News

9 August 2019

Berry Smith is holding a training seminar aimed at HR professionals and managers with HR responsibilities which will be hosted by Sarah Alford, a senior associate and Wendy Stamp, a HR consultant in the Employment & HR team. Places for the seminar are selling out quickly, so book now to avoid disappointment       […]

16 July 2019

Landlords must be sure leases are correctly drafted to enable action against tenants who are not paying their rent. In a challenging environment for landlords, it is vital they are aware of the options available to them should they face a non-paying tenant. When a lease is being drafted, it is important for landlords to […]

12 July 2019

Sarah Alford, a senior associate specialising in employment and HR law at Berry Smith Lawyers, offers a practical guide to help organisations recruit the right employee The success of a business often turns on the skill and commitment of its staff.  Therefore, finding the right person for the job is crucial for any organisation. Despite […]

13 December 2018

Although trademark registration is not compulsory in the UK, it is certainly advisable. Securing a registered trademark protects your brand and provides you with the tools and mechanisms to prevent someone using similar signs and making money off the back of your business. As part of our recent campaign encouraging businesses to register trademarks, we […]

22 November 2018

Every business will have some form of Intellectual Property (IP), from larger corporate companies down to local family run businesses. It’s the product or services that you have developed that sets you apart from your competitors. We know that, as a business, there are numerous issues you will face involving the development of the product, […]

13 June 2018

Q – I want to get divorced and don’t fancy the thought of all the paperwork. Is it possible to get a divorce online? A – Yes, and no. The Government is currently piloting an online system that allows anyone wishing to file for divorce/dissolution of a civil partnership to do so online. This system […]

12 June 2018

Q – I separated from my partner several years ago and have had great difficulty gaining access to my children. Eventually, I was able to obtain a court order setting out the times the children were to spend time with me, but my ex refuses to comply with it. The order says that my ex […]

12 June 2018

Q – Before I met, and later married, my husband of five years, I purchased my home (which I still own in my sole name). I have recently fallen out with my husband and, following a big argument, I asked him to leave. Several days later I agreed to a reconciliation; shortly after my husband […]

26 September 2017

Berry Smith’s Corporate Finance team has been shortlisted for Legal Team of the Year at the Insider 2017 Wales Dealmakers Awards, which are being held on 28th September in Cardiff. In addition to being nominated for Legal Team of the Year, Berry Smith have also been directly involved with clients who have themselves been nominated […]

22 August 2017

The UK200Group is the UK’s leading membership association of independent chartered accountancy and law firms, whose members act for over 150,000 SMEs and private clients. Declan Swan, CEO of the UK200Group said; “I am delighted that leading law firm Berry Smith have joined the UK200Group. With offices in Cardiff and Bridgend, Berry Smith bring a […]

19 July 2017

Berry Smith are delighted to have advised Aircraft Maintenance Support Services Limited (AMSS) on their sale to American company JBT Corporation for approximately £10 million. The family-owned, Bridgend-based business was founded 40 years ago by Duncan Barber and manufactures and maintains ground support equipment. JBT Corporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is a […]

20 June 2017

The Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes Bill received Royal Assent on 24 May 2017 having been introduced into the National Assembly for Wales on 12 September 2016.  The Bill outlines proposals to introduce land transaction tax (LTT), which will replace Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in Wales from April 2018 The new […]

20 June 2017

Most organisations encounter disputes from time to time.  These often relate to disputes with an external party (such as a customer, supplier or competitor), or are internal – such as disputes between business owners or a former employee. Our specialist Dispute Resolution team deals with a wide range of disputes for a variety of organisations […]

16 June 2017

Berry Smith’s Commercial Property team has been shortlisted for Property Law Firm of the Year at the Insider Wales Property Awards which are being held on 29th June in Cardiff. The Commercial Property team is led by the two Partners, Martin Pursall and Chris Jones, and consultant Roger Berry, who are all recommended in the […]

17 May 2017

GDPR SEMINAR – THURSDAY 25 MAY 2017 On Thursday 25 May 2017, Dr Philip Griffiths, Senior Consultant Solicitor at Berry Smith Lawyers, will be holding a breakfast seminar focusing on the implications of the new GDPR and the opportunities it brings for compliant organisations The Data Protection Act 1998 will be replaced in the UK […]

22 March 2017

The forthcoming changes in the inheritance tax allowances that apply on death (potentially £1 million free of tax by 2020) are to be welcomed but these do not necessarily signal a movement towards further reduction in the taxes payable when someone dies. The fees payable to the Probate Registry to obtain a grant of probate […]

17 March 2017

Following an initial announcement in the 2015 summer budget, a new apprenticeship levy comes into force with effect from 6th April 2017.  The levy is payable at a rate of 0.5% of an employer’s total wage bill and applies to all employers in the UK, across all industries and sectors, and is payable regardless of […]

31 January 2017

Our professional negligence team have successfully represented co-owners in a claim for professional negligence against their former solicitors who acted for them in the acquisition of their family home. The property consisted of a detached house with a large plot of land to the rear (including an Olympic sized manége).   Several years after the purchase […]

30 January 2017

Following a petition signed by more than 150,000 people calling for the law to be changed to make it illegal for a company to require its female staff to wear high heels at work, an inquiry by the Petitions Committee and Women and Equalities Committee was recently undertaken and the report was published last week. […]

20 January 2017

AIB Bank made a claim against a firm of solicitors for failing to protect its interests when the bank lent purchase monies to the purchaser of a property.  The solicitors acted for both the purchaser and the bank. The purchasers had a pre-existing mortgage with Barclays Bank and it was a condition of AIB’s loan […]

15 December 2016

  With the festivities in full swing, too many employers will be letting their guard as well as their hair down this Christmas. The aftermath of the Christmas party can be open season for employment claims.  In legal terms, no other time of year should come with quite so many health-warnings.  We set out some tips […]