Kew Law

Post-employment victimisation

kew-law — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:04:20 +0000

Equality Act 2010 does not protect against post-employment victimisation

An employment tribunal has held that post-employment victimisation is not unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. Section 108 of the Act, which renders post-employment discrimination and harassment unlawful, expressly does not apply to acts of victimisation. Therefore, a claimant could not succeed with a victimisation claim based on an unfavourable reference provided by his former employer. (Jessemey v Rowstock Ltd and another ET/2700838/11 and ET/2701156/11.)

Dispute Resolution

kew-law — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:29:10 +0000

Contract disputes do not have to end up in Court with an expensive legal battle. Contact our Dispute resolution team for advice and assistance on resolving contractual issues. We can advise you on mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Contact Charlotte Woolven-Brown on 01621 843056 or charlottewb@kewlaw.co.uk for further information.

Good news for first time buyers?

kew-law — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:25:09 +0000

David Cameron has today unveiled plans for the introduction of a mortgage indemnity scheme, under which the Government will underwrite part of the risk of lending. This will reduce the need for buyers to fund large deposits and should make it easier to obtain a mortgage offer. It is hoped that the scheme will help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, enabling them to borrow up to 95% of the value of their home.
The Prime Minister has also unveiled plans to stimulate house-building across the UK by implementing a £400m “Get Britain Building” fund.

Sports and Employment law

kew-law — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is facing calls today to step down after he said racist incidents in football matches could be settled with a handshake at the end of a game. Professionals have described this comment as “disgraceful”. For advice and assistance on any aspect of sports law, race discrimination or employment law please contact our expert Charlotte Woolven-Brown on 01621 843056 or e-mail on charlottewb@kewlaw.co.uk

Redundancies

kew-law — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:39:49 +0000

Today the press have announced British Gas have plans to cut around 850 jobs. If you or a colleague are you affected by redundancy in any business or have been presented with a compromise agreement call our employment specialist Charlotte Woolven-Brown on 01621 843056 or e-mail her on charlottewb@kewlaw.co.uk to ensure that you are getting what is rightfully due to you.

Personal Injury – Hair & Beauty Industry

kew-law — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:08:03 +0000

Over recent few years a trend has emerged in the cosmetic hair industry ranging from hair extensions to false eyelashes. Treatments do not always go according to plan and there have been a stream of cases where people have been left bruised, burned, scarred, and emotionally down when they end up injured through a beauty treatment gone wrong.

Suffering some form of adverse affect following treatment gone wrong is not a nice thing to have to go through. If you end up with bald patches or an uneven look due to hair extensions going wrong, or you end up with some form of irritation or suffering, you will likely to be in pain both outside and in. The best thing you can do is speak to us for some advice about your options for compensation for the pain and suffering endured. Please contact our litigation specialist Charlotte Woolven-Brown on 01621 843056 or charlottewb@kewlaw.co.uk.

Buy-to-let boom continues

kew-law — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:13:19 +0000

Council of Mortgage Lenders state the number of buy to let mortgages has now hit 1.4 million the largest number since records began with 34,500 buy to let mortgages granted between July and September 2011 being an increase of 16%.

Source: Daily Mail November 11.

Employer-Employee ‘protected converstations’

kew-law — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:28:16 +0000

In a speech last week, Prime Minister David Cameron stated that the government will shortly consult on ‘protected conversations’, enabling an employer and employee to sit down and have frank conversations about performance / ongoing employment, without the employer fearing his words will be used against him a constructive dismissal claim. How this would operate in practice remains to be seen. As soon as we have any further news on this topical issue we will post it on this blog. For information, advice or assistance on employment claims please contact Charlotte Woolven-Brown on 01621 872033 or charlottewb@kewlaw.co.uk

Cyber Bullying

kew-law — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:21:49 +0000

The media today have highlighted the growing issue of Cyber Bullying. http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16108110
Cyber bullying does not just affect people in their private lives it can also affect people at work. For advice about how to deal with workplace cyber bullying please contact Charlotte Woolven-Brown at charlottewb@kewlaw.co.uk

Court rules on unmarried couples’ property rights

kew-law — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:26:57 +0000

A man and women purchased a house in 1985 and took out a joint mortgage.

It was recenlty ruled by the Supreme Court that a man, who left his partner nearly 20 years ago and has not contributed to the mortgage for 13 years, is not entitled to half the value of the house they had shared.

The highest court in the UK decided that the man was instead entitled to 10% of its value and considered this unequal split “a fair one between the parties”.

The women was challenging a Court of Appeal ruling which had previously given the man an equal share of the home’s value. The Court of Appeal had decided that the man was still entitled to half the value of the house because the couple owned equal shares and since separation neither party had done anything to change the situation. It is this decison has now been overturned.

The decision puts a fresh light on the legal landscape for unmarried couples arguing over property after separating.

It is thought there are more than two million co-habiting couples in England and Wales.