Civil and Commercial Litigation
Company Law
Employment
Family
Intellectual Property
Personal Injury
Property
Probate
Wills
Civil and Commercial Litigation
Our aim is to achieve commercial solutions to our clients’ disputes
by offering effective and practical advice. Our responsibility is
to achieve our clients’ objectives by the most cost effective
and least time consuming route available. Litigation is a last resort.
Your matter may require the use of alternative remedies - negotiation,
arbitration or structured dispute resolution. It may ultimately require
the use of the courts; if so we strive to ensure that our clients
are fully appraised of the potential risks and the potential cost.
If litigation is the chosen course then we will seek to maintain the
optimum balance between the need to achieve success and the cost that
will have to be met.
Company Law
Company Formations
- A full and comprehensive formation service is provided.
We are fully aware that such services are offered online. However,
we believe that at a face to face meeting, everything can be explained
in detail giving our personal attention to your requirements.
Shareholder/Partnership
Agreements - Like any good written agreement, a shareholder
agreement can clarify what you originally intended. If disputes arise
later about what was agreed to and you remember things differently,
a well-written agreement can help resolve issues. Also, putting something
in writing forces you to deal with some "what if" scenarios
before any of those scenarios ever become a reality. Although you
and your colleagues may be on good terms now and may continue to get
along well, sometimes, unanticipated disagreements arise. If disagreements
arise, it can be very helpful to have a clear idea of what you agreed
to before you had a falling out.
Employment
Whether you need help with the engagement of employees, the preparation
of service agreements or terms and conditions of employment, staff
handbooks or other policy documents, senior executive appointments
and terminations, including restrictive covenants, termination of
employment, including claims for wrongful or unfair dismissal; we
can help.
We will advise in connection with claims under the Equal Pay Act and
sex, race and disability discrimination, legislation, claims for deduction
of wages and maternity rights. Where appropriate we will undertake
the advocacy in Employment Tribunal claims ourselves.
We can also assist with reorganisations and the employment aspects
of takeovers / mergers and redundancies.
Family
All family (divorce, separation and children related) matters will
be handled sympathetically and with an understanding of your situation.
Our aim is to ensure your interests are protected.
Intellectual Property
We recognise that your intellectual property is a valuable commercial
asset in its own right and that properly protected and exploited,
it gives your business a competitive edge in the market and adds capital
value to your business. We will assist you in the protection, development
and exploitation of your brands, copyright, inventions and look at
all areas where intellectual property protection is available.
Personal Injury
Minor or more serious claims will be handled sympathetically and with
our personal attention throughout.
Property
Domestic - We thought
it might help to provide you with our Guide to Buying and Selling
a house. Please click here.
Commercial
- We offer experienced, commercially focused service on all property
matters: Landlord & Tenant, business premises, shops, offices,
developments, investment and industrial properties, pubs and clubs,
finance and security as well as negotiation. Our property department
has a well established reputation in providing a comprehensive and
cost-effective service in property transactions. We are geared up
to achieve clients' objectives quickly. We can work at short notice,
to tight deadlines and to a high standard, aiming always to maintain
the initiative.
Probate
On death an application for a Grant of Probate or Letters of
Administration has to be made to allow the estate to be distributed
to beneficiaries. We will help discover what assets are in the estate
and assist in valuing them. We will help complete the Inland Revenue
Accounts, establish any inheritance tax that is due, apply for a Grant
of Probate, collect the assets, pay debts, legacies and expenses,
complete tax returns for the estate, and distribute the estate to
the beneficiaries.
Wills
We thought it might help to provide you with our Guide on Wills.
Please click here.
Wills - Anyone over 18 ought
to make a will. If you die without a will you are said to have died
intestate. This means your estate (that is, your personal belongings,
property, savings etc) goes to people prescribed by parliament rather
than people you choose. Even if parliament’s choice of heir(s)
is the same as yours, the lack of a will can significantly add to
the time and expense involved in distributing your estate, causing
disruption and anxiety for your loved ones at a very stressful time
in their lives. So, don't leave it any longer, ask Lewis Francis Blackburn
to help.
Inheritance Tax Planning
- Inheritance tax is charged at 40%. The increases in property values
of recent years mean that more and more people are potentially liable
for inheritance tax. We can discuss with you how your will can be
made tax effective. We can advise on the steps you can take to reduce
or eliminate the tax burden.
Advice can be given on tax saving by:-
•
lifetime gifts
• the creation of trusts
• properly prepared wills
• the use of the nil-rate band
• the use of discretionary trusts
Lewis Francis Blackburn can help to protect your savings for the benefit
of the next generation.
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