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

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...

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of April 2021. The eligibility criteria for the UK-wide Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will remain unchanged. Additional key points on the extended...

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...

  Forfeiture On the 9 th  December 2020 the UK Government announced that further regulations will be put into place to extend the moratorium on forfeiture action for non-payment of rent until 31 st March 2021. Landlords will therefore be...

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...

Just when we all thought that furlough was definitely going to end, we’re faced with a second national lockdown and the Chancellor announces an extension to furlough until the 31st March 2021. Key points on the extended furlough scheme are: ...

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...

Further to our article on 25 June 2020 in which we confirmed that the eviction moratorium was due to come to an end on 23 August, many landlords will now be aware that in an 11 th hour U-turn this ban has been extended for a further 4 weeks until 20...

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...

On the 19 th June 2020 the Government announced that the protection from forfeiture for non-payment of rent granted to business tenants under the Coronavirus Act 2020 will be extended until the end of September. The measure which was introduced on the 26...

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...

Companies are having to consider how they hold meetings in order to make valid decisions while Covid-19 affects day to day activity and the regulations and measures which the Government has introduced in response to the situation.  All types of...

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...

The coronavirus pandemic and the resultant policy consequences are unprecedented.  The UK Government has ordered the closure of much of the economy: transport, travel, retail and entertainment have been particularly hit and other sectors which continue...

Businesses processing personal data need to keep protection of customer and employee data at the front of continuity planning as they tackle the coronavirus threat. Staff are likely to be working remotely or in different circumstances which could make...