WONKA: A Competition Lawyer’s Review

WONKA: A Competition Lawyer’s Review Dive into the chocolate river of the latest Wonka movie, where Timothée Chalamet dons the iconic top hat, and find yourself not just in a world of pure imagination but in the exciting world of regulatory law!  This prequel to Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has proved to […]

The Defrauded Client

A client asked us to investigate the conduct a solicitor who had previously represented him. As a result of a meticulous examination, we found that the solicitor in question had forged a large number of court documents. He had forged transcripts of hearings which had never taken place. In addition, he had made up judgments […]

The Wrongfully Obtained Injuction

Tenants of restaurant premises obtained judgment against their landlords for breaches of covenants in their lease. The next stage of the case was for the court to assess how much compensation should be paid to the tenants. The landlords made an offer, but the tenants did not accept it. At that point, the landlords asked […]

The Client Harmed By Negligent Government Action

A farming couple had obtained a court award against their local government. The government had acted negligently in representing to stores that the couple’s crop was not up to standard. The couple wished to appeal against the size of the award. The couple’s lawyers themselves then failed either to obtain payment of the award, or […]

The Battered Partner

Janet Gardner endured a lengthy history of violence, torment and what would today also be recognised as coercive control by her partner, Peter Iles. She had sought help form the police and from the courts, and had changed her jobs, all to no avail. Iles’s violence continued, including inflicting cigarette burns and, finally, an attempt […]

The Abused Teenager

By the time we came to represent Emma Humphreys, she had spent the whole of her adult life – 10 years – in prison for the murder of her partner, Trevor Armitage. Her case – one of the most appalling cases of violence, mental torment, sexual exploitation and gang-rape to have reached the courts – […]

The Provoked Wife

In 1989, Kiranjit Ahluwalia was convicted of the murder of her husband after 10 years of marriage. She was sentenced to imprisonment for life. At the request of Southall Black Sisters, we took over Kiranjit’s legal representation after she had started serving her sentence. Following a detailed examination of the history of her marriage, and […]

The Desperate Wife

Sara Thornton was convicted of the murder by stabbing of her brutal, alcoholic husband, a retired police officer, and sentenced to the penalty required by law: imprisonment for life. We were instructed on her behalf in connection with her appeal against that conviction. The conviction was contested at appellate level on grounds of cumulative provocation, […]

Limitations to freedom to import

Was an importer free to use the trademark owner’s mark where the trademark owner had no control over the product imported? Our Intellectual Property team acted for a parallel importer who wished to utilise the trademark of a UK distributor in order to achieve market penetration for a product imported from a European Union state. […]

The free movement of goods

Was an importer of medicinal products free to import goods from elsewhere in the EC, even if patent protection in the state of exportation was inadequate, but the patent owner had consented to the marketing of the product in that state? The case concerned the parallel imports of patented pharmaceuticals, and the Spain and Portugal […]

Recoverability under a Cross-Undertaking

What damages were recoverable from a claimant under a cross-undertaking given in support of an injunction? Our client had obtained a parallel import product licence from the regulator, permitting it to import a pharmaceutical product from a  European Union member state and sell it in the United Kingdom. The claimant obtained an injunction against our […]

Challenging the Regulator’s Decision

Was the regulator right to withdraw an import licence it had granted? A parallel import licence was granted by the regulator, the Medicines Control Agency, to Primecrown Limited permitting the importation into the United Kingdom of a medicinal product, Ditropan, from Belgium. Smith & Nephew Pharmaceuticals Limited, which held a marketing authorisation in the United […]

A V 17 DEFENDANTS

Seventeen defendants, who were former employees of our client company, were accused by our claimant client, which specialised in the development of software, of infringing its intellectual property rights. We sought injunctive relief in light of extraordinary discoveries unearthed by our client, which indicated that an agreement was made by several of the defendants to […]

Was the government’s guarantee for an assignee valid and enforceable?

In September 2014 our Commercial Property team acted for an investment purchaser in relation to the acquisition of a new-build commercial property from a vendor which had already exchanged an agreement with the trustees of a school to grant to the trustees a lease of the property to be used as a school. The Department […]

Would a sub-lease result in third part rights and create a future obstacle to development?

In September 2015, the firm acted for a purchaser in relation to the acquisition of a commercial property with the benefit of a lease granted to a leading supermarket. Following the acquisition, the supermarket tenant approached our client for consent to grant a sub-lease for 99 years to a power distributor for the erection and […]

Understanding disappointment

The case involved a pharmacist who became romantically involved with a patient. A number of serious accusations were made against the client, which, if found at the trial of the disciplinary proceedings to be true, would have resulted in a strike-off. A robust, fact-based challenge was mounted to the allegations advanced. Result: Withdrawal of the […]

Understanding the pull of profit

The case concerned a pharmacist who was accused of forging documents to conceal a trade in medicines, amounting to many tens of thousands of pounds, not intended for the UK market. Preparation included a visit to the overseas market to which the products in question were destined, a close examination of a lengthy history of […]

Fraud

The pharmacist client was charged with altering documents in the pharmacy, the effect of which was to present a false claim for prescriptions dispensed. They faced an almost certain strike-off, but a meticulously prepared mitigation included a long history of personal strife and a well-documented medical history. Result: Reprimand.

House of Books & Friends launches Business Club for purpose-led businesses

gunnercooke-founded purpose-led bookshop, House of Books & Friends, is welcoming businesses to join its new and exclusive, ‘House of Business Friends’. This is a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with like-minded purpose-driven leaders and to help deliver change in their communities. Businesses are increasingly looking to find their purpose as conscious consumers become increasingly […]

Enforcing a “foreign” Will on a French Estate under EU Regulation 650/2012

In the realm of cross-border succession, the European Union has sought to streamline the legal process through the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 650/2012, commonly known as the Brussels IV Regulation. This regulation aims to harmonize rules on jurisdiction, recognition, and enforcement of decisions in matters of succession within the EU member states. In this […]

gunnercooke storms into 2024 with over 50 new hires

Leading international law firm gunnercooke is starting 2024 off strongly following its strong recruitment drive in the final quarter of 2023, welcoming 11 Partners, six Operating Partners, eight associates, 12 paralegals and 14 other support staff. Just after celebrating the one-year anniversary of the launch of the gunnercooke US office, the team welcomed Ian Ratner […]

M V S

The case concerned a claim against our client for alleged infringement of the claimant’s international registered trademark for a pharmaceutical preparation. The preparation was sold under one name in the Member State of the European Union from which it was imported and under another in the United Kingdom. Our client repackaged the product using the […]

Objections to a Pharmacy relocation

Between 2012 and 2015 the firm acted for a pharmacist client which wished to object to the intended relocation of a new competitor pharmacy within a short distance from its own retail pharmacy. In the face of representations in support of the competitor pharmacy from a local doctors’ surgery as well a reluctant agreement of […]

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

Improving the accuracy and quality of data on Companies House This is the first of a number of articles in relation to The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). ECCTA received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023.  One of the key aims of ECCTA is to improve the accuracy and quality of the […]

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (“ECCTA”) received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023.   ECCTA came about as a result of the Government’s initiative to crack down on economic and financial crime. There have been increasing concerns over instances of the misuse of companies, an increase in financial and economic crime, fraud […]

Why settlement never feels like a success

Most CEOs will understand why the feeling of success will not usually come from a successful mediation. Mediation always makes all parties involved feel as if they have given away too much or didn’t ask for enough. There is no middle ground in mediation; there is only the costs, and the mental/emotional relief. If you […]

Self Prescribing

The client, a pharmacist, was charged by the regulator with dispensing to themselves a prescription pharmaceutical product.

California’s Data Broker Registry

California’s data regulator, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), has launched its Data Broker Registry.  This broker registry is now live, and available here. Data Brokers are businesses which purchase and sell information about consumers from other businesses, but don’t interact directly with those consumers (‘brokers’). Information for Data Brokers The Data Broker Registration Statute […]

Is culture really that important? With James Timpson, CEO of Timpson 

gunnercooke has released the latest episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, hosted by Co-Founder Darryl Cooke.  The series delves into the minds of inspiring businesspeople, to learn from the very best, and to understand what makes a great leader. Insights include recipes for success, behaviours to model and practical tips from some of the best business […]

5 predicted trends for real estate finance in 2024

With 2024 now in full swing, it’s the perfect time to look ahead and see what is in store for the remainder of the year. 1. Rise of Proptech: Hold onto your hats, because a tech revolution is coming to real estate finance! We’re talking about blockchain, artificial intelligence, and automation swooping in to simplify […]

The extent of the demise granted by the lease – and unforeseen issues that can arise

This is an area to which both landlords and tenants/buyers should pay careful attention. It’s very easy store up problems for the future where the parties don’t think carefully about the true extent of the premises/equipment which is being leased/sold to the tenant (the “demise”), and therefore the true extent of the tenant’s repairing obligation […]

Tips for high-net-worth individuals buying property in Spain: Part 1

High-Net- Worth-Individuals (HNWI) looking to invest or buy property in Spain in the luxury market (on or above 1,000,000 €) will have an advantage over those buyers who are on a lower budget. The first advantage is, of course, the possibility to buy the property with cash and therefore mark quicker timings but also to […]

Can English law govern my Spanish assets?

One of the most frequent questions we are asked about when clients approach us considering to make a Spanish Will, is whether Spanish law and Spanish Tax rules will apply to their assets, and in most of the cases, clients are surprised when we say that not necessarily Spanish Law will apply to their assets […]

What can businesses learn from the world of sport? A closer look at mindset. 

This is the third edition in a mini-series giving you easily digestible 90-second leadership tips. We’ll share leadership skills from the very best business leaders in the world, show you how ultimate sportspeople innovate to achieve, and share ideas from entrepreneurs, innovators, politicians – even the odd military leader.   Leadership is everything. Time is of the […]

What can businesses learn from the world of sport? A closer look at success. 

This is the second edition in a mini-series giving you easily digestible 90-second leadership tips. We’ll share leadership skills from the very best business leaders in the world, show you how ultimate sportspeople innovate to achieve, and share ideas from entrepreneurs, innovators, politicians – even the odd military leader.   Leadership is everything. Time is of the […]

What can businesses learn from the world of sport? A closer look at loyalty. 

This is the first edition in a mini-series giving you easily digestible 90-second leadership tips. We’ll share leadership skills from the very best business leaders in the world, show you how ultimate sportspeople innovate to achieve, and share ideas from entrepreneurs, innovators, politicians – even the odd military leader.   Leadership is everything. Time is of the […]

The Enslaved Maid

The Unbroken Spirit of a Woman Laxmi Swami was born into an impoverished family in Mumbai. She had already had 7 children by the age of 20. Her alcoholic husband abandoned her. In 1978, two sisters of the then Emir of Kuwait employed her as a domestic servant. From 1979 until 1983, her royal employers […]

What is a year at gunnercooke like? A Q&A with Katy Wedderburn

Scottish qualified Employment Partner Katy Wedderburn recently celebrated her one year anniversary with the firm. To celebrate her time at gunnercooke, she sat down for a quick Q&A. What has been your highlight at gunnercooke so far? When I joined, I had only touched the surface of the business. I have been most impressed by […]

Calculating holiday pay for workers without fixed hours or pay

Holiday pay has been a big problem for a long time following a number of decisions made by the  European Court of Justice. Post Brexit, the government has now confirmed some key changes to the law on holiday pay. From 1 January 2023 the UK has implemented the Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) […]

The Attorney General and another (Appellants) v The Jamaican Bar Association (Respondent) (Jamaica) [2023] UKPC 6

The Attorney General and another (Appellants) v The Jamaican Bar Association (Respondent) (Jamaica) [2023] UKPC 6 is a landmark case in Jamaica’s legal system that has far-reaching implications for the wider society, lawyers, and the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policies of other countries. The case centred around the Jamaican Bar Association’s challenge of the Anti-Money Laundering […]

Changes in employment law in 2024

A significant number changes to employment law will come into force in 2024, some of which are more impactful than others. Here are out “Top 6” changes for employers to be aware of.  Changes to Holidays and Holiday Pay  – January 2024 Amendments to the Working Time Regulations (WTR) came into effect in January, and […]

Changes in immigration policy: increases to salary thresholds

Changes in UK immigration policy continue to make an impact on company employment objectives as the government introduces further financial challenges to new applications for skilled worker, health care and family/spouse visas. The following changes to salary thresholds and dependents need to be taken into serious consideration. Skilled Worker Where the Skilled Worker Route is […]

2024 in pension law: expected pension court cases

When looking ahead at pensions cases expected to be heard in 2024, there are scheduled to be some key cases concerning pension scheme amendments. In particular, the validity of past pension scheme changes, which can have a huge impact on the true liabilities of the scheme and the employer and the underlying entitlements of the […]

How Pre-Nuptial Agreements Protect Generational Wealth in the event of Divorce

This article originally featured in The Telegraph on the 20th January 2024. Pre-Nuptial Agreements (Pre-nups) can be used by both parties either before or after marriage to ringfence assets which may normally be considered for distribution upon divorce.  Since the landmark case of Radmacher v Granatino [2010 UKSC 42], where the Supreme Court enforced a […]

Understanding the role of the law in the Post Office scandal part 3: where we are and where we go next 

This is the final in a three-part series examining how the law allowed the Post office scandal to happen and the role now being played by the law and those who work within it in redressing what has been described as the largest miscarriage of justice in legal history. This part takes stock of where […]

“Nothing ever feels like too much of an ask” – 1 year with Sarah Miles

Sarah Miles, a Corporate Partner, recently celebrated her one year anniversary with the firm. Read on to hear what she has to say… I can’t believe it has been a whole year since I joined gunnercooke!  The flexibility in terms of when and where I work together with the lack of tasks that burden you […]

For Trustees of pensions schemes, not exactly the “gap year” you had hoped for, rather a “gap few weeks…”

The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) new General Code of Practice (previously called the single code) is expected to come into force on 27 March 2024, some three years after consultation began in 2021.  The General Code brings together 10 of the 15 current Codes of Practice to provide one set of expectations on scheme governance, with […]

Understanding the role of the law in the Post Office scandal part 2: the role of a prosecutor

This is the second in a three-part series examining how the law allowed the Post office scandal to happen and the role now being played by the law and those who work within it in redressing what has been described as the largest miscarriage of justice in legal history. This part considers the powers of […]

Understanding the role of the law in the Post Office scandal part 1: the beginning of the crisis

This is the first in a three-part series examining how the law allowed the Post office scandal to happen and  the role now being played by the law and those who work within it in redressing what has been described as the largest miscarriage of justice in legal history. In particular, it looks at how […]

New duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment

The Equality Act 2010 defines sexual harassment as occurring when a person engages in unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non-verbal or physical, that (i) violates an individual’s dignity, or (ii) creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive working environment. The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act) Act (“the new Act”) makes […]

Potential Compensation for Siemens Gamesa 4.X and 5.X Wind Turbine Platform Issues: A Legal Overview

To read this article in German, click here. For Spanish, click here. In this article, I will be shedding light on the complications within the turbine division of tech giant Siemens Energy and exploring the subsequent financial ramifications faced by wind turbine operators. If you have purchased 4.X or 5.X wind turbine platforms, you may […]

Should we accept failure in a business? With Joanna Swash

In a recent episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviews Welsh businesswomen, keynote speaker and business mentor Joanna Swash. Darryl is joined by co-host Sir Peter Fahy, the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. Joanna is the group-CEO of Wrexham-based Moneypenny, a company she joined as the first […]

Book recommendations and being Queen for a day – a quick Q&A with Joanna Swash

In a recent episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviews Welsh businesswomen, keynote speaker and business mentor Joanna Swash. Darryl is joined by co-host Sir Peter Fahy, the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. Joanna is the group-CEO of Wrexham-based Moneypenny, a company she joined as the first […]

The Business Cycle and Digital Information and Privacy

It is useful for organisations of all shapes and sizes to consider the ins and outs of data protection, not just in order to prepare compliance documents that will form part of ‘business as usual’, but to also prepare for some of the milestone events that will arise from time to time. Here are some […]

What did the Sam Bankman-Fried case teach us about the need for a legal framework?

In United States v. Bankman-Fried, infamous Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the now bankrupt crypto-exchange FTX, was convicted of orchestrating a multibillion-dollar fraud against FTX’ customers, marking a significant legal precedent in the realm of cryptocurrency. Following an intensive month-long trial that captured global attention, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all charges. Bankman-Fried currently awaits sentencing, […]

Is failing important for the growth of a company? With Joanna Swash

gunnercooke has released the latest episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, hosted by Co-Founder Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy. The series delves into the minds of inspiring businesspeople, to learn from the very best, and to understand what makes a great leader. Insights include recipes for success, behaviours to model and practical tips from some […]

Generative AI- The Essentials

It’s hard to judge precisely how quickly the legal profession is adopting AI. There is, however, plenty of evidence that, across most professional services, from medicine to accountancy and architecture, AI tools will quickly gain traction and, as a result, the familiar working practices of the last couple of decades (at least) will change significantly. […]

UK Visas in the Maritime Sector  

The UK’s maritime waters are made up of businesses in different sectors, such as oil and gas, wind, fishing, and shipping. All of these companies demand a huge number of people to operate their businesses. The workforce source in this industry is composed of a mix of employees/suppliers who are based in the UK and […]

Key Employment Cases from 2023

Menopause and disability discrimination Whilst menopause is not of itself a disability, the case of Lynskey v Direct Line serves as a reminder that it can qualify as a disability where the symptoms are significant. Ms Lynskey was employed as a Telesales Consultant with Direct Line and in the first years of her employment, her […]

gunnercooke named Law Firm of the Year by the British Legal Awards

Leading international law firm gunnercooke has been crowned Law Firm of the Year (small/mid sized firm) award at the British Legal Awards 2023. This recognition comes after being named a Times Best Law Firm and winning the Lexis Nexis Law Firm of the Year award earlier this year. The firm has had a successful 2023, […]

Drafting Leases for MEES and ESG – time to collaborate?  

The minimum rating requirements for EPCs are of course likely to be tightened at some point within the next few years. The previously signalled requirements for an EPC rating of “C” or higher by 1 April 2027 and a rating of “B” or higher by 1 April 2030 were looking unachievable some while ago, and […]

The Building Safety Act: New Developer Obligations

The development of the law relating to the Building Safety Act continues at pace. The government published new secondary legislation under the Building Safety Act 2022 (“BSA”) on 17 August 2023, which came into force on 1 October 2023. These regulations extend the client’s/developer’s obligations in the construction of buildings, with enhanced requirements for higher-risk […]

gunnercooke partners with Astana Financial Services Authority in Kazakhstan for development of Digital Assets Activities Framework

Law firm gunnercooke has assisted in the review of the Astana Financial Services Authority’s digital assets frameworks prepared by AFSA. It includes the (i) Digital Asset Trading Facility framework, (ii) Digital Asset Service Providers framework, (ii) Stablecoin framework and (iv) Security Token Offering framework. The gunnercooke team included James Burnie FRSA, Meghan Millward, Mark Winters, […]

gunnercooke named a Times Best Law Firm

gunnercooke has been included in The Times Best Law Firms for the fourth year. The list highlights the best legal talent across 28 categories of law. gunnercooke is named amongst the top 250 legal practices in England and Wales, with special commendation for their commercial dispute resolution, employment and family teams. The firms are selected […]

Children and grandchildren of Spanish citizens can now apply for Spanish passport without having to renounce British citizenship

Every time that we were asked by a client whether they could apply for Spanish passport without having to renounce their previous nationality, the answer was, regrettably, “it depends”. And believe it or not, the “depends” was linked to whether or not they were born before 1978 and whether they were the children of a […]

Collaboration at gunnercooke

Many people think of a fee-share model as being inherently isolating, as you are self-employed and have your own clients. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. At gunnercooke, you’re able to work how you want – whether that be on your own, with a team around you, or regularly collaborating with other Partners. […]

Operational resilience: Critical third parties to the UK financial sector

Financial services firms and financial market infrastructures (FMIs) (together “firms”) are relying to an ever greater degree on outsourced service providers.  HM Treasury is introducing an oversight framework for ‘critical third party’ service providers in the financial services industry, so that financial stability and systemic risk can be managed (the “Critical Third Party” or “CTP” […]

Regulations applicable to blockchain and crypto entities

Founders of crypto projects usually anticipate the requirement to clear any financial services regulatory hurdles.   In addition, they should consider the other regulations which might apply to the operation of their business model, their tech-stack or their sales practices.  Data Protection, Data Brokerage and Digital Identity Data protection law has evolved since the General Data […]

European digital identity: Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement on eID

Written by Ash Costello and Holly Joseph. On 8 November 2023, the EU Council Presidency and European parliament representatives reached a provisional agreement on a new framework for a European digital identity (eID). One of the most important aspects of this new framework is the development of a European digital identity wallet. Citizens and businesses […]

Artificial intelligence: recent updates

Written by Ash Costello and Holly Joseph. The rate at which artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced in recent years has undeniably caught the world by storm. With the development of OpenAI’s Chat-GPT, for example, we are starting to see AI shift away from a theoretical concept and move towards a tangible reality. While AI provides […]

Trust and advice – a quick Q&A with Dr John Blakey

In a recent episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviewed global CEO, coach and international speaker Dr John Blakey. Darryl is joined by co-host Sir Peter Fahy, the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. Dr John Blakey is the founder of The Trusted Executive. As part of The […]

Does being nice help you get far in business? With Dr John Blakey

In a recent episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviewed global CEO, coach and international speaker Dr John Blakey. Darryl is joined by co-host Sir Peter Fahy, the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. Dr John Blakey is the founder of The Trusted Executive. As part of The […]

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act – Key Facts

After much debate and extensive review and consideration, new offences relating to corporate failings to prevent fraud are on the horizon, with implementation due in 2024. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT Act) has now received royal assent and is ever closer to becoming law.   Various proposed amendments had been passed back […]

How important is ‘wokeness’ in leadership? With Jürgen Maier, ex CEO of Siemens UK

gunnercooke has released the latest episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, hosted by Co-Founder Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy. The series delves into the minds of inspiring businesspeople, to learn from the very best, and to understand what makes a great leader. Insights include recipes for success, behaviours to model and practical tips from some […]

“The values of the firm shine through every day”, 1 year with Madeleine James

What has been your highlight at gunnercooke so far? Probably re-uniting with my old colleagues Simon Colledge and Suzanne Eva, both of whom I worked with (ahem) 20+ years ago. It has been really lovely to see them both at social occasions as well as work with Suzanne on corporate matters. It was also a […]

Third Party Agreement Clauses: Getting back to back

Parties entering into development agreements or construction contracts will wish to achieve a “back to back” position in relation to other agreements relating to the works. For example, a main contractor will want to step down obligations assumed under the main contract into his sub-contracts. A developer will want to step down construction obligations assumed […]

Pitfalls In Documenting An Extension To The Term Of A Lease Of Commercial Premises

You’ve managed to agree with your tenant that they will extend the term of their lease. Great news, and so easy to document – it’s just a quick Deed of Variation to change the expiry date, isn’t it? No, it’s not so straightforward, and there are traps for the unwary. It’s well-established law, which should […]

The Prevention Principle in Construction Contracts

What is the Prevention Principle? The prevention principle is a legal maxim which prevents a party from insisting on the compliance of a contractual obligation when it has itself prevented the other party from complying. This is most relevant in construction contracts where the employer requires a contractor to complete its works by a fixed […]

The risk of uninsured risks

Virtually all leases, both residential and commercial, include an obligation on the landlord to insure the building, with the policy premium being apportioned among the tenants as part of the service charge.  The main reason for having the landlord insure is that the landlord has a capital interest in the building and wants to control […]

Employment Law Briefing – October 2023

Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill receives Royal Assent At the moment there is no statutory right to request a more predictable working pattern.  However, the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023, which has just received Royal Assent, introduces a right for workers to request a more predictable working pattern, and is expected to […]

Six things you must consider before providing any guarantee

Guarantees are an important part of modern business, providing creditors with recourse to third parties if things go wrong. However, guarantees are complex documents and failing to understand them can have undesired consequences. It is therefore essential that you not only assess, but understand what a guarantee does before committing to it. This article looks […]

“Here’s to the next decade!” – 10 years with Ginevra Gatrell

I joined gunnercooke as a partner in 2013, a decade ago. At that time gunnercooke looked rather different and was smaller than it is today; I was a senior associate at a large multi-national law firm and had previously worked in London for 7 years at a Magic Circle law firm. Something about gunnercooke, and […]

gunnercooke scores best-ever Chambers results with 27 partners ranked

gunnercooke is celebrating another success in Chambers, with 27 gunnercooke lawyers ranked as individuals in the Chambers UK Guide 2024. The firm also has four department rankings: Real Estate (East Midlands), Employment (North West), Employment (Yorkshire: South and West) and Commodities: Trade Finance (UK-wide). Chambers UK is one of the world’s leading independent legal directories. […]

gunnercooke launches ‘Readiness Check’ tool to help lawyers considering a move to a fee share model

Setting up your own practice within a fee share model can be a daunting prospect. Many ask: ‘Am I ready? Will my clients join me? Will I have my own team? Where do I start?’ To help ambitious lawyers considering the next step, gunnercooke has launched a new ‘Readiness Check’ tool. A 15-question assessment around […]

Why are website privacy policies more crucial for blockchain and crypto companies?

Article written by Ash Costello and Holly Joseph. Crypto entities, and other organisations leveraging blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, are built on a tech stack that differs fundamentally from the tech stack of traditional industries.  These differences include transparency, immutability and the potential for immediate global publication.  These differences are the features which enable the […]

Banking on the banishment – Is crypto de-banking causing more harm than good?

Written by Mark Winters, an Operating Partner and Becky Cooper, a Junior Associate Operating Partner. The cryptoasset industry has been disrupting the trad-fi sector for the better part of the past 10 years. However, recently there has been a gradual yet increasing trend of so called “de-banking” and “de-risking” of cryptoasset business by UK banks. […]

gunnercooke recognised by The Legal 500 in 28 practice areas, with 54 individual lawyer recommendations

gunnercooke is delighted to announce that 54 of our lawyers have secured individual recognition in this year’s Legal 500 rankings. The Legal 500 UK Solicitors Guide 2024 recognised the firm for 28 practice areas in London and across the UK, recognising gunnercooke as a ‘Firm to Watch’ in areas such as Transport (Rail) and Charities […]

Cyber security in government contracts

Most public bodies (that’s to say government departments, agencies, NDPBs and the NHS) have been obliged, since 2014, to utilise established cyber security standards as a key means of improving cyber security (and with that, data protection measures) in their supply chains. The Cyber Essentials Scheme, is central to this. Cyber Essentials is a Government […]

Financial Abuse and the signs on separation and divorce

Most people considering whether they may be the victim of domestic abuse think of verbal abuse or physical assault.  However, research shows that financial abuse occurs just as frequently in unhealthy relationships as other forms of abuse.  In a study conducted by the Centre for Financial Security they found that 99% of domestic violence cases […]

How to hit the ground running at gunnercooke

Ed Jenneson, a gunnercooke Employment Partner, joined the firm just 11 months ago and has quickly hit the ground running, winning new clients and working collaboratively with partners across the firm. Here he discusses how he set himself up for success at gunnercooke and how he has managed to build his own personal brand to […]

‘Trusted advisor’- easy to say…hard to deliver

Business is littered with phrases that have become so ubiquitous as to be rendered almost meaningless. In the world of professional services, where often the only differentiator is service quality, the phrase ‘trusted advisor’ has become somewhat over-used. It’s coming from a good place. Trust is obviously vital as advisors deal with specialist, often complex […]

Taking Notice: Do you really need to follow the contract?

Most of us with experience of construction contracts of any description recognise that requests for more money or for longer to complete the job are commonplace.  A good construction contract will clearly establish the circumstances in which additional time or money can be allowed, and a basis for measuring any change. But can a genuine […]

What is a landlord break clause?

What is a break clause? A break clause is a contractual provision in a lease which allows either the landlord or tenant to terminate the lease early. The clause may be drafted to be exercisable on a specified date or at any time during the term on a rolling basis. Any conditions that are attached […]

Inspiring leadership and the importance of kindness in business, featuring international speaker and author Dr John Blakey

gunnercooke has released the latest episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, hosted by Co-Founder Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy. The series delves into the minds of inspiring businesspeople, to learn from the very best, and to understand what makes a great leader. Insights include recipes for success, behaviours to model and practical tips from some […]

Partners celebrate firm success at annual Symposium

gunnercooke recently celebrated its 13th year in style at the University of Oxford for their annual Symposium event. Day one saw the conference kick off at the Sheldonian Theatre, with talks from co-founders Sarah Goulbourne and Darryl Cooke, as well as keynote speakers Paul Hargreaves and Nigel Risner. Paul discussed the fourth bottom line and […]

HR Training for hiring foreign workers

HR teams face constant pressures in recruiting the best talent, developing staff, and optimising senior management and employee relations. Where HR teams hire foreign workers, the challenge is heightened due to regular changes to immigration law, compliance requirements and matching organisational skills to the sponsor licence held by the business. Similar issues are faced by […]

Sponsorship License Audits

Obtaining a sponsor licence, required to sponsor foreign workers or students to come and work or study in the UK, is a new HR responsibility that needs be taken seriously to both keep your licence and maintain your present and future foreign originated workforce. Sponsor licence applications can take several months to be processed due […]

gunnercooke and Future Planet Capital Host International Panel on Impact Investment

The international law firm gunnercooke and the venture capital firm Future Planet Capital brought thought leaders and experts from around the world to London to explore the future of Impact Investment. They discussed the development of reforms and regulations, as well as the potential polarisation of views on climate change, ultimately concluding that the collaboration […]

Life as a triple-qualified lawyer: what it’s like practicing in three countries

Anivaldo Esquelino, a gunnercooke Immigration Partner, is tripled-qualified in Brazil, Portugal and the UK (England & Wales). He has been a lawyer for nearly two decades and has practiced around the globe, gaining experience and knowledge. Anivaldo recently shared his insights into life as a triple-qualified lawyer. Why did you decide to become triple qualified? […]

“gunnercooke is anything but a virtual firm” – five years with David Merson

David Merson, a gunnercooke Commercial Real Estate Partner, will be soon celebrating his five-year anniversary at the firm. He shares insights on how the firm has changed during this time, some of his highlights and advice for others. What has been your highlight at gunnercooke so far? I’d have to say working with people who […]

What services are on offer for Partners at gunnercooke? 

Joining a fee-share law firm can seem daunting, with many new starters querying if they will have access to associates, paralegals and PAs. There are usually questions around how to grow your team, if there’s access to digital dictation and if you’ll be able to utilise secretarial services.  The good news is, at gunnercooke you […]

Smash and Grab: The Payment Trap in Construction Contracts

The law Payment disputes under construction contracts are all too common.  There are often different views on the nature of work carried out, how it should be valued and how a myriad of complex contractual provisions should be applied.  What often surprises those less experienced in the construction industry is the resolution, at least temporarily, […]

gunnercooke Partner advises on winding up petition that succeeded in High Court

Jeremy Goldring, a gunnercooke Restructuring & Insolvency Partner, advised on a winding up petition for his client, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited. The Hong Kong-based business is a state-owned company which was party to a joint venture agreement in relation to an English company, Beijing Tong Ren Tang (Leeds) Company Limited. Following […]

Conscious Leadership: Navigating the Future of Modern Law Firms

This article was provided by Neil Seligman. In the dynamic landscape of the legal industry, where advancements in technology, evolving work preferences, and a growing emphasis on wellbeing are reshaping traditional norms, the concept of Conscious Leadership emerges as a guiding light. As we step into the next decade, a profound transformation is poised to […]

What exactly is blockchain?

Blockchain is the technology that allows cryptocurrencies to work, cryptocurrency being money that works without the oversight of banks or general government. But if you want to create digital money that works without banks, you have to overcome a key issue:  the double spend problem. Essentially, you need to stop people being able to spend […]

How to employ an immigrant in the UK

We have a shortage of immigrants in the UK. Based on what we see in the news, this may seem like a shock but it’s true. We need more immigrants because we have a shortage of employees. So if you’re an employer and are looking to bring somebody from outside the UK to work in […]

How does divorce impact your mortgage?

Couples going through a divorce are facing tougher negotiations over existing mortgage deals, which are being negatively impacted by more stringent requirements of lenders.  If a couple has taken out a mortgage prior to Spring 2022, they are likely to be on a much cheaper rate, often leading to disagreement over who should keep the […]

Things to know before embarking on property joint ventures

Joint ventures between landowners and developers are a hot topic in property, especially in a market that is slightly challenging. A joint venture is often an interesting and attractive prospect for many SMEs, property developers and landowners. But what do you need to consider before you embark on a joint venture?The main things to consider […]

Protect your culture by thinking like a saboteur

By Lucy Hargreaves, Development & People Director at gunnercooke Culture is the most precious but least tangible asset a business has. You won’t find it on the balance sheet, and it can’t be accurately measured or valued. And yet leaders know it’s culture that drives performance, underpins talent recruitment and retention and is fundamentally linked […]

Legal misconceptions surrounding DAOs: five to look out for

Decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) have risen in prominence over the last decade,  enabling the rapid growth of blockchain technologies. Associate Yuliya Prokopyshyn debunks five key fallacies around DAOs:   1. DAOs exist in a legal vacuum While DAOs challenge traditional legal concepts, they don’t operate in a legal vacuum. Similar to the metaverse, regulators are […]

gunnercooke shortlisted at British Legal Awards for second year running

gunnercooke has been included in the shortlist for Law Firm of the Year (Small/Mid Sized Firm) at the British Legal Awards for the second year running. Founder Darryl Cooke comments: “It’s wonderful to be recognised for another year by the British Legal Awards alongside some of the top firms in the industry. It’s been another […]

Is London a vital cryptocurrency hub?

FinTech Partner James Burnie and FinTech Senior Associate Kathryn Dodds, both based in London discuss the key attributes that make London a vital cryptocurrency hub. Connectivity to global markets for access to investors and customers London is a global financial hub that is renowned for its well-established financial infrastructure, and is often used as a […]

Flexible working changes: what impact will they have on employers?

With the news that the the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 (“the Act”) received Royal Assent on 20th July 2023 , Employment Law specialist Katy Wedderburn breaks down the key questions and misunderstandings relating to the new provisions. The introduction of these changes is expected to boost employee satisfaction and productivity, benefiting employers by […]

What are employers’ obligations regarding pregnant women?

New data from Pregnant then Screwed shows that over half of all mothers (52%) have faced some form of discrimination whilst pregnant, on maternity leave or when they returned to work. Richard Linskell, a gunnercooke Employment Partner, discusses the legal issues behind maternity discrimination. Why is it a company’s responsibility to prevent maternity discrimination? Aside […]

Legal misconceptions in the metaverse: five to look out for 

While the concept of the metaverse has become more widely understood and embraced in recent years, this has raised a number of questions as to its legal standing. Yuliya Prokopyshyn, Web3 Associate, demystifies some of the common legal misconceptions surrounding the metaverse:   Despite its decentralised nature, the metaverse does not operate in a legal vacuum. […]

Live Event – An audience with Tom Parachini, Funding Circle UK

Join us for an insight-packed evening with Darryl Cooke, founder of gunnercooke, as he sits down for an exclusive interview with Tom Parachini, Global Head of Legal and Regulatory at The Funding Circle. Bring along a current, new or prospect client to gain entry to the exclusive event. The Funding Circle is a cutting-edge online marketplace […]

Live event – An audience with Keith Austin, Senior Vice President & Head of Legal at DHL

gunnercooke co-founder Darryl Cooke Darryl Cooke will talk to Keith Austin to reveal the opportunities that arise when collaborating with in-house legal counsel. Delving into the world of corporate partnerships, Keith and Darryl will shed light on the diverse range of services demanded by large companies and the strategies to tap into this thriving market. Keith […]

Live event – An inspiring audience with Noreena Hertz, economist & author of The Lonely Century

40 percent of office workers globally feel lonely. One in five do not have a single friend at work. This is not just a problem for individuals, it’s also exacting a significant business cost. The lonely are less productive, efficient and motivated than their non-lonely colleagues and significantly more likely to quit. At this exclusive […]

Live event – Inspiring Leadership Live with Joanna Swash, Group CEO at Moneypenny & Jürgen Maier, co-founder of vocL

Prepare to be captivated as we present a live episode recording of the Inspiring Leadership podcast hosted by Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy with inspiring leaders Joanna Swash and Jürgen Maier. Join us for an unforgettable event where visionary thinking meets practical expertise, and there are discussions over how to lead a purposeful business. […]

Birmingham benefits from growth of international law firm

International law firm gunnercooke launched its Birmingham office in 2021. Two years on, gunnercooke is making waves in the international market and is attracting some of the best legal talent and clients.  Helen Miles, a Pensions Partner based in Birmingham, is a key legal figure in the region and has been in the pensions industry […]

The new FCA Consumer Duty

On 31 July 2023 the FCA introduced a new Consumer Principle which requires ‘firms to act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers’. The FCA now wants to see regulated firms deliver a higher standard of customer care and protection, and to go further to equip customers to make effective decisions in their interests. The […]

gunnercooke appoints 17 new partners, growing international presence in Germany and the US

Leading international law firm gunnercooke has continued its strong recruitment drive, welcoming 17 new partners in the last quarter across areas including Privacy, International Arbitration and Blockchain. Hires include additions to the fast-growing US team, with Eileen Breslin and Scott Horton joining the New York office. Eileen is a Corporate Partner with over 20 years of experience. […]

The nuances of undocumented business occupation

The June 2023 Court of Appeal judgement Avondale Park Limited v Miss Delaney’s Nursery Schools Limited held that a contracted-out sublease of a nursery school had automatically terminated (by virtue of a clause in that sublease) and that the subsequent continued occupation by the subtenant resulted in an implied periodic tenancy which was protected under […]

“I am the happiest, and most confident, I have ever been in my career.” 5 years at gunnercooke with Sian Darlington

August 2023 marks 5 years since I joined gunnercooke. The time has flown by and I can honestly say I have loved every minute (well, most minutes anyway) and I am the happiest, and most confident, I have ever been in my career. I joined gunnercooke back in 2018 as an Associate, and without any […]

The Register of Overseas Entities one year on – a happy birthday for lenders?

Introduction The UK’s overseas entity registration regime (Regime) came into force in 2022. It requires any overseas entity – a legal entity governed by a non-UK law (OE), to be registered at Companies House in England & Wales if it: Limited exceptions apply and similar regimes apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Companies House […]

“There’s a good commercial buzz” – Working in the gunnercooke Glasgow office

What’s it like being part of gunnercooke Glasgow? gunnercooke is still a relatively new legal business in Glasgow, with gunnercooke Scotland only launching about 2 years ago, so there is an exciting journey of expansion going on in both the whole organisation and within Scotland. Being part of a bigger organisation that’s modern and ambitious […]

The End Game – is your pension scheme ready?

As pension schemes approach their end game, careful preparation is essential to ensure a smooth transition and to achieve the best possible buy-out or buy-in quotes. Employers and trustees must assess various aspects of the scheme, seeking assistance from pensions lawyers to ensure compliance with the scheme rules. So, what three steps can you take […]

What are the key changes to flexible working? Understanding the cultural shift

New flexible working rules have recently been given the go ahead. The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 has Royal Assent and is likely to come into force next year. Employees already have the right to ask for various of their terms and conditions of employment to be changed including terms relating to hours, working […]

Contracting in IT and software: three lessons to learn from

I have worked in the software/IT services space for over 20 years. During that time, I have come to understand the frustrations and problems that can arise from the contracting process. If I were to summarise the problem, it would be: how do you sell as much as you can, as quickly as possible, without […]

gunnercooke partner, Khaled Moyeed secures High Court appeal success overturning a decision relating to the pandemic

gunnercooke partner, Khaled Moyeed wins a High Court appeal for the Appellant overturning the trial judge’s decision to refuse adjournment of the trial when the Appellant was suffering from Covid symptoms in December 2021. This is an important decision shedding light on how courts were dealing with hearings during the pandemic. At the High Court, […]

Should “Divorce leave” be recognised by employers?

Divorce can be a life changing event which can impact on performance at work.  In January 2023, the Positive Parenting Alliance (PPA) published a report considering the impact of divorce on employees at work.  The PPA is a group of individuals and organisations whose focus is to protect children whose parents are separating.  The findings […]

“I wish I had started years ago!” 1 year at gunnercooke with Emma Holden-Shah

Emma Holden-Shah, a gunnercooke Real Estate Partner, recently celebrated her 1 year anniversary at gunnercooke. She sat down to discuss what her life has been like since joining and to answer questions about the firm, and how it works for her. What has been your highlight at gunnercooke so far? The highlight has definitely been […]

gunnercooke Partner Khaled Moyeed assists charity clients in a successful mediation

gunnercooke Dispute Resolution and Charity Partner Khaled Moyeed represented a group of charity trustees who were ousted from the day to day running of a charity following a dispute between trustees. The matter was referred to Khaled after his clients tried unsuccessfully to secure an injunction allowing them to go back to the management of […]

The Synergy of AI and Web3

The year 2021 witnessed the rapid growth of Web3 technologies, from the emergence of non-fungible tokens to the rise of digital asset tokenisation platforms. While these technologies slowly attracted more developers and investors with the aim of creating a more transparent and user-centric digital environment, Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects took the spotlight in 2023, stealing […]

Data Protection: European Commission adopts new adequacy decision for safe and trusted EU-US data flows

On 10 July 2023, the European Commission adopted its adequacy decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (the “Framework”). The decision determines that the Framework ensures a level of data protection comparable to that of the European Union for personal data transferred from the EU to US companies.  The decision benefits businesses on both sides […]

eIDAS 2.0 and European Digital Identity

On 29 June 2023, the EU Council Presidency and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional political agreement on the core elements of a new framework for a European digital identity (eID).  The proposed eID framework is dubbed ‘eIDAS 2’, as it amends the 2014 regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in […]

What will the new Basel III regulation mean for the EU banking world?

The European Parliament, the Member States, and the European Commission have agreed on a preliminary compromise to implement Basel III, the internationally agreed banking supervision standards, into European law. This agreement will modify the capital requirement regulations and directives for banks (CRR III and CRD IV). The banking package will also include additional regulations for […]

‘Take the plunge!’ — 1 year at gunnercooke with Khaled Moyeed

Time has flown quickly since I joined gunnercooke a year ago! I’ve had a busy year growing my practice and settling into the firm, whilst still maintaining relationships with my previous clients. I started off my first year at gunnercooke on a business development trip (that was also partly a holiday!). I started by visiting […]

ABCs for pension scheme trustees: three tips from Helen Miles

Pensions Partner Helen Miles shares her tips for pension scheme trustees in a recent video. A: Use your advisors Operating a complex pensions scheme is a team game and advisors will help to keep you up to date and navigate the trickiest of areas. But don’t just rely on impersonal webinars and newsletters. It’s only […]

What lies in the future of crypto?

James Burnie, a Financial Services and FinTech Partner recently sat down and discussed what his predictions are for the future of crypto as part of our new “90 seconds with a gunnercooke expert” series. James suggests that the future of crypto is going to see a move towards greater regulation of the crypto asset space. […]

Top tips when leasing a commercial property

If you are a business or commercial enterprise looking to take lease of a property, especially if you have limited resources, it can be very tempting to just sign up to what is offered by a landlord. The cost of professional advice, agency, building survey and legal fees can seem disproportionate. After all, it’s just […]

gunnercooke Partner registers new Mental Health Charity

Michele Price, a gunnercooke Charity & Philanthropy Partner, recently registered Breadsong as a social enterprise. Breadsong aims to share the transformative effect that learning how to bake bread had on managing bouts of depression. The social enterprise was started by Kitty Tait and Alex Tait, which is named after their baking book called ‘breadsong’. The […]

Leadership is key to the careful and compassionate adoption of AI

Article written by Miklos Orban, head of gunnercooke legal tech. Sensational predictions around the disruptive potential of AI technology are nothing new. The ‘robots’ have been coming to take away legal services jobs for at least a decade! Undoubtedly the pace of development and ease of access to increasingly powerful tools marks the start of […]

gunnercooke partners Rashmi Dubé and Wolfgang Richter sponsor and host TMA Europe roundtable on the role of crypto in turnaround situations

Last week, gunnercooke partners Rashmi Dubé and Wolfgang Richter convened in Hamburg for the annual TMA Europe 2023 conference, where they sponsored and hosted a cross-border roundtable. The Turnaround Management Association (TMA) was established in 1988 and represents 12 European chapters. It organises regular events and serves as an international forum for industry leaders from […]

gunnercooke partner Khaled Moyeed successfully defends client against an unfair prejudice petition

gunnercooke Dispute Resolution Partner, Khaled Moyeed has secured the dismissal of an unfair prejudice petition following a two-day trial at Central London County Court. The petition was brought under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 on unfair prejudice. The impugned conduct related to the filing of a confirmation statement showing Khaled’s client, the First […]

Life as a dual-qualified lawyer: the difference between Germany and the UK

Anthony Tur, a Banking & Finance, Restructuring & Insolvency, and Intellectual Property & Dispute Resolution Partner at gunnercooke, is dual-qualified in Germany and the UK (England & Wales). He has been a lawyer since 2014 and has had a unique journey to becoming a Partner. Anthony recently shared his insights into life as a dual-qualified […]

gunnercooke hosts Legal Tech and AI event 

Miklos Orban, Chief Technology Officer at gunnercooke Legal Tech, recently hosted a live panel event with a range of key guests to discuss all things Legal Tech and AI.   Miklos was joined by key experts in the field, including:  The team discussed a range of key issues and debates in the Legal Tech and AI […]

gunnercooke feature at roundtable for transatlantic growth

gunnercooke was featured as one of a dozen companies for its leadership in transatlantic growth to the United States, at a roundtable with BAB (BritishAmerican Business). The firm featured alongside other top companies in BAB’s 2023 cohort of TAG companies, and policy makers in government. Noreen Weiss, the Chair of gunnercooke US , attended the […]

Meet Europe’s largest crypto team

gunnercooke has the biggest and leading FinTech, crypto and blockchain full-service practice in Europe and last year became the first law firm to accept payments in cryptoassets. The award-winning team has a breadth of experience and is regularly published in leading legal publications. The team consists of five dedicated crypto partners in the UK and […]

gunnercooke Partner Khaled Moyeed secures an injunction on behalf of commercial tenants  

gunnercooke dispute resolution partner Khaled Moyeed has recently secured an injunction on behalf of his clients, commercial tenants who run a steak restaurant in South London. The commercial landlord had forfeited the tenants’ lease and evicted them from the Property. The case involved a particularly difficult set of facts as the landlord refused to cooperate […]

The DLT pilot regime of the EU

The EU Regulation 2022/858 is experimenting with technological and regulatory changes through an approach known as the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) pilot regime. This regulation came into effect on March 23, 2023. It is expected to last for three years, although it could be extended or expanded to other types of financial instruments. The DLT […]

Do crypto assets need regulation – what do the experts say?  

Members of the gunnercooke Crypto team sat down to discuss their thoughts on the report that the All Party Parliamentary Group for Crypto and Digital Assets made on regulating crypto assets. The report advises the need for urgent regulation of the cryptocurrency and digital asset industry in the UK and made 53 recommendations to Government.   […]

How difficult is AI regulation? 

James Burnie, a FinTech Partner and Meghan Millward, a gunnercooke trainee solicitor, have shared their insights on the latest in AI regulation.   How difficult is it for AI companies to comply with GDPR and other rules when regulators are actively re-interpreting them to keep up with the technology?   Whilst rules are intended to be technology […]

5 top tips to protect your business from business crime

Businesses are expected to mitigate against the risk of being involved in all types of financial crime: bribery, tax evasion, money laundering and terrorist financing. The stakes are high and the failure to do so can result in fines and imprisonment. Especially where the decision makers are not involved in the day-to-day of the running […]

What are the legal implications of your parents gifting you part of your house deposit?

There is often dispute on separation as to whether funds received from family members were a gift or a loan.  By way of example, a family member may provide funds to assist with the purchase of a property expecting this to benefit only their family member.  However, difficulties often arise as they may have been […]

The Unappreciated Power of Modern Technology…?

One day you will be able to walk into your local supermarket and buy a property ‘off the shelf’ without using a solicitor.  Hurrah you might say?!  We are not quite there yet. Right now we (lawyers as well as non-lawyers) need to be aware of the real power of technology and our keyboards – […]

Spirituality mentorship – a quick Q&A with Paul Hargreaves

In a recent episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviews businessman, philanthropist and speaker Paul Hargreaves. Darryl is joined by co-host Sir Peter Fahy, the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. Paul is the Founder and Chief Exec of Cotswold Fayre Ltd, a speciality & fine food wholesaler […]

A guide to good leadership, with Paul Hargreaves

In a recent episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviews businessman, philanthropist and speaker Paul Hargreaves. Darryl is joined by co-host Sir Peter Fahy, the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. Paul is the Founder and Chief Exec of Cotswold Fayre Ltd, a speciality & fine food wholesaler […]

Renters’ Reform; or is it?

It was around 6 years ago that the then government announced their plans to truly reform the private rented sector in England (Wales by and large has its own rules). That announcement was by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the name has changed almost as often as the incumbent Secretary of State […]

gunnercooke team works on revolutionary C02-netrual private boat event venue 

gunnercooke Corporate & Commercial Partners Michael Hatchwell and Pania Charalambous recently worked on the revolutionary Ocean Diva.   Ocean Diva will be operated by one of the duos clients, working with one of London’s leading events’ organisers, Smart Group. The business is part of United Rivers which owns and operates 150 large cruise vessels on the […]

Scotland named as the “Casual Workers’ capital” of the UK: Predictable terms and conditions for Casual Workers

Casual Working is here to stay Recent data from the Office for National Statistics, shows a record high in the use of zero hours contracts. Scotland has the highest rate of use of zero hours contracts at 3.9%, with the UK average standing at 3.4%. The accommodation and food sector is the highest user by […]

What is a charity lawyer and why do charities need legal support?

Charities and other forms of not-for profits are businesses. At their heart is purpose rather than profit, but they’re still businesses and they need to make money to achieve that purpose. Charities contribute around £15 billion to the UK economy. As businesses they need lots of different types of support, whether that be legal, business […]

“Jump in, the water’s warm” – 1 year at gunnercooke with Michael M Jones

What has been your highlight at gunnercooke so far?   Attending my first Symposium, where all the Partners at the firm meet up for a few days in Oxford, and playing viola (an instrument I have never touched before) live in a firm “orchestra”.  It was anything but a Bitter Sweet Symphony, far better sounding […]

New government proposals for measures to cut ‘red tape’

Written by Kate Smith and Jo Tindall. On 10 May 2023, the government announced various measures contained in its policy paper ‘Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy’ aimed at reducing red tape and cutting costs for businesses.   On 12 May 2023, the government launched a consultation on reforms to the Working Time Regulations (WTR) […]

How can employers support neurodivergent employees?

With 1 in 7 people being thought to have a neurodivergent condition, it is very likely that you employ neurodivergent people. The impact of having neurodivergent employees isn’t a negative one, as in the right environment neurodivergent employees can thrive. Some of the common symptoms of neurodiverse conditions can be a real benefit to employers, […]

Withholding tips from staff to become unlawful

Significant changes to staff contracts and employment policies are anticipated in the hospitality sector due to the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 which received Royal Assent in May. This legislation will make it unlawful for businesses to hold back tips/service charges from their employees and will ensure that staff receive the gratuities that they […]

Inspiring leadership and doing business with our hearts over our minds, featuring author and entrepreneur Paul Hargreaves

gunnercooke has released the latest episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, hosted by Co-Founder Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy. The series delves into the minds of inspiring businesspeople, to learn from the very best, and to understand what makes a great leader. Insights include recipes for success, behaviours to model and practical tips from […]

Growth, seamless transitions and core values – a year at gunnercooke with Simon J Murfitt 麥富德

What has been your highlight at gunnercooke so far? In respect of work, either (a) through links in our fabulous aviation team, working with a local Spitfire experience flight provider to provide new financing for their expansion or (b) working with the two UK Air Ambulance Charities, one of which I brought with me from […]

gunnercooke successfully registers groundbreaking charity, The Baton of Hope UK

gunnercooke partner Michele Price has successfully registered the groundbreaking charity The Baton of Hope UK, ahead of the national tour of the specially designed Baton. The Baton begins its journey throughout the UK to Downing Street on 25 June as part of the biggest suicide awareness and prevention initiative ever seen in this country. Michele […]

No fault divorce: so what has changed?

Last year saw the biggest shakeup of divorce laws in England and Wales for 50 years when the Divorce, Dissolution, and Separation Act 2020 took effect, allowing couples to separate without assigning blame, dubbed the ‘no fault divorce’. So what has happened in the past year since the changes? Divorces have been on the rise […]

What does the planned change to non-compete post-termination restrictions mean for employers and employees?

The government has announced plans to limit non-compete clauses to a maximum of 3 months.  This does not mean that non-compete clauses of up to 3 months automatically become enforceable (as the existing law on enforceability would continue to apply too), but 3 months would be the maximum that might be enforceable.  Read on to […]

New hires establish gunnercooke as UK’s largest Crypto legal team

International law firm gunnercooke has strengthened and expanded its cryptocurrency expertise with the hire of partners Will Foulkes and Gareth Malna, cementing its position as the biggest legal crypto team in the UK. Will, who has worked for over 10 years in the field, has developed an in-depth knowledge of corporate, commercial and regulatory law […]

Challenges facing the adoption of Web3 

The past couple of years have shown us that the blockchain technology undoubtedly has a potential to revolutionise many aspects of our lives, from the way we interact with each other to the way we conduct business. However, the blockchain technology has to overcome a few barriers to reach its full potential, one of, if […]

Shipping Market News – Recent alternative fuels deals

The international shipping sector is no stranger to the global movement towards alternative energy sources, carbon emission reduction and greener transport all round and continuing to grow apace. Simon J Murfitt 麥富德, a gunnercooke llp international shipping partner based in London, provides a short summary and update as to the current market news. Shipping-updateDownload To […]

Simon Etchells shares reflections two years on from launching gunnercooke Scotland

“It feels like an engine room of motivated self-starters who have no fear of sharing knowledge and contacts.” What has been your personal highlight of the last two years? If I don’t say being joined by a range of brilliant lawyers who are both colleagues and friends, I am likely dead in the water… I […]

Emma Hammond interviewed by Penny Lancaster for the Menopause Mandate 1 year anniversary celebrations

gunnercooke Employment Partner Emma Hammond was invited to speak on a panel chaired by model and TV personality Penny Lancaster in Westminster last week to celebrate Menopause Mandate’s 1 year anniversary. Emma was joined by Cathy Hastie, HR Director, PWC, Sue Sansome, Head of Learning and Development, Sytner Group and Ann Hayes from the British […]

A pension education: why the UK don’t know how much they have in their pension

New research by Standard Life has revealed the UK’s understanding of their pension pots. The results show how many of the British public are aware of their pension savings and what it will equate to when they hit retirement. It also breaks down the research by gender and age. The research shows that 79% of […]

Changes to employment law in 2023  

Welcome to this short update on what employment law changes we might expect in 2023. Whilst some of these changes will (and have) been enacted, such as rate changes, the rest may not. In some cases, we expect certain changes to be in force in the future, but we don’t have all of the relevant […]

Data Protection and Digital Information Bill: but what does it mean?

Earlier this month MPs debated the UK’s post-Brexit replacement for the EU’s GDPR data regime: the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. The MPs had many queries around the bill, but what does it mean for businesses and should we be concerned? The Bill, even in its new version (v0.2), still represents a major shift […]

Is your purpose truly authentic?

Check your purpose – Is it truly authentic? Purpose has rightly become a key focus for leaders keen to ensure their business is driven by more than just the pursuit of profit. There’s good reason for this. Research shows that purpose-led companies achieve higher growth and productivity, have better workforce engagement and are more innovative […]

The Loneliness Economy

Leaders should help reduce demand in the ‘loneliness economy’ It’s no surprise that the social epidemic of loneliness sweeping across many parts of the world is becoming a distinct investment theme. Fund managers are racing to identify patterns and growth opportunities stemming from the erosion of physical communities, increasing isolation and aging populations. Like all […]

gunnercooke’s growing Corporate team advises on £1.2 billion in deals 

Leading International law firm gunnercooke advised on more than £1.2 billion in corporate and banking deals in the past year.  The firm acted on a number of high-profile cases and deals for clients including Jet2.com, Santander, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Leeds Building Society and Skipton Building Society.  The Corporate M&A team worked with inTEC […]

What are the legal rights of unmarried couples separating?

In a recent episode of the Faith in Family Law podcast, hosted by gunnercooke Partner Siddique Patel, Elizabeth Darlington discusses the legal rights of unmarried couples. The pair dissect the different legal protections that married couples and cohabiting couples have when they separate. Elizabeth is a Barrister practising in Leeds and the wider UK who […]

gunnercooke appoints 20 new partners including Crypto, Real Estate and Technology lawyers  

Leading international law firm gunnercooke has continued its recruitment drive over the spring, welcoming 20 new partners since the start of 2023 across areas including Crypto, Real Estate and Technology.   Hires include additions to the ever-growing FinTech and Crypto team, including Will Foulkes as a Blockchain Partner and Gareth Malna as a Fintech Partner. Their […]

My work life balance isn’t about managing just one role

I love being a lawyer, particularly as part of the pensions industry. The work is technically challenging but that’s what makes it stimulating.  Most pension lawyers and other industry professionals have worked alongside each other, whether as part of a client team or on transactions and projects, over the years.  This makes for a strong […]

How can law firms retain female lawyers?

Ironically enough, justice is personified by Lady Justice, whose statue is outside the courts in many countries, and yet women’s representation in the legal profession, especially the judiciary, is an ongoing issue. I do not think there is a lawyer who has not encountered or noticed in their career the lack of women representation. Throughout […]

The Four-day Working Week – what’s the latest?

Between June and December 2022 sixty-one different organisations in the UK took part in a four-day working week trial. This pilot scheme was launched by the 4 Day Week Campaign and involved approximately 3,000 workers receiving 100% pay for working 80% of their previous hours, with a commitment to maintain 100% productivity (known as the […]

Spring Budget 2023: Changes to pensions and the actions employers should be taking

The changes particularly affect employees retiring before 05/04/2023   In this year’s Spring Budget, the Chancellor decided to meet expectations by increasing the amount that can be saved into a pension scheme from £40,000 to £60,000 per year, but unexpectedly, removed the lifetime allowance tax charge in April 2023, together with abolishing the lifetime allowance […]

Beware of Harassment: the Worker Protection Bill

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) recently announced that it has signed a binding agreement with IKEA UK following sexual harassment complaints. This follows similar agreement being signed last month with McDonalds about its handling of staff sexual harassment complaints. The EHRC is the regulator of the Equality Act 2010 (Equality Act) in England, […]

What are the potential changes to the PDO/PGI scheme?

Simon Thorpe MW, CEO of WineGB, set out the progress update on the English wine PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) scheme at the WineGB Industry conference earlier this month.  The UK wine industry is currently the biggest growing agricultural industry in the UK with the number of vineyards doubling since […]

gunnercooke real estate team completes a £7.93m deal at MIPIM 

A gunnercooke team of Real Estate Partners completed a £7.93m deal for AssetStone at MIPIM with the clients present at the close. The team consisted of Dan Whebell, Real Estate Finance Partner,  Pavinder Boparai, Real Estate Senior Associate and Howard Ross, Commercial Real Estate Partner.  The team advised the lender client on a bridging transaction […]

gunnercooke awarded Law Firm of the Year at LexisNexis Legal Awards

Leading International firm gunnercooke has been awarded the prestigious award of Law Firm of the Year at the 2023 LexisNexis Legal Awards. This marks the 70th award recognition for the firm, including The Times Best Law Firms 2023, the Crypto A.M. awards and the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards. The LexisNexis Legal Awards aim […]

The EU ETS – what does it mean for UK Shipping?

Summary and analysis by gunnercooke marine and shipping lawyer Simon J Murfitt 麥富德 Intro The EU ETS is a “cap-and-trade” legislative scheme by which the European Union is striving to cap certain emissions of certain greenhouse gases (“GHG”). As a result, it is one of the three relevant CO2 reporting schemes for shipping companies. The […]

gunnercooke Scotland expands with appointment of two Partners  

International law firm gunnercooke has strengthened its Scottish presence to six partners, with Katy Wedderburn and Alex Innes joining its Scotland team.  Katy Wedderburn is an experienced Employment specialist with over 20 years in the industry. She joins from leading Scottish law firm MacRoberts LLP, where she was a partner for nearly 17 years and […]

Ramadan rights – key legal considerations for employers

March 22nd sees the beginning of Ramadan when people of Muslim faith observe a period of fasting, prayer and reflection. It is important for employers to create a supportive environment for staff during the Islamic holy month, whilst also considering the needs of the wider workforce. Richard Linskell is an employment Partner at gunnercooke with 30 […]

Landlord’s Certificates – A New Requirement under the Building Safety Act 2022

Building Safety (Leaseholder Protections) (England) Regulations 2022 (the Regulations), setting out the details of the practical actions leaseholders and landlords will be obliged to take under the Building Safety Act 2022 (the BSA 2022). The Regulations have been designed in support of one of the objectives of the BSA 2022, which was to shift responsibility for the […]

The perfect environment to thrive

Alex Connah is a Senior Associate solicitor within Simon Williams’ Corporate and Commercial practice and was recently promoted from Associate. He qualified in 2018 but had already started to become disenchanted with life in a traditional law firm. Here he discusses why he joined gunnercooke early in his career. A new challenge At gunnercooke we […]

Brand power helping fashion NFTs weather the crypto storm…but ‘MetaBirkins’ highlight IP risk

Co-authored by Kathryn Dodds and James Burnie. Despite high profile turmoil in other areas of crypto, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in the fashion industry look set to continue their growth and journey towards the mainstream. Unlike crypto currency and more esoteric NFTs, these digital assets provide fashion-focused consumers with a unique link to their favourite brands […]

Let’s make a change to how we view menstrual pain in the workplace

In the past 10 years or so, employers have become more aware of women’s health and how it can impact their career and productivity. Up until then, and even now to some extent, most legislation and corporate policies have been written by men with male biology in mind. It was only in 1993 that the […]

What’s the latest with the Tate viewing platform?

The Supreme Court recently ruled in Fearn and others v Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery that the viewing platform at the Tate Modern is an actionable nuisance. This follows earlier judgements by the High Court and Court of Appeal which were in favour of the Tate. The 2016 extension to the Tate created […]

Constructing the Gold Standard

To many working in, and with, the public sector frameworks are a cumbersome but necessary tool to enable public authorities to comply with their obligations under procurement regulations and get on with their business for up to four years. It was Professor David Mosey CBE of the Centre of Construction Law at King’s College London, […]

gunnercooke team helps secure more than 300 jobs

Simon Williams, a Corporate & Commercial Partner, headed up the team that advised Vanguard Cleaning on a deal that secured more than 300 jobs. The gunnercooke team consisted of Simon Williams, Associate Alex Connah and Paralegal Lewis Dawson. Churchill Support Services, a security firm, took over Vanguard Cleaning, who provide medical and non-medical cleaning services. […]

gunnercooke Corporate team advise inTEC on acquisition strategy

A group of gunnercooke Partners have come together to advise inTEC group on its acquisition of IT Managed Services provider FROG IT Services Ltd. The gunnercooke team consisted of Partners Jo Glass, Georgina Tripp, Elle Berrett, Melloney Guiver, Gaynor Bannon and Julian Moran. As well as trainee Rebecca Davies and associate Daniel Knowles. The acquisition […]

Minimum Energy Efficiency Regulations – What You Need to Know

Whilst the Minimum Energy Efficiency Regulations (“MEES”) are not new, they are important if you’re buying a commercial or a residential property which you are intending to let out, particularly in light of the pending 1 April trigger date. Here is an overview of what you need to know: The MEES Regulations apply to domestic […]

Are you claiming the maximum VAT back for your business?

In most instances, yes! Sometimes though, you can overlook opportunities for recovering VAT on purchases. Examples include: Am I too late? Good news – you have 4 years “and a bit” to claim VAT that you previously hadn’t recovered. For example: Then the latest you must adjust this is in your VAT return ending on […]

How a global pandemic has led to even stronger bonds with our clients

Three years on from the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve been reflecting back on how the world has changed from that pre-Covid era. As we finally come out of the lockdowns and quarantine, in light of the challenges we all faced, it’s clear that we’ve built an even stronger bond with our family and friends as well […]

Joining gunnercooke as a trainee

Shabab Ahmed is a Trainee Solicitor who works within the gunnercooke Corporate & Commercial team headed up by Partner David Salamons. Here Shabab discusses the benefits of working alongside and learning from entrepreneurial Partners and legal professionals at gunnercooke. Learning from the best At gunnercooke we have a diverse mix of people who have a […]

Power, NDAs and Matt Hancock

Power is never balanced. We do not live in a world of perfection. One party will always have more than the other. We see this in the corporate commercial world where on a  scale of 1 to 100,  the Small Medium Business (SME) has the power of just 1 whilst and the larger corporates are […]

It’s all about the people: one year at gunnercooke with Ninos Simon 

What a year it’s been! Looking back, I wish I had never doubted what I viewed as a ‘leap of faith’ when joining gunnercooke. Moving to the firm has been the best decision for both my practice and my career so far.  I’m surrounded by some of the most highly regarded Real Estate Finance Partners […]

What would life be like in a Security Token Economy?

With the rapid development of infrastructures and handling of blockchain-based tokens, our communities are acclimatising to the notion of having multiple parallel token payment structures outside our traditional currencies, which can be combined with participation structures. But this unprecedented shift in perception of how we set up participations and make payments poses an important question […]

Employment Tribunal Hearing wait times

On 8 February 2023, Mike Freer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, answered a written question in Parliament, providing information on the average waiting times in the employment tribunal from receipt of claim to first Employment Tribunal Hearing. Below is a table, showing wait times from 2008 – 2021 (there is no […]

Government consultation on fire and re-hire

The government has published a draft Code of Practice which seeks to crack down on employers using “fire and rehire” to change staff terms and conditions. It requires employers to use fire and rehire as a last resort, and consult with employees in a fair and transparent way when proposing changes to their employment terms. […]

A Question of Sex…or Gender?

Protected characteristics of sex, gender reassignment and philosophical belief have not been far from recent headlines. In January 2023, the Secretary of State for Scotland made an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act preventing the Scottish Parliament’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (“the Bill) from receiving Royal Assent. This is the first time […]

The secret of good business, ambition, and inspiring leadership – an interview with Sir John Timpson and Roger Lane Smith 

In a recent episode of gunnercooke’s Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviews retail legend Sir John Thompson and business expert Roger Lane Smith. Sir John Timpson is the owner and chairman of Timpson, a UK shoe repair chain with over 2,000 shops. Roger Lane Smith set up DLA law firm, now […]

What makes a successful business? With Sir John Timpson and Roger Lane Smith 

“You’ll need some luck, but take advantage of the luck when it comes your way”  In a recent episode of gunnercooke’s Inspiring Leadership Podcast, gunnercooke founder and host Darryl Cooke interviews retail legend Sir John Thompson and business expert Roger Lane Smith. Sir John Timpson is the owner and chairman of Timpson, a UK shoe […]

Bringing an EU citizen to work in the UK

It often feels like Brexit is something from the past, but it still impacts how businesses operate in the UK, with each organisation facing different challenges. From an immigration perspective, every business in the UK has had their workforce affected post-Brexit.   The Immigration Work System Regulation is not something new, however, the difference is […]

A year of flexibility and growth with Rachel Dunn

Rachel Dunn, a Real Estate Partner with gunnercooke Glasgow recently celebrated her one-year anniversary with the firm. To celebrate, Rachel sat down with the team to give her insights and tips. How has your practice changed over the last year? I moved to gunnercooke a year ago to join my business partner, Simon Etchells, our […]

The gunnercooke foundation supports 11 charities through Christmas Care Box campaign 

During Autumn 2022, whilst working with charities supported by the gunnercooke foundation, the team were made aware of one very specific hardship that people were facing due to the cost-of-living crisis. People were now having to choose between staying clean, staying fed or staying warm.   Whilst people were able to access food via food […]

gunnercooke supports innovative app acquisition

International law firm gunnercooke has helped facilitate the sale of Stagedoor App UK Limited to Trafalgar Entertainment Group (TEG) for an undisclosed sum. Kyri Papantoniou, Corporate Partner at gunnercooke with over 20 years’ M&A experience, was lead legal advisor to the principal shareholders of Stagedoor App UK Limited. Founded by Michael Hadjijoseph and Alex Cican, […]

Money vs. Blockchain: Where could society be heading?

With rapid and innovative developments in token-related structures, our concept of money and payment is changing. Currencies outside our traditional structures can allow for a variety of benefits. But how could the introduction of parallel alternative renumeration methods transform our society and the way we connect money to potential futures and employment? Based on the […]

Why I recommend business coaches

By Damian Hughes With the current cost of living crisis looming over us, entrepreneurs and businesspeople will be looking at how they can make their businesses as successful as possible.   I’m a firm believer in business coaches for entrepreneurs of all levels, whether you’re just starting out or you’re a running a multi-million pound business […]

New year, new you? How to make 2023 your best year yet with visualisation – interview with Damian Hughes

With the New Year now behind us, it’s the perfect time to look forward to 2023 and start visualising the upcoming year. The use of visualisation can’t be underestimated in helping you to achieve your goals, especially in high pressure environments.   In a recent episode of gunnercooke’s Inspiring Leadership Podcast, Founder and host Darryl Cooke […]

“FIT for 55” and levies on CO2 imports – what do they have to do with each other?

What sounds at the beginning of the new year of 2023 like a fitness program for people of the baby boomer generation or the advertising slogan for a fitness studio, turns out on closer inspection to be a fitness program for European climate and energy policy. Presented and determined by the EU on July 14th […]

At a career crossroads? Let ambition guide you

Sima Kanan is a Corporate Partner with over 17 years’ experience gained at a large City law firm and in-house as a Head of Legal & General Counsel. Sima joined gunnercooke when she reached a key stage in her career and wanted a new challenge. After just one year, Sima has a strong client roster […]

Building value through business consultancy

Tony Lockwood has over 25 years project, programme, change management and consulting experience. He specialises in helping executive teams develop and deliver strategic plans that improve operational efficiency and profitability in manufacturing, support services and construction, retail and e-commerce and business services. He began working for gunnercookeOP in 2017 as he had a desire to […]

‘A new lease of life at any age’

The thing is the new lease of life that was brought about by gunnercooke was just one of a series of things. In the same era of time I had a new home, a new office, a new partner. But the new lease of life with gunnercooke was definitely the best. Tell us about your […]

Walking into a ready-made referral network

Simon Williams is a Corporate and Commercial Partner with around 20 years’ experience. Like many of gunnercooke’s Partners, his previous role was at a traditional law firm where he found his needs in terms of a career and ambitions were not being met. Simon found that joining gunnercooke meant he could create a practice with […]

gunnercooke appoints Matthew Dashper-Hughes as International Director

gunnercooke has appointed Matthew Dashper-Hughes as International Director following the firm’s growth into Germany and the US, as well as its legal technology office in Hungary. Matthew has a background in senior leadership, business development and operations and extensive experience in the client-side experience of legal services. Previous roles for major brands have included Managing […]

Unshackled from law firm ownership

Rashmi Dube is a Litigation & Business Advisor with over 25 years’ experience as a lawyer and entrepreneur. She supports companies and directors during complex deals, negotiations and disputes, and provides trusted counsel to senior executives across a wide range of sectors. Rashmi owned her own business for over 7 years. Whilst it was highly […]

What’s on the horizon in employment law in 2023?

As businesses plan ahead for the new year, we look at some of the key proposals for change in employment law that are making their way through parliament in 2023, and the likely implications. Whilst some significant changes might happen in 2023, the timetable remains uncertain and so it is very much a question of […]

New flexible working legislation to be introduced – What will this mean?

Following a consultation first launched in September 2021, the UK government has announced that it intends to reform the statutory flexible working regime. The changes will extend the right for employees to request flexible working and will take effect through the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill. While the government has not yet provided a specific […]

True leadership…is it Davos or Dave?

Last week I was struck by a stark contrast in how leaders approach tackling the challenges facing our societies, economies and communities. On the one hand we had the ‘global elite’ gathering for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss ski-resort of Davos. Aside from arguments about the carbon footprint, extravagance and democratic […]

gunnercooke shortlisted for LexisNexis Law Firm of the Year award

gunnercooke has been shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year at the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2023. The Awards, which take place on Thursday 23 March, aim to recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation across the legal sector. Other nominees include Gowling WLG. This is the first time the firm has been shortlisted. Darryl Cooke, Founder […]

1,826 days, 260 weeks or 5 years at gunnercooke with Suresh Bhatt

It’s been 1826 days, 260 weeks or 5 years since I started at gunnercooke – so where’s that time gone?! Most new jobs are a step into the unknown, but moving from an employed role into a self-employed role had a few well-meaning friends taking a sharp intake of breath, with people focussing on the […]

gunnercooke partner set to appeal against lower court judgement 

Gunnercooke Dispute Resolution Partner, Khaled Moyeed successfully obtained permission to appeal against a lower court judgment in the High Court on 18 January 2023.   The client instructed Khaled as the judgment involved issues around arbitration and the applicability of the Arbitration Act 1996. The lower court judge had referred to the existence of an arbitration […]

How do recessions impact HR departments and people managers?

Although the United Kingdom isn’t yet in a recession, it is certainly going through a period of economic turbulence. Commentators seem to suggest that a recession may start this year. A recession is a period of temporary economic decline when activities tend to stall. Employment law partner, Joan Pettingill has advised employers through times of […]

gunnercooke further strengthens its international arbitration and dispute resolution capabilities

Khaled Moyeed has recently joined international law firm gunnercooke as a Dispute Resolution Partner to further reinforce the firm’s international arbitration and dispute resolution capabilities. Khaled has recently qualified as a certified Islamic Arbitrator and Expert with Dubai’s International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation and Arbitration. He has long taken an interest in Islamic finance arbitration […]

gunnercooke opens House of Books & Friends bookshop in Manchester

gunnercooke has opened a new purpose-led independent bookshop, cafe and events space in Manchester City Centre. Based in the Manchester Club building on King Street, House of Books & Friends aims to combat loneliness by providing a space for local people to establish connections. The Community Interest Company, which will reinvest all profits back into […]

Inspiring leadership and the importance of belonging in improving societies, with David Walker, Bishop of Manchester

gunnercooke has released the latest episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast, hosted by Co-Founder Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy. The series delves into the minds of inspiring businesspeople, to learn from the very best, and to understand what makes a great leader. Insights include recipes for success, behaviours to model and practical tips from […]

How to serve a claim filed on the UK court in Germany after Brexit?

The joy of regained freedom with the exit from the European Union quickly turns into post-Brexit blues for creditors in the United Kingdom when they try to have their claim filed with a court in their country served in the European Union. Now that the transitional period for the application of the European Regulation on […]

Personal and professional growth at gunnercooke

Emma Peliza is a Senior Associate within the Real Estate team with seven years’ experience. She acts on a wide range of transactions from retail lettings through to investment forward fund sales, and has particular expertise in commercial development sites. After working at two traditional law firms, Emma decided to become a consultant solicitor to […]

Racist comments making headlines – what can HRs learn?

The recent high-profile racist questioning suffered by a charity co-founder and a racist joke made by the founder of a large successful plumbing company at an awards ceremony provide a clear lesson for HRs in how unconscious bias can impact the workplace. When Ngozi Fulani, founder of domestic abuse charity Sistah Space was questioned repeatedly […]

Is tech doing what we want it to?

I am a big fan of the potential for new technologies to improve many aspects of our working lives. It can streamline laborious, repetitive processes or entirely remove the need for people to get involved in them at all (except at the coding stage and perhaps to check and account for outcomes). Lots of now-familiar […]

Be the architect of your own destiny

Thalis Vlachos is a highly successful Employment lawyer with over 20 years’ experience. He joined gunnercooke in 2017 after working for several traditional law firms. Thalis wanted the autonomy to operate on his terms, which included diversifying to specialise in a complementary area of law. Here he discusses the benefits of working at gunnercooke, and […]

What If Kim and Kanye Got Divorced In Yorkshire?

I ain’t sayin’ tha’s a gold digger When rumours first surfaced that Kim Kardashian was divorcing Kanye West, they broke the internet again. The tabloids were full of outlandish (and sometimes clearly untrue) speculations by celebrity commentators.  Now that news has surfaced that a settlement has been reached averting a trial, I could not help […]

Competition, ESG Litigation and the board of directors

The importance of board minutes should never be underestimated, particularly  when it comes to their role around ESG matters. If it is not already a standing part of the agenda of any board of directors meeting then it should be, given the rising interest from stakeholders around organisations’ action and their strategic approach around people […]

Hair discrimination in the workplace: the importance of diversity and acceptance

Discrimination remains both topical and a contentious issue in the workplace and at society at large. The death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests during the summer of 2020 fuelled the discussion about the need for widespread change.  In response, we have seen an increase in the facilitation of anti-racism, micro-aggression […]

Can employers take action on historic allegations of workplace bullying?

By Kate Smith, Employment Associate, and Jo Tindall, Employment Partner Less than two weeks after he was appointed, Gavin Williamson resigned from his position as Minister of State without Portfolio over historic allegations of workplace bullying and expletive-laden text messages.  It has been reported that the allegations of bullying relate to a claim by a […]

A Guide to Having Good Protected Conversations

Prior to July 2013, if an employer wanted to have a confidential conversation with an employee about terminating their employment on agreed terms, they could  only do so on a ‘without prejudice’ basis where there was an existing dispute between the parties. Numerous case authorities  deal with what constitutes an existing dispute. In the absence […]

Pension complaints and disputes: are you a member of a pension scheme wishing to raise a complaint or a HR personnel, employer or trustee needing advice on handling disputes?

Most pension schemes are run well; the correct benefits, are paid to the correct people, at the correct time.  Job done! However….. issues arise where this is not the case and then where to turn?  Parminder K Latimer, Pensions Partner shares her tips. Pension schemes should have in place an Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) […]

Building a successful team

At gunnercooke teams are built in a more flexible, client-centric way.

gunnercooke shortlisted at Crypto AM Awards

gunnercooke is a finalist in the Regulation & Compliance category at the Crypto A.M. 2022 Awards. The news follows the announcement that gunnercooke won the award for Challenging Traditional Models at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards, in recognition of accepting payments in cryptoassets. Crypto A.M. said: “the entries this year showcased a digital […]

gunnercooke featured in The Times Best Law Firms 2023

gunnercooke has been included in The Times Best Law Firms for the third year. The list highlights the best legal talent across 28 categories of law, gunnercooke being recognised for Employment and Commercial Dispute Resolution. The survey, done in partnership with Statista, collects recommendations from 4,400 legal professionals including in house Heads of Legal, counsel, […]

Marvin the Paranoid Android

As regular readers will know, I spend quite a lot of my time in that uncomfortable zone between contemplating the giddying possibilities that emerging tech seems to offer us all and the horrors of a truly dystopian future ruled by robots and other tech that no one (including me) understands. Sometimes I attempt a grown-up […]

gunnercooke begins US expansion with launch of New York office

gunnercooke has announced the launch of its first US office as part of its ambitious international growth strategy. The opening of the multinational organisation’s New York office follows its successful 2021 launch in Germany and will be spearheaded by US Chair and New York Managing Partner Noreen Weiss. Weiss joins gunnercooke with over 25 years’ […]

What’s at stake? The legal treatment of staking

Co-written by James Burnie and Matt Kimber Since 15 September 2022, the majority in number and value of blockchain systems are secured by proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms. Yet the legal treatment of staking has received little attention. Further confusion is caused by the fact that the use of the word “staking” has generally focussed on the […]

Partners share reflections after a decade at gunnercooke

As gunnercooke celebrates its 12th birthday, partners who took a leap of faith to join the firm in its early years are reaching their own milestone anniversary of 10 years. We caught up with four of these founding partners as they share reflections on how their lives, the firm and the industry have changed over […]

Carer’s Leave Bill: a step in the right direction?

The government has recently confirmed that it supports the Carer’s Leave Bill. We await an implementation date when the new rules will be called the Carer’s Leave Act 2022. The Carer’s Leave Bill has had its readings in the House of Commons. It is now in the Committee stage. Once it does become law, the […]

It’s the Ecology, Stupid!

The law is, in a very real sense, all about relationships. Laws are written in order to establish and regulate relationships between individual and the State ( tax laws; public health law; criminal law; education; defence and security etc ) ; between businesses ( commercial contract law; agency, etc ), and between individuals ( domestic […]

Neurodiversity in the workplace: how to create an inclusive working environment

Many employers recognise the importance of having an inclusive and diverse workforce and embrace the many benefits of promoting and managing a culturally diverse working environment.  Neurodiversity, however, is an aspect of diversity at work that is often overlooked and there is much that can still be done to achieve a working world that is […]

What lies behind the iceberg?

In today’s world we are all part of the conversation – Environment, Social, oh and of course, Governance. I say it in that tone simply because when I ask directors ‘do you think you are compliant with good Governance practices?’ I get a blank stare (eyes rolling in their head while their minds think we […]

gunnercooke grows Chambers rankings by 40%

gunnercooke is celebrating another success in Chambers as 23 of its lawyers are ranked as individuals in the Chambers UK 2023 guide. In addition, the firm has doubled its department rankings to four, being recognised in North West Corporate, North West Employment, East Midlands Real Estate, and Trade Finance. Feedback from clients praise the lawyers […]

Clients Benefit from Solicitors’ Advice on Handling DSARs

There can be few organisations that have not received a data subject access request at some point. Most of them probably struggle to respond exactly in the way that the UK GDPR requires. After all,  article 15 is more extensive than they might think and most of them won’t know much about Schedule 2 to […]

Emma Hammond joins expert panel on World Menopause Day

gunnercooke Employment Partner Emma Hammond spoke on a panel in Westminster with the Menopause Mandate on World Menopause Day yesterday with MPs present. Carol Vorderman chaired the ‘Menopause in the Workplace’ discussion, which Emma Hammond joined alongside GP and author Dr Philippa Kaye, HR Director Cathy Hastie and CEO Nina Wright. It’s said that a […]

gunnercooke registers Menopause Mandate as not for profit

gunnercooke Partner Michele Price has registered the Menopause Mandate as a ‘for purpose’ legal entity. The Menopause Mandate was established to raise awareness of the inequalities faced by women during peri menopause and menopause. Michele advised on the most suitable legal vehicle to formalise the organisation while ensuring that it has the flexibility to campaign […]

gunnercooke wins at FT Innovative Lawyers Awards

gunnercooke has taken home the top award for ‘Business of Law: Challenging traditional models’ at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers: Europe 2022.  The firm was recognised for being the first major UK law firm to officially accept payment in cryptoassets, a move which was announced earlier this year. Cryptoasset exchange Coinpass partnered with gunnercooke to […]

Increase in MEES Regulation for Commercial Property

In April 2023, an extension of the MEES regulation will prohibit landlords from leasing out any commercial buildings with an EPC rating of F or lower. The Current Position Currently, landlords of commercial properties in England and Wales are prohibited from granting a new lease unless the property has an EPC rating of an E […]

gunnercooke acts for The Prosperity Group in £multi-million development

gunnercooke Real Estate Partner Sarah Hung has acted for The Prosperity Group Limited in refinancing a £multi-million development project. The client is the developer refinancing a development that was near completion. Sarah’s team also acted for the clients when the land was initially acquired, part of which was formally a ransom strip purchased from the […]

Appeals Against an Enforcement Notice

Faced with an Enforcement Notice from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), what is a data controller to do? First and foremost of course, and assuming the controller doesn’t believe they have any real grounds for challenging  the notice, it should comply, fully and promptly. The Notice will have specified a date by which the controller […]

A Q&A with Elle Berrett on her transition from Senior Associate to Partner

Why did you decide to join this model as an associate? I joined gunnercooke in October 2020 having just gone through a very difficult time personally and professionally. Initially, the thought of joining the model terrified me – not having the stability of employment to fall back onto. However, that immediately changed the minute I […]

gunnercooke recognised by Legal 500 in 26 practice areas, with 50 individual lawyer recommendations

gunnercooke is pleased to announce that its lawyers have secured 50 individual recognitions in this year’s Legal 500 rankings. The 2023 guide has ranked the firm for 17 practice areas across the UK, with further recognitions as a ‘Firm to Watch’ in areas such as FinTech and Insurance. Individual highlights include: Leading Individual in Commercial […]

Michelle Chen shares insights as a lawyer graduating from a MBA

gunnercooke Corporate Partner Dr. Michelle Chen recently graduated with a MBA (Master of Business Administration) from her alma mater University of Cambridge. She shares her insights on how the qualification is helping her to become an even better adviser to her clients. It’s good to keep learning as a lawyer. At gunnercooke we have to […]

Universities say they can’t reveal details of investigations due to privacy rules – how should this be handled when two pieces of legislation collide

Universities UK (UUK) have published new guidance designed to help universities navigate the sometimes choppy waters where two different sets of legal and governance obligations converge. For some time, many universities have felt constrained from releasing details of harassment investigations even to the parties involved. The difficulty they have faced has been the apparent need […]

gunnercooke shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year at Legal Business Awards

gunnercooke has been shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year at the 2022 Legal Business Awards.   Founder Darryl Cooke comments: “It’s fantastic to be recognised by the Legal Business Awards this year alongside other top names from the legal industry. The past few years have been some of the best yet for gunnercooke, with […]

gunnercooke shortlisted at Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Awards

gunnercooke has been shortlisted in the ‘Business of Law: Challenging tradition models’ category at the FT Innovative Lawyer Europe Awards. The firm has been recognised for being the first major UK law firm to officially accept payment in cryptoassets, a move which was announced earlier this year. gunnercooke has built up one of the leading […]

gunnercooke Partner Khaled Moyeed hosts event in Bangladesh

gunnercooke hosted a networking dinner at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday 11 August at 7pm. British High Commissioner’s representative Mr Dan Pasha, Director of Trade and Investment was present as the event’s keynote speaker. There were also representatives from the local legal and business community and the government of Bangladesh. British-Bangladeshi […]

Giving clients added value, finding solutions, and spending time on service.. why I love my job at gunnercooke

What do you love about your job? I love it when a client lets me know that my work for them has really added value. That could be by having explained a complex situation to them in straightforward language; mitigating business risk in a way that makes sense to them or helping them reach a […]

How the gunnercooke model has given me a wealth of experience as an insolvency lawyer

What do you love about your job? I can go on great holidays and don’t have to buy meal deals if I don’t want to (although I generally do as the Yorkshire in me won’t allow anything else)! Seriously though, despite the static nature of the legislation – 1925 being the last major change – […]

Why we should give back to the communities who helped us flourish

By Vikas Shah MBE DL Modern business CEOs, entrepreneurs and philanthropists are carving the path of the new inspiring leader; a leader who looks beyond profits, who acts with moral purpose, and who gives back to their communities.   Turning a blind eye is no longer accepted in business; with rising societal problems and the gap […]

Thinking Time: The Process

From The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham  Designing a Thinking Time process that works for you will be no different than figuring out any other ritual you want to create. The time of day, the best location, and the optimum duration are all discovered through practice and experimentation until you have created a […]

A quarter of ex-offenders recommit crimes, but we’re heading in the right direction

Rehabilitation charity Street Soccer Academy says more can be done to drive rates down further  The latest stats released by the Ministry of Justice on 28th April 2022 show the largest year-on-year increase in reoffending rates in the quarter up to June 2020.  The research highlights the desperate need for more to be done for […]

Remember the who is more important than the what

From Principles by Ray Dalio  People often make the mistake of focusing on what should be done while neglecting the more important question of who should be given the responsibility for determining what should be done. That’s backward. When you know what you need in a person to do the job well and you know […]

The illusion of communication

By Matthew Dashper-Hughes, Business Coach “The biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place” – George Bernard Shaw.  This is probably my favourite quote.  It’s witty. It’s elegant. And above all, it’s painfully accurate.  If ‘communication’ is defined as ‘achieving a shared understanding between two or more parties’ then it’s fair […]

Interview with Vikas Shah MBE DL – the importance of conversation

In this exclusive interview, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Vikas Shah MBL DL shares his thoughts on mental health, leadership and our civic duty to give back to our communities.   Vikas is CEO of Swiscot Group and Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. He has taught at universities […]

How to align a business culture across international offices

lture is the thing that connects an organisation’s people, ensures aligned values and a shared mission, and ultimately keeps everyone happy.

Heartwarming causes are nice, but let’s give to charity with our heads

People who get money as a gift are likely to be more willing to give it away than those who do not receive this unexpected bounty.

Building the Purpose-Driven Organization

From Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire by Rebecca Henderson  There are essentially two ways to run an organization. Low road firms assume that people are cogs in a machine and manage them as things, while high road firms treat people with dignity and respect, as autonomous and empowered cocreators in building a community […]

How joining gunnercooke helped me beat the Sunday evening anxiety

Why did you join gunnercooke? Have you ever felt: Anxiety on a Sunday evening around work on Monday? Working yourself to the ground to meet your billing target? Attending networking events as it is expected of you, but you do not enjoy it? Feeling that work occupies the majority of your thoughts with little time […]

Personal Data or Just Data?

The Government has now published its much anticipated draft legislation to bring into effect its policy for the future of data protection in the UK. The Data Protection & Digital Information Bill will receive its second reading on 5th September. If passed in its current form, the Bill will mark a very significant shift in […]

gunnercooke shortlisted at Yorkshire Legal Awards

The firm is a finalist in the Law Firm of the Year, Employment Law and Family Law categories gunnercooke has been shortlisted in three categories at this year’s Yorkshire Legal Awards. In addition to being recognised for the Law Firm of the Year, Family Partner Siddique Patel has been recognised in the Family Law category […]

gunnercooke to open new bookshop, café and events space to combat loneliness

The House of Books & Friends will be in Manchester gunnercooke is launching a purpose-led independent bookshop, café, and events space in Manchester to combat loneliness in the community. The House of Books & Friends is due to open this autumn in Bruntwood’s Manchester Club building at the top of King Street. The bookshop has […]

Transgender rights, gender critical beliefs & free speech: what are the latest legal developments and how should these be managed in the workplace?

Employment Partners, Simon Brian and Joan Pettingill, report on some important recent case law developments in relation to gender critical beliefs and transgender rights and provide some guidance on how to manage these issues in the workplace. Forstater v CGD Europe & Others UKEAT/0105/20 The key question that went before the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) […]

Claiming a UK VAT refund as a non-UK businesses

Is your business based outside the UK but buying goods or services within the UK? Well, you may be able to reclaim the VAT from any purchases or imports made between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. A government scheme is in place to help you reclaim previously paid VAT. We’ve answered all of […]

What to do if an employee is stranded due to flight cancellations this summer

The travel industry is having a turbulent time dealing with the increase in travel following restrictions easing.  This has led to flight cancellations, which are expected to continue over the summer. What could an employer do if an employee can’t get home from their holiday due to flight cancellations?  The first step is likely to […]

gunnercooke helps establish innovative medicinal cannabis charity

Michele Price, Charity and Philanthropy Partner at gunnercooke has successfully registered the first private charity set up to meet private prescription costs of medicinal cannabis for children with epilepsy. Intractable Epilepsy has been established by a group of parents and guardians and will raise funds to cover the costs of prescriptions that can amount to […]

gunnercooke assists the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius with the development of a cryptoasset framework under the Virtual Asset and Initial Token Offering Services (“VAITOS”) Act 2021

Law firm gunnercooke has assisted the Financial Services Commission, Mauritius (FSC Mauritius) with the drafting and development of the subsidiary legislation and supporting rules under the Virtual Asset and Initial Token Offering Services Act (VAITOS) 2021. gunnercooke has built up one of the leading FinTech and Cryptoasset full-service practices with experts in the UK and […]

What’s new in discrimination law cases?

Employment Partner, Simon Brian, provides a brief round-up of a recent case law development in discrimination law. Was an employer’s special leave policy introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic discriminatory? Cowie & Others v Scottish Fire & Rescue Service UKEAT/2022/121 During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) introduced a paid special leave […]

The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022

The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 comes into force on 30th June 2022, except for in retirement properties, where it will come into force by 1st April 2023.  The purpose of the Act is to put an end to ground rents for new, qualifying, long residential leasehold properties in England and Wales.  Once the […]

Employee suspension – getting it right!

Employers need to be careful when suspending an employee. This is because suspension is a serious step with major ramifications for the employee. Depending on the length of any suspension, returning to the workplace can pose additional hurdles for an employee who has been suspended. Employers should not suspend simply because the allegation relates to […]

gunnercooke acts for ELS Capital in securing loan to refinance student accommodation in Nottingham

Sarah Hung has acted for Hong Kong property developers ELS Capital on a £3.7m loan.

The Inspiring Leadership Podcast: How leaders can remain disciplined, utilise the art of conversation and better help society

The latest episode in the Inspiring Leadership Podcast series features entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, Professor Vikas Shah MBE DL. Hosted by gunnercooke Founder Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, the trio cover the dangers of being a workaholic, the importance of being disciplined, having the ability to say […]

Partner from gunnercooke joins ‘Menopause Mandate’ event at Houses of Parliament

We have some exciting news to report here at gunnercooke! Yesterday, Emma Hammond, an employment partner and part of our menopause team, took part in an event in the Houses of Parliament in front of MPs and the press, with various high-profile menopause campaigners present. The event was set up by ‘Menopause Mandate’ a recently formed leading menopause campaigning body, who presented their aims to lead the push for reform in the menopause arena.

gunnercooke assists leading blockchain analytics & crypto compliance solutions provider Elliptic with launching a new compliance content service

gunnercooke is working with Elliptic, the global leader in cryptoasset risk management,  to develop a new content service, Elliptic Connect,  providing relevant information on the topics of  governance, risk and compliance in the crypto and blockchain industries. Elliptic’s crypto compliance solutions and services are used by crypto businesses, financial institutions, and regulators to detect and […]

Life at gunnercooke – One Year On with Simon Williams

We sat down with gunnercooke Corporate and Commercial Partner Simon Williams to look at life behind the practice, and delve into the reasons why he became a lawyer, all the way through to what his proudest moment as a lawyer has been so far… Why did you become a lawyer? I knew I wanted to […]

5 Years On with gunnercooke Partner Angela Brumpton

Five years ago, I was ready for a change. However, I was confident a move into another traditional law firm would not offer that change. It would be very much a case of the same deal, with different letterhead. I had options, but none of them excited me. I didn’t know much about gunnercooke until […]

What does the EMI share scheme really mean?

For UK start-ups, these are the most flexible, suitable, and beneficial employee share schemes. You grant options to your employees. And they can receive and exercise shareoptions free of: Income Tax and National Insurance And when they sell their shares, an employee pays potentially only 10% in tax on the difference between: The set share […]

Everything you need to know about joining gunnercooke: Q&A with gunnercooke Dispute Resolution Partner, Rebecca Latus

Are you considering a change in career? Or are you simply interested in moving away from the traditional law firm? gunnercooke Dispute Resolution partner Rebecca Latus discusses everything that you need to know about joining gunnercooke, as well as what you can expect from the onboarding process and much more. How did you get into […]

Selling a Spanish property owned by a UK Limited company

Are you selling a Spanish property owned by a UK Limited company? gunnercooke Partner Antonio Guillen outlines the processes around selling a Spanish property owned by a UK Ltd company.

gunnercooke Partner helps lead campaign to ‘Make NDAs Fair’

The ‘Make NDAs Fair’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the systematic misuse of NDAs and stop silencing victims of abuse and sexual harassment cases.

Changing the way we talk about ‘the change’ at work

According to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM), nearly 8 out of 10 of menopausal women are in work. 3 out of 4 women experience symptoms, 1 in 4 could experience serious symptoms. One in three of the workforce will soon be over 50, and retirement ages are now 68. We have reached a watershed […]

UK Expansion Worker Visa

As part of the UK’s “Plan for Growth” strategy within Global Business Mobility, Vitoria discusses the Expansion Worker Visa.

Inheriting Property in Spain as the surviving spouse.

You might own property in Spain together with your spouse and you are not sure how it will be transferred to your partner when you die. Will the surviving spouse automatically inherit your share without the need to deal with the Probate? Will there be any taxes to pay in Spain? Do you have to […]

gunnercooke shortlisted at The Lawyer Awards for the fourth year

We have been shortlisted for Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards for the fourth year running!

gunnercooke Operating Partners to work with Linea Group

Professional services firm gunnercooke has partnered with business improvement and change specialists Linea Group to support its management consultancy team. Linea works in partnership with clients to resolve complex strategic, operational, financial and workforce challenges, utilising their knowledge and expertise to deliver rapid improvement and sustainable change. The team are experts in solving organisational problems […]

gunnercooke launches legal tech offering with recruitment of Chief Technology Officer

Law firm gunnercooke has appointed a Chief Technology Officer, Miklos Orban, to head up a new legal technology arm in Europe. Miklos is a dual-qualified lawyer and lecturer with over 20 years’ experience at international law firms, as well as in-house at BT, with expertise in legal technology. He will join the firm’s IT board […]

What to expect when moving from a traditional law firm to a fee share model: Q&A with gunnercooke Real Estate Partner, Justin Neal

gunnercooke Real Estate Partner, Justin Neal discusses how he found the transition, what his clients said, and whether gunnercooke met his expectations.

Now the dust has settled, gunnercooke Real Estate Partner Simon Etchells shares his thoughts on this year’s MIPIM event:

MIPIM 2022 was like approaching a familiar friend after two years of enforced Covid absence. Like all friends and businesses post pandemic, we found it changed and unchanged. At times it also sat uneasily to be in Cannes against the appalling base note of the first major European war since the 1990s and the break-up […]

Consciously uncoupling, or thinking about it? With no-fault divorces expected to increase the divorce rate in the UK, what steps should you take now to future proof your estate?

As the “no-fault divorce” finally becomes law in the UK, it is predicted that the divorce rate will rise. The numbers are bound to be pushed up by the COVID-19 lock-down that forced people to live closer together than they ever have. With no escape from each other, many have come to realise they are […]

Five trends in legal recruitment: how candidates are shaping the future of law firms

Over the past two years, the firm has recruited 66 new partners and opened offices in Birmingham, and across Scotland and Germany. The firm’s rapid growth has been accelerated by the pandemic and the changes in mindset when it comes to a career in law. Here are five of the biggest trends in legal recruitment […]

Aviation Partner Vincent Coppinger presents at Global Urban and Advanced Air Summit

At the first major Aviation conference in the UK since the pandemic, Aviation Partner Vincent Coppinger was a presenter at the Global Urban and Advanced Air Summit at Farnborough. The event brought together delegates and speakers over a two-day period including the FAA, CAA, EASA, UK Government, various worldwide city authorities, manufacturers, operators, and stakeholders […]

gunnercooke advises on sale of Mymeds&me

gunnercooke corporate partners David Salamons and Harriet Collins have successfully advised the shareholders of Mymedsandme Limited on the sale of the company to Stanley Capital Partners LLP (SCP), a European and US-focused mid-market private equity firm. Mymeds&Me capture safety data directly from patients, healthcare professionals and Pharma clients through its global SaaS platform, Reportum®. MMM […]

gunnercooke wins Law Firm of the Year at Modern Law Awards

gunnercooke has taken home the top prize of Law Firm of the Year at the 2022 Modern Law Awards. This is the 48th award recognition for the firm, including Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards, Large Law Firm of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards, and being listed in The Times […]

gunnercooke appoints 16 new partners including Private Equity, Charity, and Competition lawyers

Corporate law firm gunnercooke has continued its recruitment drive over winter, welcoming 16 new partners across areas including Private Equity, Charities and Competition. Hires include the firm’s first Competition and Antitrust lawyers, Rod Lambert and Alexander Waksman, as well as Private Equity & Corporate specialist joining from one of the largest firms in Dubai, Sameer […]

People-centric workplaces, a four day week and the new normal

As employers start to enter a new phase of post Covid normal, Joan Pettingill, Partner in Employment Law at gunnercooke LLP interviews Laura Clarke, Managing Director of Chilwell Products in Derbyshire about what this means for the company and their staff. Chilwell Products prides itself on being the U.K’s largest manufacturer of scaffold board end […]

No fault divorce… what do the lawyers say?

From today (6 April 2022) the new divorce, dissolution and separation act 2020 will take effect. This is the most significant change in UK divorce laws in over 50 years. Simply put, the changes mean a married couple can separate in England and Wales without having to attribute blame to one party. The law will […]

Team of five partners makes move to gunnercooke

Law firm gunnercooke has appointed five new partners to its Property and Construction team, all joining from London-based firm Cannings Connolly. Stuart Wilson, Dan Hall, Jay Bhandal, Jill Roberts and Neil Stafford have joined gunnercooke’s London office and will be providing the full breadth of legal services to clients in the commercial real estate, development, […]

No Fault Divorce and Khula

On 6 April 2022 the divorce, dissolution, and separation act 2020 is set to take effect representing the biggest shakeup of divorce laws in England and Wales for 50 years. This law has had a long and arduous journey since first coming onto the political agenda in 2014 but we are now at a historic […]

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 now in force

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 was passed on 24 March 2022 and has now come into force. CR(C)A 2022 overrides the contractual entitlement to certain rent under commercial tenancies where the business or premises were required to close because of Coronavirus restrictions. It does this by ringfencing rent arrears that accrued during a ‘protected […]

Double shortlist for gunnercooke at Modern Law Awards

gunnercooke has been shortlisted for two categories at this year’s Modern Law Awards – Law Firm of the Year and the Business Growth Award. The Access Legal Modern Law Awards aim to identify and celebrate the greatest talent and achievements in the UK legal sector, with categories for innovation, client service, and marketing initiatives. gunnercooke […]

Investor Visa Ended

In an unexpected announcement recently, the UK government ended the investor visa. A visa route offered to foreign investors as a fast-track to residency in the UK along with the potential for a British passport in the future. Could there be more visas ready for the axe?  Talk has been looming regarding the introduction of […]

Raising capital via token financing vs. a traditional equity investment

What are the arguments in favour of raising capital via token financing through a profit participation right instead of via a traditional equity investment? Every investor is familiar with equity participation, be it in a GmbH, AG, Limited or whatever the respective legal form is. There is a general understanding about participation rights, about the […]

gunnercooke becomes first major UK law firm to officially accept payment in cryptoassets

gunnercooke has announced it is now accepting payment for legal and professional services in cryptoassets such as ether and bitcoin, in a move it believes is the first for a major law firm in the UK. Cryptoasset exchange coinpass, which is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has partnered with gunnercooke to make the exchanges. The […]

Token Financing: What do I tell token acquirers about when and how they can sell their investment?

All investors who hold classic equity stakes in a company know how to sell their investment: They have to find a buyer for their investment themselves, if necessary through the involvement of a sales agent (and in doing so observe possible sales restrictions – reservations of consent, rights of first refusal, drag-along, tag-along rules, etc.). […]

Raising capital: token financing or sale of company shares?

The mega-trend of the “tokenisation of everything” inevitably leads to the possibility of tokenising a company’s fundraising. This can be done with regard to a specific project, i.e. the tokenisation of a project or asset financing. Alternatively, the tokenisation of a company’s financing can also be considered. The granting of participation and property rights can […]

Municipalising housing – Could Berlin’s changing rental landscape influence tenant activism across Europe?

Last year Berliners voted on a controversial property expropriation bill to take 240,000 properties, or 11% of all apartments in Berlin, from corporate landlords and into public ownership. This followed a decision for a ground-breaking rent cap to be overturned, one of the most radical attempts to curb inflation in this area. gunnercooke, Real Estate […]

Sponsorship Licence & Visa

As a British company, you may want or need to hire foreign workers to take advantage of global opportunities. Vitoria explains how hiring foreign talent requires a sponsorship licence, a licence created by the Home Office. The sponsorship licence gives the company a 4-year term until its renewal enabling the business to grow and function […]

Representative of an Overseas Business visa

The Representative of an Overseas Business visa, also known as the sole representative visa, is one of the simplest business entry visas into the UK. The overseas business can be represented by an employee, a director or a minority shareholder. Furthermore, the UK business does not have a minimum capital investment requirement. It’s an excellent […]

New digital technologies pose a threat to fashion brands and creative IP

French luxury group Hermès has started legal proceedings against American artist Mason Rothschild over virtual assets inspired by its famous Birkin bags. The artist creates digital works that he sells as non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, which can be traded online but ownership of the NFT is encrypted and therefore cannot be forged. His artworks depicting […]

New Regime for International Data Transfers

Readers may be aware that the ICO’s proposed new safeguard arrangements (that will enable the lawful transfer from the UK of personal data to countries that do not have the benefit of an “adequacy decision”) have now been laid before Parliament. Assuming there is no objection by Parliament, the new rules will come into force […]

gunnercooke appoints Head of Recruitment after wave of new joiners

Challenger law firm gunnercooke has recruited Chris Ball as Head of Recruitment following another year of strong growth.   Chris joins from patent law firm EIP with 15 years’ experience recruiting talent from across the UK, Europe, and the US. He has particular expertise in supporting high-growth firms and recruits across the full breadth of […]

WFH employee breach of contract? To dismiss or not to dismiss…

With UK workers advised to Work From Home (WFH) where possible due to the Omicron phase of the pandemic, some businesses will again struggle to have visibility over employee activity. With financial pressures following Christmas and cost of living increases, some individuals may be tempted to use this opportunity to take on additional paid work […]

Happy New Year? Not if you breach UK GDPR regulations…

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined the Cabinet Office £500,000 for a data leak in 2020 that exposed the full names and addresses of the New Year Honours recipients on its web page. More than 1,000 people were affected by the leak, with notable inclusions such as Sir Elton John, Dame Olivia Newton-John, and […]

When peer-to-peer lenders fail, who takes the hit?

Several peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders entered administration over the past 24 months including Lendy Limited, Collateral, MoneyThing and FundingSecure. It’s a stark reminder to investors about the financial risks involved despite the industry becoming progressively more regulated. gunnercooke Restructuring & Insolvency partner, Jeremy Goldring, who acted on the Lendy Limited case, takes a closer look at […]

Reflections on 2021… and looking ahead to 2022

gunnercooke Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Darryl Cooke, briefly looks at the firm’s success in 2021 and exciting developments for 2022: “At gunnercooke the past two years have emphasised the importance of human connection and making sure our Partners are invested in, supported, and feel part of something greater. “We have a culture intentionally designed to […]

Enabling Operational Excellence in manufacturing

The UK has long been known for innovation, skilled workmanship and high-quality products. Our history is rich and can continue to be so with our manufacturing organisations at the heart of British industry. Despite a gradual decline, the UK is still the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world. We want to help manufacturers continue […]

How an ageing work force is affecting the manufacturing industry

As they always have been, people remain at the heart of the manufacturing industry. So of course, the key to success for businesses in the industry is being able to provide their people with the appropriate training, whilst looking to the future and planning ahead. One of the most significant developments to manufacturing in recent […]

gunnercooke wins Gold Award for Brand Brilliance at Business Brilliance Awards

gunnercooke is celebrating the Gold Award for Brand Brilliance at the Business Brilliance Awards 2021. The Brand Brilliance category recognises businesses with consistent growth, strong financial performance, brand recognition, innovation, culture and ethical practice. The Business Brilliance Awards aims to celebrate the success of leading companies across a range of sectors. The ceremony took place […]

Lessons from Great Comebacks – Apple bounces back from Bankruptcy

Apple’s turnover Bordering on Bankruptcy in 1997, co-founder Steve Jobs returned to Apple. With the company losing money for 12 years, Jobs was brought in as interim CEO, tasked with sorting out a company sized mess. So, how did he do it? First things first One of Jobs’s first decisions was to scrap the ‘ahead […]

Lessons from the Great Comebacks: LEGO – The Toy of the Century

The Brand Finance directory lists LEGO as the most valuable toy brand in the world, however, in 2004 the company was losing a million dollars a day and was on the verge of bankruptcy. For most people, the LEGO name is synonymous with plastic building block toys, just as all infant bodysuits are referred to […]

‘Safe as houses’ — private equity’s growing interest in UK property

The significant optimism around the UK real estate market is being bolstered further with increasing interest and investment from private equity. Analysts at investment bank Berenberg recently identified that more than three-quarters of the UK real estate deals struck or mooted in 2021 have involved private equity, with high-profile acquisitions including St Modwen Properties, Sigma […]

StaRUG — obligation to establish a system of early crisis detection

Unnoticed by many market participants, the StaRUG (Act on the Stabilisation and Restructuring Framework for Enterprises) came into force in Germany on 1 January 2021. This was done in an implementation of the EU Directive on a preventive restructuring framework (EU Directive 2019/1023). In addition to new tools with which corporate crises can be combated […]

gunnercooke completes on sale of 13 venues for Barworks

This week challenger law firm gunnercooke has completed on its work with client Barworks, on the sale of 13 iconic pubs and bars to Urban. The transaction includes sites across East and North London including the Exmouth Arms (Exmouth Market), Singer Tavern (Moorgate) and Harrild & Sons (Farringdon). Barworks is an independent pub, bar and […]

Supporting you and your practice: gcTrust

We know it can feel like a daunting prospect to leave your traditional firm behind and make the move to an innovative model. But you won’t be going it alone. When you join gunnercooke, you benefit from a whole breadth of services and support from our central team, gcTrust. gcTrust comprises over 40 experts in […]

What should I consider when joining a fee share law firm?

You’re thinking about joining a fee share law firm but wondering ‘where on earth do I start?’ Moving from a traditional law firm can be a big change so here are some of the things to consider when joining a fee share model: How much do you want to earn? Our model offers lawyers a […]

How award-winning culture helped us become one of the UK’s fastest growing law firms

We are very proud of our culture at gunnercooke and often say it’s the thing that cannot be copied. The thing that sets us apart from the rest. From our packed events programme to our thriving internal network, from book clubs to fitness challenges, our team regularly has the opportunity to connect both professionally and […]

Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill – Recovery of Commercial Rent Arrears Update

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill was announced on 9 November 2021 and is currently on its second reading in the House of Commons. The Bill attempts to continue support given to commercial tenants during the pandemic, by ringfencing certain rent arrears and providing a new arbitration scheme to deal with the ringfenced sums. The Bill […]

Why Carry Out a GDPR Gap Analysis?

In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, it is important to ensure any data you hold on behalf of data subjects is secure. It must also comply with data protection laws, a GDPR Gap Analysis can help with this. By carrying out a GDPR Gap Analysis (otherwise known as a data protection audit), will help to determine […]

Five Tips when selling property in Spain

At the time of selling property in Spain, some clients come to us when they have already exchanged contracts. Thinking that because they are not buying, it is all simple, straightforward and that they simply have to ensure they get the money they have agreed which will be all dealt by an estate agent who […]

Dr Michelle Chen on life as a dual-qualified lawyer in China and the UK

Have you always wanted to be a lawyer? I have always wanted a career in the legal profession and from a young age have found myself particularly interested in cross-border law, international relationships, and business. What kind of education did you have? At Peking University I studied 30 subjects in areas such as history, economics, […]

The right to disconnect – gunnercooke’s employment partners from the UK and Germany look at employer’s responsibilities in supporting employees’ work life balance.

Portugal has become one of the latest countries to introduce legislation around employer’s responsibilities and employee rights to disconnect. It has banned employer contact with employees outside contracted hours, except under exceptional circumstances. The government has also introduced anti-loneliness measures and expects home working expenses to be covered. Several countries across Europe have introduced several […]

Content creators on subscription-based platforms must seek legal advice to protect their intellectual property rights

Subscription-based platforms such as OnlyFans and Substack have been partially driven by a surge in pandemic-related redundancies. Many content creators have entered the market looking to supplement or replace their income and have found these new subscription models provide a low barrier to entry. From an intellectual property perspective, these sites ensure creators maintain rights […]

Women in Business — an Inclusive and Equal Future?

In another instalment of gunnercooke‘s Women in Business series, a panel of inspiring female entrepreneurs and businesspeople discuss how we can frame the conversation for a diverse, inclusive and equal future for women at work.  In the last 18 months, the challenges and disruption to the way we work have been greater than we have […]

The Evolving Workplace – Employment Law Webinar

Employment Partner Mini Setty recently hosted a webinar on what you need to know about the Evolving Workplace, including Covid-19, menopause, and hybrid working. The pandemic has taught employers a lot over the past two years, and they are now much better equipped and practised in dealing with challenges related to Covid, however, there is […]

Digital Services Tax, how will businesses be impacted between now and 2023 when the new DST regime is introduced?

The UK has agreed to scrap the DST (Digital Services Tax. This currently imposes a 2% levy on tech giants’ revenue. Replacing it will be the new Pillar system which is more complex and has a much broader reach. It taxes the gross revenues of large multinationals operating search engines, social media platforms, and online […]

Comment on the need for, and potential legal impact of Scaleup, High Potential Individual, and Global Business Mobility visas

Can the government help post-Brexit Britain be a genuine magnet for global business talent? The end of free movement between the UK and EU has contributed to an acute skills shortage in the transport and logistics and food production sectors, with many foreign workers seemingly put off by the new global points-based immigration system. But […]

Redevelopment Clauses at their Prime? Developer’s narrow interpretation of a redevelopment clause demolished in court

Most leases of multi-occupied buildings will contain an ability for the landlord to carry out works to other parts of the building. But that ability will normally be tempered so that the tenant’s use of their property is not undermined. Inevitably the issues dealt with by these clauses will be generic in nature — at […]

Initial comment on the Regulation on European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSP) for business being implemented

The European Parliament has approved a set of common rules on EU crowdfunding which comes into effect from the 10th November that aim to both boost crowdfunding service platforms and protect investors. With headquarters in both the UK and Germany, the gunnercooke team provides its international perspective on the limitations and opportunities created by the […]

Opportunities and risks around the government’s push to remove barriers to defined pension schemes to unlock higher returns from illiquid investments

Are workplace pensions about to get supercharged? The Budget was a relatively quiet affair when it came to pensions due to the more significant announcements being made earlier this year. However, the Chancellor’s only explicit reference came when he said he will consult on further changes to the regulatory charge cap for defined contribution auto-enrolment […]

Being a Trustee — Roles and Responsibilities

During National Trustees Week, which celebrates all trustees in the UK for their hard work for charities, our Charity & Philanthropy Partner Michele Price hosted an event on everything you need to know about being a trustee.  This session offered advice for existing trustees, new trustees, those recruiting trustees, those working with a board of […]

Alan Pickering CBE added as a Defendant to summons against Plumbing Pensions Trustees

gunnercooke Pensions Partner Parminder K Latimer, advising Kamco Limited in relation to a £265,000 claim against Plumbing Pensions Trustees (see article dated August 3, 2021), has recently had the summons amended against Plumbing Pensions Limited, to add Alan Pickering CBE, the former Chair of Plumbing Pensions Trustees, as a Defendant. Alan Pickering has subsequently been […]

Initial comment on UK Gov’s ‘Data: A new direction’ consultation – Tim Heywood

Have another cookie? Following its exit from the EU, the UK Government is exploring how to unlock data’s potential. The consultation on regulatory reform states it wants to ‘create an ambitious, pro-growth and innovation-friendly data protection regime’… but what could this really mean for your business? gunnercooke Data Protection, Public law & Procurement Partner, Tim […]

The latest on Kostal v Dunkley: UK Supreme Court removes veto threat but requires full collective bargaining before any direct offers

gunnercooke Partner Angela Brumpton has advised Kostal UK ltd on the high-profile case of Dunkley & Others v Kostal UK Ltd, which has now reached a decision in the Supreme Court. The case focused on the proper interpretation of section 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Despite Kostal being ultimately […]

gunnercooke included in The Times Best Law Firms 2022

gunnercooke is thrilled to announce it has re-entered The Times Best Law Firms 2022 list. The list aims to find the best lawyers for business, public and private-client law, naming the top 200 legal practices in England and Wales plus Scotland’s top 40. The survey, done in partnership with Statista, collects recommendations from legal professionals […]

Initial comment on neighbour winning privacy row over smart doorbell and cameras

A homeowner has won a legal privacy case after a County Court judge ruled that a neighbour’s Ring doorbell, which has video and audio recording capabilities, and additional security cameras “unjustifiably invaded” her privacy. The case makes interesting reading for any of us who might be considering installing cameras for our home security and those […]

Climate change developments in pensions law ahead of COP26

With the UK and Italy hosting the international UN climate change conference (COP26) in Glasgow from the 31st of October, a key area for discussion will be mobilising the power of finance. Due to the wealth and influence commanded by pension funds, the Work and Pensions Select Committee has called on the UK Government to […]

gunnercooke recognised by Chambers UK with 2 ranked practice areas and 17 recognised lawyers

17 gunnercooke lawyers have been recognised in this year’s Chambers and Partners UK rankings. The 2022 guide has also ranked the firm in the practice areas of North West: Corporate/M&A: Lower Mid-Market in Band 2 and North West: Employment in Band 4. The ranked lawyers are:• Brendan Walsh, Real Estate• Roland Humphreys, Family/Matrimonial• Matthew Grocock, […]

gunnercooke matter leads to significant ASA ruling for the diamonds industry

Rosie Burbidge, Intellectual Property Partner at law firm gunnercooke, has advised Diotima&Co. Limited on a complaint to the ASA regarding misleading advertising of diamonds. The challenge was made by Diotima&Co. against Kinetique Limited, trading as Ethica Diamonds. gunnercooke’s client understood that Kinetique’s diamonds were made of substitute materials and therefore an advertisement for ‘diamonds’ was […]

Case study about Spanish Wills for UK clients and FAQs

We have recently dealt with the Spanish estate of one of our client’s late spouse that we believe is quite a self-explanatory case. This article shows how important it is to have a Spanish Will in place and for the Will to be drafted following some aspects of Spanish law, even when the document is […]

Teamwork in a fee share model – Peter Dempsey and Welmoed Rutgers

There is sometimes a misconception that a fee share model is for solo lawyers, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. gunnercooke has a strong internal network and thrives off collaboration and cross referrals. Peter Dempsey is one of the firm’s Private Client Partners, specialising in cross-border legal and tax advice. Peter’s team includes […]

What the latest rules on Tipping mean for the Hospitality industry

The Government has recently unveiled plans to overhaul tipping practices, which it claims will help around 2 million hospitality staff to top up their income. Even if you have already embraced the voluntary Code of Practice on service charges and tips, you will need to review your practices to ensure your business is compliant. Fortunately, there is […]

Teamwork in a fee share model – Alex Vlachos and Thalis Vlachos

There is sometimes a misconception that a fee share model is for solo lawyers, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. gunnercooke has a strong internal network and thrives off collaboration and cross referrals. As well as being twin brothers, Alex and Thalis Vlachos are both partners at gunnercooke, specialising in Real Estate and […]

gunnercooke Co-Founder releases seventh edition of leading publication on private equity

Darryl Cooke, Co-Founder of gunnercooke has released the seventh edition of his book, Private Equity: Law and Practice.  The book provides an invaluable guide to the law and practice of private equity transactions, from raising private equity through managing the transaction to restructuring the company.  Darryl commented: “The role of a lawyer is to be a trusted advisor and bring real value to the table when […]

gunnercooke recognised by Legal 500 with 13 ranked practice areas and 39 recognised lawyers

gunnercooke is pleased to announce that 39 of its lawyers have been recognised in this year’s Legal 500 rankings. The 2022 guide has ranked the firm in 13 different practice areas across the UK and has lawyers included in a further 5 areas. Individual highlights include Leading Individual in Commercial Litigation, Sydney Fulda, who recently […]

gunnercooke and 1st Idea finalists at Crypto AM Awards

gunnercooke and its client 1st Idea have been named as finalists in the Regulation and Compliance category at this year’s Crypto AM Awards.   The shortlisted work is a collaboration between 1st Idea and gunnercooke Partner James Burnie FRSA, who used market data provided by CryptoCompare to create a taxonomy of cryptoassets using the Pi-AXIOM […]

gunnercooke to launch a new kind of bookshop to combat loneliness

gunnercooke is launching a string of bookshops to combat loneliness in the community. The first House of Books & Friends is due to open in Manchester next year and will offer initiatives for customers and businesses including pay it forward schemes, as well as opportunities to make connections with their community and join membership clubs. […]

gunnercooke Pensions Partner Helen Miles re-appointed as Chair of NHS Pensions Board

Helen Miles, Pensions Partner at challenger law firm gunnercooke, has been appointed to serve a further term as Chair of the NHS Pensions Board by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid. Midlands-based Helen was initially appointed in 2019. Her re-appointment will be for a further 3 years from 1 April […]

Increase to Court Fees from 30th September 2021

In March 2021 the Government launched a consultation on increasing selected Court fees and help with fees income threshold by inflation.  The consultation closed in May and responses have been published.   The Government’s rationale for increasing fees in line with historic inflation goes back to 2016 when it was noted that the income received from fees […]

Where are we now on Commercial Rent Arrears?

After the turmoil of the last year many commercial tenants are now in arrears. Numerous restrictions have been in place and most landlords were left with the only viable options for recovery being drawing down on deposits and debt claims. Going forwards it is clear that the Government intends to support tenants with pandemic related […]

Residential Notice Periods to return to Pre-Pandemic lengths from 1 October 2021

Landlord’s will welcome the Government’s confirmation that notice periods for Assured and Assured Shorthold Tenancies will revert back to those prior to the pandemic from 1 October 2021. It is now worth landlords considering waiting until 1 October before serving either of the following: Section 8 Notices seeking possession of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy based on […]

gunnercooke shortlisted by Business Culture Awards and The Lawyer Awards

gunnercooke has been shortlisted for Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards and in multiple categories at this year’s Business Culture Awards; Best Medium Organisation for Business Culture and Business Culture in a Crisis. The news follows the announcement of Sarah Goulbourne being shortlisted for Best Businesswoman in Legal Services at the 2021 […]

1 year on, by Pensions Partner Parminder K Latimer

Having graduated and “fallen” into Pensions law by default, I loved it, I became a pensions geek!  When I qualified, I remember thinking, finally I can advise both members and employers on all aspects of pensions law…I’m looking forward to this at last.  However, the traditional law model meant my newly qualified success was soon […]

gunnercooke recruits 11 new partners in summer recruitment boost

gunnercooke continues its recruitment drive with the hire of 11 new partners in areas including family law, real estate and employment, as well as some of its first German recruits. The latest Manchester hire, Sydney Fulda, joins from DAC Beachcroft, specialising in litigation. Roz Lidder and Kirpal Bidmead, both practicing Family law, have moved to […]

gunnercooke Co-Founder shortlisted at Best Business Women Awards

Sarah Goulbourne has been shortlisted for Best Businesswoman in Legal Services at the 2021 Best Businesswomen Awards. Sarah is Co-Founder of the gunnercooke, launching the firm alongside Darryl Cooke in 2010 and is responsible for recruiting and mentoring senior lawyers throughout their careers. She has previously been a finalist for Director of the Year for […]

An Overview of Interlink Recruitment’s Q&A with our Executive Chairman, Darryl Cooke

Since being founded in 2010, here at gunnercooke we have grown to a firm of around 300 Lawyers with the purpose of ‘making law inspiring’. This journey has involved a great deal of learning and adapting, to now be experienced in providing the best possible service to clients and an exceptional structure where our Lawyers […]

gunnercooke advises on application to distribute recovered assets from Lendy Limited administration

gunnercooke Partner Jeremy Goldring is acting for Lisa Taylor, who was appointed by the Court to be a representative respondent in an application made by Lendy’s Administrators (RSM) to determine how they should distribute the proceeds of assets they have recovered since they were appointed in May 2019. Andreas Gledhill QC and Carmine Conte were […]

Landlords – Are You Complying with the Letter of Your Tenants’ Rights?

Service charges are by far the most common source of disputes between residential tenants and their landlords. As an Upper Tribunal (UT) ruling showed, landlords who fail precisely to abide by the letter of leases when collecting them place themselves in financial jeopardy. A landlord’s managing agent served a demand on a residential tenant requiring […]

gunnercooke advises on £265,000 summons against Plumbing Pensions Trustees

gunnercooke Pensions Partner Parminder K Latimer is advising Kamco Ltd in seeking more than £265,000 in damages from Plumbing Pensions Trustees. The summons argues that Plumbing Pensions, the Trustee of the pension scheme, has continued to actively promote the pension fund to prospective employers, despite being aware of mounting problems pertaining to orphan liabilities, and […]

Thinking of Signing a Lease Without Legal Advice? Just Don’t Do It!

Entering into a lease, whether commercial or residential, without taking legal advice is, to say the least, highly unwise. A landowner who fell into that trap put himself at serious risk of an unwanted tenant moving into his newly built home. The man bought 40 acres of land on which stood a racing stable. A […]

Landlords Beware: Are you paying more than you should for utility supplies to vacant properties?

Throughout the pandemic, thousands of tenants have chosen to delay payments of their rent. Some through choice and others because they are simply unable to do so.  This is adversely effecting cash flow for landlords, who still have outgoings to pay. As tenants vacate premises through choice, or being forced due to insolvency, or forfeiture, the […]

Two gunnercooke lawyers shortlisted at Women in Pensions Awards

Two gunnercooke pensions partners have been shortlisted for Lawyer of the Year at the 2021 Women in Pensions Awards. Helen Miles and Parminder K Latimer both joined the firm last year and have been recognised in the legal category of the industry awards hosted by Professional Pensions. The Women in Pensions Awards aim to celebrate […]

Turning over a new lease? Navigating the maze of non-till revenue and turnover rents

Turnover rents have been with us for decades, possibly centuries. However, they have received increased attention recently as retail landlords and tenants look to them to resolve the challenge of fixing rents at a time of market uncertainty. The increased use comes at a time when changes in shopping habits create some challenges in adapting […]

Disabled Would-Be Tenant Discriminated Against by Letting Agency ‘No DSS’ policy

The much-criticised practice of some landlords and their agents of excluding those in receipt of state benefits from obtaining private rented accommodation has been effectively outlawed by a judge’s ruling on the basis that it amounts to indirect disability discrimination. The case concerned an energetic and determined young man who wished to provide for his […]

gunnercooke Crypto podcast welcomes guests from leading industry brands and institutions

A leading cryptocurrency podcast hosted by gunnercooke Partner James Burnie has welcomed some of the biggest names, brands, and experts in the industry in its first year. The series which launched in July 2020, now has a global reach with audiences tuning in from across Europe, the United States, Australia, Asia, South America, and Africa. […]

gunnercooke Co-Founder releases short story to inspire business leaders to act with moral purpose

Darryl Cooke, Co-Founder of gunnercooke has published The Square Mile, a short fictional story with the aim of encouraging business leaders to act with moral purpose. The book is part of gunnercooke’s Inspiring Leadership series and is illustrated by Lisa Williams. Darryl commented: “This short story follows a business owner who is awakened to the […]

Property transactions in an Anglo-French divorce context

For married couples divorcing in the UK, a French property may be part of the assets to consider in the separation process. Nonetheless, there are many possible modalities depending on the actual circumstances of the couple, the way they own the French property and what is intended with the said asset. Property ownership Prior to […]

In Dispute with Your Neighbour? We Can Help to Restore Peace

Disputes between neighbours frequently inflict enormous emotional and financial harm on all involved. A High Court dispute concerning use of a shared driveway showed why any lawyer would advise sensible negotiation as a far better alternative to litigation. A couple’s right of way over the driveway, by which they accessed their rural home, was restricted […]

Foreign Markets Opportunities

Software Industry in Argentina Software is the most fast-paced growing industry in Argentina in recent years and continues growing steadily. It´s an industry that puts forward a highly competitive offer in the global market and is ranked in 3rd place in the country’s export goods. After the enactment of both National Law N° 25.856 that […]

Teamworking: how does it work in a fee share firm?

The alternative business model thriving in the legal sector has been getting a lot of attention, as the Arden report predicted that the fee share model will be the dominant model in the market within five years. There are still many misconceptions and myths about working in this new model, with one of the biggest […]

Morley v The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

Morley v The Royal Bank of Scotland plc [2021] EWCA Civ 338 The claimant borrower defaulted on a financial agreement, totaling £75m.  Both parties agreed that a considerable chunk of £10m would be ‘written off’ by a number of properties being transferred to the defendant lender.  The rest of the properties would remain with the […]

Second bite of the cherry?

Fernandes v Bank of Scotland Plc [2021] EWHC 1610 (Ch) (Falk J, 18 May 2021) The defendant borrower defaulted on a finance agreement with the claimant. The claimant repossessed the subject property and sold it with a shortfall of £128,000.   The shortfall was reduced by £72,000 further to a successful professional negligence claim against the original […]

Force Majeure: Protecting yourself against divine intervention.

Dispute Resolution & Employment Law Partner Shilpen Savani has contributed to the latest IR Global Disputes Virtual Series – Force Majeure: Protecting yourself against divine intervention. Shilpen and fellow Dispute Resolution experts from IR Global discuss the complexities of force majeure, what potential remedies there are in case of a force majeure event, and how frustration […]

gunnercooke Private Equity advises Telcom Group on £63m investment deal

gunnercooke’s Private Equity team has advised UK internet service provider Telcom Group on a major £63m investment that will see the company enter a major period of growth. The investment from specialist alternative asset manager, Gresham House, came through its British Strategic Investment Fund (BSIF). BSIF was established to invest specifically in the sustainable infrastructure […]

Carl Atkinson Comments British Airways Data Breach

Employment Partner Carl Atkinson has shared his insight on the latest headlines about the British Airways data-breach. “The group action against British Airways is reported to have been the largest group action personal data claim in UK history and it may be an indicator of the way in which these cases are likely to be […]

Father Fends Off Son’s Claim to Half His Home

Those who don’t have big enough incomes to raise the mortgage finance they need to buy a home are often tempted to include the name of a better-off friend or loved one on the title deeds. As a High Court case showed, however, such a step can have dire and unforeseen legal consequences. The case […]

How to incorporate a Spanish Company

Some UK Ltd companies trading in Spain are considering incorporating a Spanish subsidiary or affiliate due to BREXIT. The majority of UK companies who are relocating their headquarters or subsidiaries to Europe due to Brexit, are going to cities such as Frankfurt, Paris, Dublin and Amsterdam, however, a few of them have chosen Spain as […]

gunnercooke acts for Kostal UK Ltd in major Supreme Court case

gunnercooke Partner Angela Brumpton has advised Kostal UK ltd on the high-profile case of Dunkley & Others v Kostal UK Ltd which was heard by the Supreme Court last year. The matter revolves around whether automotive parts company Kostal made ‘unlawful inducements’ when it offered staff a pay deal, and whether a “prohibited result” under […]

gunnercooke wins at major employment tribunal for high profile discrimination case

gunnercooke Employment Partner Angela Brumpton has successfully led a major tribunal case against national law firm Freeths LLP on behalf of a senior equity partner on the grounds of discrimination. The case was heard at the Employment Tribunal in Nottingham over a three-week period between November and December 2020, with a decision issued in April […]

gunnercooke wins on UK law in cross-border case for taxpayer

Challenger law firm gunnercooke has won a cross-border case in favour of the taxpayer, its client Andreas Rialas, in a contentious litigation with HMRC. The case, which was taken to the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery), was won on UK law. Points argued included EU laws in relation to freedom of establishment.   gunnercooke Partners […]

Spanish Will or an English Will?

Do you own property in Spain? If you do, it is always convenient to have a Will in place to ensure that the property goes to the relatives or persons you would like them to inherit it. As you will see in this article, there are several options which include granting a Will in your […]

Renting Out Your Home on AirBnB Without Legal Advice is a Grave Mistake

Many tenants who forego legal advice before subletting their homes to tourists and other short-term visitors do so in blissful ignorance that they may well be breaching the terms of their leases. That was certainly so in the case of a flat dweller whose use of AirBnB placed the roof over his head in jeopardy. […]

Traydstream raises $8m in investment deal led by gunnercooke

London based Fintech Traydstream Limited has raised US $8m as part of a Series A funding round from institutional and private investors. gunnercooke Corporate Partner Kyri Papantoniou led the legal side of the investment process, which began in summer last year. Traydstream is a global provider of an AI powered platform to digitalise and automate […]

When work and personal relationships collide…

It is a fact of life that many people meet their future life partners at or through work. But in the wake of the revelations about Matt Hancock’s relationship with a work colleague, how far can (and should) businesses go in setting rules relating to personal relationships at work?  Much of the time, these relationships […]

Incapacity to inherit- what does it mean in a Spanish Will?

If you own property in Spain or have inherited property in Spain then you may have seen how a Spanish Will looks like. It is very different from a UK will and it uses terminology that would be rarely seen in a UK testament. For instance, it is quite normal to appoint one or more […]

Landlords – Are You Complying with the Letter of Your Tenants’ Rights?

Service charges are by far the most common source of disputes between residential tenants and their landlords. As an Upper Tribunal (UT) ruling showed, landlords who fail precisely to abide by the letter of leases when collecting them place themselves in financial jeopardy. A landlord’s managing agent served a demand on a residential tenant requiring […]

gunnercooke wins Large Firm of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards

gunnercooke is delighted to be celebrating a win at this year’s Manchester Legal Awards, picking up Large Firm of the Year. The judges called gunnercooke “a trailblazing firm that was perfectly set up to deal with the challenges of 2020 and emerged from it a bigger and better business”, commending the firm for its “impressive […]

Landlord of Unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation Receives £45,000 Bill

Property investors frequently delegate day-to-day managerial duties in respect of their portfolios to others. However, as a guideline case concerning an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO) showed, such arrangements are unlikely to absolve them from legal responsibility. The case concerned a house that had been used as an HMO in that it had been […]

Concerned About Adverse Possession – Use It or Lose It

The law relating to squatters’ rights is not straightforward and concerned landowners should always seek legal advice. As an Upper Tribunal (UT) ruling showed, however, they can give themselves at least some protection by following a simple rule: use it or lose it. The case concerned a narrow strip of land that once formed part […]

Can Trusts inherit property in Spain?

One of the most difficult cases that we have faced when dealing with the administration of a Spanish estate was the estate of an English man who died with no Spanish Will and with a UK Will where he left all his assets to a discretionary Trust. This is to Spanish estates what the mullet was to […]

Spanish Bank Accounts- Why are they so difficult to open?

As a Spanish & English solicitor specialised in property transactions in Spain, one of the most common questions that I get from a new client who is in the process of buying a property in Spain is the following: “what should I do while I am in Spain searching for a property to buy?”. My […]

How to deliver excellent service to clients from different backgrounds

​We’re working in an increasingly global world as technology enables us to deliver our services from any place at any time; something which has been accelerated by the pandemic. Lockdown has forced people to consider their home office set up and learn to use virtual meeting and collaboration tools effectively. It’s never been easier to collaborate […]

Don’t Waive Your Right to a Fair Hearing – HMO Convictions

Health and safety and licensing rules that apply to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are strict and landlords who fail to abide by them can expect stiff financial penalties. However, in an important decision, the Upper Tribunal (UT) found that the landlords of three HMOs were effectively criminalised without a fair hearing. The First-tier Tribunal […]

The podcast that reveals the secrets to inspiring leadership

Business leaders Sir John Timpson, Hassan Damluji and Sir Peter Fahy among guests of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast A new business podcast launched by gunnercooke has welcomed guests including the Deputy Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Chairman and Owner of Timpson, founder of DLA, and the former Chief Constable of Greater […]

gunnercooke expands pensions team with 7 lawyers, 30 client wins and 2 award nominations

gunnercooke has grown its pensions lawyers to seven, winning 30 new clients and growing revenue by 20% in the past year. The UK Pensions Awards 2021 have also nominated the firm in the Pensions Lawyers of the Year and Independent Trustee of the Year categories. Partners Helen Miles and Parminder Latimer joined gunnercooke in 2020, […]

‘Simple’ Clause in Commercial Property Lease Triggers High Court Dispute

Commercial property leases can be long and complex documents, but it is often their most apparently simple clauses that give rise to dispute. That was certainly so in a High Court case concerning an airport hotel owner who was required to pay for its gas and electricity supplies ‘at no more than the prevailing commercial […]

Why are so many turning their back on a traditional career path?

I am often asked the reason for the success of the revenue share model. Simply put, it’s down to the demand. Attitudes have changed and people want more in their career path, that is why these models are seeing so much growth. Since we started our fee share law firm 11 years ago, the demand […]

MDL Technologies sold to APC with gunnercooke advising

MDL Technologies Limited has been sold to APC Technology Group. Negotiations commenced in March and the sale closed on 30 April 2021 for an undisclosed sum. gunnercooke Corporate Partner Kyri Papantoniou advised the sellers, with Brachers acting for the buyer. Hertfordshire-based MDL Technologies is the UK’s renowned electronic testing company, providing test solutions in a […]

Neighbours Planning a Garden Development? You Are Not Powerless!

Domestic gardens, which many people view as the glory of British suburbia, present a tempting prospect to builders amidst burgeoning housing demand. As one case showed, however, objectors to such developments are by no means powerless. The owners of a semi-detached house obtained planning permission to build a new four-bedroom home in its garden. That, […]

Residential Tenancies: Where are we now?

Notices, Evictions, Rent Arrears and Restrictions with Residential Tenancies Landlords of residential properties may be forgiven for being fairly confused by this point as to what notice they need to give to tenants and whether they can or cannot recover their property. This brief guide to residential tenancies seeks to simplify the current position in […]

gunnercooke hires 11 new partners over the spring as it continues expansion

Challenger law firm gunnercooke, has recruited 11 new partners as it ramps up its expansion and recruitment. The new joiners include Russell Dellar, a Real Estate Finance lawyer who joins from Bird & Bird, and Tim Scorer, an Aviation specialist who has moved from Kennedys Law. Also bolstering the Real Estate team in London are […]

Good Quality Conveyancing is Vital to the Avoidance of Neighbour Disputes

Poor quality property conveyancing is a sadly common source of neighbour disputes and that is why it is so crucial to engage specialist solicitors to do the job. A case on point concerned a poorly demarcated boundary which went unnoticed for years before it became the focus of conflict between rural homeowners. The case concerned […]

The gunnercooke foundation to open hub in Scotland to support local charities

gunnercooke is launching a new hub through its charity arm, the gunnercooke foundation, in a bid to offer support to Scotland-based charities.   The firm recently opened gunnercooke SCO LLP with offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and now has plans to grow the foundation’s work in this region with the new inspire* hub. The gunnercooke […]

We Love Each Other and Who Owns What Doesn’t Matter – Until it Does!

Whilst love blossoms between cohabiting couples, questions as to who owns what may not seem to matter very much. As a High Court ruling showed, however, any lack of clarity in that respect can store up serious trouble for the future. The case concerned a couple who bought and sold numerous properties during the many […]

gunnercooke boosts Commercial Real Estate team in new year recruitment push

gunnercooke has bolstered its Commercial Real Estate partner group with another six key hires, as it begins a huge 2021 recruitment drive. The latest joiners join the specialist property team at the firm’s London office. Matthew East and Jonathan Wilkinson have moved to gunnercooke from Gowling WLG and Charles Russell Speechlys respectively, with other Real Estate hires including Sam Rosenthal, Melanie Curtis, Matthew […]

The gunnercooke foundation member wins Project of the Year at the Business Charity Awards

gunnercooke is delighted to be celebrating a win alongside inspire* member HandsOn London at the Business Charity Awards 2021. The Wrap Up London campaign has won Project of the Year at the awards ceremony, which took place virtually on 18th May. The gunnercooke foundation worked with Hands on London to deliver its annual project, which […]

Inheritance and Gift Tax in Spain

In Spain each region has different tax rules and, therefore, inheriting or gifting property will have different tax implications depending on where the property is located. The truth is that those differences can be substantial and as you will see from this article, the tax amount varies depending on whether it is a lifetime gift […]

Notice on Residential Tenancies

Landlords of residential premises will be relieved to hear that the lengthy notice periods are slowly starting to come back down.  The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) (No 2) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/564) (Notice Regulations) and the Assured Tenancies and Agricultural Occupancies (Forms) (England) (Amendment) and Suspension (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 […]

How does the commercial property market look post-pandemic?

Now that nearly half of the UK population is vaccinated and there is light at the end of the tunnel, people are talking about what the commercial property market will look like post-pandemic. Here we offer some insights from Russell Davidson, a real estate partner with gunnercooke LLP and from Larry Jobsz, Managing Partner at […]

Beyond Brexit: An Immigration Perspective

What companies need to know before hiring employees from overseas Brexit has triggered a new points-based immigration system, which started in December last year. The new system will bring a level playing field for those both inside and outside the EU, opening new opportunities for many people around the world.  For companies who want to […]

Why Brexit hasn’t put Asian businesses off the UK

My team recently completed an acquisition of a UK business by an Asian investor. Cross-border relations are thriving and it made me think about arecent survey by AMCHAM South China suggesting a bright future for Asia business, with many companies reporting a higher return on investment, despite the pandemic and Brexit. Undoubtably Asia is still […]

The Great Comeback – Arbitrating against a distressed or insolvent party

With the increase in Covid-19 related litigation, and the impact of the virus on the world economy, many businesses are suffering in these difficult times and many companies are, or are at risk of, going insolvent. In the UK, a company will generally be considered to be insolvent if: i) it is unable to pay […]

Landlord and Tenant: From Survive to Thrive

Catch up on our latest hospitality webinar below. ​After a turbulent year in hospitality and retail, many businesses in this sector are looking at the temporary measures they used to survive and considering whether they turn them into permanent changes to thrive.  In this discussion gunnercooke Partners and Legal Counsel David Salamons, Jen Morris and […]

Taming the Cookie Monster

How many websites have you visited where you are immediately faced with this pop-up message – “By using our website you consent to our use of cookies. Please see our Privacy Policy for further details”? The exact wording varies from site to site, of course. Some of them provide a big green button marked “Accept” […]

The Silent Killer

Possibly the biggest health challenge that we will face over the next fifty years is that of loneliness. It will be on a par with obesity. In fact, research shows it to be twice as harmful as obesity which we all know now to be a deadly killer.  Obesity is obvious and its physical manifestation […]

Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS)

What is it? The RLS is designed to help businesses get back on their feet, recover, and grow after the pandemic and transition period, providing loans and other types of finance to businesses of any size. When did it launch? 06 April 2021 When does the scheme end? 31 December 2021, subject to review Who […]

gunnercooke set to challenge legal market in Scotland

gunnercooke has announced its launch in Scotland, with new offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and with Simon Etchells as its first appointment at its new Scottish practice, gunnercooke SCO LLP. The launch comes with a huge recruitment drive for the firm, who hope to attract talented lawyers across Scotland to join its team. The firm […]

Pure Pet Food receives second multi-million pound deal as pet ownership booms

Yorkshire brand Pure Pet Food has secured another multi-million pound private equity investment, advised by challenger law firm gunnercooke.   The additional deal with NPIF HTV Equity LP and also Mercia Fund Management Limited follows another sizeable deal for the brand with NVM Private Equity, handled by gunnercooke Corporate Partner Asad Ali two years ago.  Pure […]

Making for the Exit

Those public bodies lucky enough to have benefitted from the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) (the Conservative party infrastructure scheme later adopted and greatly expanded by the Blair and Brown governments) will inevitably at some stage need to plan for the expiry of their PFI contract. For those public bodies that were in the first wave […]

Intellectual Property Readiness Checklist

There are many different considerations for businesses with regards to intellectual property, including registered and unregistered rights and various strategies such as anti-counterfeiting. gunnercooke Partner Rosie Burbidge has created a comprehensive checklist for IP readiness, so you can ensure your brand is prepared for every eventuality when it comes to trademark disputes.

The Great Comeback: top 5 books on mindset

From the principles of agile management and leading through crisis, to remote leadership and finding meaning in both work and life, we have collated our Comeback Mindset reading recommendations. Remember – the comeback is always better than the setback. Happy reading! The age of Agile: How Smart Companies Are Transforming the Way Work Gets Done […]

Lessons from Great Comebacks: Marvel Comics – the superhero of the Comeback world

Every great superhero story features a ‘darkest hour’, and for Marvel Comics, that came in the Winter of 1996. The company had grown throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s – with heroes like The Amazing Spiderman and The Fantastic Four as prized possessions in many homes. But more and more, the comics were becoming collector’s […]

A look at Climate Change, Sustainability and Fashion

A webinar hosted by TMA Europe and gunnercooke The Panellists Rashmi Dube – gunnercooke Partner in Corporate Governance & Litigation Clare Press – Presenter, the Wardrobe Crisis podcast, Producer & Co-Presenter of the UN’s Ethical Fashion podcast Marina Bradford – Sustainability consultant & founder of Bemari, a B-Corp certified impact & circularity consultancy Andrew Griffiths – Director, Community & […]

Event – Harnessing the power of data: inside and outside the Boardroom

SIGN UP HERE. COVID-19 has set off the largest wave of digital and analytics transformation in history! The pandemic has accelerated digitization, e-commerce adoption, and a shift to remote working by 5-10 years. Businesses have post lockdown, moved to the use of remote collaboration tools (such as videoconferencing) and set up online customer interactions, made investment in […]

5 Tips for bouncing back with UK Hospitality

As the hospitality industry opens its doors for the first time this year, gunnercooke would like to wish everyone in the sector good luck.  We are a proud partner of UK Hospitality, the leading trade association supporting hospitality businesses across the UK.  In support of our clients and UK Hospitality members, our Partners have shared […]

Smart Works helps 315 unemployed women through pandemic and joins the gunnercooke foundation to support its endeavours

Smart Works Greater Manchester charity has successfully helped hundreds of unemployed women despite the challenges of the pandemic, benefitting from joining the gunnercooke foundation support network during last year. Smart Works help unemployed women to ‘get the clothes, get the confidence, get the job’, relieving the financial hardship of unemployment through the promotion of economic […]

The Great Comeback Series – Bouncing Back to Happiness (or are we?)

Probably. But that depends on your perspective. And happiness, like all things in life except death and taxes, is a matter of degree. Those of us who have operated in the distressed business environment for over 30 years have heard it said many times before: you are very soon going to be so busy. But it has […]

Islamic Family Law – What you need to know

In this webinar gunnercooke Partner Siddique Patel discusses Islamic family law, how it works in practice, an overview of the terminology and the key issues you should be aware of.  You can catch up on the full discussion in the below video, where Siddique answers questions including: What are the sources of Islamic family law […]

Vision & Strategy – family business webinar

Within a family business, the need for clarity and consensus is more important than ever and although the process of creating such a position can be painful, the benefits are clear for all to see. Join our highly expericienced gunnercooke Operating Partners for this session where they will take you through a structured approach to help you […]

Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) ACT 2021 Receives Royal Assent

The aim of this Act is to help accelerate the delivery of fast, reliable and secure broadband networks.  It was given Royal Assent on 15 March 2021 but is not yet in force.  The aim of the Act is to make it easier to install broadband infrastructure in tenanted property and applies where a consent has […]

More than a lawyer

I love law and enjoy being a lawyer.  But it’s not enough to simply be a lawyer anymore. Businesses need much more. They need a trusted advisor, someone who understands the market in their sector, their challenges, their competitors, the ins and outs of how their business works and even understand the people within their organisations.  […]

The Great Comeback – Anti-suit Injunctions

The English anti-suit injunction had once been a powerful tool in English litigation for claimants. It was an order issued by a court or arbitral tribunal that prevents an opposing party from commencing or continuing a proceeding in another jurisdiction or forum.    There are many reasons a party may wish to obtain an anti-suit injunction […]

Landlord & Tenant Update (What have the Government done now…)

On the10 March 2021, the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, at a press conference announced an updated package of measures to support business owners and residential tenants. I have outlined below the key proposals: Business Leases The restrictions on forfeiture of business tenancies for non-payment of rent are to continue in England until 30 June 2021. […]

Ready for the Children’s Code?

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Children’s Code on data processing sets out 15 ‘standards’ which data controllers and processors will have to adhere to in six months’ time (2nd September 2021). The objective behind the Code is to enhance the protection of children’s data online. Children need protecting even more than adults, of course. They are vulnerable. Data […]

Navigating the Covid 19 Grant Schemes

There are now numerous Covid19-driven grant schemes in existence. These are intended to provide financial support to organisations operating in the different businesses sectors. This is obviously good news. Increasingly, though, clients are experiencing difficulties both in terms of (a) understanding how to complete the grant applications and (b) challenging or successfully complaining about the […]

TAX BRIEFING NOTE

SDLT surcharge for non-UK resident buyers of residential property From 1 April 2021, non-resident purchasers of residential property in England and Northern Ireland will pay a 2% surcharge on top of all rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax. This is a further measure in an already overcrowded set of SDLT rules. The surcharge applies to […]

Could we see negative interest rates?

We now live in the world of very low interest rates and some financial commentators think we may even enter the realms of negative bank interest rates. What will happen if a Bank Loan to a customer is also linked to an interest rate swap? The floor on the swap could typically be a zero-interest […]

Women in Business Event: Challenge, Change & Coronavirus, where are we now?

International Women’s Day, 8th March 2021 Where are we now and what are the new challenges we face in a remote working environment? If you missed our event and want to catch up, view our recording or write-up below. Panellists Thalis Vlachos – gunnercooke Partner and advocate for the Women in Business campaign. Rashmi Dube […]

The Great Comeback Series: Commercial Lease Negotiations – What Now?

The government has announced our return to normality this summer, meaning an inevitable end at some point soon to the various support packages – the most relevant for the commercial lettings market being furlough (which has just seen what is probably its final extension in the budget) and the protection of tenants from eviction.   This […]

The Great Comeback Series: Future gazing in a time of global crisis – IP insights

There is no doubt that we are living through an unstable time. The pandemic has changed daily life for everyone. Politics are far from stable – this impacts many things, not least international trade. The origins of established brands are coming under the microscope. The economic good times (such as they were in the wake […]

The Great Comeback Podcast: Top Tips for Securing Litigation Funding

As we look towards a future where we can meet with friends, drink in bars, exercise in groups and travel to far off lands – the coming years will be the Great Comeback of our time, and we want to explore what this might look like for our clients and their businesses. The Great Comeback […]

The Great Comeback Series – what do the coming years look like for business?

As we look towards a future where we can meet with friends, drink in bars, exercise in groups and travel to far off lands – the coming years will be the Great Comeback of our time, and we want to explore what this might look like for our clients and their businesses. Over the coming […]

Business Interruption Insurance – what do you need to know?

The Supreme Court recently delivered its judgment in the business interruption test case brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and has substantially allowed the appeal on behalf of policyholders.  The new judgement is weighted towards policyholders. So, what are the key things you should know about the new ruling and how it affects claims […]

Compulsory COVID testing at work

There have been a number of recent press reports which have suggested that businesses may introduce policies which require their employees, or prospective employees on recruitment, to have the COVID vaccine. This has been described as “no jab no job” and businesses leaders such as Pimlico Plumbers CEO, Charlie Mullins have already said that they […]

EU-UK Data Transfers – A Step Nearer to Normal

We’ve all been waiting with bated breath to see whether the EU will allow EU-to-UK data transfers to enjoy the pre-Brexit freedoms we have all become used to. The journey isn’t over yet but the Commission has just published a draft ‘Decision’ which, if approved by both the European Data Protection Board (which will need […]

No Jab – No Job – No Chance

I was interested to read a couple of recent press reports in which it was suggested that the Government had accepted that employers could insist on employees receiving the Covid vaccine prior to returning to work. I suspect that this may be part of a campaign to use the media to influence people to take […]

The UK Government’s Proposals for its new State Aid Regime

HM Government  (HMG) published a consultation document on 3rd February on what will be a new UK- only subsidy control regime. The Government does not have an entirely free hand of course as it must continue to respect its obligations under the UK/EU Trade and Co-Operation Agreement (TCA) ; World Trade Organisation rules and other free trade agreements. […]

gunnercooke advises on acquisition of placemaking consultancy

Corporate Partner Matthew Searle at gunnercooke has advised on the acquisition of Fourth Street Place Consultants. gunnercooke acted for the sellers, Jim Roberts and Dan Anderson, and Pannone Corporate advised the buyer Place Capital Group. Fourth Street Place Consultants is a specialist placemaking consultancy. The business works with public and private sector clients involved in […]

Debt Moratoriums – More frustrations for the recovery of rent arrears from individuals?

As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic there are many tenants, and others, with substantial debts. In some of these cases where an individual has a source of income, or will gain one, that can be used to pay the debts off in time, it may be possible for them to apply for a Debt […]

gunnercooke launches Midlands recruitment drive with launch of new Birmingham office

gunnercooke is launching a new recruitment drive for partners in the Midlands following the opening of its Birmingham office. Since its launch in 2010, the firm has expanded rapidly, through an active recruitment strategy dedicated to appointing senior lawyers across the UK.  The Midlands team has seen strong hires so far including Pensions Partner Helen […]

10 in 20: Legal Year in Review

On 5 November 2020 gunnercooke partner, Veronika Koroleva, presented at the TXF Global Commodity Finance 2020 conference. The session was a roundup of 10 biggest legal stories of the year affecting commodity finance business. It also included a few predictions of what to look out for in 2021.   The recording was made available courtesy of […]

gunnercooke launches Inspiring Leadership podcast series and invites industry leaders to get involved

gunnercooke has launched a new ‘Inspiring Leadership’ podcast, hosted by its Co-Founder Darryl Cooke and featuring guests including Damian Hughes, Hassan Damluji and John Timpson. The series aims to delve into the minds of successful businesspeople to understand what makes an inspiring leader. Insights include recipes for success, behaviours to model and practical tips from […]

New VAT changes on compensation payments for leases including dilapidations

HMRC has now issued draft guidance on its revised view of compensation, liquidated damages and early termination payments and now consider that most of these payments should be treated as further consideration for VAT purposes. Notably this includes dilapidation payments common at the end of commercial property leases, and which will now mostly be treated […]

Further Six Week Extension to Eviction Ban in England and Wales

As anticipated, with the eviction ban due to come to an end on Monday 11th January 2021, the Government announced on the afternoon of Friday 8th January 2021, again at the last minute, that the eviction ban will be extended in England for a further six weeks to 21st February 2021.   They also emphasised that they would keep the measures […]

Thinking of entering into an Overage Agreement?

What is Overage? Overage (also known as claw-back or uplift) is an agreement whereby the buyer of land will pay extra, on top of the purchase price, if and when certain ‘events’ occur which lead to an increase in the value of the land.  Typically, this would arise if planning permission is obtained for development, […]

Eviction Ban remains “under review”

The Prime Minister responded to a question from Labour Leader, Sir Kier Starmer in the House of Commons on 6 January 2021 stating that the eviction ban, due to come to an end next week, remains “under review”.   A ban on evictions was first introduced in March 2020 at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak […]

Pension Protection Fund: Levy for 2021/22

Shortly before the Christmas break, the Pension Protection Fund (“PPF”) published confirmation of certain key points, in advance of its full response to consultation on its levy for the year 2021/22.  The full levy conclusions and final rules are due in January 2021. Background The Pension Protection Fund replaces most of the benefits due to […]

Tales from the Tribunal: 10 Takeaways for Lawyers from the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal’s 2020 Decisions

I have acted in a number of Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) investigations over the years and understood how stressful and time-consuming they are for both the firm and the individuals involved. While many investigations are brought to a conclusion by the SRA, the most serious cases are referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), an […]

Does the GDPR still apply to you?

Now that the post-Brexit Transition period has ended, organisations established in the UK will need to consider urgently whether their data processing activities mean that they are still subject to the GDPR. Although GDPR is EU law, not UK law, the GDPR does not just apply to organisations (ie controllers and processors) that are established […]

gunnercooke partner advises on sale of Card Geotechnics Limited

gunnercooke has advised on the acquisition of Surrey-based CGL (Card Geotechnics Limited) for an undisclosed sum. gunnercooke acted for CGL with Corporate Partner Kyri Papantoniou leading the transaction. Kyri specialises in M&A transactions and advised on the sale of the client’s business to CET Infrastructure, supported by Palatine Private Equity. Tax Partner Saad Ahmed also […]

gunnercooke advises Pets at Home Group Plc on £15m acquisition deal

gunnercooke has advised Pets at Home Group Plc on its acquisition of veterinary telehealth provider, The Vet Connection. The UK’s leading pet care business purchased the business, which offers veterinary telehealth advice, triage and ancillary services to customers and their pets, in a £15m deal this month. The deal was concluded in just four weeks […]

Further Extensions to the Restrictions on Commercial Property Forfeiture, CRAR and Insolvency Provisions

The Government announced yesterday, not unexpectedly, further extended the restrictions on commercial property forfeiture, CRAR and insolvency provisions from 31st December 2020 to 31st March 2021.  (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/business-evictions-ban-extended-until-march ) In a statement issued on 9th December 2020, Ministers Alok Sharma and Robert Jenrick announced a further extension to the Moratorium on Forfeiture for Non Payment of […]

gunnercooke advises on VeloSkin management buy-out

gunnercooke Restructuring & Insolvency Partner Chris Jones has advised on the acquisition of cycling skincare brand VeloSkin. Andrew Banks and Chris Iredale have bought out the company’s other partners, co-founders Chris and Tanya Bairstow along with minority shareholder Paul Roper, following a period of rapid growth for the brand.  Halifax-based VeloSkin’s Chamois Cream is now […]

gunnercooke wins UK Business of the Year at The Business Brilliance Awards

gunnercooke is delighted to be celebrating wins at the 2020 Business Brilliance Awards, taking home UK Business of the Year and Darryl Cooke achieving the gold award for Business Leader of the Year. The Business Brilliance Awards celebrate the success of leading companies across the UK and winners were revealed in a virtual ceremony on […]

How will Brexit affect Environmental Governance in the UK?

In the latest of our series of articles on Brexit and the changes we can expect from 1st January 2020, Dr Anna Willetts, Environmental Crime Partner, looks at what is in store for environmental regulation. Just over a year ago, in October 2019, the government introduced the Environment Bill. Its purpose is to enhance and […]

Brexit’s impact on commercial contracts for UK businesses

In the latest of our series of articles on Brexit and the changes we can expect come 1st January 2021, Partner Rebecca Kelly looks at the implications for UK businesses and their commercial contracts There are likely to be significant changes to certain commercial contracts come the 1st January 2021. In order to best understand […]

How will Brexit affect businesses that employ European workers?

In the latest of our series of articles on Brexit and the changes we can expect come 1st January 2021, Partner Vitoria Nabas looks at the implications and considerations for UK businesses who employ European workers. With less than a month to go before the UK finally and formally leaves the EU at the end […]

Construction contracts and Brexit

In the latest of our series of articles on Brexit and the changes we can expect come 1st January 2021, Construction Partner Alan Erwin looks at the implications and considerations for construction contracts. The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020, but the full impact has not yet been felt. That will change after 31 December […]

How will Brexit impact trade marks and designs?

In the latest of our series of articles on Brexit and the changes we can expect come 1st January 2021, Intellectual Property Partner, Rosie Burbidge, looks at the implications for trade marks and designs. EU trade marks Trade marks give the owner a monopoly in a particular word, logo or similar in relation to particular […]

How will Brexit affect data protection?

In the latest of our series of articles on Brexit and the changes we can expect come 1st January 2021, Partner Tim Heywood looks at the implications and considerations for data protection. As if managers and business leaders did not have enough on their hands, 31st December is the deadline for taking some important legal […]

How will Brexit impact employment law? Laws are unlikely to change significantly, in the short term at least

In the latest of our series of articles on Brexit and the changes we can expect come 1st January 2021, Employment Partner Paul Menham looks at the implications for UK Employment Law and highlights any potential changes we may see. Whilst a good proportion of UK Employment Law emanates from the European Union, I do […]

gunnercooke welcomes 17 new partners over autumn period in huge recruitment drive

gunnercooke has bolstered its roster of partners with another 17 hires over the autumn months. The newest senior lawyers take the number of recruits up to 40 in 2020. The new joiners include London banking & finance partner, Paul Harrison, who moves to the firm from Taylor Wessing, and corporate partner Rebecca Holden from DLA […]

High court tells Trustees they must revisit past transfers

In another landmark judgment, given on Friday 20th November, Mr Justice Morgan told pension scheme trustees that they will need to revisit many past transfers out of their schemes made in the last 30 years – although possibly not in all circumstances. The decision is the third High Court judgment given in litigation over GMP […]

Further frustrations for Landlords seeking to evict or recover arrears

On 17th November 2020 the Public Health (Coronavirus) (Protection from Eviction and taking control of Goods) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force.  Essentially this puts a stop to the enforcement of possession orders and bailiffs recovery of good from domestic premises in England until after 11 January 2021. The run up to these regulations being issued is […]

The Pensions Regulator in the Pandemic Webinar

The pandemic has shown that the Pensions Regulator wants to give direction to employers and to schemes. This can be helpful, but is it also a sign of a more interventionist approach? The Pensions Regulator has a new Enforcement team, and is preparing for stronger powers from Parliament. What should you look out for as […]

Webinar – The Pension Regulator’s ‘new teeth’: where does this leave employers and trustees?

The pandemic has shown that the Pensions Regulator wants to give direction to employers and to schemes. This can be helpful, but is it also a sign of a more interventionist approach? The Pensions Regulator has a new Enforcement team and is preparing for stronger powers from Parliament. What should you look out for as […]

gunnercooke advises on Heptonstalls restructure

gunnercooke has advised on a series of transactions involving the acquisition and restructuring of Heptonstalls Solicitors. The restructure involved the acquisitions and sales of multiple legal businesses throughout 2020, beginning with the purchase of Midlands-based law firm, HH Legal, earlier this year. Yorkshire-based Heptonstalls Limited was acquired from Administrators in September by HH Legal, and […]

The secrets of the very best leaders: Jack Welch

What does it mean to be a great leader? It can sometimes feel like you need to have all of the answers yourself. Yet the most successful leaders are those who have an insatiable curiosity, a hunger for learning and who recognise that there are always lessons to be learned from others. In this series […]

Bank of Scotland Plc V Burnley Borough Council [2019] UKUT 370 (LC)

The facts Burnley Borough Council wished to acquire a property, subject to a mortgage in favour of the Bank of Scotland, under s.15 Compulsory Purchase Act 1965.  The property was in a state of disrepair and the valuation was significantly less than the mortgage.   The question was what was the correct sum the Council should […]

What the furlough?!

Following the announcement of a second national lockdown, Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, paused the launch of the Job Support Scheme (“JSS”) which was due to commence on 1 November and has instead extended the existing Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”). Whilst this has come as welcome news to many, this seemingly simplistic extension of the CJRS […]

Schrems II – What’s next?

Background In July we wrote an article reporting on the recent Schrems II judgement.  By way of a reminder, this was the successful legal challenge issued by Mr. Schrems against the US Privacy Shield framework for the transfer of personal data between the EU and the US.  The European Court of Justice (ECJ) agreed with […]

Leading Yorkshire family lawyer Siddique Patel makes move to gunnercooke

Top family lawyer Siddique Patel has joined leading challenger law firm gunnercooke as Partner. Moving to the firm from Shoosmiths LLP, he will bring a wealth of experience in family law, specialising in all areas of matrimonial work, including complex private law children, matrimonial finance and Islamic divorce. Siddique advises a diverse range of clients […]

gunnercooke wins Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards

gunnercooke is delighted to have been awarded ‘Law Company of the Year’ at The Lawyer Awards 2020, having been shortlisted the previous year. The Lawyer Awards is organised by media publication The Lawyer and is the largest celebration of legal excellence in Europe. This year’s winners were revealed by host Dara O’Briain via a virtual […]

Relief from Forfeiture – The 6-month window of further frustration for Landlords

The recent case of Keshwala and Another -v- Bhalsod and Another [2020] EWHC 2372 (QB) has confirmed to both Landlords and Tenants that, provided an application for relief from forfeiture is brought within 6 months of the date of the forfeiture of the Lease, it will generally be treated as having been brought with “reasonable […]

Commercial Rent Arrears: Where do we stand in the last quarter of 2020?

There has continued to be yet more legislation in this area, predominantly extending deadlines and, in places, clarifying restrictions.  To give a simpler overview of the current position, the key provisions have been summarised in the table below. Option Summary of Remedy Current Restrictions Forfeiture Peaceful Re-entry Where the Tenant is in arrears a Landlord […]

Renovate or innovate? That is the question

One of the greatest business leaders of all time, the late Jack Welch of GE said that if you stand still you watch your competitors pass you by. It is possibly the best advice that you can give to any successful leader. The management maxim of ‘it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ must be the […]

gunnercooke’s Nick Ducker advises shareholders on MaxContact acquisition

FPE Capital LLP (‘FPE’), the software & services focused lower mid-market growth investor, announces that it has financed the management-led acquisition of MaxContact, a leading Manchester-based independent Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) platform. This marks the seventh investment from FPE Fund II. MaxContact joins fellow current SaaS investments Questionmark, Masstech and Kallik in FPE’s […]

The Martini Mindset: Tax Considerations

When Simon Horsfield reminded me of the Martini advert, “any time, any place, anywhere” I was instantly reminded of my youth, not because I drank martini (I’m not that old!), but the slightly inappropriate advert, the roller skates, cheesy music, what some people refer to as an 80s classic.  With a large number of employees […]

gunnercooke opens Berlin office with key hire

Leading challenger law firm gunnercooke has opened its first international office in Germany with the hire of DFW Executive Partner Wolfgang Richter. Richter joins gunnercooke as Managing Partner of the Berlin-based office. He specialises in business and financial law with expertise in blockchain and crypto currency structures. gunnercooke co-founder, Darryl Cooke, said: ““Ten years ago […]

gunnercooke recognised by The Legal 500 with eight ranked practice areas and 18 recognised lawyers

gunnercooke is delighted to be celebrating another fantastic year in The Legal 500 rankings for 2021. The latest directory has recognised the firm in eight different practice areas across the UK and has recommended 18 gunnercooke lawyers, including Rob Fawke as a Leading Individual and Anna Willetts as a Next Generation Partner. Ranked practice areas […]

No Rule CSR

Milton Friedman may not have won the popularity stakes when he advocated that business was about making profit and making profit alone and the shareholders could do what they want with it. Give it away or give it to charity if that was their inclination. He writes that it is not the company’s responsibility to […]

gunnercooke celebrates 10th anniversary as it plans another decade of expansion

Leading challenger law firm gunnercooke is set to open a series of new offices, including its first international office and specialist consultancies in Private Equity and football, as it accelerates growth in its 10th year. Founded by Darryl Cooke and Sarah Goulbourne in 2010, it was the first law firm to offer lawyers a fee share model […]

The Martini Mindset: Immigration Considerations

With the ‘Martini Mindset’ articles over the last two weeks, my colleague Simon Horsfield has set out a tantalising premise about how remote working can be extended to enable a lifestyle where you could work any time, any place, anywhere – sipping a Martini in a bar in Barcelona,  enjoying a Bintang on a beach […]

The Inspiring Leadership Podcast with Damian Hughes

  We start the anniversary series with a podcast featuring Darryl Cooke alongside psychology expert, Professor Damian Hughes. Damian is a best-selling author and host of The High Performance Podcast, which looks at the mindset of elite athletes. The Inspiring Leadership series aims to delve into the minds of inspiring business people and pinpoint exactly […]

The Martini Mindset: Employment Law Considerations

Enjoy a martini “Any time, any place, anywhere” As we begin to delve deeper into the Martini Mindset, this blog focuses on some of the key employment law implications of allowing your employees to work from home abroad. Which law applies? The first, and most important, question to ask when an employee wants to work […]

gunnercooke shortlisted for Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards

gunnercooke is delighted to have been shortlisted for Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2020, for the second year running. The firm has had a strong year despite the challenges faced by the industry, recruiting a number of new partners and continuing to grow the business, with new offices opening in the […]

The Martini Mindset

According to the famous advertising slogan from the 1980s, a Martini could be enjoyed “any time, any place, anywhere”. It’s a great slogan. It suggests that each Martini drinker has unique needs and deserves a bespoke experience; it challenges the norm by asserting that that the traditional rules do not apply; it speaks to endless […]

Covid-19: Court’s significant ruling on business interruption test case

The tide has just turned strongly in favour of those with business interruption claims – if this affects you, then you are highly  recommended to act promptly: The Problem For many months now a large number of businesses and individuals across England and Wales have lived with the uncertainty as to the enforceability of non-damage business […]

Minimizing the impact of company disputes with directors

Dispute: Just the word can raise blood pressure, time starts vanishing into a black hole, the mind can be fully consumed by the dispute, whilst your energy ebbs away. But business disputes are part of the corporate life and if you have been blessed never to have one long live your reign. The reality is […]

Competition, Cartels and The CMA

Reports from America about criminal charges being brought against Teva Pharmaceuticals for price fixing show that cartel behaviour amongst businesses is still common. But according to recent research, few businesses in the UK understand competition law and even less offer training to their staff. Given the low rate of success in prosecutions for involvement in […]

Five Things for Your To-Do List

As if managers and business leaders did not have enough on their hands, 31st December is the deadline for taking some important legal compliance and enterprise level risk- management steps. From the data protection and information governance perspectives, here are five issues to be getting on with… If your business is going to be processing […]

1 year On

I would have never imagined so much happening in the space of twelve months. Last July myself and my international team moved to join gunnercooke. This was a huge change for us all; we joined an inclusive network of senior partners who had access to an amazing support team, comprising professionals across finance, marketing, administration […]

A year at gunnercooke: Flexibility, Support, Diversity

One year on from starting at gunnercooke, and although I have been used to working in a fee-share model, I have found that the freedom of planning the way that I want to deliver my work is beyond anything I have experienced. The flexibility, support and diversity is fantastic. gunnercooke‘s approach is not to offer […]

More Changes to Notice Periods for Residential Landlords and Tenants

In that delightful way that is becoming all too familiar, the Government chose the late afternoon of Friday 28 August 2020 (notably the Friday of a Bank Holiday Weekend) to drop The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Protection from Eviction) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 on an entirely unprepared public. They came into force on Saturday 29 August 2020 […]

Landlord & Tenant Update on Possession Proceedings and Rent Arrears Recovery

Landlords will have noted with great disappointment the Government’s decision to extend the general stay on possession proceedings and enforcement of them until 20 September 2020.  The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 5) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020 were laid before Parliament on 20 August 2020 and came into force from 22 August 2020. The Rules make a […]

The people challenge of ‘right-sizing’ your business

In our latest ‘Directors Development’ series, Operating Partner Tom Robinson and Employment Partner Rebecca Ireland discussed the challenges of ‘right-sizing’ your business. Here are our key takeaways: Does your business have the “capacity and/or capability” to perform the Rightsizing alongside the day-job? We’re using the term rightsizing to mean making sure that the business has […]

Forget timesheets; it’s time to think differently about pricing legal services

Pricing in the legal industry has long been based on an archaic system that prioritises time over value and internal targets over client service. Before we founded gunnercooke back in 2010, the need for more certainty over costs was something we kept hearing again and again from CEOs, FDs and heads of legal as part […]

Schrems II, Brexit and International Data Transfers

For those organisations who rely on the Privacy Shield for their transfers of personal data from the EU to the USA, the recent case of Schrems II has rather put a spanner in the works. Max Schrems, you might remember is a privacy activist. He runs the NOYB digital rights organisation based in Vienna. He was essentially responsible for […]

gunnercooke aids Byron rescue deal

Law firm gunnercooke has advised on a deal, completed 31 July, that saw high-street burger chain Byron bought out of administration, allowing 20 of the company’s 51 restaurants to continue trading and saving 551 jobs across the UK. The team, led by gunnercooke partner Nick Ducker, acted on behalf of Calveton UK Limited who bought […]

Crypto Cast EP2: What is Crypto accounting and where is it going?

In this episode, gunnercooke FinTech Partner James Burnie is joined by Antoine Scalia, Co-founder & CEO of Cryptio, bookkeeping software for crypto assets. Antione and James discuss what is Crypto accounting? and the challenges involved with it. Listen on iTunes Listen on Spotify  

Crypto Cast EP1: Pricing Tips To Improve Profitability

In this episode, gunnercooke FinTech Partner James Burnie is joined by pricing expert and gunnercooke Operating Partner David Abbott to discuss pricing tips to improve the profitability of your business.  

Build, build, build – new residential permitted development rights unpacked

The government has published a number of new permitted development rights due to take effect at the end of the summer.  The rights allow existing residential properties to be demolished to make way for new dwellings.  There are also new upwards extension rights for certain dwellings and commercial premises to create new, self-contained residential dwellings.  […]

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards: What do Landlords need to know?

The Minimum Level of Energy Efficiency Standard Regulations Since 1 April 2018, it has been an offence under the Minimum Level of Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations (‘the Regulations’) for private landlords to grant new residential tenancies if the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is below and E (i.e. F or G) unless a valid […]

Heavyweight hire strengthens gunnercooke pensions team

One of the UK’s leading pensions lawyers, Helen Miles, has joined innovative law firm gunnercooke as a partner in its now six-strong specialist pensions team. Helen, who is also Chair of the NHS Pensions Board, has more than 25 years wide-ranging experience in the sectordealing with all aspects of pensions legal advice to trustees and […]

So, you thought you knew your A B C?

The government published draft legislation this week which proposes the first major overhaul in 30 years to the Use Classes Order, due to take effect from 1 September 2020.  A number of the familiar use classes will disappear altogether, and new, more flexible uses will be introduced in order to bolster Britain’s challenged high street […]

Residential Possession Claims Update

Landlords will be relieved to hear that the Government intends to resume possession claims on Monday 24 August 2020 and have stated that they do not currently intend to extend the present stay that is in place.  Plans are already underway to deal with the resumption of claims.  On Friday 17 July 2020 the Civil […]

How to create a solid business plan for your own legal practice

Taking full control of your own legal practice is a big step for any senior lawyer; though by joining forces with a challenger law firm, you certainly don’t have to go it alone. Having welcomed over 250 legal practitioners into the gunnercooke family over the past decade, it’s clear to me that one of the […]

Award-winning litigation lawyer, Rashmi Dubé, further boosts gunnercooke’s Leeds office

gunnercooke is delighted to announce that Rashmi Dubé has joined the firm. Rashmi’s move to gunnercooke has been covered in The Business Desk and Yorkshire Business Daily. Rashmi is an award-winning solicitor and mediator. She is an experienced litigator with almost 25 years’ practicing experience and previously ran her own law firm, Legatus Law, giving […]

Look a mile beyond your business: Part 2

In Part 1 of this series I wrote: Do you want to be remembered for making money or for the legacy that you have left behind? Do you want your employees to know you for your business efficiencies or for how you changed the world? Do you want your children to remember you because you […]

What has COVID-19 taught us about remote working as a lawyer?

There’s no doubt we’ll look back on 2020 as a watershed moment for remote working, particularly within professional services and law. Every legal practitioner out there has been forced to rethink the way their services are delivered whilst striking a new balance between work and home life. Those that considered commuting to the office every […]

TAX BRIEFING NOTE Summer Statement 2020: SDLT temporary reduced rates

All purchasers of residential property in England and Northern Ireland will benefit from a reduction in SDLT for transactions that complete on or after 8 July 2020 and before 1 April 2021. The threshold of the nil rate band is being raised from £125,000 to £500,000, so now any purchase of a home up to […]

What does your ideal legal practice look like – and could you run it?

As the entire legal industry continues to rethink the way services are delivered in the wake of COVID-19, now is an opportune time for lawyers to explore their options and find a better way of running their practice. I speak with experienced lawyers in private practice almost every week that are stressed out and struggling […]

COVID-19: New Voluntary Code of Practice for The Commercial Property Sector

On 19 June 2020 the Government published its Code of Practice aimed at assisting landlords and tenants as they navigate the effects of COVID-19 on their relationships and obligations.  Although it had been mooted back in May that the Code could be made mandatory, what has been published is a voluntary code, designed to assist with […]

Personal Data in a Pandemic

The recent shift to remote working and other new or unfamiliar delivery models has meant that managers have faced fresh concerns about how to stay compliant with personal data protection laws. They have had to think about this both in terms of processing their normal data and in terms of making decisions about whether to […]

Covid-19: Landlord & Tenant Update

Possession proceedings  The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020 are coming into force on 25 June 2020.  These introduce paragraph 55.29 to the Civil Procedure Rules, which stays all proceedings stayed immediately prior to the rule coming into force and all those issued subsequent to 25 June 2020 until 23 August 2020.   In practical terms […]

Latest Planning Announcements: A Summary

1. Extension of planning permission deadlines… Planning permission and listed building consent expiry dates will be extended for all permissions due to expire between 23 March and 31 December 2020.   The extension will be automatic and permission will be extended until 1 April 2021.  There will be transitional provisions in place for permissions which expire […]

Property Contracts – Remedies for Breach

The property market has been hit hard by Covid-19, with both residential and commercial transactions being affected.  Whether due to funding issues, the inability to secure planning permission or vacant possession or simply a change of mind or circumstances by one of the parties, there is an increase in the number of transactions not completing and […]

Is your role financially rewarding?

“What’s the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery?” It’s a question that gets asked a lot and we’ve all asked it ourselves. As much as answers may vary between which car we’d buy and which holiday we’d book for our next adventure, one of the most common is “I’d quit my job.” […]

Approaching redundancies as the furlough scheme comes to an end

Despite the job retention bonus that was announced in the summer statement, many businesses will still find themselves considering redundancy as an option as the furlough scheme inevitably comes to an end. Employment partners Shilpen Savani and Paul Ryman have provided answers to some FAQs surrounding Coronavirus and redundancy. Have there been any special allowances for […]

Download your guide to job retention and recovery

Since it was first announced back in March, the Furlough Scheme has largely been serving its purpose. 8.5 million people are currently on furlough, but as the end date has now been announced and is fast approaching, employment partners Shilpen Savani and Paul Ryman discuss what the future could look like for many businesses. On […]

Furlough Fraud

There has been an increasing number of articles and press reports relating to furlough fraud over the last few weeks.  The furlough scheme, or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to give it its official title, allows employers to keep employees on the payroll even though they are not working and for a proportion of their […]

When you must prove that your Chinese wall passes muster…

In a judgment handed down on 7 May 2020, the Court of Appeal clarified that it is only when professionals act as “true fiduciaries” that they bear the burden of proving that there is no risk of misuse or disclosure of privileged and/or confidential information to a new client.  Professional advisers routinely consider whether new […]

Feeling fleeced? When providing services for no charge may be unjust enrichment…

In the competitive post-pandemic world we are currently in, the pressure to put one’s best foot forward is intense. Generously providing services at no charge can be a crucial stepping stone towards you winning new business. But how much ‘free’ input should you offer? At what point are you entitled to be paid for your […]

Government to publish New Code of Practice for Commercial Letting

On 29 May 2020 the Government announced an intention to issue a new Code of Practice to provide high street businesses and landlords with clarity and reassurance over rent payments.  The purpose of the new Code of Practice, which will be developed between Government and Trade Associations, is to support high street businesses through the Coronavirus […]

Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector

The Electrical Safety Regulations were made on 18 March 2020 and come into force on 1 June 2020 in England.   The Regulations apply to new tenancies with effect from 1 July 2020 and existing specified tenancies with effect from 1 April 2021.  A new tenancy is defined as one granted on or after 1 June 2020, […]

Insurance protection for brownfield development

Contaminated land expert Keith Davidson explains how environmental insurance can play an important role mitigating liability risks in brownfield development projects. Environmental liabilities – who should pay? Land contamination and groundwater pollution can be a lottery in brownfield transactions where all parties are left with liability risks after completion.  Developers can miss contamination hotspots and […]

Antonello joins the Advisory Board of HOPEnDialogue #mentalhealthweek

HOPEnDialogue is an international research project of the Institute of Sciences and Technologies of Cognition at the National Research Council (the Italian Consiglio Nazionale della Ricerca-CNR), for which Antonello will play an advisory role exclusively on pro-bono basis. Antonello and his family’s commitment to mental health is more or less known to some of us. It […]

Look a mile beyond your business

Do you want to be remembered for making money or for the legacy that you have left behind? Do you want your employees to know you for your business efficiencies or for how you changed the world? Do you want your children to remember you because you became the leader of a business or because […]

Look a mile beyond your business

Do you want to be remembered for making money or for the legacy that you have left behind? Do you want your employees to know you for your business efficiencies or for how you changed the world? Do you want your children to remember you because you became the leader of a business or because […]

Jack Welch’s Approach to Leadership

The following article was written by Claudio Fernández-Aráoz and has been taken from the Harvard Business Review. You can view the original article here. Jack Welch was heralded by many as the greatest leader of his era. As CEO of General Electric from 1981 to 2001, he transformed it from a company known for appliances and […]

Daniel H. Pink: Why bosses need to show their soft side

“Go ahead,” you might need to assure him, “this won’t hurt” Then ask him to take that extended finger and draw a capital E on his forehead. Does he draw the letter so that it faces him – that is, backward to a person looking at him? Or does he draw the letter so that […]

What have you learnt?

We will shortly be returning to the ‘new normal’ after the most challenging time possibly of our work and even our personal lives, with I suspect some semblance of order, or not. The question for all leaders will be just what have you learnt? Are you a better leader for the experience? Will you have […]

Towards the new normal: The return to work for furloughed workers

The Prime Minister has announced the Covid-19 recovery strategy setting out a 3-phase approach to lifting lockdown and moving to the “new normal.” A significant element of this strategy is a return to work for employees in different industry sectors with food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution businesses all encouraged to return to work […]

Centenary Homes Limited v Gershinson and Liddell 2020

The case of Centenary Homes Limited v Gershinson and Liddell [2020] EWHC 1080 demonstrates the courts clear position that receivers enjoy ‘a degree of latitude’ as to the timing and method of selling properties over which they are appointed.  Importantly, the court further refused to conclude that selling too many properties to repay a debt […]

Coronavirus Act 2020: Residential Lettings

The Coronavirus Act came into force on 26 March 2020 and Part 51Z was introduced to the Civil Procedure Rules on 27 March 2020, subsequently amended to include paragraph 2A on 20 April 2020.  These pieces of legislation will have an impact on the following parties: Landlords wishing to forfeit or end a residential lease […]

Coronavirus Act 2020 : Commercial Lettings

Payment of Rent This is the key area of concern for most Landlords and Tenants at present as the pandemic lockdown has curtailed a number of business activities meaning that they have reduced cash flow, which in turn may be causing difficulties in meeting obligations, such as the payment of rent.  The Government has sought […]

gunnercooke Employment Partner Angela Brumpton Features on BBC News

gunnercooke Employment Law partner Angela Brumpton has featured on BBC News this week discussing the Government’s Job Retention Scheme which opened to applications on Monday. Angela gave insight on who qualifies for the scheme, it’s limitations and potential abuse of the system, and employee rights under the furlough scheme. You can watch the full interview […]

On Coronavirus: Acquiring Distressed Assets

The Cause of Distress All businesses require working capital.  Revenues are drastically reducing while fixed costs continue to accrue. Government schemes will provide some relief by subsidising wage bills and allowing business rates and tax holidays.  For some businesses, however, sources of working capital will diminish to the point that it will not be possible […]

On Coronavirus: Managing Distressed Assets

Uncertain times Businesses are already struggling, coming under increasing cash flow pressure.  With no certainty as to when conditions will change, those with management responsibility are concerned about the future viability of their organisations, as well as their own personal liability should insolvency proceedings begin.  The following is designed to provide some high-level guidance on […]

On Coronavirus: Preserving Investor Value

Inter-Dependency Many corporate groups are structured in tax-efficient ways.  Tax-planning may dictate how goods and services are provided between members of the group in different jurisdictions and in which entities valuable assets are held. In addition, “treasury” arrangements may apply which involve pooling and re-distribution of revenues. Consequently, there can be substantial inter-dependency between companies […]

Managing Mental Health and Wellbeing when Working at Home

I’ve delivered training on mental health stress and wellbeing for the last three years but as I sat down to write my first post lockdown training, I realised that my normal material wasn’t going to be enough.  We are living through something completely unknown and unfamiliar.   It’s hard for people in lots of different ways. […]

Covid- 19: Clampdown on Lockdown – New Police Powers Granted

The extensive restrictions on individuals and businesses put in place this week in an attempt to delay the spread of the Coronavirus have been widely reported, but what happens to those who don’t comply? In further emergency laws granted on 26th March (the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020), the police have been given far […]

Morrisons Found Not Vicariously Liable for Data Breach

The Supreme Court has today delivered the final word on this case which had until now left employers facing potential vicarious liability (and the prospect of having to pay damages under civil law principles) for a major, deliberate data breach by one of its former employees. The breach occurred when Mr Skelton, who had been […]

Cyber Scams

Not everyone is playing by the same rules. As you and I try to go about our daily business under the Coronavirus restrictions and try to help our family, friends and neighbours, where we can, cyber-criminals are busy exploiting the new environment for personal gain. You may have noticed that you are receiving more emails […]

Coronavirus Act 2020: Commercial Lettings

Section 82 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 (“CA 2020”) sets out emergency measures to restrict forfeiture of Commercial Business Tenancies in England and Wales where tenants find themselves in financial difficulties. The relevant period for these provisions lasts from 26 March 2020 until 30 June 2020 but is subject to review and may be extended. […]

Coronavirus Act 2020: Residential Lettings

The Coronavirus Act came into force on 26 March 2020 and will have an impact on the following parties: Landlords wishing to forfeit or end a residential lease Parties wish to issue possession proceedings Parties part way through the possession proceedings process Parties holding unexecuted Possession Orders The Government have now issued full guidance on […]

Changes to planning law now in force

New time-limited permitted development right to allow takeaway and delivery services From 10am on 24 March 2020, an amendment to the permitted development rights currently in force takes effect which allows: Restaurants and cafes; and Drinking establishments; and Drinking establishments with expanded food provision to provide takeaway food (hot or cold) for collection or delivery […]

Remote Leadership

There isn’t a better time than now to demonstrate good remote leadership. Leadership is everything, whether you are running a local voluntary service or the largest organisation in the world. At times like this everyone looks for guidance. People want to be guided. They want to follow. But if you get it wrong you are […]

On Coronavirus: Frustration, Force Majeure and Contractual Obligations

Many of you will be familiar with these terms, but it makes sense to begin by reminding ourselves of what they are. Frustration of Contract and Force Majeure are two ways in which a contract may be brought to an end. Frustration occurs where, after a contract has been formed, an event happens which renders […]

On Coronavirus: Trade Finance Borrowers

During these difficult times, many trade finance borrowers will quite rightly have concerns about meeting their payment obligations and want to understand  their potential risks. This note aims to provide guidance on what borrowers should be considering.  My general advice is to review the entire suite of trade finance facilities you have available to you […]

Coronavirus Bill

One of the key effects of this Bill, and one that both Houses will want to scrutinise closely is to give the Government new powers to prohibit public gatherings. In the context of policy announcements that tend to have a presentational focus on what appear to be common sense precautions to limit the spread of […]

On Coronavirus: Insolvency

It’s safe to say that many businesses are already struggling, coming under increasing cash flow pressure. Many individuals with management responsibility are concerned about the future viability of their organisations, as well as their own personal liability should insolvency proceedings begin. The best advice I can give is to get advice on your specific situation. […]

On Coronavirus: Advice for the construction industry

The Coronavirus pandemic and the measures being put in place continue to evolve by the hour. The construction industry with its inherent complex supply chains and daily need for person-to-person contact, is likely to be severely impacted. All parties will need to be extremely proactive in managing their risks, but also need to consider their […]

On Coronavirus: Tax residence and Private Client implications

As has become all too apparent, the Coronavirus crisis has affected international travel significantly: flights are being cancelled and travel bans have been imposed. These events, as well as being painful for many, can have unintended consequences for the residence status of some individuals. I thought it sensible to provide brief thoughts on some of […]

On Coronavirus: Advice for suppliers who work with the NHS

It goes without saying that the NHS is at the forefront of addressing the Coronavirus outbreak. Of course, the NHS relies on thousands of different suppliers to provide it with equipment to function properly, and those businesses are likely to be affected by the current situation in many different ways. Because of this, I thought […]

On Coronavirus: Force Majeure Clauses in Commercial Contracts

The situation the country finds itself in is truly unprecedented. Businesses and individuals are likely to be thinking long and hard about whether they can honour their commitments over the coming weeks and months. In light of this, I thought it was sensible to prepare some thoughts and guidance on force majeure clauses in commercial […]

On Coronavirus: Insurance Guidance

As the Coronavirus outbreak continues to develop, many people are naturally looking toward their insurance policies to see what type and levels of cover they have in place, should they need to call on insurance in these unprecedented times. The simple advice is to check your own policy wording and speak to your insurer, or […]

On Coronavirus: Commercial Leasehold Properties

Tenants  1. Non-payment of rent  In the case of non-occupation due to part or whole self-isolation rent is probably still payable. Leases do not usually contain suspension of rent or non-payment of rent in the event of force majeure, but may do where it is a licence of serviced offices and tenants should check the […]

On Coronavirus: A Survival Kit For Entrepreneurs

Staying abreast of the economic fallout from the Coronavirus pandemic is like standing on solid ground that has suddenly turned to quicksand around you. Advising business clients on employment law in this quagmire is a challenge, because so little in the law is geared for the snap commerciality and responsiveness required from leaders in the […]

Help for Residential Landlords & Tenants

The government announced on the 18 March 2020 a radical package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus. The aim is to ensure that no renter in either social or private residential accommodation will be forced out of their home during this difficult time. Emergency legislation is being taken forward as an […]

On Coronavirus: Advice for HR Professionals

The coronavirus has now definitely taken us into unchartered territory. People’s health is obviously number one priority, and the impact on the economy is going to be huge. HR professionals are facing completely new challenges, by the day. No one knows how the situation is going to unfold and reacting quickly and creatively to the […]

Keep Going, Keep Growing: Some Thoughts for Employers

In your planned response to the spread of Coronavirus, you’ve no doubt factored in remote working or home-working as part of your solution. It won’t be right for all sectors of course or even for all parts of a single business but it makes sense to consider how a shift to remote working might help […]

“Events, Dear Boy, Events!”

A quote that is overused and may have been mis-attributed to former Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan but is said to have been his response to being asked what he most feared as PM. We are certainly seeing some ‘events’ at the moment and their impacts can be felt in business circles across the Globe. Clients […]

Trust Barometer – A Wake Up Call

Why would anyone be led by you, follow your vision, and do what you need them to do if they don’t trust you? We are not sheep, we are not slaves and we will only give everything to our leaders if we trust them. Which is why the latest Edelman Trust Barometer (2020) is so […]

Partner Thalis Vlachos shares his career at gunnercooke so far with Yexible

In this Yexible article, Employment Law Partner Thalis Vlachos shares his career at gunnercooke so far, and it goes beyond ‘simply putting in the hours’. You can read the full feature HERE

Are you being served? Service of Property Notices

The findings of the Supreme Court in UKI (Kingsway) Limited v Westminster City Council [2018] UK SC67 have cast some significant doubt on what were previously thought to be well-established common law principle about the service of notices in relation to property.  In this case the Court determined that there could still be good service […]

Electrical Safety Checks in Residential Letting

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 will come into effect from 1 July 2020.  All private landlords will be required to: Ensure that the electrical safety standards in the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations published by the Institute of Engineering and Technology and the British Standards Institute as […]

Are Veriports a better use of Roof Space for Landowners in City Centres?

If you live or work in London then you are likely to be more than six foot from a piece of telecoms equipment.  We are used to looking out of windows over a sea of telecoms aerials.  Historically, freeholders were eager to grant leases to telecoms operators to obtain an extra source of income from […]

Obtaining Injunctions Against Protestors

In recent years there has been an increasing trend for property owners and occupiers to seek injunctions against persons unknown to restrain the actions of trespassers and protestors.  These are usually sought on a quia timet basis, which means that they are granted in advance of any wrong taking place.  As with most injunctions, they […]

Is the electronic signature on your email legally binding?

Whether or not an automated email signature was legally binding was the question that concerned the County Court in the recent case of Neocleous v Rees [2019] EWHC 2462 (Ch).  In this case, the Defendants had agreed to transfer part of the land to the Claimants for the price of £175,000.  The terms of the […]

Inspiring Leadership: Julian Richer, The Ethical Capitalist

As part of the firm’s mission to bring commercial business skills to charities, we want to engage business leaders with the fact that they have a vital role to play in solving the challenges of today’s society. To this end, we are holding a series of talks delivered by amazing leaders from the business world, […]

How to build a company where the best ideas win: TedTalk by Ray Dalio

What if you knew what your coworkers really thought about you and what they were really like? Ray Dalio makes the business case for using radical transparency and algorithmic decision-making to create an idea meritocracy where people can speak up and say what they really think – even calling out the boss is fair game. […]

Why Better Is Better Than Best by Simon Sinek

The following article has been written by Simon Sinek. You can view the original post here. The fastest runners in the world run between 12-14mph (19-23kph). The average bear runs between 30-40mph (48-64kph). That means if a bear decides to give chase, even world record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt, could not outrun it. But there is […]

How to Influence Decision Makers by Marshall Goldsmith

The following article was written by Marshall Goldsmith, taken from the Harvard Business Review. You can view the original article here. “The great majority of people tend to focus downward. they are occupied with efforts rather than results. They worry over what the organization and their superiors ‘owe’ them and should do for them. and […]

SRA Under fire following Tribunal

The SRA is again under fire from the SDT for fundamental flaws in its investigation which resulted in the Tribunal finding no case to answer against solicitor Nabeel Sheikh on any charges. The SRA faced similar criticisms in relation to the quality of its investigation only a few months ago in the case of Denise […]

Zero-Hour Contracts: Time for Businesses to Review Their Use?

Last week saw the launch of ‘Zero Hours Justice’, a campaign that aims to ban the use of zero-hour contracts. It is being bankrolled by Julian Richer, of Richer Sounds, and was announced all over the national press.  The momentum against these type of contracts is continuing to grow; speeding up even. This got me […]

Darryl Cooke will be speaking at the Manchester Law Society Conference

gunnercooke Executive Chairman Darryl Cooke will be speaking in the closing session at the MANCHESTER LAW SOCIETY conference tomorrow which looks at how to adapt your firm in an ever-changing market. Darryl is excited to share his story of how gunnercooke has grown to 200 partners through culture, flexibility and freedom for both partners and […]

Landlord Electrical Safety Checks by Partner Claire-Elaine Arthurs

The Government has now started the process under the Housing & Planning Act 2016 for bringing into force the requirement for all Landlords to carry out electrical safety checks.  From 25 October 2019 the provisions of the Act relating to electrical safety checks came into force.  The next stage will be to make further regulations.  […]

Wellbeing in Residential Development

At present there is a growth in regulatory activity concerning ideas of environmental, social and corporate change, which are having an impact on the residential property market.  The idea of wellbeing and “well buildings” is already well-established in commercial property sectors and is now emerging as an influence in the residential property sector.  There is […]

Further changes to the Electronic Communications Code

The Government gave their response to the consultation regarding Code Operators’ ability to seek Code Rights 10 October 2019.  This has resulted in the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill being introduced to Parliament on 15 October 2019.  It has it’s first reading in the House of Commons on 8 January 2020. The Code already provides […]

A law firm without politics, a year at gunnercooke by Russell Davidson

I was really fed up at the last large law firm I worked with. “Targets, Targets, Targets” every day: the repeated pronouncements of greedy managing partners. OK, every firm has bills to pay, wages to meet, but I’d generated my own work for over 25 years, so didn’t need my time constantly being wasted with […]

Five years on by Partner Richard Linskell

My first five years with gunnercooke have passed quicker than I could ever have imagined, which must be a good thing, right? One thing I know for sure is that there is no going back to the traditional law firm model. These years have been amongst the most fulfilling in my career and I know […]

Breaking away from Blue Monday by Partner Sarah Cato

Long gone are the days of rushing for the 6.30 am train whilst worrying if my tiny boys had all they needed for the day. Fast forward five years and now all I need to worry about is trying to get them out of the house for school on time. I can now attend that […]

Regulations Issued Relating to Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector Update

The Draft Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 (Electrical Safety Regulations) was laid before Parliament on 13 January 2020, under the power granted to the Secretary of State under Sections 122 and 123 of the Housing & Planning Act 2016.  If the Electrical Safety Regulations are passed then they will […]

Darryl Cooke Discusses the Principles of Inspiring Leadership in Director Magazine

gunnercooke Co-Founder and Executive Chair has featured in Director discussing the principles of inspiring leadership. He explains how the command-and-control approach is outmoded, and inspirational leaders persuade others to their thinking and their cause. Read the full article here. To find out more about gunnercooke’s Inspiring Leadership programme, click here.

The importance of harassment investigations in the workplace

Complaints of sexual harassment are often complicated and tricky for employers to handle. The potential risks can be high: to the individuals involved and the organisation and its reputation. Properly investigating these complaints is absolutely key because it means that the employer can a) take action to protect its employees, and b) manage its risks […]

Intellectual Property Partner Rosie Burbidge has featured in the World Trademark Review on law firms evolving model

Intellectual Property Partner Rosie Burbidge, has featured in the World Trademark Review discussing the evolving model of the traditional law firm and how the gunnercooke model has allowed Rosie to reduce her hourly rate, but yet still increase her actual earnings. You can find out more in the full feature HERE.

Tribunal has determined ethical veganism is a philosophical belief

An Employment Tribunal in Norwich has determined that veganism is a “philosophical belief” which should be protected by the Equality Act 2010. An interim hearing in a claim which is being pursued by “ethical vegan” Jordi Casamitjana against his former employers the League Against Cruel Sports has reached a decision on whether or not they […]

Great Leaders Are Made, Not Born

All great achievers make what they do look simple, whether they are great sportsmen or great orators. Leadership is no different. The more you read the more you practice the simpler and easier it will become. Leadership that just becomes part of you – a better you. A more authentic you. It will be seen just as […]

Is Trust Important?

It is important as a leader to build up trust. Trust binds people together. There is a story told by Damian Hughes in his book ‘The Five Steps to a Winning Mindset’ about a former British Lions head coach, Ian McGeechan, when working with one of his teams. McGeechan knew that a strong team was not just about […]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

The following is an extract from gunnercooke Co-Founder, Darryl Cooke’s book ‘To Innovate Or Not To Innovate’. We live in a fast-changing and innovative world where it has been said that two-thirds of the companies that will make up the S&P stock market index in a decades time have yet to be created. We live […]

Introducing gunnercooke’s Inspiring Leadership programme

Our charitable foundation is all about connecting the profit world with the not for profit world. Only companies in the future will survive that have a socio-economic and moral purpose. Businesses and leaders are and will become more accountable. We wish to engage with business leaders and to be part of and energise the debate […]

CEO of Operation Eyesight, Ali Bandali on Inspiring Leadership

On a recent trip to UK, I was invited to speak to an audience as part of a series called Inspiring Leadership, initiated by a law firm called gunnercooke LLP. I was excited to participate as it’s a great opportunity to talk about the culture and future direction of Operation Eyesight. I highly commend gunnercooke […]

Should employers offer hangover days? Angela Brumpton comments

The BBC interviewed the director of a company that offers staff ‘hangover days’, where staff can work from home after a big midweek drinking session.  What are the rights and wrongs of such a policy?  gunnercooke Employment Partner, Angela Brumpton, comments in today’s People Management.

gunnercooke Head of People and Culture wins Ambassador of the Year at the Business Culture Awards

In November 2019, gunnercooke attended the Business Culture Awards where our very own Head of People and Culture, Lucy Hargreaves, took home the Ambassador of the Year award. This award comes after the firm was the Overall Winner for Business Culture at the 2018 event. We are incredibly proud to be continually recognised in these […]

Partner Rebecca Ireland features in People Management magazine on the use of Whatsapp in the workplace

Rebecca Ireland, Employment Partner, comments on a news story in People Management about a racial harassment case and the use of Whatsapp in the workplace. You can read the full feature HERE.

Is the regulatory reference the new passport to working in finance?

A recent employment case led by gunnercooke partners Jonathan Golden and Carol L’Heveder working respectively on employment and regulatory issues has highlighted the real challenges faced by senior financial executives when leaving their firm and looking for a new role. Using their combined experience in this sector, they forced a resolution of an unresolved disciplinary […]

The Extension of the Senior Manager and Certification Regime

The extension of the Senior Manager and Certification Regime (SMCR) comes into effect on 9 December 2019 and regulated firms irrespective of size will have identified their Senior Managers and Certified Persons. SMCR applies to those individuals who are not Senior Managers but who could nonetheless pose a risk of ‘significant harm’ to the firm, […]

Redundancy: Ensure that the statutory trial period has actually started

If you haven’t already watched Simon Horsfield’s webinar: “Cutting HR Costs Without Cutting Jobs”, you can do so by clicking here. If you still need to make redundancies having explored the other options in Simon’s webinar, remember that a redundancy dismissal may be unfair if the employer fails to make a reasonable search for suitable […]

gunnercooke to join other finalists at prestigious National Business Awards

We are very excited to be attending as finalists in two categories at this year’s National Business Awards this evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Co-founder Darryl Cooke will be attending as a finalist in the Inflexion Entrepreneur of the Year category, and also represents the firm which has been shortlisted for the Innovation Award. The […]

Operation Eyesight CEO to join Conscious Capitalism debate with gunnercooke

We are delighted to welcome the CEO of a truly inspirational organisation, Operation Eyesight, as part of gunnercooke’s Conscious Capitalism series. Aly Bandali leads this international development organisation which works to eliminate avoidable blindness with the help of donations and support from foundations, corporations and governments. Based in Canada, they have brought sight-restoration and blindness-prevention […]

Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Partner Sarah Armstrong features in People Management magazine

Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Partner Sarah Armstrong has featured in People Management magazine this week giving comment on a case involving a Retailer discriminating against an employee by insisting she work late shifts. You can read the full feature HERE.

‘It often takes something life-changing to make you realise’ National Stress Awareness Day

On National Stress Awareness Day, we ask Property Dispute Resolution Partner, and Director of UK Deaf Sport, Tom Seabrook, how he manages life as a man with many demanding roles. Does being a litigator mean you are always arguing with people? A great deal of my practice revolves around advisory and dispute avoidance work. You […]

gunnercooke Partners Alastair Wilson and Menna Bowen feature in Taxation Magazine

gunnercooke Partners Alastair Wilson and Menna Bowen summarise the case of Andreas Rialas and the lessons that can be learned on the rules relating to the transfer of assets abroad. Read the full feature HERE.

Employers beware: your company may be liable for the actions of its employees at this year’s Christmas party

Employers beware: your company may be liable for the actions of its employees at this year’s Christmas party To what extent is a company vicariously liable for the actions of its employees? With Christmas party season upon us, where behaviour of employees can be an area for concern, a recent decision by the Court of […]

Join us and Lady Justice Thirlwall for our Women in Business event

To mark the end of our 100 years of Women in Law celebrations, we are delighted to invite you to an evening of festivities where we will be joined by guest of honour Lady Justice Thirlwall. In celebration of the achievements of Women in Law, and in recognition of the issues that female professionals still […]

gunnercooke partner, Rosie Burbidge, appeared in yesterday’s Financial Times talking about the use of blockchain in the jewellery sector

“For LVMH in their jewellery that uses diamonds, being able to prove that those diamonds are conflict-free and haven’t been used in some sort of terrorist funding is really important”… Blockchain is no silver bullet against the black market  (link may require subscription)

Darryl Cooke has been interviewed for ‘The Brief’ about his passions and interests

gunnercooke Executive Chairman Darryl Cooke has been interviewed for ‘The Brief’ about his passions and interests.  Read about his favourite books and inspirations HERE.

How a Game of Cards changed the nature of Dishonesty

The Landscape of criminal prosecutions for crimes involving dishonesty was fundamentally reshaped by the case of Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd [2017] UKSC 67, which led the Supreme Court to redefine the criminal test for what constitutes dishonesty. For those who were unaware, the case that was the ‘definitive authority’ in all criminal proceedings […]

gunnercooke’s social enterprise, inspire*, has been listed in I News in an article about businesses that ‘care and give back’

The article looks at finalists in the National Business Awards ‘that deserve special mention for their incredible campaigns to better the lives of the people in their communities’. You can read the full article HERE.

gunnercooke Partner Sarah Armstrong features in People Management magazine on recent unfair dismissal case

Dispute Resolution & Employment Law Partner Sarah Armstrong has featured in People Management magazine sharing her expertise on a recent case in which a Financial Advisor was unfairly dismissed after being ‘blackmailed’ to sign a restrictive covenant.   You can read the full article HERE.

Employment Law Partner Thalis Vlachos covers recent Sexual Harassment statistics in People Management magazine

Employment Law Partner Thalis Vlachos has featured in People Management magazine sharing his expertise on the recent statistics released by Young Women’s Trust on the likelihood of employees reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. You can read the full article HERE

Facebook and Libra tackling more issues of trust

According to a report by the BBC, Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency faces yet another challenge as the G7 group have warned it must not be launched until security and safety provisions have been proven. Rosie Burbidge, an expert on intellectual property and cryptocurrency from gunnercooke, commented on what the latest development mean for the cryptocurrency and […]

Whatever floats your boat – celebrating individuality during Work Life Week

It’s National #WorkLifeWeek, an initiative to encourage employers and employees to focus on well-being and work-life balance. To mark the week, we have been looking into the working lives of some of our lawyers to see how they manage the tricky balance between home and work.   Flexible working is one way to encourage well-being and […]

gunnercooke Partner Rebecca Ireland features in People Management magazine on over-50s unemployment

gunnercooke Employment Law Partner Rebecca Ireland has featured in People Management magazine giving comment on the fact that 37% of 171,000 people facing unemployment for more than two years were over 50. If you would like to read the full article, click HERE.

gunnercooke Leeds growth makes headlines

After ten-fold growth in three years, gunnercooke has moved to new premises at Avenue HQ. The move has been picked up in the Yorkshire Post, Business Insider and The Business Desk.

An investigation.. Not what the doctor ordered?

gunnercooke restructuring and insolvency partner, Alyson Reilly, and Nora Wannagat, a pupil at 9 Stone Buildings, have published an article in the autumn edition of Recovery magazine about a recent ruling where the subject of a s236 investigation tried to adjourn on medical grounds. First published in the Autumn 2019 edition of RECOVERY magazine and […]

gunnercooke has been shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year at British Legal Awards

gunnercooke is delighted to have been shortlisted for UK Law Firm of the Year at the prestigious British Legal Awards, organised by Legal Week.  We are proud to have grown from the brainchild of two pioneers nine years ago, to a partnership approaching 200 across the UK and in international locations. Best of luck to […]

A sense of mission which is positively infectious – Darryl Cooke’s book on Innovation

‘Solo’, the Sole Practitioner solicitors’ group publication, has written a sterling review of Darryl Cooke’s new book. Co-founder of gunnercooke, Darryl is also a writer and his latest book ‘To Innovate or not to Innovate: A blueprint for the law firm of the future‘ has recently been published. The reviewer explains that the book tells […]

Little-known equality provision deserves more take-up by HR

gunnercooke partner and Creative Equals Advisory Board member, Shilpen Savani, has written an article for Management Today about ‘positive action’. According to the article, “Positive action allows employers to identify a disadvantaged or marginalised group and then take targeted steps to facilitate their inclusion. It’s governed by the Equality Act 2010 and has been in […]

What could employment law look like post-Brexit?

The prevailing UK political climate brings to mind the apocryphal Chinese curse about living in “interesting times” and it has been easy to overlook some recent developments which could have significant consequences for HR practitioners in the near future. Tribunal Fees: Employment Tribunal application fees have become something of an obsession for many employment practitioners. […]

Darryl Cooke’s book on law firm innovation launches in London

We were delighted to welcome so many guests to Darryl Cooke’s book launch in London last night.  “To Innovate or not to Innovate:  A Blueprint for the Law Firm of the Future” is published by Globe Law Business. The impressive Chrissie Lightfoot, aka @thenakedlawyer, hosted and there was a buzz of support in the room […]

Spotlight on dual-qualified partner, Claudia Font, who navigated a move to the UK from Spain

How long have you been at gunnercooke? Three and a half years What were your expectations/hopes and dreams when you set out in your career in the law? To be honest, I didn´t really know. I wanted to help others, and to be able to succeed in assisting clients not only doing what was “legal” […]

IP Partner Rosie Burbidge has featured on the cover of Trademark Lawyer

Intellectual Property partner, Rosie Burbidge, has written the cover feature for the current edition of the Trademark Lawyer (see Page 26), looking into why design is often neglected within the IP framework, and encourages IP practitioners to realise the opportunities they offer. You can read the full feature HERE.

Spotlight on holiday entitlement and NMW breaches

New research published on Monday has found that: Around 1 in 20 workers do not receive their legal holiday entitlement Almost 1 in 10 workers do not receive a (now legally required) payslip Last year 200,000 workers were not paid the national minimum wage (NMW) Not the usual suspects? This means that a significant proportion […]

Protecting your position, a note on shareholder disputes

In many SMEs and family owned businesses, there will usually be a small number of shareholders who also happen to be directors and/or employees of the company. You know how it goes. A small group of like-minded entrepreneurs decide to start a company. They all decide to take broadly equal shareholdings in the business. They all […]

Lead by example to achieve your business goals

Leadership is everything in reaching business goals Good leaders inspire others to achieve business goals. They set the vision, the strategy, the culture and have an ability to draw together a team. They set the example, provide the excitement and act as the glue that pulls a team together. It’s a myth that there are […]

How to Get the Most Out of Your People: Timpson’s shoe-mending and key-cutting

By Darryl Cooke As you walk into Timpson House you very quickly realise that you are entering a very special company. The reception replicates a high street Timpson outlet and the administrative offices are like something from a film set or a Disney World hotel. You wonder if you were expected to bring a child […]

How to Develop One-Word Brand Equity

For years Maurice Saatchi has been touting what he calls ‘one-word equity’. He argues that a world populated with ‘digital natives’, i.e. those people under 30 who can hardly remember life without the internet, have intensified the battle for attention in ways that we have still not fully understood. He argues that attention span is […]

Four Top Tips for Implementing a Social Media Policy in the Workplace

By Employment and Privacy Law Partner, Carl Atkinson Make it clear It is important to give accurate instructions on how you want employees to use social media at work, in relation to your business. For example, if employees are permitted to use social media on the mobiles during work hours, should it be expected that they […]

What Makes a Client Your Client?

By Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Partner Shilpen Savani A few months ago, a senior executive at a client company told me the substantial business sent to my firm in recent years was rooted in his relationship with me as a trusted adviser. So far, so good. He then said, to my surprise, that  he valued the overall […]

How Louis Pasteur Developed Preventative Treatments

Louis Pasteur’s vaccines have saved more lives than any other. His scientific accomplishments and breakthroughs earned him France’s highest decoration, the ‘Legion of Honour’ and consequently there are multiple institutes, hospitals, schools and buildings named after him because of the difference his work has made to modern pharmaceuticals. He used process thinking to build his […]

How Henry Ford Revolutionised Automobile Manufacturing

Henry Ford created an automobile that was affordable for the average worker and, whilst doing so, revolutionised mass manufacturing for the motor car industry. Growing up on a farm, Ford could have safely followed in his father’s footsteps and become a farmer. Instead, he followed his passion and became fascinated with mechanics. He began by […]

How Coco Chanel Altered the Constraints of Women’s Fashion

Known for her timeless ‘Little Black Dress’ and simple, sophisticated designs, Coco Chanel made fashion effortless and comfortable for women, dispelling the fashion ‘norms’ of the time, and introduced the concept of ‘unisex’ dressing. Yet Coco Chanel was far from born into luxury. She began life as an orphan, raised by nuns who taught her […]

Personal Branding: people buy what others want to buy

Paris department store Galeries Lafayette is one of the World’s most famous places for high end fashion and accessories. Inside is an exclusive area for Chanel handbags but customers cannot enter just by walking in, they have to queue up at the entrance. An attendant comes by and asks what you will be looking at […]

How to Use Ethical Values to Build Your Business

Dame Anita Roddick was a true pioneer. A globally successful entrepreneur who campaigned for green causes long before it was fashionable to do so. As founder of ‘The Body Shop’, the world leader in manufacture and retail of plant based cosmetics, she campaigned endlessly for ethical values led businesses, turning her passion for environmental change […]

People Hour Webinar: how should you conduct an effective employee investigation?

Hosted by Employment Law Partner, Angela Brumpton Does your business have a process in place for leading employee investigations? Every business will encounter issues with employees from time to time, yet they can be stressful for even the most experienced HR professionals. If an issue with an employee is considered ‘low risk’, it may be […]

People Hour Webinar: not #MeToo sexual harassment claims in the workplace

People Hour Webinar: not #MeToo sexual harassment claims in the workplace Hosted by Employment Law Partner, Simon Horsfield Do you know how to respond to a sexual harassment claim made in the workplace? Sexual harassment in the workplace can explicitly or implicitly affect an individual’s employment by unreasonably interfering with their work performance, creating an […]

People Hour Webinar: making litigation commercially attractive and financially more certain for your clients

People Hour Webinar: making litigation commercially attractive and financially more certain for your clients Hosted by Employment Law Partner, Thalis Vlachos Litigation, or dispute resolution as it’s also known, involves assistance with resolving civil disputes. Such matters can arise between different companies, or between companies and individuals. For a number of parties, litigation can be seen […]

Lessons from 20 Years of a Life in the Law

Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Partner, Shilpen Savani, is celebrating 20 years as a solicitor. To recognise this milestone, and indeed achievement, Shilpen has put pen to paper to share the lessons he’s learned from a life in the law … So what have I learned in this time, I wonder? Of course, there’s key […]

5 Series Webinar: five quick wins to get your business ready for gender pay gap reporting

5 Series Webinar: five quick wins to get your business ready for gender pay gap reporting By Employment Law Partner, Simon Horsfield If you employ 250 employees or more, the deadline for publishing your first gender pay gap report is fast approaching. Gender Pay Gap reporting legislation requires employers with 250 or more employees to […]

5 Series Webinar: five top tips for negotiating terms of departure with senior executives

5 Series Webinar: five top tips for negotiating terms of departure with senior executives Hosted by Employment Law Partner, Rebecca Davidson In practice, Senior Executive departures can often be complex and the cost of ‘getting it wrong’ can be considerable. They are sophisticated in their approach as many Senior Executives may begin to instruct a […]

Going Solo: time to say good-bye to the office

Historically, the legal profession has been a somewhat prescriptive space to ply one’s trade. Once ensconced within a firm, a newly appointed lawyer has a rigid framework to operate within, and endless lists of protocols to abide by. True enough, for some lawyers this can be a source of comfort and stability, and there is […]

Going Solo: developing your expertise and personal brand

In record numbers, lawyers across the UK are walking out of the offices, never to return. They’re not leaving the profession, rather they’re establishing themselves as self-employed consultants, and taking their careers in a new and exciting direction. gunnercooke’s ‘Going Solo’ series is looking at why this is viewed as such a compelling option for […]

The Countdown to GDPR: is your business prepared?

By Employment and Privacy Law Partner, Carl Atkinson On 25th May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force in the UK. Implementing the biggest change to data protection law in a generation. Non-compliant businesses are at risk of facing enforcement action that could potentially damage their public reputation and bank balance. The […]

Going Solo: do you crave the opportunity to network effectively whilst self-employed?

The legal profession is continuing to change. Evolving client demands, developments in technology, a mercurial economic landscape. All are  having a significant impact on establishing one of the UK’s longest and most esteemed professions. An observable trend is the number of lawyers breaking out of traditional office life and setting up as self-employed consultants. Gunnercooke’s […]

Why Freeing up Your Time Can Make You a Better Professional

“There is no substitute for hard work.” The famous musing of iconic American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison, remains as true today as it did a century ago. Edison however, neglected to mention that, although there is no substitute to working hard, there is a crucial accessory to it; working smart. It’s become fashionable these […]

Leaders – are you inspiring and motivating your team?

Four simple habits that leaders should adopt when inspiring and motivating their team Every CEO will tell you that they have a number of ‘high-performers’ in their organisations. The idea generators, the doers, the people that drive the business forward. As a leader, your role is to nurture as many of these people as possible – inspiring and motivating your […]

Disruptive Growth: an insight into the changes to the legal sector

When we think about sectors undergoing disruptive growth and transformation, some come to mind more readily than others. IT, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing – to name a few – regularly feature in news reports. All detailing how they are morphing in ways congruent with the digital age. Less likely to make synapses glow, is the legal […]

Goal Setter: five essential steps to achieve any major goal

“Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?” It’s a question we’ve all been asked, and a question most of us dread thinking about. We all have our own aspirations of what we want to achieve in life – they’re our ‘silver linings’, our ‘light at the end of the tunnels’. But when does […]

5 Series Webinar: five top tips for directors

What are directors and what do they do? Hosted by Dispute Resolution Partner, Christine Oxenburgh A director is an appointed or elected member of the board of directors of companies who, along with other directors, have the responsibility for determining and implementing company policy. As a director, your duties are a series of statutory, common law […]

Company Culture: three approaches Lush have taken to apply expertly crafted customer service

Our Company Culture At gunnercooke, our model is based around a company culture of innovation. We passionately believe that without a company culture, any business model can be copied. For this reason, we place so much emphasis upon developing and strengthening the ethos and cultural heart of gunnercooke. We strive to enable our lawyers to […]

How Going Self-Employed Means an End to Office Politics

The Benefits of a Law Firm but None of the Office Politics The point at which an individual decides that structured, office-based employment isn’t for them is rarely a snap decision. It usually comes after a period during which certain events contribute to a moment in time when they stop what they’re doing and think, […]

The Countdown to GDPR: processing of personal data and acquiring consent

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on 25th May 2018. In order to comply businesses have started to implement compliance strategies to mitigate the risk of an enforcement action. In our last blog we considered the initial steps businesses should take to make compliance with the GDPR as painless as possible, starting with […]

Company Culture: three practices Virgin Trains use to ensure they go the extra mile

At gunnercooke, our model is based around a company culture of innovation. We passionately believe that without a culture, any business model can be copied. For this reason we place so much emphasis upon developing and strengthening the ethos and cultural heart of gunnercooke. We strive to enable our lawyers to operate quickly, efficiently and […]

Team Dynamics: the barrister / solicitor relationship

Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Partner, Shilpen Savani, features in Grania’s latest article for Counsel Magazine looking into the changes in the way barristers and solicitors team dynamics work, in the same fashion as both sides of the profession. Shilpen, along with barrister Adam Chichester-Clark of Three Stone Chambers, draw on their experience of working together […]

How to serve court proceedings on your opponent

Serving you When starting court proceedings against someone, you must ensure that your proceedings have been validly served on your opponent. If they haven’t, there is a risk that your claim will never get past first base! Judgement was handed down by the Supreme Court in February 2018, as the Court was asked to decide […]

Company Culture: three methods Brainshark use to gain ferocious reputation for exquisite customer service

Our Company Culture; At gunnercooke, our model is based around a culture of innovation. We passionately believe that without a company culture, any business model can be copied. For this reason, we place large much emphasis upon developing and strengthening the ethos and cultural heart of gunnercooke. We strive to enable our lawyers to operate […]

The Changing Employment Landscape: disruptive technology and the gig economy

Below is a copy of the latest virtual series publication published by IR Global featuring Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Partner, Shilpen Savani. In this issue, employment law experts discuss some of the specific challenges and opportunities presented by the gig economy, and look at how this is shaping employment law litigation. They assess what this […]

How Young Lawyers Can Build New Business Skills at an Early Age… and Why It Matters

How Young Lawyers Can Build New Business Skills at an Early Age… and Why It Matters Written by Anna Beaumont, CEO of gunnercooke, on behalf of Lawyer Monthly Magazine Anna shares insight into how young lawyers can tackle the rapid transition from academic to working life – how they need to put into practice what they’ve […]

How to Become a Networking Pro

How to Become a Networking pro Effective networking and running a business is a classic combination – like jelly and ice cream, it just works. How to beome a newroking pro Even our most successful business entrepreneurs can dread the idea of introducing themselves to a group of strangers. It’s a daunting and therefore an […]

People Hour Webinar: how will GDPR impact HR in 2018?

People Hour Webinar: how will GDPR impact HR in 2018? Hosted by Employment and Privacy Law Partner, Carl Atkinson The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is fast approaching. Due to come into force across the UK on 25th May 2018, it will implement what has been described as the biggest change to data protection law in […]

Company Culture: three techniques Ritz-Carlton use to cater extraordinarily for their guests

At gunnercooke, our model is based around a culture of innovation. When your standards of service are set way above the average, the task of ‘WOW’ing’ your customers becomes much harder. Let’s take Ritz-Carlton for example – a global, luxury hotel chain with a reputation for treating its patrons like royalty. With authority, experience and […]

Comeback for Commonhold?

Written by Property Partner, Tom Seabrook Last year the government announced plans to reform residential leasehold ownership in England and Wales. This was in no doubt driven in part by lurid headlines. In reality a very limited number of leasehold properties were affected by onerous escalator clauses, which in time lead to ridiculous ground rents […]

5 Series Webinar: five top tips for managing sickness absence

5 Series Webinar: five top tips for managing sickness absence Hosted by Employment Law expert, Simon Robinson It’s an inevitable fate that people are going to be off sick from time to time, and while most employees feel they are neglecting their duties, absence because of sickness can potentially put any business in a tricky […]

Company Culture: three attributes Metro Bank invest to guarantee they execute quality customer service

At gunnercooke, our model is based around a culture of innovation. Challenging the way more traditional businesses serve their customers is something we’re no stranger to at gunnercooke, and it’s great to see other businesses at the forefront of providing brilliant client service. Take Metro Bank for example, as Britain’s first high-street bank in over […]

Five reasons why our lawyers at gunnercooke are happy

At gunnercooke, we are making law work better. We exist to deliver a better service to businesses, a better life for our lawyers, and a better world than we found – and what better way to celebrate International Day of Happiness than to share five key reasons why our lawyers at gunnercooke are happier than […]

The Countdown to GDPR: new concepts and how to implement them

By Employment and Privacy Law Partner, Carl Atkinson During our countdown we have outlined the initial steps businesses can take to establish a secure foundation for their GDPR compliance programme. All businesses are different, and consequently a ‘one size fits all’ approach towards GDPR compliance based upon a generic GDPR solution / toolkit is unlikely to […]

Company Culture: three features that help Travel Counsellors deliver the service you need

At gunnercooke, our model is based around a culture of innovation. Every valued customer knows that it’s personal, passionate service that truly makes the difference. Although most businesses would argue customer service is an important element of their model, it still takes a unique kind of client service that ensures customers feel appreciated on an […]

People Hour Webinar: do’s and don’ts when tackling sensitive workplace issues and defending a disciplinary

People Hour Webinar: do’s and don’ts when tackling sensitive workplace issues and defending a disciplinary Hosted by Employment Partner, Thalis Vlachos Tackling a disciplinary issue is never a pleasant experience, even more so when they are centred around sensitive issues in the workplace. In this insightful webinar, Thalis provides a strategic road-map on how employers […]

gunnercooke Launches Professional Trustee Company

    gunnercooke have launched a new Professional Trustee Company, gcTrustees Limited, to further boost the range of pensions services we can offer our clients. Experienced pension partners Suresh Bhatt and Adam Bushby will be utilising their decades of professional trusteeship experience to spearhead this new offering, which will act as a trustee of pension […]

Company Culture: three ways Gaylord Opryland houses exceptional customer service

At gunnercooke, our model is based around a culture of innovation. Great companies recognise the long-term value of looking after their regular customers. It is often repeat business which really helps to generate profits and spread the word about a product or service. After all, what better or more genuine PR than a glowing recommendation […]

Changes to the Taxation of PILONs

As you may be aware, the government has embarked on a series of reforms with a view to simplifying, clarifying and tightening the tax treatment of termination payments to employees.   From Friday 6 April 2018 inclusive all payments in lieu of notice (PILONs) will be treated as earnings.   This means that all PILONs […]

Changes to workplace pensions in April 2018

Workplace Pensions – what do employers need to contribute? From 6 April 2018, the total employer contribution rate to workplace pensions will increase from 3% to 5%, with the minimum employer component increasing from 1% to 2%. In 2012, the government introduced Automatic Enrolment (AE). At the time it was ground-breaking, as for the first time […]

5 Series Webinar: five top tips for appointing a professional trustee for your pension scheme

Professional Trustees have been an established part of the pensions industry for a number of decades now. However, the growth in the number of individuals and companies acting as Professional Trustees has been particularly significant over the last 15 years or so. This webinar will give you tips on appointing a professional trustee. It’s no […]

The Law, Pimlico Plumbers and the Gig Economy

What is the gig economy and how does the law treat it? As more and more employees begin to work flexibly, the term ‘gig economy’ has become a frequently used term. In particular, it is a term linked with a number of high profile employment disputes! In this webinar, Susie looks at: The key definitions […]

Unilateral Notices: revisited

Written by Property Litigation Partner, Tom Seabrook Some years ago, as a fresh faced young associate, I wrote an article called ‘Unilateral Notices; Exploding the Myths’ that took the internet by storm. It went almost viral and if you Google ‘Unilateral Notice’ now you will see it is still one of the top results. *pause while […]

Can businesses still benefit from EMI share option schemes?

EMI share option schemes – an update on the law Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) share option schemes allow certain companies to grant tax-advantaged share options to their key employees. They were first introduced in 2000 and have proved popular with many SMEs as a way of recruiting or retaining senior employees. The schemes incentivise them […]

A New Future for Law? Presenting a challenger law firm

A challenger law firm gunnercooke is a challenger law firm. It challenges the way that legal services are delivered to clients. It challenges the way that lawyers balance their lives. It challenges the way our communities are served by those of us more fortunate. Most of all, it gives lives back to our lawyers and enables […]

What is a CVA and why are so many retailers using one?

House of Fraser proposes a CVA In June 2018 House of Fraser became the latest multi-site retailer to propose a CVA. It follows the recent CVAs of ToysRus, Mothercare, Carpetright, New Look, Prezzo and Jamies Italian. The national press has run stories questioning the use of CVAs but has failed to properly explain what the […]

Warrington technology firm IESA sold in a deal worth £88m

A gunnnercooke team led by Mark Whittaker, has advised on the sale of IESA, a market leading business process outsourcer. The buyer was leading distributor of electronics, engineering tools and consumables, Electrocomponents PLC. The sale provides an exit for Gresham Private Equity, who invested in the company through an MBO in 2012. Headquartered in Warrington, IESA has frequently […]

Since #MeToo, is it too difficult to bring a sexual harassment claim in the workplace?

Thanks to campaigns such as #MeToo and the exposure of Harvey Weinstein, sexual harassment in the workplace is now a very hot and live topic. As a result, a spate of claims against employers is inevitable as more victims have the courage to come forward. But how difficult is it to bring a claim? Nearly […]

Company Culture: the three best applications of Apple’s excellent customer service

Apples customer service At gunnercooke, our model is based around a culture of innovation. We passionately believe that without a culture, any business model can be copied. For this reason, we place so much emphasis upon developing and strengthening the ethos and cultural heart of gunnercooke. We strive to enable our lawyers to operate quickly, […]

What can business leaders learn from Iron Man?

Business Leaders, if you feel good, eat! ‘If you feel good, eat!’ is the race day fuelling mantra of many experienced Iron Man triathletes. Take note business leaders, you should eat little and often whilst you can stomach it. If you wait until you’re hungry to give your body the nutrition it needs, you’ll have […]

Do employees lose their bonuses when sacked?

The recent claim against the AA by its former executive chairman for £225m looks certain to raise interesting issues relating to sacked employees’ bonus and long-term incentive share entitlements. In this blog, I look at the law relating to employee bonuses and long-term share incentive schemes.  AA executive chairman Bob Mackenzie was dismissed for gross misconduct […]

Six books all business leaders should read this Summer

As the Summer holidays are just around the corner, it is the perfect time to reflect on the first half of the year and equip yourself with fresh ideas for the second. Here are our recommendations on the best reads for business leaders this Summer: Strategy and Innovation Be More Pirate by Sam Conniff Allende Sam […]

Taming Tigers with Jim Lawless

Very few people choose to risk their own life when putting their principles to the test. Jim Lawless is one of them. As a world-leading authority on change and personal development, Lawless has shared his remarkable experiences and insights with over half a million people across five continents. His framework for successful adaptation and transformation […]

People Hour Webinar: Internationally Mobile Workers

What are the obligations for companies with mobile workers? Do your employees travel for business, or work overseas? In an increasingly global landscape, mobile workers form a key part of any strategy for international success. Regulators around the world are increasingly concerned by the implications, from a tax, social security and immigration perspective. Companies with […]

Employer Health & Safety Responsibilities – Ever increasing circles…

It has never been more important for employers to develop best practice to ensure the safety of their employees and to develop a coherent policy for what to do in the event of the worst-case scenario. The noose has been steadily tightening around the proverbial corporate neck as awareness increasingly grows relating to the responsibility […]

Accepting Part 36 Offers

The Power of Part 36 Offers Part 36 offers are vital tools for Dispute Resolution. When used effectively, they can result in early settlement and significant cost savings. The intention behind Part 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) is to encourage parties to make tactical offers. These are designed to focus the opponent’s mind […]

Symposium 2018: Going From Good to Great…

Our fifth annual Symposium is shaping up to be our biggest yet! We’re immensely proud of what gunnercooke has accomplished in that time. Our focus on culture has enabled us to become the fastest growing firm in UK legal services. And we’re not about to slow down now. We will continue to stay ahead of the […]

Compulsory Protection of Client Money for English Property Agents

On 21 June 2018, new regulations were passed setting out the process for the approval of new Client Money Protection (CMP) Schemes. Hot on their heels, parliament is now considering further regulations which would make it mandatory for letting agents to join one of these schemes by 1 April 2019 or face fines imposed by […]

Can an allegation be a protected disclosure for the purposes of the whistleblowing legislation?

The Court of Appeal decision in Kilraine v London Borough of Wandsworth has clarified whether an allegation can amount to “information” for the purposes of the whistleblowing legislation.  It takes bravery to be a whistleblower. Even when they act with the best of motives, they risk being branded a snitch or a traitor and stigmatised. There […]

Supreme Court decision deals blow to gig economy employers

In the latest in a series of gig economy cases, the Supreme Court has decided that a plumber described in his contract as “self-employed” was a “worker” and therefore entitled to employment rights. The case against Pimlico Plumbers Gary Smith is a plumbing and heating engineer who worked for Pimlico Plumbers (PP) for six years […]

Age discrimination in the workplace

A report earlier this summer claimed that the government is failing to protect millions of UK workers from age discrimination. Around a third of UK workers will be over the age of 50 within two years. This is a ticking time bomb for employers. In this blog, Employment Law Partner Thalis Vlachos looks at the […]

Proactive Management of Commercial Leases: Part 1

Property Dispute Resolution Partner, Claire-Elaine Arthurs, will be presenting a Four Part Series exploring the common issues that arise with Commercial Property Leases. She will be considering how a proactive approach can manage risks, avoid disputes and allow both Landlords and Tenants to get the best out of their Tenancy. Part 1: Begin as You […]

Is your business set up to deal with a sexual harassment claim?

In a previous blog, Thalis examined the law relating to sexual harassment and the hurdles a complainant needs to overcome when bringing a claim. In this blog, he looks at things from a different angle. He considers the importance of employers having a proper process in place to deal with allegations of sexual harassment. In […]

5 Ways to Manage Conflict Effectively at a Senior Leadership Level

Hosted by Employment Law Partner & Workplace Mediator, Rebecca Ireland Negative conflict can be highly destructive in any team, but when in a senior leadership team it can have a material impact on profitability and other key performance indicators. Of course, conflict can be positive for a business particularly at senior leadership level. A good challenging […]

Family Friendly Policies in the Modern Workplace

Hosted by Employment Law Partner, Rebecca Davidson The modern workplace is rapidly changing, and many employees are striving to find a different way to work to achieve a better work-life balance. In this webinar, Rebecca looks at the current law on family friendly policies in the workplace and consider what policies employers should have in […]

#MeToo Is it time up for discrimination in the workplace?

Below is a copy of the latest virtual round table series publication by IR Global featuring Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Partner, Shilpen Savani The #MeToo movement officially began in October 2017 as a social media hashtag in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations aimed at high profile Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein. In this issue, IT Global’s […]

Proactive Management of Commercial Leases: Part 2

Property Dispute Resolution Partner, Claire-Elaine Arthurs, will be presenting a Four Part Series exploring the common issues that arise with Commercial Property Leases. She will be considering how a proactive approach can manage risks, avoid disputes and allow both Landlords and Tenants to get the best out of their Tenancy. Part 2: Common Issues During […]

Is artificial intelligence a friend or a foe to the legal profession?

Is artificial intelligence a friend or a foe to the legal profession? Written by Thalis Vlachos, Employment Law Partner at gunnercooke. Some argue artificial intelligence (AI) is a threat and claim that it will lead to widespread job losses. Others see it as an opportunity to improve legal services and change them for the better. In this […]

Professional Negligence Update

Professional Negligence Update It is an unpleasant reality that solicitors operate in a more litigious environment than ever before and that claims are a growing area of risk for firms. With their relatively deep pockets, solicitors are vulnerable, easy targets for claims by those who may be hit hard by the recession and Brexit. Solicitors have […]

5 Top Tips Relating to Financially Troubled Businesses

5 Top Tips Relating to Financially Troubled Businesses Hosted by Restructuring & Insolvency Partner, Jeremy Goldring Jeremy’s experience spans the whole spectrum of the Restructuring & Insolvency business environment, across just about every business sector. He advises anyone who is an existing stakeholder or is thinking of investing in a distressed business – or is […]

inspire* Gift of Time Pledge Event

“Imagine if we all gave one hour of our time, the difference we could make to the world.” – Winston Churchill inspire* Gift of Time Pledge Event Date: Wednesday 5th December Time: 5pm – 7pm Venue: Clink Café, Canada House, Chepstow Street, Manchester, M1 5FW Perhaps we’re slightly early, but this time of year when […]

Anticipatory Injunctions to Protect Against Trespassers on Development Land

In the recent case of Vastint Leeds BV -v- Persons Unknown Entering or Remaining Without Consent of the Claimant on Land and Buildings Comprising Part of the Development Site Known as the Former Tetley Brewery Site, Leeds [2018] EWHC 2456, Mr Justice Marcus Smith granted an owner of development land an injunction on a quia timet basis, […]

gunnercooke win ‘Law Firm of the Year – Large’ at The Law Society Excellence Awards 2018

This is a fantastic achievement for gunnercooke. It’s always been our aim to challenge and improve the way legal services are delivered to businesses and so we are honoured to have won such a prestigious award. This was the 12th annual Excellence Awards hosted by the Law Society, and the first year they have recognised ‘Law […]

Have you got your HMO Licence? New Rules may mean you now need one…

Properties qualifying as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) have long presented a potential headache for landlords. Originally, the requirement for an HMO licence only applied to properties that comprised at least three storeys. However, from 1 October 2018, size is no longer relevant. It is expected that it will bring an additional 160,000 properties within […]

Using blockchain technology to manage IP rights

What is blockchain? Blockchain is essentially any form of ‘decentralised’ database. Unlike traditional databases where there is a single ‘true’ version which is stored centrally, in a blockchain system ‘true’ copies of the database are shared with every computer which is part of the blockchain network. Every time there is a change to the database—for […]

Work-Related Stress: the risks for employers and how to minimise them

Work-Related Stress: the risks for employers and how to minimise them Hosted by Emma Tegerdine, Employment Law Partner at gunnercooke work-related stress Work-related stress is on the increase, and is now the most common form of work-related illness. In this webinar, Emma looks at employers’ legal obligations around employee health and well-being, while explaining how to effectively identify […]

Should the law relating to NDAs in sexual harassment cases be changed?

By Employment Law Expert, Thalis Vlachos Sexual harassment has been in the news more or less constantly over the past year. I have already written a couple of blogs on this topic, most recently Is your business set up to deal with a sexual harassment claim? This blog is on a related issue, namely the […]

‘Banter’ is not a defence to sexual harassment despite what Philip Green may think

Sexual harassment has hit the headlines again after Peter Hain outed Sir Philip Green as the businessman who obtained an injunction preventing The Telegraph reporting allegations of sexual harassment against him. What lessons can we learn from this latest episode about the myths that still surround sexual harassment?  One of the most remarkable things on […]

‘Let Only’ Agent Found Responsible for HMO Licensing

By Property Litigation Partner, Claire-Elaine Arthurs Most letting agents, in their terms and conditions, will put the responsibility for licensing a property firmly with the Landlord. Having included that clause, they then leave the issue to the landlords to resolve, incorrectly thinking that ensuring any required HMO Licence is in place is not their responsibility. […]

Proactive Management of Commercial Leases: Part 3

Property Dispute Resolution Partner, Claire-Elaine Arthurs, will be presenting a Four Part Series exploring the common issues that arise with Commercial Property Leases. She will be considering how a proactive approach can manage risks, avoid disputes and allow both Landlords and Tenants to get the best out of their Tenancy. Part 3: Variations to the Lease […]

inspire* Gift of Time Charity Pledges

This year our Christmas campaign is to raise 1,000 hours of resource and support for charities and help make a difference. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be campaigning to get as much help as possible from businesses to give the gift of time to our inspire* charities. We will culminate in a celebratory event […]

New Access Rights for Telecommunications Operators

Under the current Electronic Communications Code (Code) operators wishing to provide upgrades to tenants have to obtain formal permission from the landowner in the form of an access agreement or wayleave. However, operators have complained that high levels of landlords are not responding to requests. An operator who does not get cooperation from a landlord […]

Surface development and minerals sterilisation claims

Surface development and minerals sterilisation claims Leading up to the Land Registration Act 2002 there was a school of thought that minerals interests were irrelevant and within 15 years those interests would no longer have any effect. It was this rationale that led to the changed status of manorial rights and those rights which previously […]

New SDLT Filing Window due March 2019

From 1 March 2019 it is proposed that the window to file a Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”) return, and pay any SDLT due, will reduce from 30 days to 14 days from the effective date of the transaction. In most cases the “effective date” is the date of completion. However, where a contract for […]

inspire* Gift of Time Charity Pledges this Christmas

This year our Christmas campaign is to raise 1,000 hours of resource and support for charities and help make a difference   Over the next few weeks, we’ll be campaigning to get as much help as possible from businesses to give the gift of time to our inspire* charities. We will culminate in a celebratory event […]

5 Top Tips on How to Respond to Intellectual Property Infringement

Hosted by Rosie Burbidge, Intellectual Property Partner at gunnercooke Rosie’s experience as an intellectual property litigator and strategist means that she has experience of the many different intellectual property issues which can affect all types of business. She has helped resolve a wide range of disputes relating to copyright, designs, trade marks and patents, both pre-action […]

Whistleblowing Claims and How to Defend Them

Whistleblowing Claims and How to Defend Them Hosted by Employment Law Partner, Angus Menzies Whistleblowing is regularly in the news and it increasingly forms part, if not the main basis, of claims in the Employment Tribunal. The fact that there is no two-year service requirement for bringing claims, and the absence of a statutory cap […]

New Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations for Residential Property

MEES Regulations 2015 The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 introduced two key measures with a view to improving the energy efficiency of private rented properties. The first is a right for a tenant of a domestic property to make energy efficiency improvements, which has been available since 2016. The second […]

Competition In Commercial Leases

Anti-Competitive Leases Don’t Fly On 25 October 2018 Heathrow airport recieved an order to pay £1.6m fine. This was for restricting competition on parking prices in a lease with an operator of a Terminal 5 hotel. After launching an investigation into the airport’s agreement with the Arora Group for the lease of Arora’s Sofitel hotel […]

Empty Properties May Become Even More Expensive For Landlords

Empty Properties May Become Even More Expensive For Landlords On 1 November 2018 the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 received Royal Assent. It is yet to be confirmed when it will come into force but, when it does it will apply to England only. Additional Premiums for Empty […]

Do you know who your Landlord is?

Do you know who your Landlord is? In many cases, residential tenants have little to do with their landlords for extended periods of time. During that time landlords may sell their interests or move, making it challenging for tenants to know who they then need to contact when an issue does arise. The first place […]

Is Right to Manage worth the Effort?

Is Right to Manage worth the Effort? As the number of people in privately rented residential accommodation increases, the ability of tenants to manage their homes in a way that works for them has become increasingly important. The Right to Manage (“RTM”) legislation, which landlords cannot contract out of, was introduced in 2002 to give […]

Male Domination: Why the Legal Sector Pushes Women Away

Male Domination: Why the Legal Sector Pushes Women Away With the results of the Gender Pay Gap showcasing a huge disparity between men and women in the workplace, we question why women are pushed aside when it comes to their career. Regardless of sex, colour and interests, we all have the same ability to perform […]

Dukeminster: When is it ok to get it wrong?

When is it ok to get it wrong? The context of this article is firmly in the peculiar world of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, but the principle can apply just as well to other areas of law.  In a recent case in the London County Court, the court didn’t like the parties using […]

Japanese knotweed: a knotty problem

Japanese knotweed: a knotty problem Whether you are managing, developing, buying or selling commercial property, Japanese knotweed can be a real problem.  This invasive species is costly to remove both in contractor’s costs and the time involved.  There are various possible criminal penalties for the landowner.  There is also the possibility of action by neighbouring […]

Relevance of motive in 1954 Act opposed renewals

Relevance of motive in 1954 Act opposed renewals On 5th December 2018, the Supreme Court handed down judgement in the case of S Franses Limited (Appellant) v The Cavendish Hotel (London) Ltd [2018] UKSC 62.  This is the final word on a case relating to the necessary intention to develop required by a landlord to […]

Employers beware: your company may be liable for the actions of its employees at this year’s Christmas party

Employers beware: your company may be liable for the actions of its employees at this year’s Christmas party  To what extent is a company vicariously liable for the actions of its employees? With Christmas party season upon us, where behaviour of employees can be an area for concern, a recent decision by the Court of […]

Proactive Management of Commercial Leases

Property Dispute Resolution Partner, Claire-Elaine Arthurs, has produced a Four Part Series exploring the common issues that arise with Commercial Property Leases. She considers how a proactive approach can manage risks, avoid disputes and allow both Landlords and Tenants to get the best out of their Tenancy. Part 1: Begin as You Mean to Go On […]

5 Top Tips on Responding to Allegations of Intellectual Property Infringement

Hosted by Rosie Burbidge, Intellectual Property Partner at gunnercooke she discusses responding to Allegations of Intellectual Property Infringement  Rosie’s experience as an intellectual property litigator and strategist means that she has experience of the many different intellectual property issues which can affect all types of business. She has helped resolve a wide range of disputes relating […]

Settlement Agreements: When and how to use them properly

Settlement Agreements: When and how to use them properly Hosted by Angela Brumpton, Employment Law Partner at gunnercooke Angela is a highly experienced employment lawyer covering the full spectrum of employment law advice and support. She has particular expertise in business protection work, which includes obtaining and defending High Court Injunctions and drafting restrictive covenants. […]

gunnercooke awarded for our unique and innovative culture

gunnercooke have been awarded two awards at the Business Culture Awards 2019, including the overall Business Culture Achievement Gold Award for our innovative and comprehensive approach to advancing our organisational culture throughout our business.  Since inception in 2010, we have put our clients and our culture at the heart of everything we do. We’ve created […]

Malicious Prosecution – The Development of this Tort in Civil Proceedings

Malicious Prosecution – The Development of this Tort in Civil Proceedings The Supreme Court decision in Willers v Joyce and another [2016] UKSC 43&44 began the revival of the tort of malicious prosecution in English law. The decision opened up a potential cause of action for those who suffer as a result of unsuccessful malicious […]

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 On 20 December 2018, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill was given royal assent. The Act amends the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. It will come into force from March 2019 allowing all tenants, private and social, to take action against their landlord if their home […]

Is Brexit a cause for Frustration (of Leases)?

Is Brexit a cause for Frustration (of Leases)? In a recent twist in the Brexit Saga, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has been forced into a dispute with the Landlord of its London based Head Quarters. The EMA’s Lease In 2014, the EMA signed a 25-year lease of a newly built 20-storey tower at Canary […]

European Fashion Law – starting up to going global

Join Us! For the Intellectual Property Rights in the Fashion and Creative Industries Event. February 2019 is an important month for fashion. Not only is it London Fashion Week but it is also the launch of gunnercooke partner Rosie Burbidge’s book European Fashion Law. If you want find out more about Rosie’s Book click Here. […]

Joanna Dai, Founder of DAI will be speaking at our Intellectual Property Rights in the Fashion and Creative Industries Event

We are pleased announce that Joanna Dai, Founder of DAI will be speaking at our Intellectual Property Rights in the Fashion and Creative Industries Event. Founder Joanna Dai’s eight-year finance career in New York and London instilled a style of polished attitude and smart sensibility. However, when it came to workwear shopping, she felt discouraged […]

Are employers sitting on an age discrimination time bomb?

A report earlier this summer claimed that the government is failing to protect millions of UK workers from age discrimination. As around a third of UK workers will be over the age of 50 within two years, this is a ticking time bomb for employers. In this blog, I look at the law surrounding age […]

Appellate decision on preference: don’t presume to save your MC Bacon!

Séamas Gray and Joseph Curl look at the most significant decision on preference for 30 years On 17 July 2018, Mr Justice Birss handed down his appellate judgment in the case of Abdulali v. Finnegan & another [2018] All ER (D) 133 in what may be one of the most important decisions on preference since […]

Are the scales tipping in the battle against harassment at work?

Are the scales tipping in the battle against harassment at work?   The allegations of harassment against Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin are the latest in a series of claims against high profile men that have hit the headlines over the past few months. Some interesting factors in this case indicate why behavior once accepted […]

A little too presumptuous? Abdulali v Finnegan & another [2018]

A little too presumptuous? Abdulali v Finnegan & another [2018] EWHC 1806 (Ch) One of the key practical features that separates insolvency litigation from most other legal disputes is the fact that the party typically bringing the claim – the officeholder – is usually unable to give any first-hand evidence of the background facts. By […]

Leasehold Reform Consultation

Developers and Investors will be particularly interested to note that, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a consultation paper, Implementing reforms to the leasehold system in England on 15 October 2018. This continues the Government’s campaign to reform the leasehold market. The Government’s White Paper Fixing our broken housing market, which was […]

Christmas Reading List 2019

Christmas Reading List 2019 Are you getting ready to sit by the fire with the Christmas tree lights twinkling behind you and a good book in hand? Here are our choices… The Intelligence Trap by David Robson. Aimed at those with a high IQ, it is about making better decisions and explains why the more intelligent […]

Is the Google walkout a sign of things to come for even the most (allegedly) progressive of companies?

An estimated 20,000 Google workers took part in a global walkout last week in protest against claims of sexual harassment, gender inequality and racism at the company. This is the first time the tech giant has been the subject of this type of group action and is remarkable given its culture of individualism. In this blog, […]

gunnercooke advise on the sale of UK’s largest sound equipment supplier

gunnercooke advise on the sale of UK’s largest sound equipment supplier The UK’s largest sound equipment supplier for live events, SSE Audio Group Holdings Limited (‘SSE’), has been acquired by Groupe Solotech INC (‘Solotech’) in Canada. gunnercooke Corporate Partner, Amanda Allen, acted as the legal advisor to long-standing client SSE and its Stakeholders. SSE was […]

New Commercial Service Charges Code

New Commercial Service Charges Code The RICS have issued a new Professional Statement entitled “Service charges in commercial property (1st Edition)” (New Code), which comes into force on 1 April 2019. It replaces the third edition of the Service Charge Code. As the New Code is a Professional Statement, all RICS Members and Regulated Firms […]

Proactive Management of Commercial Leases

Property Dispute Resolution Partner, Claire-Elaine Arthurs, has produced a Four Part Series exploring the common issues that arise with Commercial Property Leases. She considers how a proactive approach can manage risks, avoid disputes and allow both Landlords and Tenants to get the best out of their Tenancy. Part 1: Begin as You Mean to Go On […]

Housing Complaints Resolution Service: What’s it all about?

Housing Complaints Resolution Service: What’s it all about? Given the current political climate it isn’t at all surprising that the government’s latest plans to “create a housing market that works for everyone” slipped out more or less unnoticed last week. The proposals follow last year’s consultation on Strengthening Consumer Redress in the Housing Market and […]

Can we escape the impacts of the increasingly digitalized world we inhabit?

With the ongoing increase in global digitalisation, very few industries (If any) will escape the impacts of the increasingly digitalized world we inhabit. New technologies continue to emerge creating a moving landscape that can seem challenging to even the most digitally mature organisations. Consider the hype around the Internet of Things (IoT), the network of […]

How can we possibly keep the data we send by email safe and secure when there are cyber attackers ready to pounce around every virtual corner?

One of the key challenges of data security relates to how we communicate electronically; namely email.  How can we possibly keep the data we send by email safe and secure when there are cyber attackers ready to pounce around every virtual corner? Answer: You need to act before the event to reduce the risks presented […]

In the complex mix of information used by your organisation there is one type of data that is highly regulated: personal data.

In the complex mix of information used by your organisation, there is one type of data that is highly regulated: personal data. The fact that is regulated means you have to think not only about commercial issues (the business risks and the opportunities around using personal data) but about legal compliance too. In discussions with clients, I tend to think about managing […]

STOP criminals from getting your money, your data and your business!

Are you being vigilant?   In the modern connected age, owners of small businesses need to be vigilant to the constantly growing number of threats to their livelihood. Organised criminals want to try and get access to your funds and data, to disrupt your business, or to get access to customer information that you hold […]

Could your password get hacked?

Could your password get hacked? It seems like every week, another company or public service organisation is in the headlines, with details of customer accounts or payment information being stolen and sold on the “dark web”. Whilst we all recognise that we need more complexity than Password123 in our login credentials – how can we […]

gunnercooke’s Corporate team has advised Euro Media Group on the acquisition of Telegenic, a major player in the UK and European Outside Broadcasting Market.

A gunnercooke team led by Corporate Partner Nick Gould has advised Euro Media Group (EMG) on the acquisition of Telegenic, a major player in the UK and European Outside Broadcasting Market. Telegenic operates a fleet of 15 Outside Broadcast and Production trucks equipped with the most advanced technology available for HD and UHD HDR productions […]

The Tate Modern’s Neighbours lose Battle for Privacy

The eagerly awaited High Court decision on the case being brought by the residents of the Neo Bankside Apartment Block against the Tate Modern Gallery has determined that the viewing platform, offering uninhibited views into their homes, does not amount to an actionable nuisance or invasion of privacy. The dispute dates back to when the […]

gunnercooke advises on acquisition of growing Midlands dental practice

A team led by gunnercooke partner Mel Kang has advised on the acquisition of a growing Midlands dental practice, following funding from Barclays. Mel is a recognised specialist in corporate healthcare, frequently advising dentists, pharmacists, GPs and care home operators on high-value acquisitions and disposals of their practices. There are many complex regulatory aspects involved in transactions such as these […]

Intellectual Property Rights in the Fashion and Creative Industries

This month (during London fashion week), gunnercooke joined forces with Joanna Dai (founder of luxury womenswear brand Dai) to celebrate the launch of gunnercooke partner, Rosie Burbidge’s book: European Fashion Law: A Practical Guide from Startup to Global Success. Rosie’s motivation for writing it: to make the law more accessible for the creative industries. In […]

A successful day for the ‘meet gunnercooke’ event in Leeds

A successful day as gunnercooke hosted a fantastic meet the team launch in Leeds on 01 March. This lunchtime drinks and canapes event was hosted at the popular Blackhouse restaurant in the city centre. It was very well attended with a great mix of gunnercooke partners, clients, intermediaries and recruiters. Co-founder Darryl Cooke gave an […]

A Burning Issue – what happens if a property is damaged or destroyed between exchange and completion?

Most clients would expect that if the property is damaged or burns down, the sale goes off and the buyer can walk away. I hope most lawyers would know that under the standard conditions of sale, that is not the case. Until a few years ago, it was the case with residential property that if […]

Brexit may now be less Frustrating for Landlords

Landlords will welcome the ruling from Mr Justice Smith that Brexit does not operate to frustrate the terms of a lease. In the recently heard case concerning the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Headquarters in London, the Court ruled that European Organisations cannot use Brexit as an excuse to walk away from their leases. Background In […]

A Construction Viewpoint: Practical Completion – what is it?

A Practical Completion – An “agreement for lease”. From the name, a layman might assume that this document is the domain of a property lawyer, but as every wise property lawyer knows, it makes sense to get your construction colleagues involved on this one! Are you sure that construction terms in your Agreement for Lease […]

Restrictive Covenants: Don’t Just Ignore Them

In a recent case, the Court of Appeal has refused to release or modify restrictive covenants where a development was knowingly carried out in breach of the covenants. The public policy interest in allowing the development to go ahead did not justify the release of restrictive covenants where a developer deliberately built houses on land […]

Oops!… We did it again

It is a fact of life that mistakes happen when entering commercial agreements. Time is usually tight. Parties want to ‘get the deal done’ and profit from it. Without the luxury of time to patiently review, reread and crosscheck terms, miscommunications and misunderstandings can understandably creep in. Take the situation where one side thinks it […]

Are you being served?

Service of notices has always been a particularly litigious area, with best practice to instruct a professional to send the notice for you, not least because it is then covered by their indemnity insurance. However, a recent case has really highlighted why it is important to take advice when receiving notices either direct or through […]

gunnercooke Corporate Partner Amanda Allen Leads Team On Sale Of Butler And Young Group

gunnercooke Corporate Partner Amanda Allen has provided legal advice to the shareholders of Butler and Young Group on the sale of the £10m-turnover building control and fire safety consultancy to France-headquartered SOCOTEC Group. Butler and Young Group has15 offices across the UK and encompasses Butler & Young Approved Inspectors, Trenton Fire and Butler & Young […]

Court of Appeal breathes life into collective proceedings against MasterCard

The Court of Appeal has allowed the appeal of a group of consumers against the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s refusal to certify their collective proceedings against MasterCard which it held was “premature and wrong”. The group is represented by Mr Walter Merricks who had unsuccessfully applied in 2016 to the tribunal for a collective proceedings order. The […]

The Supreme Court lands a (soft) blow to landlords opposing tenancy renewals…

Tenants and landlords who are party to Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (the Act) tenancies should sit up and take note of recent landmark Supreme Court decision, S Franses Ltd v Cavendish Hotel (London) Ltd (2018) UKSC 62.  In short, the decision makes it more difficult for landlords to oppose the granting of a new […]

Dispute Resolution Webinar

This webinar includes: • The Nature of Disputes • Managing Objectives, Emotions and Influence • The Five Phases of Negotiated Settlement • Benefits of Direct and Mediated Negotiation • Picking the right form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) • Using Litigation as a tool for Settlement

National Stress Awareness Month: Tackling Workplace Stress

According to a recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Labour Force Survey, published in October 2018, 15.4 million working days were lost last year due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety. As April is National Stress Awareness Month, it is an appropriate time to examine the reasons why employees are stressed at work and what […]

New EU super-database raises concerns for civil liberties and security

Civil Liberties groups and security experts have voiced concerns over the EU’s proposed new super-database.  The EU has approved the creation of the gigantic database which will aggregate the identity and biometric details of an estimated 350 million citizens. The “Common Identity Repository” (CIR) is intended to help EU border and law enforcement officers search […]

Global Accolade for gunnercooke’s Rosie Burbidge!

gunnercooke partner, Rosie Burbidge, has been named a trailblazer among WIPR’s Influential Women in IP 2019.  This new project by World IP Review celebrates the IP industry’s leading female practitioners from around the world and identified 20 women who are global rising stars in the industry.  Rosie was identified as a trailblazer after her rapid […]

gunnercooke – a finalist at this year’s Lawyer Awards!

Award winning challenger law firm gunnercooke is delighted to have been shortlisted for the Law Company of the Year category at this year’s Lawyer Awards.  The new category recognises the innovative models recently appearing in the legal landscape.  gunnercooke differs from traditional law firms in that its lawyers are given the flexibility and autonomy to […]

How can you improve your mental health and happiness by adopting a powerful morning routine?

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week.  Here, gunnercooke Partner and Coach, Hannah Beko, suggests starting the day by taking some time to take care of ourselves in mind and body. Our thoughts create our reality.  We get to decide how we feel each day.  In the morning, we don’t have to passively wait and […]

Sarah Goulbourne to take part in Law Society International Symposium

gunnercooke co-founder, Sarah Goulbourne, is delighted to have been invited to take part in the Law Society’s International Symposium on The Power of Gender Equality to Transform the Business of Law.    Sarah will be joining a panel discussing, amongst other topics, agile working.  The Symposium will take place on 20 and 21 June at the […]

gunnercooke in the Times on law firm culture

Co-founder of gunnercooke, Sarah Goulbourne, was interviewed by The Times following the IBA report on bullying and sexual harassment.  Sarah said ‘the report’s findings were no surprise and were the result of entrenched behaviours that stemmed from the antiquated and hierarchical structure of law firms. “The law needs to change and leaders need to transform […]

Litigation Retainers: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

In this webinar, Costs & Funding Partner Tom Blackburn explains how you can Increase your firm’s profits by slightly changing your litigation retainers. Tom’s simple, easy and straightforward advice can increase your billing and your firm’s bottom line.

When even trusted technology is hackable, how can you defend your privacy?

Whatsapp Messenger is a highly trusted product used by something like 1.5billion consumers Worldwide. Its end to end encryption protocol provides users with a high level of assurance about the privacy of their calls and messages. But even a robust product like this can fall victim to software hacks. It’s a shame because we would […]

ADR, but not as you know it – A new form of electronic dispute resolution

A new form of electronic dispute resolution has emerged in recent months.  Its simplicity mirrors the rapidly modernising world, one without geographical boundaries where a myriad of tasks are conducted from the comfort of a laptop.  “Kleros” is an attempt to bring some of this modernity to the resolution of civil disputes. Although many will […]

Employers have to wait to hear a decision in Court of Appeal Trade Union ‘unlawful inducements’ case

The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision in a crucial case in trade union legislation. Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley & Others concerns collective bargaining and the use of inducements.  Section 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA) prohibits an employer from making offers to members of a recognised […]

GDPR marks anniversary but e-privacy regulation is ‘stuck’

Tim Heywood, Data Protection expert at gunnercooke, has commented on the current status of GDPR in the UK and Europe: “It’s a whole year since the GDPR came into force.  Rumour has it that the ICO and its counterparts across the EU are gearing up for some major enforcement measures shortly, armed as they are with […]

Co-founder Sarah Goulbourne writes an opinion piece for New Law Journal

The New Law Journal approached gunnercooke Co-founder Sarah Goulbourne to write an opinion piece on law firm culture, why not check it out? You can read the full article HERE

gunnercooke welcomes Tax-planning Expert

Tax Planning expert Tim Thornton Jones, has joined gunnercooke Tax team. Tim specialises in private client tax planning, mainly for UK domiciled clients, both UK and non-UK resident, landowners, farmers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, sportsmen and entertainers, on heritage property. He advises wealthy philanthropists in the creation of private charities.  He has also built a significant practice […]

A year at gunnercooke

It’s probably true to say that at the end of my time as a partner at my last firm I’d fallen out of love with the law. My average day was spent filling out internal forms, managing a team of fourteen people across three offices and producing reports about reports. On my first day at […]

Disputes: the art of effective negotiation

Many business relationships break down and disputes arise not because of diametrically opposed views on the future path of the business or the project or venture, but because people become entrenched in their views, or they want to have their cake and eat it. But like most things in life, it doesn’t work like that. Effective […]

The BusinessDesk has announced the arrival of Paul Ryman and Rachel Spink to gunnercooke Employment Law team

Online news platform The BusinessDesk has announced the arrival of Paul Ryman and Rachel Spink at gunnercooke, strengthening their Employment Law Team.  Welcome, Paul and Rachel! You can read the full article HERE – free registration is required.

Apprenticeships: A guide to the key issues and potential pitfalls

If an employer engages apprenticeships without being properly advised, the apprentice will probably have far better rights than an employee. However, many employers who engage apprentices are completely unaware of the risks. This Webinar will cover: • The Legal status of apprentices • Traditional v statutory apprenticeships • Apprenticeship agreements • Terminating apprenticeships • National […]

GM Business Connect features Darryl Cooke following K-Club event

gunnercooke co-founder, Darryl Cooke, has featured in B2B magazine, GM Business Connect, following a K-Club event where he spoke at about law firm innovation and philanthropy.  You can read about the event and what Darryl had to say HERE.

gunnercooke was named the Overall Winner at The Business Culture Awards (BCA) 2019

gunnercooke was named the Overall Winner at  The Business Culture Awards (BCA) 2019, beating household names like Innocent Drinks, Jaguar Land Rover, Odeon Cinemas and Kellogg’s.   The firm also won the Innovation category.  The reasons for the firm being selected for the accolade, as judged by a panel of 25 business leaders, is set out […]

Court of Appeal overturns Employment Appeal Tribunal in long-awaited Trade Union ‘unlawful inducements’ case

In a case which has had employers and Trade Unions on the edge of their seats, the Court of Appeal has overturned the decision of the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal in the case of Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley & Others Section 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act […]

Facebook’s new digital currency marks move to mainstream use of blockchain

Facebook has revealed its plans for a new digital currency which it says will allow people to make instant and almost free money transfers to people and businesses anywhere in the world from their mobile phones. The new digital coin, Libra, has the backing of over 24 companies including household names like Visa, Mastercard and […]

gunnercooke Employment Partner in People Management magazine

gunnercooke Employment Partner, Angela Brumpton, has been interviewed for three topical articles in recent days for People Management: On her own case in the Court of Appeal about ‘unlawful inducements’ On a case about discrimination regarding spoken English abilities On a case about religious discrimination.

gunnercooke ramps up London presence with four new Corporate Partners

Challenger law firm, gunnercooke, has strengthened its London team bringing in four new partners and significantly boosting its corporate and finance presence in the City. Matthew Cahill, Simon McLeod, Graham Reid and Max Beazley have joined gunnercooke as partners. Capital Markets and Structured Finance partner, Matthew Cahill, draws on over 20 years’ magic circle law […]

Disciplinary Investigations and Unfair Dismissal

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has recently considered whether an employer is acting unfairly if it dismisses an employee without holding an investigation meeting. In Radia v Jeffries International, Mr Radia was dismissed following an unsuccessful employment tribunal claim against his employer. The Judge in that case found his evidence not to be credible in various […]

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has recently considered the rights of employees who are on-call.

In Frudd v Partington Group the employees worked at a caravan site and were expected to be on-call after their shifts until 8am the following morning. They claimed this was “time work” so that they were entitled to be paid the national minimum wage. The “sleep-in” exception in the Mencap case did not apply because […]

Acas Publishes New Guidance on Age Discrimination

Acas has published a new Guidance on Age Discrimination to help employers manage an age diverse workforce, prevent unfair treatment at work, and eradicate bias against older and younger workers. Follow the link to the Guidance, here. The Guidance includes the following ‘top ten obligations’ as well as a myths v facts sheet. 1. Ageist […]

Reports find harassment and bullying in Parliament

Two reports out this week have found repeated instances of bullying and harassment in Parliament and amongst staff working for some MPs or political parties. The news that bullying and harassment are rife within and around Parliament comes as no surprise given previous reports and the small world of politics, where fear for career prospects […]

The Legal Consequences of Suspending Employees

What are the legal consequences of suspending an employee? In particular, in what circumstances will an employer breach the implied term of trust and confidence? The issue has been considered by the Court of Appeal in the case of London Borough of Lambeth v Agoreyo. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Court has confirmed that an employer […]

BA fine signals ICO is taking no prisoners ahead of GDPR Phase 2

The ICO has said it intends to fine British Airways £183 million and the Marriott chain £99 million for data breaches each company had themselves notified to the Commissioner in compliance with the notification requirements under GDPR. Both organisations have the chance to appeal against the proposed penalty, but in the meantime what this indicates is that the ICO is […]

Symposium 2019: Wonderful Lives

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again… The gunnercooke Symposium is returning to Oxford on 11-12 September 2019 – and preparations are well under way to make it our greatest event yet! We’re inviting all our partners to join us for two action-packed days brimming with keynote speakers, workshops and insightful discussions to […]

How you can prevent your Deliveroo account from being hacked

The recent experience of a number of Deliveroo customers (especially in London, but elsewhere too) serves to illustrate the importance of customers ensuring that they use different passwords for their various platforms, devices and apps. This particular incident seems to have cost individual customers relatively little because the hackers have simply used the passwords to […]

Employment Partner Angela Brumpton has commented on redundancy consultation tribunal decision

Employment Partner Angela Brumpton, has commented in People Management on a redundancy consultation tribunal decision. You can read the full article HERE

Rosie Burbidge comments on Katy Perry copyright dispute

Intellectual Property Partner Rosie Burbidge has featured in The Copyright Magazine sharing her expertise on the recent Katy Perry copyright ruling. You can read the full article HERE

gunnercooke Co-founder Darryl Cooke features in Manchester Law Society magazine

gunnercooke co-founder, Darryl Cooke, features in the Manchester Law Society July edition magazine covering his latest book launch; To innovate or not to innovate. You can read the full feature on page 11 of the magazine HERE

The Stress Solution: 4 key insights from BBC’s ‘Doctor in The House’

Best known for his work on BBC’s Doctor in the House and The One Show, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee has become a figurehead for the nation’s daily health and wellbeing in recent years. We’re delighted to announce that Dr. Chatterjee will be joining us as one of our keynote speakers at this year’s Symposium. Ahead of […]

gunnerooke partner achieves a fantastic result for client Hitachi

gunnercooke has achieved a fantastic result for our client Hitachi Data Systems lead by Pensions Partner Adam Bushby with his innovate approach. If you would like to know more about this transaction, you can read the full article HERE.

Employment Partner Thalis Vlachos comments on a sexual harassment survey into the retail sector for People Management magazine

Employment Law Partner Thalis Vlachos has been interviewed by People Management magazine on the recently published sexual harassment survey in the retail sector where 51% of said they experienced inappropriate behaviour from a college. You can read the full article HERE.

Employers need to make sure they protect staff from inappropriate behaviour and harassment

Employment Law Expert, Chris Bushnell, comments on the breaking news that more than one in ten retail workers surveyed have experienced unwanted sexual touching at work A survey of retail employees has discovered that more than one in ten retail workers have experienced unwanted sexual touching at work and more than a third thought their […]

gunnercooke sponsors partner’s London to Paris charity bike ride challenge

gunnercooke Business Crime partner, Simon Caltagirone, is in training to cycle 200 miles from Tower Bridge in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris in a gruelling fundraising effort. Simon will be raising money for a charity dear to gunnercooke’s heart.  Astriid  help the chronically ill get back into work so they can regain some […]

Symposium 2019: Meet the speakers

With this year’s Symposium fast approaching, now is the perfect time to take a look at the world-class roster of speakers we’ve got lined up. Staying true to our theme of ‘Wonderful Lives’, we’ve secured an eclectic mix of performance, health, wellbeing and business experts to speak at this year’s event, each with a sterling […]

An extract from Darryl Cooke’s new book has been published in the latest ‘Modern Legal Practice’ publication

An extract from gunnercooke Executive Chairman Darryl Cooke’s new book, ‘To Innovate or Not to Innovate? A Blueprint for the Law Firm of the Future’ has been published in the latest ‘Modern Legal Practice’ publication. You can view the full feature HERE.

gunnercooke Employment Law Partner Thalis Vlachos has featured in People Management magazine discussing Police Officer discrimination case

Employment Law Partner Thalis Vlachos has featured in People Management magazine today giving comment on a recent case involving a Police Officer who was stripped of driving duties due to being colour blind. You can read the full article HERE.

gunnercooke and its client have been announced as finalists at this year’s Midlands Dealmakers Awards

gunnercooke and its client have been announced as finalists at this year’s Midlands Dealmakers Awards, run by Insider Media.  Amanda Allen’s client, SSE Audio Group, and the firm, are shortlisted for International Deal of the Year.  SSE Audio, a sound equipment supplier for live events, was acquired by Canadian business Groupe Solotech, which has worked […]

gunnercooke employment partner, Angela Brumpton, has commented on a story in People Management about a discrimination employment tribunal

gunnercooke employment partner, Angela Brumpton, has commented on a story in People Management about a discrimination employment tribunal involving the suspension of a teacher with bipolar disorder. You can read the full article HERE.

gunnercooke Partner and Coach, Hannah Beko, has been interviewed about mental health in the law for Harry Clark’s blog for aspiring lawyers

gunnercooke Partner and Coach, Hannah Beko, has been interviewed about mental health in the law for Harry Clark’s blog for aspiring lawyers. Meditation over Mediation – mental health in the legal sector, read the full article HERE. If you would like to know more about Hannah, you can view her website HERE.

gunnercooke Symposium proves a great success

gunnercooke llp has celebrated its ninth anniversary in style at a two-day Symposium in Oxford. Day One took place at the city’s Saïd Business School where delegates were welcomed by by co-founder, Sarah Goulbourne, and host, TV news presenter, Lucy Meacock. Keynote talks kicked off with author and commentator, Matthew Syed, who talked about how […]

gunnercooke shortlisted for two Business Culture Awards 2020

Following the accolade of being named the overall winner at the Business Culture Awards 2019, gunnercooke is delighted to have been shortlisted for two categories in 2020. Co-founder of the firm, Darryl Cooke, has been named a finalist in the Leadership category, whilst Head of People and Culture, Lucy Hargreaves, has been shortlisted for the […]

gunnercooke team advises on multi-million pound MBO

A team led by Corporate Partner Nick Ducker and Banking Partner Georgina Tripp advised on the sale of SRL Traffic Systems Limited to a management buyout team backed by LDC. SRL is the UK’s leading manufacturer of temporary traffic light systems in the UK.  LDC is a mid-market private equity investor which will support SRL […]

Tribunal on veganism could be first of more to come, warns gunnercooke solicitor

Sacha Sokhi, solicitor at gunnercooke, was interviewed by People Management about a tribunal that found veganism was a lifestyle choice rather than a protected characteristic. She hinted that there could be further tribunal cases testing whether vegetarianism, as well as veganism, fall within protected characteristics. Read more on this tribunal here.

Beware illegal work practices, employers are warned

Employment partner, Paul Ryman, has been interviewed in People Management magazine. This week, news headlines have warned employers against paying below the minimum wage and failing to provide paid holidays. Paul gives his thoughts on the results in the report from the Resolution Foundation. You can read the full article here.

Angela Brumpton interviewed in People Management magazine about unfair dismissal case against Camden Borough Council

gunnercooke Employment Law Partner Angela Brumpton has commented on an employment tribunal which highlights the need for employers to be diligent when going through the process of dismissing an employee. In this case, Camden Council’s investigation into an employee was found to be ‘seriously flawed’. You can read the full article HERE.