Welcome to Clarkson Wright & Jakes, Solicitors and Notaries in Orpington, Kent

IR35: the changes to off-payroll rules in the private sector postponed in April 2020, are now in force.  This shifts responsibility for assessing employment status and operating deductions from the contractor’s personal service company to the end...

Just over a year ago, employers and employees were thrust into homeworking with the Government direction to stay home and work from home where possible. For those employers who had already embraced remote working the transition was no doubt less bumpy but...

As part of our series of articles and podcasts on the transition of employees back to the workplace, we look at an increasing number of issues facing employers and HR teams as the vaccination programme roll out continues and lockdown restrictions begin to...

In the first of CWJ's bite-sized podcasts, Chris Moore, HR Director at CWJ speaks to Judith Curran, Partner and Head of Employment at CWJ on the various issues that employers are considering over the coming months on bringing their employees back to the workplace.  

With Government advice to “work from home if you can” continuing to apply until at least 21 June, HR teams are having to continue to look at new ways of working. While workplaces continue to be disrupted, with many working from home or on...

Many businesses under extreme financial pressure as a result of the ‘lockdowns’ and restrictions imposed by the government have turned to their business interruption insurance policies for financial assistance. The decision by the Supreme Court...

A complex court case over conflicting dispute resolution provisions has highlighted a simple, but vital, lesson on the importance of corporate reporting requirements for all UK registered companies, as the pandemic sees offices unattended or subject to...

As landlords are looking at their empty properties whether on the high street or shopping centres, some are considering alternatives to the traditional FRI (full repairing and insuring) rent structure to attract new tenants. If you are a tenant looking for...

The value of our online lives is becoming immeasurable, yet few people are recording or protecting their digital assets.  Whether the financial value of investments or the emotional value of family photos, if there is no arrangement in place to hand on...

If you have given a former tenant permission (licence) to assign their lease and the current tenant failed to pay the rent due on 24 June, you may able to recover the rent arrears from the former tenant or their guarantor if you obtained an Authorised...

Probate registries are experiencing significant delays in issuing Grants of Probate. In the past, applications for a Grant usually took up to 2 weeks, but currently applications are taking 12 weeks and longer to process. The delays are a culmination of a...

With effect from the end of the transition period following the UK’s departure from the European Union, unless the EU decides that the UK can be treated as an equivalent state for the purposes of data protection law, the UK will become a “third...

When the transition period ends and the UK’s exit from the European Union is complete, businesses with customers in Europe will need to exercise care to keep on the right side of data protection legislation.   Under the European...

As interest rates stay low or even fall, you may be tempted to look at refinancing your property portfolio.  There are many reasons to look at this.  You may want to raise money for an additional property investment, to consolidate various separate...

Protection from Forfeiture for Commercial Tenants Extended Until 31 st December 2020 On the 15 th September 2020 the Business Tenancies (Protection from Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Coronavirus) (England/Wales) (No. 2) Regulations were passed...

The Government has recently confirmed that temporary legislation covering the signing of wills is being put in place to allow individuals to witness a will remotely. This temporary legislation will also apply to codicils. The usual requirements for signing a...

Company and insolvency legislation and practice has changed in the past six months in a number of areas as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects. This is not least due to the introduction of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the Corporate Insolvency...

It is clear that the disruption caused by Covid-19 is far from over, but as the economy is unlocked, what does the future look like for business? Ben Madden, Head of Corporate and Commercial takes a look at how the Government’s support measures have...

From autumn 2021, separating couples will no longer have to blame each other for the breakdown of their marriage or civil partnership. The long-awaited option for a ‘no-fault’ divorce is included in the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill,...

Some couples are considering whether they have a future together after lockdown was imposed upon them following the coronavirus pandemic. For couples who are struggling in their relationship, or trying to manage co-parenting, anxiety levels were heightened...

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a surge in scams. With scammers exploiting COVID-19 fears, now particularly is the time to ensure that you and your property are sufficiently protected. Property fraud can be committed on both commercial and residential...

I have written previously about the likely coming into force of the Corporate Insolvency & Governance Bill (CIGB), including the impact on winding up petitions brought during the COVID-19 lockdown period. [Read article]   Although the CIGB...

With businesses up and down the country having been severely affected by the Covid-19 lockdown measures, the UK Government has announced and implemented a number of relief measures to help keep businesses afloat and to mitigate the effects of the impending...

The coronavirus crisis is redefining lifestyles and the boundaries of our interactions; a situation that can be challenging for many couples. For couples who are struggling in their relationship, or trying to manage co-parenting, anxiety levels are likely to...

The outbreak of Covid-19, is an ongoing pandemic which poses significant issues for businesses all over the world. Life as we know it has significantly changed. The majority of businesses operating in the UK have been forced to suspend operations or find...