As a director of a limited company, you can trade with the privilege of limited liability. As a result, you also have to be mindful of the many duties you have to everyone you deal with on a day-to-day basis. A director of a company in financial difficulties has even stricter duties, to ensure that…
If you are selling your business, the buyer will want to know all about any commercial property the business owns or occupies. The issues will be similar to those that would come up if you were simply selling the property, but there are some key differences of approach when it is part of a business…
Launching a new consumer product is exciting, with a great deal of attention going on the branding, packaging, and every touch point of the consumer experience. But behind the scenes, it is important to pay just as much attention to the legal issues if you are to maximise value from this new product in the…
The idea of ‘green’ leases for commercial property is rising up the agenda as policies push all parts of the economy towards net zero, but many commercial landlords and tenants do not really know what a green lease should contain, and who should pay for improvements. A new set of model clauses published by the…
With more goods being traded online, and ideas and creations being so easily available to view globally, it is not surprising that examples of copyright infringement have increased in recent years. ‘However, what actually constitutes copyright, how a business can prove that their copyright has been infringed, and what action can be taken to remedy…
If you rely on the supply of packaging from a third party, you may be at risk in a number of ways. Does the quality meet your brand standards? Do the materials fulfil the environmental specification? How much wastage is acceptable? Will you suffer a financial loss from delays, for example if goods are perishable,…
The way goods and materials are bought and sold in the UK has changed beyond recognition over the last 25 years, with the supply chain and end customers expecting speedy delivery. This has created new demand for logistics and distribution sites, ranging from vast state-of-the art warehouses alongside ‘last mile’ dispatches from a network of…
If your business is owed money, the impact on cash flow can be considerable. Since interest rates have improved you could also be losing potential returns on investment, so it is important to keep a tight control on business debts. When chasing late payments, you can ask for interest on the money owed. The most…
Matthew Cowan was delighted to be invited to take part in a discussion on client service for the most recent edition of Modern Law magazine. The article considers how three law firms of differing sizes navigate client care, why it is so important and how building and maintaining relationships is key. Matthew explains that Bracher…
All businesses rely on energy supplies to allow them to trade to some extent. Even if your business does not use large amounts of energy for manufacturing or other related work, it will require reliable lighting, heating, and internet supplies to conduct business without disruption. In April 2024, an issue with the electrical installations at…