Opinions

Occupiers' liability: the extent of the duty

Magnus Hassett examines three recent high-profile court decisions and what they mean for landowners and their advisors.

First published in Property Law Journal, 5 March 2012.

Private Client Business

Impact of marital and forced heirship on US/UK estate planning.

Taxation of UK resident non-domicilaires

Provides an overview of the UK tax treatment of UK resident non-domiciliaries under the remittance basis of taxation.

Lack of interest lands tenant in hot water

The message: Legal principles can take precedence over fairness.

The case: Yet another landlord has successfully defeated a tenant’s break clause on a technicality (Avocet Industrial Estates v Merol, 19.12.11). The right to break a lease early is valuable for a tenant but its exercise often involves overcoming hurdles, some of which the tenant may not even be aware of.

Houseboats: a question of ownership

Lucy Barber reviews a recent case where the court was required to consider whether the oweners of houseboats held as tenants or as licensees?

First published in Property Law Journal, 23 January 2012.

The court, the thief, his wife and her solicitor

The message: Free advice can prove very costly.

The case: The Court of Appeal has decided that solicitors can owe extensive duties to clients, even where quick advice is given at no charge (Padden v Bevan Ashford, 21.12.11).

Enfranchisement case law

Natasha Rees looks at recent developments from the Courts.

First published in News on the block, issue 58.

High definition

Zahra Kanani translates the legal meaning of key charitable terms.

First published in Winter 2012 - Charities Appeals Supplement.

Hold the line

Reviewing the potential problems of entering into an agreement with telecomms to install apparatus on land. Published in Solicitors Journal, December 2011.

Trusts and divorce

Access all areas. Whaley v Whaley poses the question of when a trust fund is a 'resource' in a divorce proceedings. First published in Trusts and Estates Law & Tax Journal, December 2011.