Just One More Thing….by Johanne Spittle, Director & Head of Litigation

I have been lucky to have been the President of the Yorkshire Law Society since last summer and this has given me a unique opportunity to meet with lawyers and other professionals and get an understanding of their businesses. It is all too easy to only hear the bad news and overlook all the good things that are happening around us; being able to engage with lawyers and other professionals in the region has opened my eyes to just how much positivity there is and how resourceful and creative we are!  Covid-19 certainly made it clear to even the smallest professional business that the successful businesses were those embracing technology and using it to achieve greater efficiency and a competitive advantage. You can now contact your trusted professional using an app or through a client…

'Like being on display in a zoo': what are the consequences of the Tate Modern court ruling?

The Fearn v Tate Gallery Supreme Court decision in February 2023 received considerable coverage in the press not least because of the high profile nature of the defendant. How much will this case impact on nuisance disputes between neighbours? The claim was brought by the owners of long leasehold flats in a development directly opposite the new extension of the Tate Modern. One of the features of the building was a viewing gallery which enabled visitors to see straight into flats with visitors frequently looking into the flats and taking photographs and, less frequently, using binoculars. The claimants applied to the court for an injunction requiring the Tate to prevent members of the public from observing their flats on the grounds of nuisance. They also claimed a breach of their rights under article 8 of…

Crypto assets and a divorce settlement

  According to a report by Forbes Magazine in September 2022 there are now more than 20,000 crypto currencies worth a collective $982 billion, and NFT artworks (non-fungible tokens) are changing hands for huge sums. One of the ways in which these assets differ from the other assets which are considered for sharing in a divorce settlement, is that they are much easier to hide. What are crypto assets? They are digital assets commonly known as crypto currencies.  ‘Crypto’ means hidden, referring to the secure digital way data is held on who owns the asset, and ‘currencies’ reflects that this is a type of digital money.  Some commonly known crypto assets include Bitcoin, Binance, Ethereum and Tether though there are thousands more, with new ones being added regularly. Crypto assets differ from traditional assets in that…

Selling a property through the modern method of auction

Online auctions, especially the ‘modern method’ of auction, continue to grow in popularity. Last year saw a 40 per cent rise in the value of property sold at auction, much of this online. But what exactly is the modern method of auction, and is it something you should consider? For a seller there are certainly some advantages to the modern method of auction, such as speed and a defined timetable. However, there are also pitfalls for the unwary and so it is important to consider how it would work for you. Our team answers some common questions about the modern method of auction. What is the modern method of auction? Typically, the modern method of auction takes place online over a fixed period. As a seller, you enter into an agreement with the auctioneer who invites…

Getting employees back to the office

According to the Office for National Statistics, before the Covid pandemic only one in eight working adults reported working from home at least once during the previous seven days. This figure peaked at 49 per cent between April and June 2020. It has decreased since then, but not drastically, and the figure for January to February 2023 is 40 per cent. ‘Many employers now want staff to start working in the office either all the time or more frequently,’ says Kalpesh Nakeshree, a Head of Employment Law with Ware & Kay.  ‘Reasons for this include concerns about the impact of remote working on company culture; camaraderie; loyalty; learning opportunities for junior staff; supervision; productivity; innovation and collaboration.’ Kalpesh outlines the contractual and equalities issues that employers need to think about when seeking to make this…

Is my prenuptial agreement binding?

  If you are facing difficulties in your marriage and you have a prenuptial agreement, you may be curious to know just how binding the terms will be, especially if your life is now rather different to the one you envisaged when you planned to get married. It is important that anyone contemplating a divorce or who has concerns about an agreement has a lawyer examine their prenuptial agreement. Will the family court uphold my prenuptial agreement? In England and Wales there is no law specifying that a prenuptial agreement is legally binding.  However, after a landmark decision in 2010 the courts decided that they would give weight to prenuptial agreements under certain circumstances when they are determining the outcome of the financial division of assets between spouses during divorce.  This provides some reassurance that, if…

Agreeing access arrangements for children – welfare considerations

  A relationship breakdown often means a dramatic change in life for all involved and when parents live apart, arrangements need to be agreed about how and when children will see each of their parents.  If a couple can agree arrangements between themselves, it will be beneficial for all concerned and it will have a positive impact on the child’s wellbeing. That arrangement can be formalised by a solicitor to ensure there are fewer disagreements moving forward.  However sometimes relations are not amicable and if one parent is being prevented from spending time with their child, they may need to apply for a child arrangements order to secure their right to access. The Children Act 1989 states that the welfare of the child must be the paramount consideration.  When it comes to welfare, the Act stipulates…

Senior Family Lawyer joins Ware & Kay

Ware & Kay Solicitors (with offices in York, Wetherby & Malton) is delighted to announce the appointment of highly experienced senior Family Lawyer Stephen Carr who will provide leadership and support to the Family Team. Stephen’s specialises in all aspects of family law and relationship breakdowns and is able to deal with complex cases involving children. Stephen will be responsible for advising on all aspects of divorce, separation, arrangements and financial provision relating to children, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements together with cohabitation agreements. He has acted for many types of clients with different levels of need. The necessity to be available, showing respect, providing support and being attentive in difficult times, is at the core of the work which he does. Originally from Wakefield, Stephen arrives at Ware & Kay with considerable experience, having specialised in…

Inspired by Clarkson’s Farm? Key considerations when buying agricultural land

The last year has seen a surge in demand for agricultural land, according to recent analysis, with investors seeing it as an increasingly attractive option during a time of global economic uncertainty. Or maybe TV viewers have been inspired by Clarkson’s Farm? Whatever the reason, this spells good news for farmers looking to move to pastures new or offload land to raise extra funds but, buying or selling farmland can be more complicated than a normal property transaction. When buying farmland, we will still carry out the usual checks and searches required for any property sale or purchase, such as: investigation of title – to ensure the seller can pass the property to the buyer free of any adverse rights or warning notices and to establish whether there are any easements affecting the property; local…

Autism and Employment

Whilst Autism and more generally, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are widely recognised as developmental disabilities, this does not mean that they are widely accepted or understood by U.K. employers. In order to fully accept those on the Autism Spectrum, it is crucial that people begin to educate themselves (and others) on the disability wholly. A key starting point is understanding that every person on the spectrum is unique and therefore has their own individual needs. Despite those with ASD experiencing many similar traits, each person will be affected by their disability differently. There is no ‘one adjustment helps all’ approach that can be taken by employers who are looking to create a better environment for their ASD employees. In a recent case of mine, the employer argued that they had provided reasonable adjustments for their autistic…