Graduate Training Contracts and Vacation Schemes
Discover the potential in yourself and the reward of a career in a dynamic firm.
Discover the potential in yourself and the reward of a career in a dynamic firm.
We seek the most promising graduates to join our programme. To ensure we find you, we’ve adopted advanced techniques to zero in on the true performers.
Conferences, seminars, in-house training, tailored sessions and training materials for HR professionals, directors, managers and supervisors.
There has been a dramatic rise in claims since the removal of tribunal fees in 2017. It is important to understand how the tribunal process works to help you deal with an employment tribunal claim or to provide effective assistance to your solicitors in helping them successfully defend a claim.
Employers need to know how they can attract talented senior employees to their business whilst at the same time ensuring that the contractual terms protect their business. Employers must also understand their employee’s dismissal rights and how they can safely dismiss senior employees in different situations.
When it comes to winning, bidding for (and losing!) service contracts, a good understanding of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (“TUPE”) is essential. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach so it’s important to understand how the different parts of TUPE can impact in practice. Whilst the basic principles of…
A healthy, functioning workforce is central to a productive business. Whether long-term or repeated short-term, sickness absences can be highly problematic for employers as they can easily turn into claims of unfair dismissal and disability discrimination if they are not handled correctly. A confident, competent and legally compliant response from…
Whether you have 5 or 5000 employees, a fundamental understanding of employment law is crucial. An overview of the key elements of employment law will help employers and managers deal with common day-to-day employment issues in a confident and professional manner. We will look at the core areas of employment law and provide you with the legal knowledge…
From CCTV to tracking emails and internet usage, workplace monitoring can both safeguard employees and provide an employer with important data that can add real value to their business. However, monitoring must be handled carefully as employees are entitled to some privacy while they are at work. Those involved in monitoring, such as management, supervisors…
From recruitment to dismissal, this seminar will help you understand the legal issues of discrimination and highlight potential dangers at each stage of the employment relationship. We will teach you how to identify different types of discrimination and the steps you can take to manage the legal risks of discrimination.
This seminar will explain what you need to do when you are faced with grievances and disciplinary matters to put yourself in the strongest position possible at a tribunal. We will explore the legal claims you might face and how to protect yourself with effective policies and procedures. This session is ideal for those involved with grievances and discipline,…
This seminar will provide an up-to-date assessment of the legal considerations when restructuring or dealing with redundancies. Our experts will show you how best to navigate the legal pitfalls of a redundancy situation by using fair and objective selection criteria and carrying out early consultation.
Our experts will help you identify disabilities and better understand the types of discrimination that can occur. In a practical and engaging session, you will learn how an organisation’s policies and practices can inadvertently cause discrimination, how to handle absences, how to accommodate disabled employees in the workplace, as well as how to safely…
Employers with over 250 relevant employees are required to publish gender pay gap information. Organisations that meet the reporting criteria must be prepared for gender pay gap reporting with an understanding of what the gender pay gap is and how to report on it in compliance with legislation
This interactive workshop and discussion group will explore the legal and practical issues around sexual harassment and look at steps to promote an inclusive culture which fosters equality, with a view to protecting against future claims.
In this session, we will explore a range of issues that can arise when dealing with flexible working requests and provide tips on how best to approach such requests and how to better protect yourselves when facing potential claims.
In this session delegates will be guided through the key aspects of a fair redundancy process and dismissal. Through case studies, we will help delegates to understand best practice and provide practical tips to ensure a smooth redundancy process. We will also tackle some of the more difficult issues associated with redundancies.
This interactive and practical session discusses the challenges organisations face in implementing this new obligation and how to comply with the requirements of GDPR. The session will cover the key actions for employers regarding the collection, storage and use of personal and staff data and also considers the main practical impact of GDPR on day…
This interactive and practical session will provide delegates with an understanding of the legal and best practice requirements necessary to conduct an investigation and provides practical tips for the investigators.
In this session delegates will develop their knowledge of the protected characteristics and be guided through the legal and practical issues around discrimination and harassment. The course looks at which behaviours are prohibited by the Equality Act and provides practical guidance on how to promote an inclusive culture which fosters equality.
Getting recruitment right is critical to ensure you recruit the right people for the success of the business. It’s essential that any recruitment process is fair, consistent and complies with legal requirements including discrimination law. Whether recruitment is internal or external, there are many pitfalls for the unwary manager. Implementing a robust…
People join Howes Percival for many reasons but everyone has a good reason to stay: the culture here is like no other law firm they’ve encountered. It is a genuinely supportive working environment across all departments. There is a high level of respect between people at every level of office or seniority in the firm. Everyone wants you to do well…
Ours is a continually growing business and we are always recruiting to increase our capacity as well as our capabilities. We welcome applications for current vacancies, for our range of training opportunities, and for our vacation scheme as well as general enquiries about careers at Howes Percival.
Employment tribunal proceedings can be brought for various types of claims including unfair dismissal, breach of contract, holiday pay, discrimination and equal pay. They can be complex and time consuming. Our employment team has significant expertise in bringing and defending employment tribunal claims.
Our Commercial team can advise you on putting robust contracts in place that manage your risks and can adapt to a changing business landscape.
Our Construction team provides specialist, in-depth expertise for clients across the full spectrum of the construction industry, including: developers, occupiers, contractors, investors, banks, consultants and insurers.
Lilika joined the Employment Team as an Associate in September 2023 after having completed her training contract with Howes Percival
Katherine qualified into the Commercial Property team in September 2020 after spending a year in the department during her training contract.
Zara joined the Intellectual Property and IT team as an Associate in September 2023, having completed her training contract with Howes Percival.
Guy qualified into the Commercial Property team in March 2013 having previously spent six months in the department during his training contract.
Nichola is an Associate in the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery (ICR) department.
Paula is an experienced commercial contracts and information technology specialist with particular expertise in advising on complex projects. She has a wealth of experience of commercial trading arrangements across a broad range of sectors and has a keen interest in innovation and technology.
Rachel joined Howes Percival as an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team and deals with both commercial litigation and contentious trusts and probate claims.
Max is a commercial contract lawyer specialising in the IT, technology, life sciences and academic sectors.
Anna is an experienced lawyer in the real estate sector and currently specialises in construction project agreements including building contracts, professional appointments, warranties and bonds.
Kristina is an experienced conveyancer providing advising clients on the buying and selling of freehold and leasehold properties, contract negotiation and remortgage work including equity release.
Ben is a Director in the Corporate and Commercial Team. Ben provides advice on a range of corporate transactions (including asset and shares sale and acquisitions) and other commercial contracts including terms and conditions, distribution and franchising agreements and advising directors and shareholders on their rights and obligations under company…
Gary is a Director in the Commercial Litigation department in Leicester, where he deals with a wide range of commercial matters. His experience includes dealing with contractual disputes in the County Court and High Court, interim applications, urgent injunctions and contentious insolvency matters.
Chris is a very experienced commercial and technology lawyer advising on a wide variety of agreements and contracts.
Richard is a Partner in the Corporate and Commercial team. He advises on a range of corporate transactions including business sales, share sales and acquisitions and corporate restructuring.
Olivia is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team in Cambridge.
James is a senior corporate lawyer based in the Cambridge office. James acts for clients of all sizes including public and private limited companies, LLPs, partnerships and entrepreneurs. His clients operate across a range of sectors.
Georgina has experience dealing with a wide range of employment law matters – both contentious and non-contentious.
Mayoori is a newly qualified Commercial Associate in the Corporate, Commercial and Banking team and is based in our Milton Keynes office.
Jack is a commercial lawyer with experience in drafting, advising on and negotiating a range of commercial agreements.
Georgia joined the Commercial Property team as a Senior Associate in October 2023.
Sam joined Howes Percival in 2023 and specialises in commercial dispute resolution.
Alexandra is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team, based in our Cambridge office.
Katie is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team in the Leicester office
Will is a first year trainee currently undertaking his first seat in Commercial in the Northampton office.
Natalie joined the employment team as a newly qualified solicitor in September 2024 and works across Northampton and Milton Keynes.
Charmaine joined the Employment Team as an Associate in September 2024. Charmaine’s background includes working as a tax litigator for the Civil Service, where she handled VAT cases.
Deborah has been working as a professional support lawyer in the real estate sector for the past 15 years, supporting lawyers within private practice by drafting documents, keeping clients informed through regular briefings, researching complex areas of law and delivering updates and training. Deborah keeps a close eye on legislative changes, and analyses…
Graham provides advice to clients in both the private and public sectors and has been recognised in the Legal 500 as being "very responsive", having "a deep knowledge of UK employment law" and providing "practical and creative advice".Graham is a regular speaker at a range of events and has a reputation for delivering fun and practical seminars and…
Shital specialises in company transactions including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, restructures and reorganisations. Shital also advises directors and shareholders with their legal requirements such as directors’ duties or shareholders’ agreements. Shital also has experience in company refinancing, share schemes and commercial contracts.
Sobia advises clients on a wide range of employment law matters – both contentious and non-contentious – and adopts a clear, commercial and practical approach.She has acted for employers and employees within a range of sectors and has experience of handling employment tribunal claims, advising on day-to-day employment issues and drafting and negotiating…
Hannah specialises in all aspects of Employment law and advises on both contentious and non contentious matters. Hannah has defended a range of Employment Tribunal claims including unfair dismissal and discrimination. Hannah regularly advises clients on non-contentious matters, such as contracts of employment. In addition, Hannah provides advice on…
Satnam is a leading litigator based in Leicester with vast experience in both property litigation and commercial litigation.Her expertise in commercial litigation includes dealing with: breach of contract claims, misrepresentation, issues relating to the sale of goods and supply of services, consumer credit claims, unpaid invoices, agency claims, director…
Gerald is an experienced Consultant within the Corporate, Commercial and Banking team. He has extensive experience advising on sales and purchases of businesses, joint ventures and commercial contracts. He advised and is company secretary of both the British Racing Drivers Club (owners of Silverstone Circuit) and the Guards Polo Club (based at Windsor…
Geraint heads up Howes Percival’s Litigation and Insolvency practice group and has over twenty years' experience in dealing with high-value commercial and property litigation disputes. He acts on behalf of a wide range of commercial clients, ranging from major PLCs to owner managed businesses. He regularly deals with complex High Court and cross border…
Michael specialises in commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on company/shareholder disputes, partnership advice, restraint of trade disputes, technology based disputes, professional negligence claims, contract disputes, agency disputes, contentious trusts & probate and insolvency. His clients include BDO, Mazars, RSM, Bens Cookies, many…
Lucy has wide experience in real estate transactions including residential and commercial development work, acting for national and regional developers. She regularly deals with: all aspects of acquisition and disposal work including options and conditional contracts; freehold and leasehold portfolio acquisitions and disposals; landlord and tenant…
Matthew is a Partner in our Corporate, Commercial and Banking team. Matthew provides advice on a broad range of corporate matters (including corporate deals of various sizes and restructurings), commercial matters (including commercial contracts, standard terms and conditions and franchising), loan agreements, and refinancing transactions.
There are a myriad of reasons why undertaking your Training Contract at Howes Percival is excellent, Eliza Kay highlights her Top 5!
Howes Percival trainee, Daniel Ingle discusses the importance of personal development courses during a training contract.
Starting a training contract can be daunting, exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. Here our recent trainees reflect on their experience.
Throughout law school it is drilled into students that experience is the key to unlocking the door to a training contract, a role that sometimes feels like gold dust. However, experience can come in all shapes and sizes, whether it involves showing dedication through a part time job, completing various vac schemes or working as a paralegal.
Anyone who is in the process of applying for training contracts will know that it can be a frustrating and worrying time, with fierce competition meaning that hundreds of people could be applying for just a handful of spaces. Many may lose faith that they will ever secure a place, and may feel forced to give up on pursuing law as a career. When competition…
Fortunately, a new year comes with new opportunities to learn, grow, and pursue your goals. Therefore, if one of your goals for this year is to secure a vacation scheme or training contract, now is the perfect time to get started.
Before I started my training contract here at Howes Percival, I had a number of ideas about how I envisioned the two years to be. Now, mid-way through my second seat, I realise that a number of those ideas were misconceptions. I will share five of them with you now.
In light of this unprecedented situation, many of you may understandably be worried about how the Coronavirus will affect our summer vacation scheme and graduate recruitment. Therefore, I will do my best to address your concerns below.
1. When your phone rings, it’s not always for you. On my first day in the office, my phone rang and it was an existing client that the previous trainee had been dealing with. At that point, I had no chance of being able to answer their questions. In situations like that, just take down a note of what the client is asking, and make sure you get back…
Applying for a training contract can be seen as a time consuming and somewhat daunting task. I personally spent many hours applying for training contracts before I was fortunate enough to obtain one with Howes Percival. Although different firms may run their application processes differently, many firms will cover the process of an initial application…
Trainee Solicitor, Iona Palmer offers her top five tips for your first seat of a training contract.
When it comes to applying for training contracts, there are hundreds of firms to choose from. Of course in today’s competitive environment, acquiring that training contract is the most important goal. However, looking forward, being selective about the firms you apply to is key. Different firms have different attitudes, and training can differ greatly…
Howes Percival has welcomed six new trainee solicitors. The firm has also appointed five new solicitors who have recently completed their training contracts with the firm.
Howes Percival has appointed seven new trainee solicitors across its offices in Cambridge, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Norwich.
Howes Percival has welcomed seven new trainee solicitors to its offices across the East Midlands and East Anglia, while three new solicitors have been appointed having recently completed their training contracts with the firm.
Howes Percival has been announced as a winner in six categories in The Lex 100 – a comprehensive guide to training contracts at the UK’s top law firms.
So, we’re now 1 year into your training contract and 1 year closer to qualifying. You’re hopefully more confident in yourself and perhaps a step closer to picking your future career area. What’s happened in the first year?
Daniel Giblett is a second-seat trainee solicitor in our Norwich office. Here he explains what attracted him to Howes Percival and how the firm compares against his initial expectations.
Trainees are in a unique position where every six months brings a new department, area of law, skills, experiences and concerns.
I know I am not the only third seat trainee feeling anxious and apprehensive about qualification. Not only is there the pressure of attempting to determine exactly which department you would like to qualify into, there is also the fear of not securing an NQ role at all.
James Pitts is a trainee solicitor in our Northampton Office. Here he explains what Northampton as a town has to offer to potential trainees and the work involved at the office.
Howes Percival trainee, Zara Khan discusses becoming part of the firm's Equality and Diversity Committee and the work it does throughout the firm.
Having recently started my first seat in Insolvency Department in our Norwich office, I am already taking responsibility for different files and tasks after just a couple of weeks into my seat.
Nichola Constantinides is a trainee solicitor in our Milton Keynes office. Here she explains what it's like to change seats.
Trainee Solicitor, Amy Ward, talks about her experience at Howes Percival since joining in September 2019 and gives some helpful tops for getting involved.
At the end of my LPC, I cheered that I never had to sit another exam again and could move straight onto my training contract and concentrate on the job.
In September 2019 I started my training contract with Howes Percival LLP, by March 2020 the world was in a tailspin and we were in lockdown. When I started my training contract I never thought I would have to adapt to working almost entirely from home. So let’s talk frankly about what that means as a trainee, trying to forge your way in the crazy legal…
Howes Percival has welcomed eight new trainee solicitors to the firm and has appointed its first solicitor apprentice. It has also appointed four new solicitors who have recently completed their training contracts with the firm. Trainee SolicitorsThe eight new trainees are Eliza Kay, Lauren Farthing, Lilika Peutherer,Iona…
The leading regional law firm has welcomed seven new trainee solicitors to its offices across the East Midlands and East Anglia. The firm has also appointed four new solicitors who have recently completed their training contracts with Howes Percival.
The UK Government announced a plan to avoid mass redundancies through the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic by offering to cover 80% of workers’ wages for four months starting retrospectively from 1 March 2020, known as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“Scheme”).
Securing a place on a vacation scheme can be difficult, but if you are able to prove yourself in what is essentially a week long interview, you are much more likely to secure that elusive training contract.
Attending networking events is one of those daunting tasks that many new trainees do not expect will be on their to-do list when they first walk through the door. In my first few weeks at Howes Percival I was asked to attend networking events and thought ‘I should not be going to this, I’ve just started training - nobody will be interested in talking…
Kirsten Tinline, trainee solicitor at Howes Percival, has been named ‘Trainee Lawyer of the Year’ at the Year at the Cambridgeshire & District Law Society Legal Excellence Awards 2019. The awards ceremony and dinner were held at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
When starting your training contract, it is hard to see yourself as the sparkling legal eagle that you see and hear around the office; offering excellent legal advice as standard, consistently bringing in business for the firm and being invited to speak at industry events.
So what goes on in a solicitor’s office behind the doors located next to the reception desk? Well, 18 months in and approaching qualification you would think that I would have an idea by now. Hopefully I do, but you can be the judge of that. Through this article I am going to provide you with an account of my training contract with Howes Percival.…
The application deadline for our Vacation Scheme is fast approaching so log on and apply before 31 March 2016! Most of the current trainees completed a vacation scheme at the firm so it really is worthwhile applying now if you are considering a training contract here. This is your opportunity both to get to know us better and to show us your potential…
When I initially accepted a training contract with Howes Percival, I had expected to be based in either Leicester or Northampton. However, over the course of the next two years the firm grew significantly and my first seat has instead been in the new Cambridge office, as part of the Commercial Property team.
After a few months of relaxation over summer, I began my training contract in September 2015 within the Company Commercial department in Milton Keynes.
At Howes Percival, trainees are encouraged to move offices during their training contract. Not only do you benefit from the experience of different specialisms, you get to meet more of your colleagues and build your professional network. Who doesn’t want more LinkedIn connections?
As we reach the end of October, application deadlines for winter vacation schemes are fast approaching. A vacation scheme is a fantastic way to understand the inner workings of a law firm and, at the same time, evaluate whether a career in law is likely to be suited to you. Schemes come in all shapes and sizes and are offered by firms from City to…
With effect from April 2020, changes to employment Legislation mean that employers must issue not just employees but all workers with a new style of statement, setting out the key terms of their employment. This statement must be provided from day 1 of employment. Matthew Potter, Partner, at Howes Percival takes us through the proposed changes.
I am nearly half way through my third seat in the Intellectual Property/Information Technology (“IP/IT”) department in our Leicester office, and I can’t quite believe I only have 9 months left to go of my training contract. Below is an example of what you might be asked to do as a trainee in the IP/IT department.
I am now four months into my training contract and have thoroughly enjoyed the work I have undertaken in the Commercial Property team. However, life as a trainee solicitor has been far more varied than I ever could have imagined! So far I have decorated the boardroom for Halloween and Christmas events, attended the Norfolk YPG Ball and represented…
The heavily anticipated EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will become effective on 25 May 2018. The GDPR will bring considerable changes to data protection law in the UK and across the European Economic Area (EEA) more widely, and will include significantly greater fines of up to €20 million or 4% of total worldwide annual group turnover…
For the past few days, we have been able to enjoy the Olympics and have had the privilege of watching elite sports men and women compete. The competition represents the culmination of years of training and dedication to their sport, with people striving to be the best.Many of the competitors will be married and have children; Tom Daley has said that…
We have all heard the phrase “any publicity is good publicity” but I would also say the same is true for “experience”. I think there can sometimes be a misconception that firms are only interested in your legal work experience and not all the other types of work you may have previously undertaken. I have to say that was definitely not true for me and…
Employers are facing a challenging time at the moment in recruitment with a UK-wide labour shortage. If you are lucky enough to find some good candidates it’s important to ensure that your recruitment process does not fall foul of employment law. This article provides some top tips to help you get it right.
When choosing a law firm, some common questions asked by aspiring trainee solicitors are, “Will I be given enough responsibility?” “How much client contact will I have?” and “Will I be given my own files?”
As it is National Pro Bono Week, I decided to share with you my experience of volunteering at Norfolk Community Law Service (“NCLS”). NCLS is a registered charity providing a range of free, independent legal advice services including Employment, Family, General and Domestic Abuse in Norwich, Cromer and Great Yarmouth. They also provide free Debt and…
Robert Starr, Director in the Regulatory Team at Howes Percival, provides an overview of the legal framework for fire safety in care homes ahead of anticipated changes early next year.
Howes Percival’s employment law team in East Anglia continues to grow from strength to strength with the arrival of Laura Brown, who has been appointed legal director. Laura joins the firm’s Norwich office from Birketts LLP.
Howes Percival has expanded its Employment Law team in the MK/Northampton region, following an increase in new instructions over the last six months.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses have been doing their best to keep operational. Although that has become impossible for some, in particular as a result of the unprecedented measures announced on Friday 20 March 2020 and Monday 23 March 2020 by the government, there are those which have been able to continue by implementing remote working…
Brigitta Naunton, a Director in Howes Percival's Corporate and Commercial team, discusses how contract playbooks can benefit your business and explains the stages of setting one up.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival, has announced two promotions in its Norwich-based insolvency team. Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival, has announced two promotions in its Norwich-based insolvency team.
Howes Percival’s new ‘In-Howes’ programme of training and networking events aimed at in-house lawyers has been hailed as a huge success
Health and safety risk management issues employers may need to consider when the lockdown ends.
Howes Percival's Cambridge office's inaugural event for in-house counsel will be held at The Trinity Centre on 29 November 2017.
April is always a busy month in the employment law calendar and this year is no exception. There have been a number of key changes to legislation that you need to be aware of as well as several increases to payments.
The Government have introduced the Coronavirus, Calculation of a Week’s pay Regulations 2020 effective from the 31st July 2020. It ensures furloughed employees receive statutory redundancy pay and statutory notice pay based on their normal pay if they were working, rather than a reduced furlough rate.
To mark 50 years since the Equal Pay Act 1970 was passed, Acas have issued updated advice on equal pay including good practice guidance for employers on how to try to prevent discriminatory practices in their workplace.
Howes Percival’s construction and property lawyers summarise the findings and recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry’s final report published earlier this month.
NEWSThe Employment Appeal Tribunal has held that the duty to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled employee could extend to continuing to pay a higher salary to an employee who is moved to a lesser role.IMPLICATIONSThe Employment Appeal Tribunal’s view was that there was no reason in principle why the duty to make reasonable adjustments should…
Employing an illegal worker has always carried significant consequences, but the financial burden of doing so will soon triple in the biggest shake up of civil penalties since 2014.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival, has announced seven senior promotions, including two new partners. Justine Flack and Tom Lawrence have been made partners in the firm; Katharine Danks and Helen Stewart have been promoted to the level of director; Hannah Ball, Alexandra Kirkwood and Matthew Thompson have been promoted to associate level. Tessa…
The LPC is specifically designed to prepare you for a career as a solicitor, and the start of that is, of course, becoming a trainee. So this begs the question – what issues will you face as a trainee that are not dealt with on the LPC?
8.30 Marks my arrival into the office. I am currently in my first seat (Commercial Property). Whilst waiting for my computer to load, I compile my initial “to-do-list” for the day. I then check my emails for any overnight developments that may have come through.
Howes Percival has expanded its highly rated employment law team in response to an increase in instructions over the last year.
Howes Percival has announced nine senior promotions across its Cambridge, Norwich, Leicester and Northampton offices, including three new partners.
The hard part is done and you have secure a place on a vacation scheme, but now the time for the scheme has actually arrived. It’s important to remember that a vacation scheme is your opportunity to both sell yourself to a firm, but to also make sure a firm is the right fit for you.
The first 6 month deadline for the publication of an annual Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement (SHT Statement) under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA) is 30 September 2016. This will be for entities affected by MSA with a financial year ending on 31 March 2016. Affected entities should publish an SHT Statement as soon as reasonably…
Employment expert, Nick Benton, partner at Howes Percival, comments on the importance of having effective anti-harassment training in the workplace, to give employers the option of the reasonable steps defence if faced with a harassment claim.
In Base Childrenswear v Otshudi, the EAT has upheld a Tribunal decision to award compensation of £16,000 for a one-off act of race discrimination. The case also suggests employers are obliged to deal with post-employment grievances, in accordance with the ACAS Code on Disciplinary and Grievance procedures.
With the demise of Carillion, public sector contracts are back in the headlines. However, while the press has focussed on the implications of such contracts for the Government and the tax payer, little has been said about how such contracts work for the businesses that enter into them.
Howes Percival's Employment team is pleased to announce their spring employment law update webinars.
Howes Percival's Employment team is pleased to announce their spring employment law update webinars.
Howes Percival's Employment team is pleased to announce their spring employment law update webinars.
The government has launched its consultation along with draft Regulations, to seek views from individuals, organisations and businesses on the implications of collecting and publishing information on contractual control agreements.
How can your commercial contracts enable a means of escape for performance in the event of such unforeseen disasters?
The EAT in Awan v ICTS has held that there was an implied term in an employment contract requiring the employer not to dismiss the employee by reason of ill-health capability if that would result in the employee no longer being entitled to long-term disability benefits.
The COVID-19 virus will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the construction industry, given its reliance on a readily available supply of labour and materials. Contractors, sub-contractors and professional consultants are all likely to be affected, and construction projects at every stage will face potential delays and disruption.
If you think COVID-19 is likely to affect a party’s ability to perform a contract, what can you do? In this article, Dispute Resolution Partner Satnam Chayra and Associate Gary Pitt explain the contractual rights which could assist.
One of the first steps in a commercial property transaction is for the buyer to raise pre-contract enquiries of the seller. The legal principle “caveat emptor” is a Latin principle meaning “let the buyer beware” and, in the context of a property sale, it requires the buyer to investigate the property it is buying to discover any issues before committing…
Covid-19 has challenged us to create better and more flexible contract mechanisms to deal with the greater uncertainties that this pandemic has brought. Making good use of these mechanisms, combined with a robust force majeure clause, will help to future proof business arrangements and promote the stability required to adjust to the new normal in which…
First it was the ‘B’ word, now it is the dreaded ‘C’ word. The widespread impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains is impacting us all, both in the business world and at home.
A recent case has seen the courts confirm that a binding contract can exist even if it’s only been signed by one of the parties.
Howes Percival’s commercial team explore and comment on the recent development of AI in the form of ChatGPT, discussing the benefits and the cons of using ChatGPT to help draft commercial contracts.
Sue Austin considers the decision in Antuzis v DJ Houghton Catching Services Ltd [2019] EWHC 843 (QB) in which employees successfully brought claims of inducing breach of contract against the directors of a company.
ESG can be a daunting area for those trying to tackle it for the first time, so we’ve set out below some easy ways to start incorporating ESG consideration into your commercial contracts.
In Barclays Bank plc v Various Claimants the Supreme Court has confirmed that an employer will not be vicariously liable for the actions of genuinely self-employed contractors it has engaged.
In Ferguson and ors v Astrea Asset Management Ltd, the EAT has confirmed that variations to an employment contract are void if the sole or principal reason for the variation is a TUPE transfer, even where the variations are beneficial to the transferring employee.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling in Pimlico Plumbers Limited v Smith, that a plumber whose contract described him as an independent contractor was a worker under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA) and Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR), and in employment for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Mr Justice Foxton in the case of Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc v Goodrich Corporation [2023] EWHC 2002 (Comm) determined that a party who fails to plead contractual interest is not entitled to statutory interest.
On 19 July 2022, Howes Percival and Miller Insurance held a joint webinar to discuss contractor insolvency risk in the context of development agreements negotiations and potential solutions.
In Antuzis and others v DJ Houghton and others, the High Court found directors of the defendant company personally liable for breaches of the claimants’ employment contracts.
The coronavirus outbreak and restrictions put in place to combat it, have meant that it is impossible to proceed with events resulting in widespread cancellations. There is also an impact on the ability of businesses to performance of contractual obligations.
The recently decided European Court of Justice (ECJ) case, ISS Facility Services v Govaerts, could have significant implications for UK employers, specifically affecting the way the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) are applied where a TUPE transfer involves multiple transferees.
Following a series of requests to HMRC to clarify the position on notice periods the government guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has once again been updated.
From the Covid-19 pandemic to the Suez Canal blockage in March this year, the past year and a half has highlighted the need for businesses to be prepared for the unexpected.
A decision in the Supreme Court has restored the right for companies in liquidation to commence adjudication proceedings.
In a decision by the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) a tenant has had their claim against a contractor for failure to identify and rectify defects dismissed.
New step by step guide helps businesses navigate disputes with poorly performing suppliers
The Government has recently announced that it is consulting on proposed reforms to non-compete restrictive covenants used in employment contracts.
JCT have launched a series of contract administration “packs” for use with the 2016 editions of its Standard, Design and Build and Intermediate contracts.
The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 would have created a new statutory right for certain atypical workers – for example, those on zero-hours contracts – to request a predictable working pattern.
Contentious probate solicitor Rachel Leatherland looks at the recent case, McLean v McLean [2023] EWHC 1863, which dealt with what amounts to an agreement for mutual Wills.
In the next webinar of the series, Employment Partner, Matthew Potter will take us through a whistle stop tour of the tricky issue relating to employment status.
Announcing an overhaul of the government’s model tenancy contracts last month, the Housing Secretary called on landlords to make it easier for responsible tenants to have well-behaved pets in their homes. As more and more young people and families are forced into long-term renting, the government says its mission is to improve life for tenants.
The government are proposing a widening of the ban on exclusivity clauses in workers’ contracts.
Howes Percival, in consortium with PwC, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP and Sharpe Pritchard LLP, is delighted to have been selected to the Crown Commercial Services General Legal Services Panel for Central Government as a Tier 1 Provider. Tessa Haskey, Howes Percival’s Chairman, commented: “This is a fantastic achievement for the firm. We are…
In early March 2020, nobody could have anticipated the impact the COVID pandemic would have on the UK economy and Britain as a whole. No business or individual can fail to have been affected in some manner. Howes Percival and Price Bailey have joined up to highlight some of the hurdles the construction sector may find along its path, and how to approach…
Sue Austin considers the decision in Palmer Birch (a Partnership) v Michael Lloyd and Christopher Lloyd [2018] EWHC 2316 (TCC), where a creditor successfully brought claims against the de jure and de facto directors of a liquidated company.
Practical completion is a term that is used to describe building works which are substantially complete and capable of use, notwithstanding there may be some outstanding snagging items.
Do I have to pay employees unable to get to work because of bad weather conditions?
Howes Percival has appointed specialist commercial and technology lawyer, Chris White, as a Director within its Corporate, Commercial, and Banking (CCB) practice.
In the case of Tillman v Eghon Zehnder Ltd, the Supreme Court has confirmed that words can be deleted from a restrictive covenant in order to make an otherwise void restriction enforceable.
If you’re considering selling your business / company, ensuring it is ready for the legal sale process before a buyer is found will facilitate a smooth and straightforward transaction. Brigitta Naunton, a Director in the Corporate and Commercial Team, outlines some important considerations and tips.
On Friday 10 October 2024, the Government submitted the Employment Rights Bill to Parliament.
The Government has announced that the Employment Rights Bill is being introduced in Parliament later today (10 October 2024).
Howes Percival’s rapidly growing corporate, commercial, and banking (CCB) team completed in excess of 80 deals in the first three quarters of the year, with a combined value of £477 million.Howes Percival’s CCB practice advises clients on significant and transformational acquisitions and disposals and the full range of contractual matters. It also…
Standard terms and conditions are one of those things, much like regular dentist check-ups or funeral plans, we all know we need but we’d rather not think about them on a daily basis. After all, who has the time to ponder their own mortality or whether they’re flossing enough every day? We’ve all got better things to do!
Consequences for those raising prices unfairly during the Covid-19 pandemic? This article looks at the guidance issued by the Competition and Markets Authority.
First case to be heard by the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court outside of London
A hot topic in the news these days is the pressure that schools are under when it comes to their budget. However, this has not prevented the Government from introducing a new Apprenticeship Levy which will impact on all employers in the education sector with a salary bill over £3 million a year. This will encompass nearly all maintained schools as…
Howes Percival is working towards becoming a dementia-friendly business. So far, over 60 staff across the law firm’s six offices have received training and have become Dementia Friends.
The recent case of Fisher v London United Busways Limited involved the use of a gendered swearword in respect of a transgender employee, which the Employment Tribunal accepted would establish a case of gender reassignment discrimination.
In one of the biggest shake-ups to the UK’s immigration regime since the introduction of the post-Brexit immigration system, significant amendments to the immigration rules came into effect on 4 April 2024. The new rules incorporate a wide range of changes affecting several key immigration routes. In this article, we summarise key changes and set out…
From 26 October 2024, a change in the law will place a new positive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
Howes Percival has been awarded a Norwich for Jobs’ Silver Award for its work helping young people get into work. Over the past year, volunteers from the leading regional law firm have supported the Norwich for Jobs project in several ways, including running mock interviews, providing training on CV writing and by holding workplace tours and presentations.
In-Howes is an exclusive programme for in-house lawyers designed to provide you with tailored support and equip you with invaluable training and resources.
Join us for our next In-Howes Webinar for in-house lawyers designed to provide you with tailored support and equip you with invaluable training and resources. Our Corporate and Commercial law experts will cover key legal developments to be aware of as an advisor to business.
Our next In-Howes Webinar for in-house lawyers is designed to provide you with tailored support and equip you with invaluable training and resources. Our Corporate and Commercial law experts will cover key legal developments to be aware of as an advisor to business.
NEWS This article takes a look at some of the key changes anticipated for employers in 2017. DETAILS Brexit In 2017, Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union will be triggered. It is due to happen at the end of March 2017 but that will only be the start of a very long process. It remains to be seen what will happen to UK employment legislation…
The uprated Vento Bands for injury to feelings compensation have been published following consultation.
Harassment and bullying in the workplace is not a new problem for employers. Many have had policies and procedures in place for years and believe that they are doing everything necessary to comply with their legal obligations. However, with the recent media attention surrounding allegations of harassment against high profile employers and individuals;…
Uprated “Vento Bands” for injury to feelings compensation in discrimination cases have been published.
The Court of Appeal upheld a claim for discrimination arising from a disability even though the employer was not aware that the disability caused the employee’s gross misconduct when dismissing.
Acas has published its latest guidance on how discrimination on the grounds of a person’s religion or belief can be prevented. The guidance is of particular significance to recruiters, as it covers the prevention of discrimination in respect of job advertisements, job specifications and interviewing amongst other areas.
Howes Percival’s Finance Director, David Abrahams will spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day volunteering for homelessness charity, Crisis.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has announced a series of new investments in IT, its people and skills development, as it positions itself for the post-Covid-19 recovery.
The additional day off is part of a series of initiatives aimed at supporting the team
The Presidents of the Employment Tribunals in England & Wales and Scotland have announced an increase to the “Vento Bands” – the guidelines used by Employment Tribunals in assessing awards for injury to feelings in discrimination claims.
In May, the government published the draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law.
The 2024 edition of The Legal 500 - the authoritative guide to the UK's leading law firms - has just been published and we are proud to announce that our employment team has retained its status as a top tier law firm for employment services.
Howes Percival’s healthcare sector team partnered with Care Talk to curate an exclusive dinner at the historic Delapré Abbey in Northamptonshire. The event brought together a dynamic mix of operators, funders, and advisers in the care sector, offering a platform to share and debate issues facing the sector today.
From 1st September 2024 changes are being made to the eligibility and suitability tests under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 (AHA 1986).
The use of retentions in the construction industry is a well-established practice. A percentage of each payment made under a building contract or sub-contract is retained by the “payer”, primarily as a safeguard against failure on the part of the “payee” to rectify defects in the works.
Long gone are the days when developers had the freedom to insist that a buyer enters into a sale and purchase contract for a new build home with scant specifications, only a vague idea of the estimated completion date and with an open-ended contract allowing the developer carte blanche to have the new home ready whenever it got around to completing…
Twenty-five years ago, Howes Percival opened its first Leicester office on New Walk with just six lawyers. Today the firm employs over 60 staff at its Meridian Business Park office, providing the full range of corporate and family law services. We feature heavily in the Legal 500, achieving top rankings in a number of areas, with particular strengths…
In the case of Cod Hyde Limited v Space Change Management Limited, heard on 7 April 2016, an application to restrain the presentation of a Winding up Petition on the grounds of dispute and counter-claim was refused because of the failure, by the claimant, to adhere to the provisions of a bespoke JCT Design and Build contract entered into between the…
The High Court in Brown & Anor v Neon Management Ltd & Anor has ruled that employees working a notice period of six months or more could result in them affirming the contract and waiving the employer’s repudiatory breach, although in this case the claimants had not done so as the employer committed further breaches in their notice periods.
There are two stages to the sale or purchase of land in England and Wales. The first is an exchange of contracts and the second is completion.
In the recent case of Ponticelli UK Ltd v Gallagher [2023], the Inner House of the Court of Session (Scotland’s equivalent of the Court of Appeal) ruled that an employee’s right to participate in a share incentive (“SIP”) plan arose “in connection with” their contract of employment for the purposes of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)…
The EAT has upheld the Tribunal’s decision that Uber drivers are ‘workers’ under the Employment Rights Act, the National Minimum Wage Act and the Working Time Regulations. In doing so, the EAT confirmed that the Tribunal was entitled to look beyond the contractual documentation which described drivers as self-employed.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal in Brooknight Guarding Limited v Matei has held that a security guard on a zero hours contract was an agency worker under the Agency Worker Regulations 2010, and was not a permanent employee.
Selling and buying property at auction is an increasingly popular way of disposing of or acquiring property. Auctions usually result in a speedy transaction avoiding the lengthy conventional buying process. At the fall of the hammer, contracts are exchanged and the parties are bound to complete the sale and purchase, usually 28 days after the auction.…
Construction law expert Simon Franklin discusses the importance of strict compliance with contractual payment terms
Howes Percival hires senior corporate immigration lawyer to meet growth in workload . Firm reports increased demand and instructions from clients wanting strategic advice on recruiting outside of UK.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office is delighted to announce that its chosen charity for 2018 is TimeNorfolk.
Howes Percival has been awarded with a bronze accreditation for supporting the ‘Norwich for Jobs’ programme.
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2018 will increase the compensation and weekly pay limits that are payable from 6 April 2018.
Ours is a continually growing business and we are always recruiting to increase our capacity as well as our capabilities. We welcome applications for current vacancies, for our range of training opportunities and for our vacation scheme as well as general enquiries about careers at Howes Percival. Building your career with usWho knows where…
The Women and Equalities Committee (a Parliamentary select committee) has published the results of its six month long inquiry into sexual harassment in the workplace, and has set out a number of recommendations which it is calling on the Government to implement.
At Howes Percival, corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) is an important value and something we are keen to support. In the Leicester office, as well as our commitment to various pro bono projects including working with children in local schools to improve their reading, numeracy and interviewing skills, we also have a dedicated charity of the year.…
Statistics released for employment tribunal claims for the period April to June 2018 show significant increases in the number of claims being brought.
The EAT in Evans v Xactly Corporation Limited has upheld the decision of the tribunal in finding that calling an employee a “fat ginger pikey” did not amount to harassment.
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2019 will increase the compensation and weekly pay limits that are payable from 6 April 2019.
The “Vento Bands”, which detail the compensation due for injury to feelings awards, increased for all claims issued on or after 6 April 2019, in line with the RPI All Items Index.
Howes Percival has partnered with The Careers & Enterprise Company to help young people in Norwich prepare for the fast-changing world of work.
Time to Talk takes place today, which encourages conversations about mental health and how organisations can promote awareness and understanding surrounding mental health issues in their workplace.
The “Vento Bands”, which detail the compensation due for injury to feelings awards, will increase for all claims issued on or after 6 April 2020, in line with the RPI All Items Index.
Head of Howes Percival’s Planning Team comments on a recent Secretary of State appeal decision for major residential led scheme in London.
Howes Percival has won ‘Commercial Litigation Team of the Year’ at The Cambridgeshire Law Society Legal Excellence Awards.
As part of the ongoing recognition of the importance of equal opportunities in the workplace, Howes Percival has produced a new strategy to help ensure equality and diversity remain ‘key strategic and business priorities’ and are given renewed focus going forwards.
Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the second year running.
With the 1st of July marking the tenth anniversary of the UK Bribery Act coming into force, Robert Starr, Regulatory Partner at Howes Percival takes a look at what effect the Act has had during this time and whether businesses should be doing anything more as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.
The Courts have long made it clear that they will do their utmost to preserve testamentary freedom and that it should take a lot for a Court to interfere with the expressed wishes of someone who has made a Will.
Howes Percival has won the Professional Services category at this year’s Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards.
Howes Percival has appointed social housing expert, Estelle Corner, as a Partner.
Howes Percival’s commitment to information security has been recognised with an ISO 27001 certification.
You would hope that the answer to the title question is always a resounding “no” but from recent experience it would appear that some local planning authorities are not so sure when it comes to providing supported living at existing flats.
Howes Percival has announced 14 senior promotions, including five new partners.
The 2023 edition of The Legal 500 – the authoritative guide to the UK’s leading law firms – has recommended Howes Percival for 23 different legal specialisms and awarded the firm top tier ranking for 10.
Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the third year running.
Howes Percival has continued to expand its corporate, commercial and banking (CCB) team with the recruitment of Chloe Bristow.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has confirmed it has created 50 new roles in the last 2 years to meet increased demand for its services post-pandemic and is set to extend that growth with a new, two-year recruitment plan.
In the most substantial shake-up of civil penalties since 2014, fines for employing somebody who does not have the right to work in the UK are set to triple from 13 February 2024. Employers are strongly encouraged to consider taking measures that will help prevent illegal working within their business.