News and Blogs
News and Blogs
Adam Palmer attends the IR Global conference ‘The Big Picture’ in Paris
Adam Palmer has recently returned from another successful IR Global Annual Conference, 'The Big Picture' Having taken place in the ... read more
Litigation Paralegal leading to Training Contract
Colman Coyle is an established and highly regarded full-service commercial solicitors practice based close to the City of London in a ... read more
Why Honesty is Always the Best Policy- An Expensive Lesson Learned
Generally speaking, English law does not enforce a promise made by one person to another on its own without other requirements being ... read more
Home Made Wills – An avoidable source of disputes
There has been an increasing number of disputes over inheritances in recent years and, the source of at least some of these, which ... read more
Female Boxing at the Olympics- A Review of the Controversy
There are a few issues these days which seem to get peoples’ passions flaring more than the inclusion of transgender read more
Kay Davison joins our Dispute Resolution Team
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce that Kay Davison has joined our Dispute Resolution team. Kay has worked in property litigation ... read more
Patricia Murphy (Pat) – 35 years of service comes to an end
Patricia Murphy, Pat, joined Colman Coyle way back in 1989 just 5 years after the firm started so has given an amazing 35 years of ... read more
Remediation Contribution Orders – Upcoming Revisions
An interesting revision to the Building Safety Act 2022 (the “BSA”) which was included in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 ... read more
Colman Coyle team up with Nourished Communities
Colman Coyle is delighted to team up with Nourished Communities to spread the joy of locally sourced and produced treats! We are proud ... read more
Howard Colman & Elena Kadelburger “On the Road” at IR Global Boston
Colman Coyle are looking forward to attending the IR Global “On the Road” meeting in Boston at the end of June. Howard Colman and ... read more
Staff update – meet our latest new starters
Colman Coyle is pleased to welcome three new members of staff as well as a promotion. Matt Champ joins our dispute resolution team, ... read more
Directors at serious risk of prosecution for late filing of accounts
Whether you own an apartment on a long lease and decide to become director of the company that owns the freehold or you are the ... read more
Litigation Paralegal leading to Training Contract
Colman Coyle is an established and highly regarded full-service commercial solicitors practice based close to the City of London in a ... read more
Transgender Rights in 8-Ball Pool – Breaking Bigotry
There are a few issues these days which seem to get peoples’ passions flaring more than the inclusion of transgender competitors in sporting events. But what if a transgender competitor enjoys success in her sport, not because of any unfair advantage resulting from her previous biological or chemical makeup, but because she has dedicated herself to her craft above and beyond what her peers were prepared to do. read more
Grounds for contesting a Will
The loss of a loved one is an emotionally distressing time but with the value of estates increasing and becoming ever more complex it ... read more
What is it like to be a Colman Coyle Trainee?
In the world of law, the path to becoming a solicitor is a journey filled with challenges, growth, and invaluable experiences. We sit down with two trainee solicitors: Scarlett Anderson, and Charlie Anderson, to gain a better understanding of life as a trainee solicitor here at Colman Coyle. read more
Welcoming Anjani Purohit to our Litigation Department
Anjani has over 15 years’ experience advising on the full spectrum of property litigation matters including landlord and tenant disputes, rights of way, rights of light, trespass, adverse possession, restrictive covenants, property related professional negligence and much more. She has acted for high net worth individuals, government departments, major retailers, supermarkets, investment funds/ portfolios and various other entities over the years. read more
Understanding Mediation: A Guide to the Process England & Wales
Howard Colman has prepared an explanatory guide giving a general outline of the main features of mediation in England and Wales and addressing some of the questions which we regularly encounter. read more
Re-marriage, stepchildren and inheritance
A recent article in the Sunday Times highlighted some of the very real problems that can arise over inheritances and family wealth as the number of “blended” families rises. read more
Financial decision making and young people
There has been considerable publicity recently regarding the very real difficulties many families are having in accessing child trust funds, where the child turns 18 but is unable to make decisions for themselves. read more
Emma Reed joins our Property team
Emma is a Solicitor with particular interest in Commercial Property law. Emma has experience acting for both landlords and tenants of commercial property, property developers, investors and lenders in the acquisition, finance and disposal of commercial property such as retail, industrial, offices and development sites. read more
Reforming the leasehold and commonhold systems
In January 2022, the UK Government launched a consultation on reforming the leasehold and commonhold systems in England and Wales, seeking views on the Law Commission recommendations made in July 2020. read more
The Budget and Inheritance Tax
The Chancellor unveiled his budget on 15th March but from the point of view of inheritance tax and estate planning there was no new announcements. read more
Howard Colman to attend 2023 IR Global ‘On the Road’ conference in Bangkok
Howard Colman is delighted to represent Colman Coyle at the IR Global ‘On the Road’ conference in Bangkok. Howard is the exclusive IR member for Commercial Litigation & Commercial Arbitration in England and a long standing member of the IR Dispute Resolution Committee. read more
An update on the 11 – 18 meter Cladding Remediation Fund
On 10 January 2022 the Government announced an intention to provide a “fully funded plan of action including remediating unsafe cladding on 11 – 18m buildings”. read more
Howard Colman interviewed by IR Global on winning Member of the Year 2022 in Barcelona
Howard Colman, a Founding Partner of Colman Coyle, was delighted to win the IR Global Member of the Year 2022 award. read more
COVID rent arrears – A Landlord’s success story
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by commercial tenants against the High Court’s summary judgment rulings ordering them to pay rent arrears notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic. read more
Successful collaboration between two IR Global members from UK – London based law firm Colman Coyle Solicitors and Michael Parkinson of UK accountancy firm Barnes Roffe LLP saves the client a seven figure sum in tax
On referral of a fellow IR Global member Michael Parkinson of a prominent UK accountancy firm Barnes Roffe LLP - Colman Coyle’s Corporate team were initially instructed in relation to a management buy out of a family business in the UK. read more
Fire safety issue in residential blocks of flats
Howard Colman and Ross Wilson of Colman Coyle are pleased to have acted for a large group of private flat owners and a housing charity in a claim in respect of various fire safety construction issues relating to two blocks of flats in North London. read more
Office closure on Monday 19th September 2022 for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral
In memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our office will be closed on Monday 19th September 2022. read more
IR Global Member of the Year 2022
I am delighted that my partner, Howard Colman has been nominated as one of the three candidates to be the IR Global Member of the Year 2022. read more
Charlie Anderson joins our Company Commercial team
Colman Coyle are pleased to announce the arrival of Charlie Anderson who is joining the firm as a Paralegal. Charlie will be providing vital support in our Company Commercial Department. read more
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 – What Landlords Need To Know
Following widespread calls for change, the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 will finally come into force at the end of this month on 30 June 2022, the exception being retirement properties which will not be affected until 1 April 2023. read more
Patrick Green guest speaker at Wellcome Collection Musuem for Marie Curie
Patrick Green was delighted to once again be invited by Marie Curie to discuss a wide range of key issues with wills, inheritance tax, charitable legacies and deeds of variation. read more
Dilek Kamalak invited to discuss with potential investors the legal aspects of buying a home in England
Dilek Kamalak, a Partner in Colman Coyle, is delighted to be a guest speaker to discuss the legal aspects of the home buying process in England. read more
Colman Coyle successfully oppose commercial tenant’s 1954 Act lease renewal claim on two grounds
Colman Coyle were instructed on behalf of the landlord of a number of properties in Hackney London, the ground floors of which had been let to a commercial tenant. read more
Patrick Green guest speaker at Marie Curie ‘Gift for the Future’ event
Patrick Green was delighted to be a guest speaker at the ‘Gift for the Future’ event hosted by Marie Curie on Thursday 21 April 2022. read more
Are you looking for a Legal Secretary role in Property? We are recruiting!
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Legal Secretary to provide support to the property department. The ideal candidate will have between 2-5 years of residential and commercial property legal experience. read more
Dilek Kamalak invited by Unique London Consultancy to discuss the legal aspects of buying a property in the UK
Dilek Kamalak, a Partner in Colman Coyle, is delighted to be invited by Unique London Consultancy to discuss the legal aspects of buying a property in the UK. read more
Howard Colman in Aarhus to represent Colman Coyle at the IR Global Scandinavia group meet
Howard Colman is away in Aarhus (Denmark) to represent Colman Coyle at the IR Global Scandinavia group meet. read more
Howard Colman to attend IR Global Scandinavia Group Meet in Aarhus
Following on from the highly successful annual conference of IR Global which was held in London last year, Howard Colman will be representing Colman Coyle at the IR Global Scandinavia Group Meeting in Aarhus, Denmark between 31st March and 1st April 2022. read more
Gift and Loan Agreements Between Family Members
An article in the Sunday Times on 30th January highlighted some of the problems that can arise with gifts or loans between family members and buying a property. read more
Q&A: Five minutes with Andrew Flint
As the UK property market recently experienced record highs in activity prior to the stamp duty deadline, and more uncertainty around mortgage rates, we sit down with Andrew to hear his thoughts and ask a series of questions on his career to date. read more
Supreme Court waves goodbye to Gala
In an eagerly awaited judgment by the Supreme Court handed down today, Lord Briggs in First Port Property Services Limited -v- Settlers Court RTM Company Limited & Others [2022] UKSC 1 overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision in Gala Unity Limited -v- Ariadne Road RTM Co Limited [2013] 1WLR988. read more
How the increased variety of family structures can lead to a dispute
An article in the Sunday Times on 3rd October highlighted how the increasing variety in family structures is a factor leading to increased litigation following a death of a family member. read more
Cosima Berger joins our Dispute Resolution team
Colman Coyle are pleased to announce the arrival of Cosima Berger who is joining the firm as a Paralegal to provide litigation support. read more
New Covid-19 Commercial Rent Arrears Arbitration scheme
On 4 August 2021 the Government published some of the proposed objectives regarding a planned binding arbitration system for commercial landlords and tenants who have been affected. read more
Taking the stress out of probate
The Metro newspaper published an interesting and helpful article last Monday regarding the probate process, which included some useful advice and tips designed to make what can be a difficult and stressful process easier. read more
Leaving Cryptocurrency in your Will
Owning cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin is becoming increasingly common and one issue that is starting to become more prominent now is how to deal with these types of assets on your death. read more
How the recent fire at New Providence Wharf could change the way unsafe cladding is removed
Just over a week after the Fire Safety Act 2021 received royal assent, a fire has engulfed three floors of the 19 storey New Providence Wharf tower block in east London. read more
Fire Safety Bill becomes Fire Safety Act 2021
The Fire Safety Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021 and is now known as the Fire Safety Act 2021. The passing of this Act is bittersweet for tenants of multi-occupied residential buildings. read more
Are you looking for a Property Litigation solicitor role? We are recruiting!
We are looking for an experienced litigation solicitor to join our well respected and busy property litigation team here at Colman Coyle. read more
Philip Otvos participates in IR Global Real Estate Virtual Series: Bouncing back after the global pandemic
Philip Otvos, a Partner at Colman Coyle, has participated in the latest IR Global virtual round table series on real estate bouncing back from the global pandemic. read more
The Importance of Trusts – Part 2
In the first part of this blog, we briefly touched on the long history of trusts in English law and the fact that whilst there may be many misconceptions about them, they are a highly regulated way of benefiting people. read more
The Budget and Private Clients
As many would have seen, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivered his budget speech yesterday, which included a variety of measures but here, we are only looking at some key points for private individuals. read more
The Importance of Trusts
A recent paper from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) has highlighted the social and economic benefits of trusts. The report acknowledged that for many people trusts are seen in a negative light, perhaps because they are seen as secretive or only used by the super-rich or those looking to hide something from the authorities. read more
Naming the Right Beneficiary
We have previously talked about the importance of putting in place a Will and the difficulties that can arise if this is not done, but it is important when considering who you would like to benefit under your Will that the beneficiaries are correctly identified. read more
Commercial Property Evictions Ban Extended Until March 2021
Commercial tenants will be protected from eviction due to non-payment of rent until the end of March 2021, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced this week. read more
The End of the EU Transitional Period – What does this mean for London Businesses?
Registrations are now open for “The end of the EU Transition Period” webinar hosted by the Greater London Authority’s London Business Hub on 9th December 2020 at 10am. read more
Interpretation of “goodwill” leads to a reduction to the purchase price of company by USD5.7 million
What is the meaning of “goodwill” in the context of a share purchase? A lawyer may explain that “goodwill” means the good name, reputation and business connections of a company. read more
Colman Coyle recover 100% of investors’ failed investments
Howard Colman of Colman Coyle has been acting on behalf of a large group of investors based in numerous countries who sought to recover monies, which they had lost as the result of the failure of a property investment scheme in which they had participated in 2013/14. read more
Lenders relaxing rules on indemnity insurance for local searches
Since the COVID pandemic began the processing of local searches by local authorities has slowed considerably and in some cases has ground to a halt. read more
Overseas companies – new Companies House filing requirements
Companies House has brought in new filing requirements for certain overseas companies which coincide with the end of the transition period to the UK leaving the European Union on 31 December 2020. read more
Inheritance Tax Burden on London and South East
Recent newspaper articles have highlighted statistics that show where the burden of inheritance tax liability falls. read more
New legislation for remote signing of wills
The law relating to wills in England & Wales is to be amended so that wills can be witnessed remotely under certain conditions and shall still be valid. read more
GLA appoints Colman Coyle to produce ‘how to guides’ on lease negotiation and rent reviews
Colman Coyle is pleased to announce its continuing work with the Greater London Authority (“GLA”). The GLA, on behalf of the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), recently appointed us to deliver a range of ‘How to’ guides on the topic of lease negotiation and rent review for micro and small businesses. read more
We are due to hold our AGM; how can we hold it and comply with social distancing?
On 26th June 2020 the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (the “Act”) came into law. read more
Successful judicial review for financial advisors
Colman Coyle were recently instructed by a firm of independent financial advisors to challenge a final decision issued by the Financial Ombudsman Service (“the FOS”). read more
Online LPA Digital Service
The Office of the Public Guardian has unveiled a new online service for registered Lasting Powers of Attorney, which is designed to help attorneys prove their status to banks, health care providers and other organisations. read more
Leasehold Reform
The Law Commission has published its leasehold reform report and amongst its recommendations are the following: read more
Colman Coyle welcomed to Wales for RICS 2020 Virtual Conference
Michael Large, a Senior Associate in our Property Litigation Department, was delighted to be a speaker at RICS Wales 2020 Conference on 16 June 2020, speaking on the subject of Commercial Property Rent Reviews. read more
Ban on Evictions Extended
On 5 June 2020 the government extended the suspension on evictions until 23 August 2020. We understand that these changes will be implemented on 25 June, shortly before the current moratorium expires. read more
Supreme Court confirms that residential landlords cannot give consent to allow a breach of a lease
Last week, in the case of Duval v 11-13 Randolph Crescent Ltd [2020] UKSC 18, the Supreme Court confirmed a previous Court of Appeal decision and found that a residential landlord was not able to grant a licence for alterations. read more
Howard Colman hosts virtual IR Global meeting with international group of dispute resolution lawyers
As a committee member for the IR Global Disputes Group, Howard Colman hosted a virtual meeting with an international group of dispute resolution lawyers on Thursday 14th May 2020. read more
Recent case highlights the importance for business owners to plan for business succession
In March we commented on the importance of business succession planning and business LPAs and a recent case has further highlighted the need for business owners to consider planning for business succession. read more
Cross border trade and Covid-19 issues – applicable law and jurisdiction could be crucial
As most lawyers with any experience of disputes involving cross border trade contracts will know, the question of which law applies to the contract and, which forum is appropriate for the determination of any dispute, is frequently an issue. read more
Updated Inheritance Tax Allowances
As from 6th April, the amount a married couple, or those in a civil partnership, can leave free of inheritance tax has increased so it is now possible for such a couple can now leave a combined amount of up to £1 million to their direct descendants. read more
Signing a Will or Power of Attorney during COVID-19
The current difficult circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus has affected many things but one area where it is having considerable impact is in the area of signing documents, particularly wills and powers of attorney. read more
Capital Gains tax changes for residential property
A reminder that the rules for paying Capital Gains tax after selling qualifying residential property are changing from 6th April 2020. read more
Coronavirus Act 2020 – Business Tenancies
The government have now enacted provisions to prevent forfeiture claims being brought against businesses as a result of the crisis. read more
Coronavirus Act 2020 – Residential Tenancies
On 18th March 2020, the Government issued a press release stating that emergency legislation would be introduced to “suspend new evictions from social or private rented accommodation while this national emergency is taking place” and “no new possession proceedings through applications to the court to start during the crisis”. read more
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
We have been having questions coming through asking whether employers can apply for the scheme if their staff are on reduced pay. read more
Coping with the new challenges
Our clients have been repeatedly asking us to assist them with some of the issues their businesses are now facing as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic. read more
Colman Coyle helps GLA support businesses with ongoing coronavirus crisis
Colman Coyle was very happy to help the Greater London Authority in the ongoing coronavirus crisis. We have drafted a number of advice fact sheets very short notice to the GLA's Growth Hub, which provides support for businesses and employers. read more
Coronavirus – what is the position in English law under a lease or other contract if the pandemic affects performance of obligations
Apart from the obvious, and in many cases tragic, health effects of the current pandemic, almost every form of business is currently being significantly affected. read more
IR Global and the art of cooperation
Once again the connections which we have formed through our membership of IR Global have been of great help to a client who was engaged in a difficult dispute. read more
Measures taken against COVID-19 at Colman Coyle
In response to the COVID-19 global outbreak, Colman Coyle are putting in place measures in line with the latest advice given by the UK Government and Public Health England. The welfare of our staff, clients, and suppliers is our main priority. read more
Colman Coyle successfully resolve an alleged property fraud and discharge a freezing injunction
A freezing injunction is an interim order that prohibits a party from disposing of, or dealing with, assets. read more
Rent reviews in the news
Commercial rent reviews are in the news following reports in The Evening Standard and The Daily Telegraph. They also look set to be a key battleground in the forthcoming London Mayoral elections. read more
Stamp duty surcharge for overseas buyers in 2020 budget
The Chancellor has announced in his budget of 11th March that there will be a 2% stamp duty surcharge on the purchase of property by non-resident overseas buyers. read more
The importance of a Business Lasting Power of Attorney
Many business owners give thought to succession planning and how to pass their business on, whether to their children or indeed to somebody else. read more
It’s that time of year again for the Annual Employment Tribunal Compensation Limit Increases
The annual changes to Employment tribunal compensation are due to come into force next month. read more
Thousands of leasehold buyers were misled by developers – Competition and Markets Authority finds
Following the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) investigation into the leasehold market in June last year, the CMA has found that around 100,000 families in the UK have been misled regarding costs of ground rent, the cost of converting leasehold to freehold ownership, and fees. read more
Digital mortgage services reaches milestone
The Land Registry has announced that the 7000th re-mortgage deed was signed and registered digitally in February 2020. This follows the registration of the first digital mortgage in April 2018. read more
Guardians of the Arches debates key legal changes for commercial tenants
Small and medium sized businesses are important but often undervalued commercial tenants, leasing a wide range of commercial properties across the country. read more
Government to start trialling reservation agreements to improve conveyancing process
The government is keen to reduce the wasted costs and disappointment that results from withdrawn offers, gazumping (where the seller accepts an alternative higher offer) and gazundering (where the buyer reduces the offer at the last minute). read more
Statutory Legacy increases to £270,000 for spouses from 6 February 2020
The government has announced changes to the intestacy rules that apply when somebody dies without leaving a will. read more
Colman Coyle and the GLA
Affordable working space for small businesses is set to be an important issue at the forthcoming London Mayoral elections. read more
Scarlett Anderson joins our Property Department
Colman Coyle is pleased to announce the arrival of Scarlett Anderson to our Property Team. read more
Crypto assets are now recognised as ‘tradeable property’
The legal status of crypto assets and smart contracts under English and Welsh law has been clarified by a recent statement by the Chancellor of the England and Wales High Court, which has recognised crypto assets as ‘tradeable property’. read more
Michael Large presents LexisNexis webinar on commercial property law in 2019
Michael Large, a Senior Associate in our Property Litigation Department presented a webinar to LexisNexis subscribers on Monday 9 December 2019. His co-presenter was Rahul Varma (barrister) of Selborne Chambers. read more
Is sending Christmas cards a breach of the GDPR rules? Surely not?
Historically, companies at this festive time of year send hundreds of cards to customers, suppliers and clients. read more
Six key features to consider when registering an overseas company in the UK
Registering a UK establishment as an overseas company is a useful tool for overseas businesses which trade in the UK and wish to establish a UK presence but do not want to set up a UK company. read more
Charity Commission issues report on fraud against UK charities
The Charity Commission has issued a report on fraud against UK charities which helps highlight some very real potential problems for charities. read more
Michael Large presents LexisNexis webinar on commercial rent reviews
Michael Large, a Senior Associate in our Property Litigation Department presented a webinar on commercial rent reviews to LexisNexis subscribers on Friday 18 October 2019. read more
Experienced Legal Secretary required for a well-known Central London law firm based near Angel, Islington
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an additional experienced Legal Secretary to provide support to the Litigation department of a highly regarded busy law firm based in this trendy and vibrant location. read more
Bank’s liability for failing to prevent fraud
The Supreme Court has very recently (30th October 2019) handed down judgment in the case of Singularis Holdings Ltd (In Official Liquidation) v Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Ltd. read more
State Immunity for a European State in Employment Claim
Colman Coyle’s Employment team have recently successfully concluded a claim in the Employment Tribunal brought by an employee against Colman Coyle’s client. It was an unusual case in that our client was an Institute located in England but operated by a European State Government. read more
Guardians of the Arches secure Tenants Charter
Guardians of the Arches started as a collective of railway arch tenants from Hackney in London. It has grown into a national association for commercial tenants, with over four hundred members and counting. read more
Ozone’s spectacular Emma Street opening!
Harry Dronfield, Nathalie White and Adam Palmer attended the opening of Ozone Coffee’s Emma Street, Bethnal Green roasting house and eatery on Wednesday 9th October 2019. read more
Navneet Jhawar joins our Dispute Resolution department
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Navneet Jhawar to our Dispute Resolution department. read more
Forget Brexit, we may have a Ministry for Employment Rights and Workers’ Protection Agency
There has been talk about a general election, and if Labour get in, they have proposed a creation of a Ministry for Employment Rights. This will be quite a shake up of employment and trade union law. read more
Patrick Green attends Jersey Finance Annual Private Wealth Conference
Patrick Green from Colman Coyle’s Private Client Department attended the Jersey Finance Annual Private Wealth Conference on Thursday. read more
Rights of first refusal: new leases granted by landlord before a collective enfranchisement claim were exempt disposals
In York House (Chelsea) Ltd v Thompson and another [2019] EWHC 2203 (Ch), the High Court held that the grant of new leases of various parts of a block of flats for no premium and at a peppercorn rent, by the husband and wife freehold owners to one or other of themselves, was an exempt disposal. read more
Commonhold on hold?
Commonhold is an alternative to leasehold ownership, and the idea behind it is that it allows a person to own a freehold flat and be a member of the company which owns and manages the common parts and structure of the building. read more
Wissam Abousleiman from Lebanon visits our London office
Colman Coyle were pleased to welcome Wissam Abousleiman to our London office on Thursday 12th September 2019. read more
Weak pound encourages M&A activity in the UK
The drop in the value of the pound has made the acquisition of UK businesses more attractive for foreign buyers. read more
‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ involved in up to a fifth of all property purchases
A recent article in the Sunday Times has highlighted various pitfalls that can occur when parents give or lend money to their children in relation to property purchases. read more
Thomas Coyle joins the firm as a Trainee Solicitor
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Thomas Coyle. Thomas will be joining the firm as a Trainee Solicitor to provide vital support for the growing team. read more
Leasehold reform
When selling a leasehold property, particularly in a professionally managed block of flats, the managing agent needs to supply information that is required by the buyer’s solicitor and will charge a fee for doing so. read more
The government seeks landlords’ and tenants’ views on implementing its decision to remove section 21 of the Housing Act 1988
In April this year, the government set out its plans to abolish tenants’ evictions where there is no reason for eviction, which is currently possible under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. read more
IR Global Conference in Chicago
Oksana Howard and Howard Colman of Colman Coyle International Department were delighted to attend the IR Global Conference in Chicago. read more
The importance of a properly drawn up will
A case regarding a disputed succession has featured in the media recently, with the point at issue being whether the husband or the wife died first. Sadly, the couple were found dead in their home and is not known with certainty when they died or which of them died first. read more
Patrick Green passes STEP qualification in UK Tax for International Clients
Colman Coyle is pleased to announce that Patrick Green, a Senior Associate in our Private Client Department has recently passed the STEP Advanced Certificate in UK Tax for International Clients. read more
Colman Coyle to attend the IR Global ‘On the Road’ conference in Chicago, USA
Howard Colman & Oksana Howard will be representing Colman Coyle at the IR Global ‘On the Road’ conference in Chicago, USA from 10th July to 13th July 2019. read more
Colman Coyle at the House of Commons
Following their campaigning work last year, Guardians of the Arches was instrumental in the National Audit Office (NAO) study into Network Rail‘s recent sale of railway arches. read more
Importance of a Charity’s Surveyors Report
A recent case where a charity was looking to have a contract to sell a property set aside serves as a useful reminder to trustees of charities of the formalities that charities need to comply with when selling, mortgaging, leasing or otherwise disposing of land. read more
Leasehold buyers may be able to claim compensation following the result of the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation
UK’s competition authority will investigate whether some leasehold buyers have been charged exorbitant fees upon the purchase of their property. read more
A new prescribed form for terminating an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)
A New Prescribed form for terminating an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (HA 1988) is to come into force on the 1st June 2019 to reflect the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (TFA 2019) read more
Are you looking for a litigation solicitor role? We are recruiting!
We are looking for an experienced litigation solicitor to join our well respected and busy legal team here at Colman Coyle. read more
Harry and Ignacio attend the opening of Mesón Callejón on Upper Street
Harry Dronfield and Ignacio Morillas-Paredes attended the opening night of Mesón Callejón read more
Rewarding and incentivising staff – the Richer Sounds way
I enjoyed reading about Julian Richer, owner of Richer Sounds, placing 60 per cent of his shares in Richer Sounds in an employee ownership trust. I think it’s a hugely enlightened approach. read more
Home Buying Reservation Agreements to be tested this year
The Government has stated that it wishes to trial reservation agreements this year and it is developing a standard reservation agreement to reduce the number of failed property transactions. read more
Expert witnesses: Take care when providing a report to the court or you could end up in prison
The Court of Appeal has recently considered the question of the appropriate sanction for an expert witness who signs a statement of ... read more
Government plans to scrap Section 21 evictions on residential tenancies
Under the proposals, which are not yet law, assured shorthold tenancies would effectively become open ended. The proposals also seem to reflect the failure of changes to the Section 21 regime in recent years to provide increased security of tenure. For example, the changes to Section 21 to prevent ‘revenge eviction’ have been completely ineffective. read more
Colman Coyle and the IR Disputes Group
Howard Colman is the exclusive dispute resolution and arbitration member for England of IR Global one of the world’s leading ... read more
Dispute Resolution After Brexit
The dispute resolution mechanism in the UK will change after Brexit. There are different potential outcomes, which depend on whether ... read more
It’s that time of year…
As you are aware, every year there are new Employment Tribunal compensation rates which apply from the 6th of April each year (The ... read more
National Minimum Wage increases
The annual changes to National Minimum Wages are due to come into force today, 1st April 2019. Please see below the following ... read more
Successful conference for Michael Large at RICS Newmarket
A great day at RICS Newmarket CPD conference held at Newmarket race course on Thursday 28 March 2019 in glorious sunshine. A strong ... read more
Mental Capacity and Social Media
A recent judgement of the Court of Protection has set out the legal test for capacity for the use of the internet and social media. In ... read more
Challenging a will
A recent survey by a major insurance company has found that up to a quarter of the people surveyed would mount a legal challenge ... read more
Michael Large guest speaker at RICS Newmarket on Commercial Property Rent Reviews
Michael Large, a Senior Associate at Colman Coyle will be among the guest speakers at RICS CPD Day Newmarket on Thursday 28 March 2019 ... read more
Tenants are entitled to acquire leases of basement, airspace and subsoil as part of a collective enfranchisement claim
Tenants are entitled to acquire leases of basement, airspace and subsoil as part of a collective enfranchisement claim read more
Stamp Duty Land Tax Surcharge Consultation Begins
In the October 2018 Budget, the government announced it would consult on the introduction of an SDLT surcharge on non-UK residents purchasing residential properties in England and Northern Ireland. The consultation is now open. read more
Val Del Rosario from the Philippines visits our London office
Colman Coyle were pleased to welcome Val Del Rosario from the Philippines to our London office on Wednesday 27th February 2019. read more
Michael Large attends National Audit Office representing Guardians of the Arches
Colman Coyle has been acting for and working with Guardians of the Arches, a national collective of commercial tenants based in railway property, since November 2018. read more
Early Termination of Commercial Leases; from a Tenant’s point of view
A commercial lease is a legal contract and are generally granted for a fixed period of years known as a term. The tenant would usually remain bound to pay rent and comply with all other obligation in the lease until the end of lease term. read more
Community Infrastructure Levy and the importance of serving the Commencement Notice
Regulation 67(1) of the CIL Regulations explains that a Commencement Notice must be submitted to the Collecting Authority no later than the day before the day on which the chargeable development is to be commenced. read more
Ignacio Morillas-Paredes attends Brexit conference in Malaga
Ignacio Morillas-Paredes, a Partner at Colman Coyle, attended a conference in Malaga on Thursday 7th February to discuss and analyse the uncertain and changing position of Brexit along with experts from different fields in both the UK and Spain. read more
Beware…Long Residential Leases can be classified as ASTs
Whilst Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) are usually thought of as short term agreements, the legislation governing ASTs does not specify a maximum term. Therefore, any lease can constitute an AST irrespective of its length, provided it satisfies the relevant statutory criteria. read more
Colman Coyle to attend 2019 IR Global ‘Dealmakers’ Conference in Rome
Colman Coyle is pleased that it will be represented by Howard Colman & Oksana Howard at the 2019 IR Global ‘Dealmakers’ conference in Rome, Italy from 31st January - 2nd February. read more
Is your property deemed fit for human habitation?
The (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill has received Royal Assent and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (HFHHA 2018) is to come into force on the 20th March 2019. read more
Colman Coyle advises trustees on the Vanguard Restoration Foundation Project
Colman Coyle has always been proud of the work it does with charities and other voluntary organisations and has recently advised the trustees of the Vanguard Restoration Foundation in respect of a successful application to the Charity Commission for charitable status. read more
Government backs property logbooks to speed up conveyancing
Matt Prior of the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government confirmed on 6th November that the Government is likely to ... read more
Are you looking for a legal secretary role? We are recruiting!
Colman Coyle is an established and highly regarded solicitors practice based close to the City of London in a thriving and cosmopolitan area of Upper Street, Islington. Due to our continued expansion, we are now looking for a junior Legal Secretary to provide support to the Litigation department. read more
Recent Development on Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed has been described by The Environment Agency as “indisputably the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant” as a result of its very fast growing nature it poses risks to properties within seven metres of the plant. read more
Raluca Sterian attends Chillin’ Competition Conference in Brussels, Belgium
Raluca Sterian from Colman Coyle recently attended a prestigious conference on Competition Law in Brussels on Wednesday 20th November 2018. read more
Exciting development for Colman Coyle’s International Department
As part of the continuing growth in the International Department at Colman Coyle we are pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement with Shylov & Partners, a well established and highly respected law firm based in Kyiv Ukraine. read more
Proposed Probate Fee Increase
Following in the wake of the recent budget, the Government has put forward proposals to significantly increase the cost of obtaining a Grant of Probate. These proposals are similar to ones first put forward in 2017 and early indications are that they are likely to be just as controversial. read more
Landlords take note – the right to forfeit is lost when CRAR is used
Whilst the ancient landlord remedy of levying distress on a tenants goods in order to release funds to discharge rent arrears was accepted by the Courts as a landlord act which unequivocally affirmed the continuation of the tenants lease, the remedy of distress was abolished in 2014 and replaced by a new but similar regime called CRAR. read more
Philip Otvos attends talk hosted by CRELA
Property Partner, Philip Otvos, attended an informative talk last night hosted in the City by CRELA (The Commercial Real Estate Legal Association). read more
Lenders take on the new EPC requirements
As from the 1st April 2018 there is a requirement for any properties rented out in the private rented sector to normally have a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). read more
Employers giving away free money… surely not?
Over the last couple of months I have been astounded that employers who are served with employment claims are not filing their defences on time or let the deadline pass. I then get the call to ask whether they can file a defence after the deadline. read more
Raluca Sterian joins our Litigation Department
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Raluca Sterian to our Litigation department. Raluca is a Romanian national and will join us as a Legal Assistant to provide vital support to the growing team. read more
Failure to serve costs budget on time means party unable to recover budgeted costs in excess of £800,000
As practitioners will know, one of the most significant changes to civil procedure brought about by the reforms recommended by Lord Justice Jackson (as he then was) include a requirement for costs budgeting to take place in most cases. read more
Colman Coyle takes part in charity 5-a-side football tournament
On Friday, 19th October, Colman Coyle took part in a charity 5-a-side football tournament in Shoreditch hosted by its client, Kingpin Communications, to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and a primary school in South Africa. read more
IR Global annual conference – London 2018
Howard Colman and Oksana Howard recently attended the annual conference of IR Global (the leading international network for legal, financial and corporate services professionals) which, this year, was held in London. read more
The Only Way is Up
According to research carried out by Knight Frank last year, 41,000 new dwellings could be built in Central London using rooftop development space, without altering the skyline. read more
Colman Coyle offers employment protection insurance
As an Employer, it can be frustrating to be served with an unmeritorious claim. Especially if the business has done everything to support and nurture that Employee. Defending claims are costly. read more
Colman Coyle at the RICS
On Thursday 11 October 2018 he will be giving a CPD talk in Chelmsford at Chelmsford Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1JE for the RICS, on the subject of MEES and Rent Reviews from 6pm to 7pm. read more
Spotlight on the international work of Colman Coyle
Colman Coyle has developed a strong reputation for its international legal work which continues to grow. As part of its international team, the firm has specialist Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, CIS and Turkish desks and also has strong connections with many other countries worldwide. read more
Colman Coyle to attend the annual IR Global conference in London, England
Colman Coyle is pleased to be attending the annual IR Global conference which this year is being held in London, England from 13th - 16th October 2018. read more
Proposed reforms to enfranchisement: better deals for leaseholders?
As a lead member of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) Colman Coyle has been invited to attend a discussion on the reforms recently proposed by the Law Commission which aims to provide better deals for leaseholders who want to purchase their freehold or to extend the lease of their home. read more
Underneath the Arches
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is one of the largest landlords in the county. It recently announced that it has finalised terms for the sale of most of its commercial estate, around 5,200 commercial properties, to Telereal Trillium and Blackstone Property Partners for £1.46 billion. read more
Gift Applications to The Court of Protection
A recent Court of Protection case has highlighted some important points to note when it comes to deciding whether gifts, even of a significant value, are in an individual’s best interests. read more
Interesting cases on residential evictions
There have been several interesting cases on residential evictions in the last year, here is a brief round up of four of them. read more
Refusal of consent by landlords
Landlords consent is often required where a tenant is assigning a lease (selling a property). In West India Quay, the tenant was selling residential apartments. Landlord’s consent was required, and as is normal the consent was not to be unreasonably withheld. read more
Injunctions and trespass: Urban explorers and stunt bikers
Sometimes, a possession order is not much use for getting rid of trespassers. Injunctions are more use than possession orders in a number of situations. read more
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Exemptions and Relief on Multiple Dwellings
Some types of transactions may be exempt from SDLT or reliefs can be applicable to reduce the amount payable. One of the exemptions available is multiple dwellings relief and can apply if two or more properties are being acquired. read more
Liability for Japanese knotweed
Judgment was handed down by the Court of Appeal in this case on 3 July 2018. Japanese knotweed is a pernicious weed and natural hazard. The hair-like rhizomes of the plant are extremely invasive and can cause damage to concrete. read more
Subletting of flats held on long leases
Colman Coyle act for the landlord of a block of flats in this case which is currently before the Court of Appeal. The lease of one of the flats contained a covenant “not to use the property otherwise than as a single private dwelling house in the occupation of the Lessee and his family”. read more
Tenants’ Rights of First Refusal
Where a landlord sells or disposes of a freehold interest, leasehold tenants may qualify for the right of ‘first refusal’ to buy the freehold. This arises under Section 6 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. Where the tenants qualify, the landlord must serve a notice under Section 5 of the Act. read more
What a relief! Relief from forfeiture of a licence
Michael Large looks at a Court of Appeal decision of 25th May 2018 likely to be relevant to anyone who holds or grants a licence over land: Vauxhall Motors Limited (formerly General Motors Limited) (“Vauxhall”) v Manchester Ship Canal (“MSC”) [2018] EWCA Civ 1100. read more
Colman Coyle successfully advises New Zealand law firm on cross border acquisition
Colman Coyle’s corporate team have recently acted in the successful acquisition of an English food and drinks manufacturer by a New Zealand company. read more
Colman Coyle & the Islington Society – supporting the local community
Whilst Colman Coyle is well known for its international outlook and expertise, the firm is also proud of its local connections and for being part of the local community in Islington. read more
LexisNexis – training other law firms in the law
LexisNexis is one of the leading suppliers of training to lawyers and we are pleased to announce that Michael Large recently presented a webinar for LexisNexis on residential property litigation. read more
Success for the Crown Estate Commissioners
The judgment recently handed down by the Court of Appeal in Whitehall Court London Limited v The Crown Estate Commissioners will be of interest to anyone in the field of leasehold enfranchisement. read more
Break clauses in commercial leases – a further warning
The case of Goldman Sachs International v Procession House Trustee 1 Limited and Procession House Trustee 2 Limited [2018] EWHC 1523 (Ch) is a further reminder of the care needed with break clauses in commercial leases. read more
Varying a contract, even by agreement, may not be as straightforward as you think!
In many written contracts, especially those drafted by lawyers, it is common to have a contractual provision precluding any amendment of the agreement other than in writing. This is commonly referred to as a “No Oral Modification” or “NOM” clause. read more
Lasting powers of attorney – points to bear in mind
We have written previously of the advantages in having a lasting power of attorney in place and not to rely on having the Court ... read more
Colman Coyle attends Damon Hill Karting challenge to help raise funds for the Halow charity
Philip Otvos, Michael Large and Patrick Green participated in the annual Damon Hill Karting challenge on Wednesday 20th June 2018 at ... read more
Louis Copland becomes our Business Development Coordinator
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce that Louis Copland has recently been promoted to Business Development Coordinator. Louis ... read more
Colman Coyle attends Business Forum 2018
Oksana Howard & Harry Dronfield from Colman Coyle were pleased to recently attend the Business Forum 2018. This is an ... read more
Colman Coyle attends excellent charity event in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital
Colman Coyle were delighted to support and attend an excellent charity event on Thursday 7th June 2018 hosted by our clients, ... read more
Michael Large joins our Dispute Resolution department
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Michael Large to our Dispute Resolution department. Michael has a wide range of ... read more
How long is long enough?
It is trite law that if a landlord of residential property wants to recover the cost of employing a managing agent, for example, ... read more
Colman Coyle at Hotel Café Royal
Colman Coyle would like to thank all our guests who attended our drinks and canapés reception at the Hotel Café Royal on Wednesday ... read more
Colman Coyle is now a member of ALEP
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce that it has recently been accepted as a member of ALEP. Formed in 2007 and now with 225 ... read more
Colman Coyle has significant experience in the hotel industry
Colman Coyle has significant experience in acting for hotels and advising in relation to their various legal needs, including: ... read more
Patrick Green joins our Private Client department
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Patrick Green to our Private Client department. Patrick has considerable ... read more
Government response to improving the home buying and selling process following call for evidence
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has now published a summary of responses to the call for evidence and set ... read more
Colman Coyle to attend 2018 ‘On The Road’ IR Global Conference in Toronto
Colman Coyle is pleased to be taking part in the IR Global conference which this year is being held in Toronto, Canada from 16th - ... read more
Key considerations to incorporating terms of use in a website
Understandably businesses are currently focused on GDPR compliance. But, in my experience, some businesses with an online presence ... read more
Notice pay and tax in settlement agreements
Attention to all Employers, please do not forget that taxation rules will be changing from 6th April 2018 in respect of payment in ... read more
Important points to consider before purchasing a residential property in the UK
Usually, a property will be purchased with the aid of a mortgage and it is therefore important to obtain a prequalified and ... read more
Will smart contracts ever replace legal contracts?
Blockchain, also known as distributed ledger technology (DLT), is everywhere right now. The technology and its various applications ... read more
Private block residents told to pay £500,000 to replace Grenfell style cladding
Following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower last year, at least 130 private apartment complexes have failed cladding tests. The ... read more
GDPR – you may need advice, but possibly not from us!
In a departure from the usual script, this blog is about a service that we don’t offer: general legal advice regarding the incoming ... read more
Employment Tribunal awards are increased
It is that usual time of year where the Tribunal awards are increased. This will come into effect from 6th April 2018. As you are ... read more
Model cooperation leads to success
Cooperation between IR Global Members Howard Colman and Colman Coyle and Dr Jana Schott and Urs Breitsprecher of MKRG in Dusseldorf ... read more
Can you make a Will by text message?
In a recent Australian case, the Queensland Supreme Court ruled that an unsent draft text message constituted a valid Will. ... read more
Boundary Disputes: A new resolution process on the horizon
The Property Boundaries (Resolution of Disputes) Bill is currently making its way through the legislature. In an effort to reduce ... read more
Top 5 points to consider when negotiating a Lease (acting for a Tenant)
The commercial terms for a new lease are a matter of negotiation between the Landlord and the Tenant. Whilst commercial factors will ... read more
Land Registry announces further progress towards digitisation
In 2017 the Land Registry launched a consultation on digital conveyancing and last week it was announced that from 6th April 2018, ... read more
Speedy action helps mitigate loss caused by internet fraud
Howard Colman John Wolfs Fellow IR Global Member, John Wolfs of Wolfs Advocaten, a highly regarded law firm based in the ... read more
Colman Coyle to attend 2018 IR Global ‘Dealmakers’ Conference in Lisbon
Colman Coyle is pleased that it will be represented by Howard Colman & Oksana Howard at the 2018 IR Global ‘Dealmakers’ conference ... read more
Beneficial Ownership Register for Property Owning Offshore Companies
The Government has just announced that it intends to publish draft legislation which when passed, will require all overseas ... read more
Hakki Celebi joins our Property Department
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Hakki Celebi to our Property department. Hakki is a Turkish national and will ... read more
Hospital keeps alive patient against her will
In a recent ruling, the family of an 81-year-old woman has received a £45,000 pay-out after she was kept alive against her ... read more
A New Electronic Communications Code
The Digital Economy Act 2017 received royal assent in April 2017 which includes a new Electronic Communications Code “New Code”. ... read more
Autumn Budget 2017: Chancellor Philip Hammond abolishes Stamp Duty for First Time Buyers
Stamp duty will be abolished from 22 November 2017 for first time buyers buying a home valued up to £300,000 and on the first ... read more
Sexual harassment is not acceptable (Part 2)
A few weeks ago, I posted an article regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. You can view the previous article here. Since ... read more
Service Charges – Tenants Beware!
Colman Coyle were recently instructed to defend an application brought by two tenants for a determination of their liability to ... read more
Top Five Tips for Sellers
The Community Secretary, Sajid Javid, wants to make the conveyancing process “cheaper, faster and less stressful”. He has ... read more
The PSC regime part 1 – five steps to ensure compliance
We frequently receive enquiries from new and existing clients about their obligations around the PSC, or Persons having ... read more
Sexual harassment is not acceptable
Sexual harassment in any form is not acceptable in the 21st century and definitely not in 2017 full stop. Companies must be alert ... read more
Insurance – Landlords Take Note!
In the recent decision of COS Services Limited -v- Nicholson [2017] UK UT 0382 the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) dismissed a ... read more
Colman Coyle is now a member of the Charity Law Association
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce we are now members of the Charity Law Association. Founded in 1992, Charity Law Association ... read more
Ignacio Morillas-Paredes from Colman Coyle attends Arbitration ICC Conference in Havana, Cuba
Ignacio Morillas from Colman Coyle was delighted to attend the International Arbitration conference in Havana, Cuba on Thursday ... read more
96% of clients would be happy to use Colman Coyle again
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce extremely positive annual client satisfaction survey results which show 96.9% of clients ... read more
Creditors Beware! Debt Collection may become more difficult after 1st October 2017
On 1st October 2017 a new Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims comes into force and appears to have potentially serious ... read more
New Injury to Feeling “Bands”
As you are aware, if an employee is successful in a discrimination claim, not only will they receive damages for loss of earnings, ... read more
Court defeat for couple hoping to keep a dog in their flat
A couple have lost their legal battle to keep their dog in their flat on a gated estate that has a no pets policy. The property is ... read more
Livery stable business qualifies for Business Property Relief for Inheritance Tax purposes
In the recent case between the Personal Representative of the Estate of M W Vigne Deceased v HMRC 2017, the First-tier Tribunal ... read more
Enforcement – “Sufficient Notice”?
For residential property the safest way to proceed in dealing with possession is to seek an Order for possession from the Court. If ... read more
Selling goods online? Here are five keys points to include in online terms and conditions
Consumers are increasingly using the internet to purchase goods and obtain services as well as purchasing digital content, for ... read more
Russian businessman living in Russia held to be subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts
At the end of July 2017 the Commercial Court in London handed down Judgment in a dispute as to whether or not it had jurisdiction ... read more
Colman Coyle to attend the annual IR Global conference in Berlin
Colman Coyle is pleased to be attending the annual IR Global conference in Berlin, Germany from 10th - 12th September ... read more
Employment Tribunal Fee Update
Unfortunately, we are no closer to finding out how a Claimant is able to be refunded their Tribunal fees. I understand that some ... read more
Comment on Equality
What does equality mean to you? The fallout from the BBC publishing the salaries of their earners continues. There is anger, ... read more
What happens if an individual loses mental capacity and does not have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place?
If someone loses mental capacity and does not have a Lasting Power of Attorney, an application will need to be made to the Court ... read more
Leasehold Reform – Update
Following on from my last blog on potential leasehold reform, the Government is moving faster than anticipated to reform the ... read more
Breaking News – Employment Fees Unlawful
So Unison have finally been successful in the Supreme Court, Employment Tribunal fees are unlawful. The Court stated that the ... read more
Pitfalls in Cross-Border Commercial Agreements – Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution
When entering into a commercial contract which involves a party in another country, it is easy to overlook the importance of the ... read more
21st Century Leasehold Process – Any Reform Likely?
A group of conveyancing bodies has submitted a list of initiatives to the Housing Minister for what they describe as a “21st ... read more
Colman Coyle Awarded IR Global Gold Member Status
We are delighted to have been awarded the honour of Gold Member status by IR Global. This is a prestigious new honour bestowed ... read more
Welcome to our new Turkish Desk!
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce that our International Department is expanding with the launch of our new Turkish ... read more
Successful Company Acquisition through teamwork of IR Global Members
Colman Coyle are delighted to have recently completed the acquisition on behalf of a client, of the entire shareholding in a UK ... read more
Is a “Parking Permit Free” Obligation a valid Section 106 Planning Obligation
For people who live in a controlled parking zone, they need a parking permit to be issued to them by the local authority so that ... read more
Contentious Probate Update – Spring/Summer 2017
This was a case decided by Mrs Justice Rose relating to a will trust made by Mr Henry Hand in 1946. Background Henry Hand’s ... read more
Dilek Kamalak joins our Property Department
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Dilek Kamalak to our Property Department. Dilek is fluent in Turkish and will ... read more
Five keys aspects of Shareholders’ Agreements
There are certain considerations all shareholders should think about when entering into Shareholders’ Agreements. Below I set out ... read more
Successful trip for Colman Coyle Solicitors in Singapore
I am now back in London from a very interesting and productive trip to Singapore. I am grateful to the British High Commission ... read more
Do Not Fall Foul of a Disability Discrimination During Recruitment
As an employer, do not forget that the organisation could be subject to a discrimination claim even during the recruitment ... read more
When is notice in an Employment Contract deemed to be given?
As an employer do you know if you give notice of termination when is that deemed to have effect? In a recent case namely, ... read more
Nationwide Building Society Announces New Ground Rent and Lease Length Policy
The Nationwide Building Society has recently announced that from 11th May 2017 it will no longer lend on new build properties ... read more
Philip Otvos and Harry Dronfield join Colman Coyle
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the arrival of Philip Otvos and Harry Dronfield. Philip Otvos is an experienced Commercial ... read more
Are you liable for incorrect information under a Regulation 11 letter pursuant to TUPE?
If you are a transferor namely a business entity that is selling your business or transferring a contract to another service ... read more
Efficiency of Arbitration in Dispute Resolution
Howard Colman our head of Dispute Resolution and the International Desk has recently been invited to participate in a ... read more
Probate fees: Planned increase scrapped ahead of election
Controversial plans to raise probate fees are to be scrapped ahead of the snap general election announced this week by the Prime ... read more
Property fraud in the news again
City Firm Mishcon de Reya has been found liable for a breach of trust and has been ordered to pay more than £1,000,000 in ... read more
Insolvent Companies – Re-Use of the Company Name
It is an unfortunate fact of life that a large number of companies end up in insolvent liquidation. Often that is just a ... read more
A Practical Guide: An overview of Employment Law in England & Wales
Colman Coyle Solicitors has recently produced a new practical guide to help international clients understand the various aspects ... read more
Compulsory Purchase Orders, EC1
Colman Coyle has recently accepted instructions to act for various long leaseholders (both residential and commercial) concerning ... read more
Colman Coyle to visit Singapore in May 2017
Colman Coyle is pleased to be taking part in the 2017 IR Global conference in Singapore, Malaysia from 10th -12th May 2017. Howard ... read more
Pre-Action Protocol on Debt Claims
The Ministry of Justice has now released the final version of the new Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims that will come into ... read more
Annual Increases
As of 6th April 2017, we have our usual annual compensation increase. As you are well aware, the current maximum’s week’s pay is ... read more
Mees Update – Non Domestic Premises
We summarised the key points of the up and coming Energy Efficiency (Private Rent Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 ... read more
Aggregation of claims under Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance
The Supreme Court has today (22nd March 2017) handed down its much awaited Judgment in AIG Europe Limited V Woodman and Others ... read more
Colman Coyle unveils redesigned website
Colman Coyle is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new redesigned website! The site has a refreshed and simplified ... read more
Charity Begins at Home: A Cautionary Tale for Disinherited Children
Having recently grappled with the complex constitutional issues raised by the Government’s Brexit appeal, the Supreme Court Justices were faced with another important decision in the case of Ilott v The Blue Cross & Others [2017] UKSC 17. read more
9,000% increase in Probate Fees – More Inheritance Disputes?
From May of this year, the fee for rubber-stamping an inheritance is set to increase by over 9,000% in England and Wales for some estates. read more
Right-to-Manage Legislation : Defective Claim – Beware!
In Elim Court RTM Company Limited v Avon Freeholds Limited [2017] EWCA Civ 89 the Court of Appeal considered the consequences of a failure to comply strictly with the statutory notice procedure and whether this would be fatal to obtaining the right to manage. read more
Anglo-German cooperation between IR Global members results in successful outcome for the client
Howard Colman of Colman Coyle Solicitors in London has been working closely with Urs Breitsprecher of MKRG Attorneys in Dusseldorf to assist a German client of MKRG in a contractual dispute. read more
Major increase in Probate Fees has arrived!
Stemming from my previous blog about the possibility of probate fees increasing, the Ministry of Justice has this week announced that the increase will come into force from May 2017. read more
Apprenticeship Levy
If you as an employer have a pay bill of £3 million each year, you are subject to an apprenticeship levy. read more
Do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney?
We often think a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is for the older individual who may be suffering from early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Whist this is correct, LPA’s actually apply to any individual over the age of 18. You may ask but why? read more
E- Conveyancing – the future?
The Land Registry has opened a consultation in relation to amending the Land Registration Rules to allow deeds to be signed electronically rather than on paper. read more
Housing White Paper: Fixing Our Broken Housing Market
This month saw the release of the Government’s white paper, ‘Fixing our broken housing market’. The 104-page white paper outlines the problems with the UK housing market and sets out the Government’s proposal to boost supply in the short and long term. read more
National Minimum Wage Increase
As you are aware, each year the National Minimum wage increases. read more
Good news for renters
A new Government white paper will focus attention on more affordable and secure property rentals. read more
Colman Coyle to attend 2017 IR Global ‘Dealmakers’ Conference in Barcelona
Colman Coyle is pleased to be attending the 2017 IR Global ‘Dealmakers’ conference in Barcelona, Spain from 2nd-4th February 2017. read more
Third Party Funding in Arbitration Hong Kong to modernise it’s rules
As we have reported previously, the use of third party funding in litigation and arbitration is significantly on the increase in England and various other jurisdictions. read more
Probate fees set to soar
The Government has announced plans to replace the flat fee cost for a grant of representation to a tier system that could see millions of bereaved families pay up to £20,000. read more
Vicarious Liability: assault at a Christmas party
In the recent decision of Bellman v Northampton Recruitment Ltd (2016), the High Court held that a company was not vicariously liable for the assault by one it its directors on an employee following a company Christmas party. read more
Failure to comply with the Estate Agents Act 1979 proves very costly for estate agents
Most agents will be aware that the Estate Agents Act 1979 imposes an obligation upon an agent to ensure that, before any person enters into a contract under which the agent will engage in estate agency services, the agent provides specified information. read more
Costs blow for Third Party Funders
The Court of Appeal has recently delivered a Judgment which has serious potential consequences for third party funders. read more
Are Uber drivers self employed contractors or workers?
In the Case of Aslam and Others v Uber BV and Others, the Tribunal handed out its decisions that the drivers engaged by Uber were workers and fell within the legal definition of section 230(3)(b) of the Employment Rights Act 1996. read more
Possible changes to the HMO Legislation
The Department for Communities and Local Government launched a consultation on Houses in Multiple Occupation (“HMO”) called Houses in multiple occupation and residential property licensing reforms. read more
Holiday pay update
You may recall a few years ago my colleague did a blog on whether the holiday pay calculation should include commission. read more
Singapore Third Party Funding in Arbitration and changes to Arbitration Rules
The use of third party funding by parties involved in disputes continues to be a hot topic worldwide. read more
Update: National Minimum Wage
The annual changes to the minimum wages are due to come into force tomorrow, 1st October 2016. read more
Are You MEES Ready?
We are now 18 months away from the next phase of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 which will see the implementation of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (“MEES”). read more
Higher Stamp Duty rates continue to cause confusion
Following the Autumn Statement on 25th November 2015, the then Chancellor announced that higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) would apply from 1st April to purchases of additional residential properties. Since then we have found that clients can be confused as to whether higher rates are applicable in the less straightforward cases. read more
Third Party Funding in Arbitration Proceedings in England
Obtaining information about trends in Arbitration is not an easy task as, by their nature, Arbitration proceedings are subject to confidentiality and most are conducted “behind closed doors”. read more
Employees with child care commitments
A recent case has highlighted the issues employers face when accommodating employees with child care commitments. read more
Supreme Court to Rule on Important Points of Insurance Law of Particular Importance to Solicitors and Clients Claiming Against Them
The solicitors profession, and it’s insurers, are anxiously awaiting the Judgments of the Supreme Court in two separate cases relating to solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance. read more
Intestacy Rules – Why it is still important to make a will
Intestacy rules determine where assets go upon death, when no will exists. read more
£30,000 Termination Payment Still Intact
I am sure both employers and employees alike have been waiting with baited breath as to whether or not the first £30,000 which can be tax free as a termination payment was going to be reduced. read more
Do reasonable adjustments extend to continuation of higher salary?
The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) recently discussed in the case of G4S Cash Solutions (UK) Ltd v Powell, if a disabled employee should be continued to pay a higher salary when moved to a lesser role for the purposes of making reasonable adjustments. read more
Does a Use Clause Prevent Underletting and does such a Use Clause fall foul of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber))
Neil Curbison of Colman Coyle had conduct of the successful appellant’s appeal in Roundlistic Limited v Jones & Another [2016] UKUT 325 (TCC) which was recently handed down by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). read more
Litigants in Person – Special Treatment by the Courts?
There are an increasing number of parties in civil proceedings that are deciding to represent themselves, as litigants in person. read more
THE INSURANCE ACT 2015 – an overview of the most significant changes to UK Insurance Contracts for over 100 years
The Insurance Act 2015 (“the Act”) comes into force on 12th August 2016. The delay of 18 months from when the Act was passed by Parliament was deliberate in order to give everyone the opportunity to prepare for, and become familiar with, what are very substantial changes. read more
Property Cybercrime is on the increase
Property Cybercrime is on the increase but there are steps that can be taken to protect your property from being fraudulently sold or mortgaged. read more
It is time to pause – Brexit debate
My colleagues have posted articles on what Brexit may mean in the property arena or the employment arena, however I wish to make a non legal observation. read more
BREXIT – The implications on the London property market
Following the result of the EU referendum it is too soon to predict how the London property market will respond but evidence suggests that UK buyers will tread cautiously until the dust settles. read more
BREXIT – The Employment Law Implications
Since the decision of the referendum was announced this morning, there has been considerable speculation concerning the impact it will have on not only us as a nation, but also to us individually. read more
Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010
After receiving Royal Assent on 25th March 2010 the Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) Act 2010 (“the Act”) finally comes into force later this year. read more
Can you claim an injury to feelings award under the Working Time Regulations 1998 (“WTR”)?
No. This was the answer that the EAT provided in the case of Santos Gomes v Higher Level Care Limited. read more
Colman Coyle to attend IR Global Conference in San Francisco
Colman Coyle is proud to be attending the IR Global Conference which this year is being held in San Francisco, California on 18th– 20th May 2016. read more
Major Differences When Litigating Under Common Law Or Civil Law
Many clients, and even lawyers, assume that litigation, particularly in Western or European jurisdictions, will be broadly similar. However this is far from true and there are many significant differences in approach between Common Law jurisdictions and those under Civil Law. read more
Solicitors Negligence – Damages Where Error Subsequently Corrected A Common Sense Approach By The Court Of Appeal But Is It “Good Law”?
The Court of Appeal has twice recently been asked to consider the correct basis for assessing damages in claims for professional negligence against solicitors who had acted in relation to property transactions. read more
An act of discrimination?
An interesting case has arisen relating to benefits during maternity leave. read more
Grounds for Dismissal: ‘Pulling a Sickie’
Some workers may consider ‘pulling a sickie’ as not a particularly serious occurrence. The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) however, recently emphasised that such a dishonest act can amount to gross misconduct; giving grounds for dismissal. read more
Protection for Zero Hours Contract Workers – Comment
As you are aware that over a period of time, there has been much debate in relation to the use of a zero hour’s contract. Discussion has centred around the fact that individuals who undertake these contracts have no protection. read more
Tribunal awards and statutory payments to increase from April 2016
The annual increase on certain Tribunal awards and other statutory payments is due to take effect from 6 April 2016. read more
Lease Renewals – Attempts to change further terms
Colman Coyle are instructed on behalf of a large group (78) of leaseholders on Applications to renew and extend the terms of their leases under Section 42 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (“the 1993 Act”). read more
Update on the Buy to Let Stamp Duty Changes
In the autumn 2015 statement the Government announced its intention to consult on the introduction of higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) to apply to the purchase of additional residential properties. read more
AirBnBust – the risks of short term letting
With the prevalence and popularity of businesses such as AirBnB and Booking.com more and more homeowners and property investors are letting out their properties on short term lets. The figures speak for themselves as AirbnB now has more available rooms to rent than the largest hotel group. read more