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With the majority of lockdown restrictions in Wales moving to alert level zero earlier on this week, many organisations will be looking at how to bring their staff back into the workplace safely. Dan Wilde, head of employment here at Harding Evans, looks at what legal requirements remain in place and what employers need to consider before bringing their staff back.

The BBC recently reported that Ministers are looking to overhaul the legal process where individuals appoint someone to make property, financial, health and welfare decisions on their behalf, should they lose the ability to make those decisions themselves.

Afonwy Howell-Pryce, an associate in our Wills and Probate team looks at what is being proposed to modernise the power of attorney system and what impact it could have for the future.

Newport-based law firm Harding Evans represented the bereaved family at an inquest into the death of Robert Bird, who committed suicide at Hafan y Coed Hospital after accessing a plastic bag that he would later fashion into a ligature.

Last month the government confirmed the date which the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 will come into force, 6 April 2022. The new no-fault divorce law was originally due to be implemented in the autumn of 2021.

Leah Thomas, a senior associate solicitor in our Family & Matrimonial department at Harding Evans, looks at why the delays have come about and the impact these delays could have on clients.

It is universally agreed that there is no ‘right’ time to start your own business – but with a solid plan and a healthy dose of entrepreneurial spirit, it seems that there may not be a wrong time either. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, almost half a million new businesses were registered in the UK, according to data from Companies House.

Long periods of furlough, job uncertainty and changing customer needs have provided the ideal grounds for many new businesses to flourish. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into self-employment, check out the second instalment of our top tips for success.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics in 2019 showed that the traditional household, consisting of a married couple with children, was giving way to a growing number of cohabiting couples and families, with ‘common-law partners’ increasing by 25.8% in just 10 years [1].

With our living patterns changing as an increasing number of people put a hold on (or avoid altogether) the big white wedding, what many don’t realise is that there is very little legal protection for cohabiters, despite its rapidly growing popularity. Afonwy Howell-Pryce, an Associate in our Wills and Probate team, examines some of the steps you should take to avoid putting your partner, your finances and your property at risk.

It is universally agreed that there is no ‘right’ time to start your own business – but with a solid plan and a healthy dose of entrepreneurial spirit, it seems that there may not be a wrong time either. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, almost half a million new businesses were registered in the UK, according to data from Companies House.[1]

Long periods of furlough, job uncertainty and changing customer needs have provided the ideal grounds for many new businesses to flourish. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into self-employment, make sure to read our top tips for success.

In December 2019, Peggy Copeman suffered a cardiac arrest while being transported over 250 miles from a specialist mental health hospital in Somerset to her home county of Norfolk by a private ambulance provider. In lieu of a defibrillator or the provision of adequate first aid, Peggy passed away on the hard shoulder of the M11.

Following the conclusion of the inquest into Peggy’s death on Friday 25th June, Partner and head of the Actions Against Public Authorities team, Craig Court, reflects on this tragic case.

With enforced quarantining on arrival, a strict traffic light system for tourist hotspots and the risk of disruption or cancellation looming, for many, a holiday abroad this summer looks increasingly unlikely.

As a result, many of us will turn to the ‘staycation’, pinning our hopes on the unpredictable British weather, a peaceful campsite and a trusty caravan to deliver some much needed rest and recovery.

But before thousands of us head to the beautiful coastlines of West Wales or the rugged landscapes of the Lake District, Partner and head of our Personal injury team, Victoria Smithyman, offers her top tips for staying safe (and on the right side of the law!) when enjoying your summer getaway.

On 17 June 2021, the BBC published an article “Covid protection did not stop court action over unpaid rent” in which they interviewed Mr David Fox, a restaurant owner who was taken to Court over unpaid rent by his landlord.

The BBC invited comment from UK Hospitality, a body that represents the Hospitality sector. Associate William Watkins, who heads up Harding Evans Debt Recovery team looks at the article in detail, highlights the inaccuracies reported and fact checks some of the key made within the article.

Each week, more and more businesses are abandoning their usual ways of working and embracing a more flexible approach, driven by widespread homeworking brought on by the pandemic.

With a recent study of the BBC indicating that almost 50 of the UK’s biggest employers plan on embracing a mix of home and office working, it seems that hybrid working is here to stay. Daniel Wilde, Head of Employment at Harding Evans, looks at the legalities that companies need to consider before jumping head first into hybrid working.

Earlier this year, it was widely reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson (the “PM”) had a Judgement in Default entered against him, which was swiftly ‘Set Aside’ and ‘Struck Out’ soon after it was discovered.

In the final part of our blog series, Associate William Watkins, who head up our debt recovery team, looks at what happens after Judgement is set aside.