Practical legal guidance for freelancers and sole traders covering IR35, contracts, data protection and insurance.
Rob Law left his Dragons’ Den pitch in 2006 dismayed after each of the Dragons ruled ‘I’m out’, after the strap on his prototype broke during a demonstration, however he has gone on to sell two million of his children’s ride-on suitcases but he has been dealt a potentially crippling blow as judges ruled a rival product does not infringe on his design rights.
It is inevitable that a popular brand will eventually attract imitators seeking to copy the distinctive elements of that brand, perhaps as a perceived shortcut to success.
Which is the unlawful act that you need to watch out for?
Thousands of business owners in the UK experience a bumpy start to the year.
Whilst Christmas is traditionally a time for ‘glad tidings of comfort and joy’, it is potentially also a difficult time of year for both employers and employees.
When Directors seek advice from an Insolvency Practitioner it is often because their business is already insolvent, but they also come because the business is going to be sold and they believe that the workforce can be slimmed down and then the slimmed down version of the business can be sold, perhaps back to themselves as a ‘pre-pack’.
In May this year, the eminent Lord Young, now David Cameron’s adviser on enterprise, made the observation that three of the US’s most successful businesses – General Electric, Disney and Microsoft – all started during recessions.
Freelancers need to ensure they’ve registered for their Self Assessment with HMRC this side of Christmas, to enable them to file their return on time next month.
As a former barrister working across a number of different sectors, I have often been party to both employee and client contract negotiations.
Nobody likes to think about, or plan for, their death. But, if you own all or part of a business – then it is essential that you make a will. Without a will your shares could be sold, the business could be broken up or it could fall apart without the correct day-to-day running in place.
Changes to UK defamation law won’t just affect journalists. The new Defamation Act, which I expect will come into force in about November, will also have an impact on how your business can respond to damaging statements.
We are used to seeing entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne firmly in control on Dragons’ Den as he dishes out business advice to embryonic companies. So it is something of shock to learn that a painful divorce pushed the serial entrepreneur and business angel to the brink of suicide.
What Should an Employer do if an employee wishes to wear a veil/ other religious clothing?
Employers’ duty to prevent illegal working is underpinned by a civil penalty regime which is now being reviewed with a raft of Government proposals aimed at strengthening and simplifying the system. The proposals are part of the forthcoming Immigration Bill designed to make it more difficult for illegal migrants to live and work in the UK.
The ongoing debate and controversy surrounding Liverpool striker Luis Suarez’s future at the club has provided an important reminder to employers on a range of contract issues including verbal agreements, according to an employment law expert.
