Business Property
Civil and Commercial Litigation
Company Law
Employment
Family
Intellectual Property
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Personal Injury
Planning
Residential Property
Wills, Trusts and Probate



Business Property

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.




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.




Lasting Powers of Attorney

On 1st October 2007 the Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) changed to become the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

An LPA is a legal document that you make allowing you to choose someone now (the Attorney) that you trust to make decisions on your behalf about things such as your property and affairs or personal welfare at a time in the future when you no longer wish to make those decisions or you may lack the mental capacity to make those decisions yourself.

We will complete all the necessary documentation on your behalf and lodge the necessary applications with the Office of the Public Guardian. We can also assist you if you need a solicitor to sign a Certificate confirming your understanding when completing the forms.




Personal Injury

Minor or more serious claims will be handled sympathetically and with our personal attention throughout.




Planning

We have recognised the need to develop our business property department to be able to offer our clients specialist planning advice. Planning is a very broad and specialist area.

Correctly interpreting and applying planning law can make a significant difference to your business and your bottom line.

Conflicts between those wanting to make use of land for commercial or residential purposes and those seeking to protect and maintain the existing natural environment have never been higher on the political agenda.

The law and local authority procedures and associated Regulations and Guidance attempt to balance these competing interests but have become more and more complicated. We have specialist expertise in planning and can help you in the planning process.

You can view our planning brochure here (PDF).




Residential Property

Whether you are buying, selling or remortgaging your home, it should be an straightforward or possibly exciting experience. However, it may also be a stressful time. A very personal service is our main objective and we will deal with any queries you may have quickly and efficiently. We can assist and help relieve the stress by offering expert legal advice to help you around the many obstacles and guide you to a successful conclusion. Our specialist Residential Property team have many years of experience focusing on service of the highest quality.




Wills, Trusts and Probate

We thought it might help to provide you with our Guide on Wills.
Please click here (PDF).

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 Bray 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 Bray can help to protect your savings for the benefit of the next generation.

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.