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

Luis Ngugi , a solicitor in our commercial litigation department, looks at the proposed reforms to consumer protection. On 20 April 2022 the UK Government announced significant reforms to consumer protection laws. The new measures are set to tackle: ...

Luis Ngugi a solicitor in our commercial litigation department looks at the Renters Reform Bill following the Queen’s Speech. Renters Reform Bill The much-anticipated Renters Reform Bill continues to be a major talking point and a key part...

When the clock finally chimed for no-fault divorce, courts saw a surge in applications from couples looking to avoid the blame game. However, challenges still lie ahead for couples leaving a marriage.  HM Courts & Tribunals Service has revealed...

April marks Stress Awareness month to continue to help raise awareness of mental health issues in what the Stress Management Society refer to as  “modern stress epidemic”.  With the pandemic and lockdowns, increased stress awareness in...

During the lockdown, the Government changed the rules on right to work checks which permitted employers to do these online or remotely.    These changes had been due to end sooner but had been extended to the 5 th April this year.  ...

Employment Solicitor, Sepie Nourouzi takes a look at the long running holiday pay case with Pimlico Plumbers which took a further turn in a recent Court of Appeal decision about workers and their entitlement to paid holiday. Mr Smith worked for Pimlico...

In recent years we seem to have talked about staff wellbeing and mental health more than ever before, but research shows that stress continues to be one of the main causes of short and long-term absence. CIPD research last year found that four-fifths of...

The Government’s Living with Covid strategy removed one of the final hurdles towards a return to full-time office working, but many are expected to continue working from home under the new regime. The potential of reduced property costs combined...

Employment Appeal Tribunal rules that an employee’s claim that his former employer had ‘engineered’ the rejection of his job application by a connected company as he had brought discrimination proceedings while in previous employment gave...

In recent years, we have seen increased coverage in the media and on social media platforms and outlets about women’s health and the menopause.   Employers have increasing awareness of the impact of the menopause on women in work.  A...

Earlier this month the Prime Minister announced that the remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England would end.    The Government published part of its advice for Living with Covid-19 and further advice from Public Health England for those who...

Luis Ngugi , our new litigation solicitor who deals with landlord and tenant issues, highlights the advantages of the accelerated possession procedure for private residential landlords. The effect of the covid pandemic has meant that possession proceedings...

Luis Ngugi , a solicitor in our Commercial Litigation department, looks at the options for rent recovery available to commercial landlords prior to the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill coming into force.  As a result of the Covid pandemic the...

With guidance to work from home where possible now lifted, employers can plan a return to work for employees - many of whom will have been working from home for some time. Employees, however, may have different plans. Many people will still have concerns...

There is still much uncertainty about the true impact of coronavirus on all aspects of our lives. Inheritance tax is no different, with the fallout of the pandemic affecting the value of estates, inheritance tax planning, and the valuation of business assets...

Following the recent announcement that all children aged 5 to 11 in England will be offered a Covid vaccine from April, Keith Doherty, a senior lawyer in our family team, considers the legal position when there is a dispute between the parents over...

In Chell v Tarmac Cement and Lime Ltd [2022] , the Claimant was employed by Roltec Engineering Ltd (Roltec) as a site fitter. He worked at a site that was operated and controlled by Tarmac Cement and Lime Ltd (Tarmac) therefore providing services for the...

Social media cases in the Employment Tribunal have involved everything from employees posting derogatory comments about their employer, sharing offensive content, cyber bullying and everything in between. Here Laura Claridge from Clarkson Wright & Jakes...

As part of a ‘fair’ redundancy process, employers are required to consider whether there are any alternatives to redundancy.  Avoiding compulsory redundancies also avoids the loss of talent and the negative effect on morale that redundancies...

Employment Tribunal’s decision that a Director/Shareholder of a small family business was not a worker or employee pursuant to s.230 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 is upheld upon appeal In Rainford v Dorset Aquatics Limited , the Claimant and...

Following the recent chilly weather, Laura Claridge looks at some common weather and work questions. Is there a minimum working temperature? Government guidance suggests a minimum temperature of 16°C or 13°C if employees are doing physical...

On 9 November, the Government announced that from April 2022 all NHS staff will be required to provide evidence that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Currently the flu jab is not mandatory but this will be kept under review ahead of next...

With ongoing COVID restrictions in place, January 2022 is unlikely to be the fresh start many wanted. The month of January historically has been an extremely busy one for family lawyers, with many couples making the decision to part ways shortly after the...

In order to provide GPs with more time to work on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) booster programme, for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) purposes, where employees go off sick on or after 10 December 2021 until 26 January 2022, employers can only ask employees for proof...

Not every life is profitable, at least in financial terms, and it is important to remember that your debts do not die with you. A High Court ruling showed the serious problems that dying insolvent, without putting your affairs in order, can create for your...