Property & Construction

This is one of the first questions to consider when looking at how to structure a business acquisition. Essentially, a share sale is where the purchaser acquires the company itself…

George Osbourne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced on October 8 that the government intends on introducing a completely new type of employment contract called owner-employee contracts. This new contract…

Research suggests many acquisitions fail to add the value expected by the purchaser – sometimes because inadequate steps have been taken to identify a suitable acquisition target. Your first move…

Harrison Drury has appointed experienced property and corporate lawyer Naomi Fell. Naomi joins Harrison Drury from Cumbria-based law firm Hayton Winkley where she was a director. Naomi specialises in commercial…

Employers should beware of government plans to introduce ‘protected conversations’ to encourage settlement agreements (also known as compromise agreements). The initiative is part of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill,…

An exclusivity agreement is a contract between two businesses to deal exclusively with each other in a specific area. Typically the agreement restricts only one of the parties, such as…

In brief, forfeiture is a landlord’s right under a lease to end the lease and re-enter the property on a breach of the tenant’s covenants, such as non-payment of rent,…

The Employment Act 2002 gave employees the right to request flexible working. Employers can turn down specific flexible working requests for legitimate business reasons set out in the legislation. However,…

A conviction for corporate manslaughter will devastate a business and individual managers – so steps to avoid prosecution are essential. Corporate manslaughter legislation affects all businesses operating in the UK.…

Reorganising your business’ ownership, operational structure, and legal constitution can result in many business benefits such as improved profitability, greater productivity, or better use of assets. Reasons for restructuring include…

Harrison Drury has advised on a property deal that secures the future of an iconic Preston building. 49-51 Guildhall Street, widely known as the ‘Old Fives building’, has been purchased…

The importance of obtaining specialist advice when dealing with HM Revenue and Customs in this complex area of law cannot be stressed too highly. This was starkly illustrated in a…

A break clause in a fixed-term lease means the tenant or landlord can terminate the lease early. Break clauses are especially useful for fast growing businesses whose accommodation needs expand…

Harrison Drury has appointed Karen Piontek as a commercial property lawyer following a period of growth for the department. Karen, who has worked in the legal profession since 1998 and…

What does due diligence mean to you? To some people it is the legal equivalent of kicking the tyres or looking under the bonnet of a used car. To some,…

Employers need to take note of a change to unfair dismissal laws, coming into effect from April 6 2012, which extends the qualifying service period for employees wanting to bring…

Last year I posted a blog that highlighted the importance of ensuring terms and conditions are properly drafted to minimise the risk of contract disputes arising over the interpretation of…

The ownership and right to use intellectual property is an increasingly important consideration as businesses seek to gain a competitive edge. Where a product is protected by intellectual property, this…