds to one or more of the beneficiaries. 

Please get in touch on 01772 258321 if you have any queries.

Property reaction to Budget

Posted by Communications Director Mar 25th, 2010, in Commercial property update, HD comment

Owen McKenna from Harrison Drury, gives his verdict on the Budget from a property perspective. He said:

In my opinion the budget was very much made with one eye on the upcoming election – nothing too contentious that may alienate the electorate. From a property lawyer perspective, the potential savings in SDLT arising from the increase in the SDLT threshold are a good idea but having considered the detail of the proposals, there are a number of practical issues that leave questions unanswered.

For the property industry, some of the noteworthy issues. Follow this link to find out. (more…)

Budget prediction

Posted by Communications Director Mar 23rd, 2010, in HD comment

Hesham Sabry, a commercial property expert at Harrison Drury, outlines his predictions for tomorrow’s Budget. The comments featured in today’s Lancashire Evening Post.

“Alistair Darling’s final budget before the general election will be geared towards maintaining stability and, I believe, will contain few real surprises. 

“However, given the current economic climate, where many businesses both big and small are still struggling, it would be good to see a reduction in the corporate tax burden to help encourage growth. 

“By reducing the corporation tax rate, or expanding the types of relief available, this could potentially have the effect of stimulating movement in the property sector which would help boost the economy. 

“In essence, I would welcome a budget focused on policies to help economic growth and prevent a fall back into recession rather than the introduction of further complex anti-avoidance measures.”