Latest News
Latest News
- Why Well-Rounded Wealth Protection Is Really About Confidence, Clarity and Continuity 17th July 2026Author: Hayley McCormack Published: 17/07/2026 A recent Financial Times opinion piece, “Too much inheritance tax planning is driving families apart,” raised an important point about how families approach the protection and transfer of wealth. For many families, estate planning has traditionally started with one understandable question: “How do we minimise inheritance tax?” Tax efficiency matters, […]Patrick Nwafor
- Lasting Power of Attorney: who to appoint and how to avoid mistakes? 15th July 2026Author: Sophie Fenn Date: Wednesday 15 July 2026 A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that can be made when an individual has mental capacity, it is used to appoint ‘Attorneys’, who would then act on your behalf if you were unable to make decisions later on. There are two types of Lasting […]Vee Hlomayi
- When Can a Company Director Be Personally Liable for Business Debts? 15th July 2026Author: Simon Thomas Date: 15/07/2026 Limited Liability Doesn’t Always Protect Directors One of the biggest advantages of operating through a limited company is that it generally protects directors and shareholders from being personally responsible for the company’s debts. As a separate legal entity, a limited company is usually liable for its own financial obligations not […]Patrick Nwafor
- Wilkes’ Rick Smyth named Changemaker at West Midlands Rainmaker Awards 3rd July 2026Date: Friday 3 July 2026 Wilkes is pleased to announce that Rick Smyth, Partner in the firm’s Corporate team, has won the Changemaker award at the West Midlands Rainmaker Awards 2026, held on 2 July at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. Wilkes was shortlisted in three categories at this year’s awards, including Regional Legal Team […]Vee Hlomayi
- Common Law Marriage Myth: What Cohabiting Couples in England and Wales Need to Know 1st July 2026If you live with your partner but are not married or in a civil partnership, you may have fewer legal rights than you think. One of the most damaging misconceptions in family law is the belief that couples who live together for a long time become “common law spouses”. Many people assume this gives them […]Patrick Nwafor
- Wilkes advises Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam on London fine dining joint venture 1st July 2026Date: Wednesday 1 July 2026 Wilkes has advised A I Restaurants Ltd on a joint venture with Culinary Collective to launch a new fine dining restaurant in London. The joint venture, led by Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam, will focus on Awadhi cuisine, exploring the slow-cooked delicacies of this regional Indian cooking style. The venture marks […]Vee Hlomayi
- NEC4 Pricing Options: From Payment Mechanisms to Risk Allocation 30th June 2026Author: Matt Taylor Published: 30th June, 2026. The New Engineering Contract (NEC) is promoted as a flexible form of contract, capable of being tailored to even the most demanding and complex projects. Unlike the JCT suite of contracts and other standard forms of construction contract, which generally provide separate standard forms for different procurement routes […]Patrick Nwafor
- The new six‑month unfair dismissal rule: why employers should act NOW and not wait until January 2027. 30th June 2026From 1 January 2027, the qualifying period for unfair dismissal drops from two years to six months. Anyone recruited from the summer of 2026 onwards could already be within six months’ service by that date, which means the decisions employers make this year are the ones this change will judge. Joanne Briscoe, Associate in Wilkes’ […]Patrick Nwafor
- How long does director disqualification last (and can it be reduced)? 30th June 2026Director disqualification is one of the most serious situations a business leader can face, carrying a potential ban of up to 15 years. The courts decide how long the disqualification order will last, weighing the severity of the conduct involved as against the guidelines . So how does that decision get made, and what can […]Patrick Nwafor
- The 9 reasons behind director disqualification and how to avoid them 29th June 2026The Insolvency Service disqualified 1,153 directors in 2025-26, with the average ban lasting 8.1 years, and 77 received criminal convictions. For the directors involved, that represents significant time away from the businesses they built, the income they depend on, and in many cases, the professional identity they have spent a career developing. Many directors find […]Patrick Nwafor