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…
With the problem of ever more rules and laws controlling, determining and restraining what organisations and people can do, Our Regulatory team is the solution. The team specialises in many regulated sectors and activities, advising on law, compliance and dealing with regulatory bodies.
The strength of the communities where we work is founded on the success of its businesses and the confidence of its people. We contribute to both directly through our work, providing the advice and guidance to help everyone make better plans, and also through ongoing partnerships and community fundraising campaigns.
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…
We understand the importance of preparing for the future and ensuring your loved ones are provided for. Whether you need advice on preparing a will, managing your estate or preserving wealth by limiting tax implications, our in-depth experience means we can help you reach the best solutions for you and your family.
Laura is a Director in our employment law team based in our Norwich office.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has confirmed it has achieved Investors in People accreditation for another three years.
Social Housing expert Estelle Corner looks at what RPs need to know about Right to Shared Ownership, plus a review of the recent All Party Parliamentary Group report on shared ownership housing for older people.
Howes Percival has partnered with The Careers & Enterprise Company to help young people in Norwich prepare for the fast-changing world of work.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the fifth year running and been awarded the highest level of accreditation for 'world class' levels of workplace engagement.
Law firm Howes Percival’s turnover increased 19% in 2023, according to its latest annual results. The result follows a period of sustained growth, with turnover now up 33% over the last three years.
Howes Percival has been awarded with a bronze accreditation for supporting the ‘Norwich for Jobs’ programme.
A sell-out workshop on emotional resilience, organised by leading regional law firm, Howes Percival is expected to raise over £900 for the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, which will be given to local charities and projects dealing with health and emotional wellbeing issues.
Join us for our next Housing Snapshot webinar where property expert Simon Murphy will be discussing Adverse Possession and offering hints and tips on buying development land which may be affected by 'squatters' or dog walkers.
The problems faced by generation rent and first time buyers dominate the housing headlines, but there is another element to the housing crisis which gets less attention. The supply of housing for older people is not keeping up with a changing demographic.
Howes Percival is a bit different from your average law firm—and what a relief that is. It might be the diversity of the culture or the singularity of our purpose, or simply because we like being here, helping people and businesses.
Estimates of the percentage of people in the UK who have not made a Will are all disturbingly high, often topping 60%. Failure to take this simple precaution can leave people extremely vulnerable, particularly in the case of couples who choose not to marry or form a civil partnership. This article explores some of the relevant issues.
When the Covid pandemic hit the UK it brought into sharp focus for a lot of people that they may not be indestructible. With additional time during lockdown and the threat looming large of a deadly virus, many people made the decision to get their affairs in order, leading to the rise of the DIY Will.
Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court, has revealed in a technical briefing that Court admin errors have resulted in people being granted divorces by mistake. This article looks at the impact of those errors on people who believed their marital affairs were in order.
Howes Percival has won Legal Firm of the Year at the 2023 Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards. The annual awards celebrate the best and brightest of the Northamptonshire business community. The Northamptonshire business community convened at the unique County Ground Cricket Club on Thursday 9 November with comedian, Rob Beckett hosting the…
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 such uncertain times as these, it is more important than ever to make sure that as many people as possible, particularly those who are elderly and vulnerable, have appropriate safeguards in place to protect and help them in difficult periods.
Our Norwich office has been taking part in ‘Miles in May’ to support its charity of the year, TimeNorfolk. Miles in May encourages people to walk, cycle or run as many miles during the month of May to help support the fantastic work that TimeNorfolk does.
On the 28 May 2020 the Statutory Sick Pay Regulations were amended. It added to the list of people deemed incapable of work for statutory sick pay purposes to include those who have been notified they need to isolate due to coming into contact with somebody with Covid-19.
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.
Howes Percival has advised homelessness charity Emmaus Gloucestershire on the purchase of a new shop to expand its social enterprise, generating more income to support people out of homelessness and providing additional work experience opportunities for those it helps.
Many people reach a point in their lives when they become able to make gifts to their children, sometimes fairly significant. This may be to help them with university fees or to look to help them onto the first step of the housing ladder.
Fiona Stuart, a personal and corporate insolvency law associate at Howes Percival, has achieved insolvency practitioner accreditation, having successfully completed the Joint Insolvency Examination Board (JIEB) exams. She is one of only 18 people to achieve accreditation this year.
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.
From 15 September 2021, for a temporary period, people working or volunteering in care homes who have a medical reason why they are unable to have the vaccine will be able to self-certify that they meet the medical exemption criteria.
The myth of common law marriage still abounds – many people believing that in the event of their death a long-term partner enjoys all manner of rights that in reality simply do not exist.
As 2024 unfolds, we want to hear from you about emerging people issues and your organisation's readiness to respond.
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…
The impact of coronavirus on company cash flows is extreme. With the increased restrictions on movement of people and non-essential economic activity, many well-run companies could be facing the possibility of insolvency.
Family law expert, Justine Flack discusses whether divorce is still possible during lockdown and what people who are considering divorce can do now in preparation for when restrictions are lifted.
Boris Johnson has announced what the Government has described as “the most radical reforms to our planning system since the Second World War, making it easier to build better homes where people want to live”. The new proposals are expressed to soften the economic impact of coronavirus with the PM vowing to “build, build, build”.
On Saturday 25 July 2020 the UK Government announced (with less than 6 hours’ notice) that people arriving to the UK from Spain would be required to enter into a 14 day quarantine, a move which is expected to impact on 1.2 million Britons this August alone.
The coronavirus pandemic has revolutionised the way we work. Boris told us to work from home and we did! We worked from home in a way we had never done before. This was not possible for all roles but we have seen people performing duties from home which we never dreamed would be possible! A large part of this is down to better investment in and use…
A Will is a serious document – your last word on what happens when you are gone – but for some people their Will has been an opportunity to leave some unusual bequests.
Two recent cases have dealt with different issues in relation to restrictive covenants. The first related to an applicant having difficulty registering their disposition of a registered title because of a restriction (a common frustration for many people making Land Registry applications). The second dealt with the interpretation of a restrictive covenant…
Howes Percival has received three nominations for Insider Media’s East Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2024. The annual awards recognise high quality work from the top professional services firms in the East Midlands region. The categories are judged by a panel of independent experts and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner event taking place…
Labour promised a whole host of changes to employment law in their manifesto and a “new deal for working people”. Now that Sir Keir Starmer has taken the reins as Prime Minister, employers and HR professionals are left wondering: what do these proposals actually mean?
As the largest commercial and cultural centre in East Anglia, Norwich is unique, but that’s not enough to guarantee success. Like any important city today, its people and its businesses rely on the guidance of supportive, knowledgeable advisors who understand their needs and can help them look ahead.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was finally published on 24 July 2018 just before the summer recess of the House of Commons. Howes Percival’s planning team review the implications of the largest overhaul of national planning policy since 2012.
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.
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.
Financial abuse of older and vulnerable adults is an increasingly frequent cause of concern. Spotting the signs and risks of this can be key in alerting wider family and stopping this type of abuse in its tracks.
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.
Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the third year running.
Howes Percival’s Northampton office has raised over £8,000 for its Charity of the Year 2021/2022, The Trussell Trust.
In May, the government published the draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law.
Howes Percival and Milton Keynes College hosted an event to officially launch the “TeenTech Cities: Milton Keynes Festival” to businesses and organisations from all along the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford corridor and explain how they can get involved.
Family law partner, Justine Flack and employment law partner, Graham Irons consider the importance of taking pensions into account on divorce and the value of employer pension schemes.
Howes Percival’s health and safety specialists have been giving some thought to what it means for employers and their duties under health and safety law, to bring dogs into the workplace environment.
Howes Percival has cemented its reputation as a leader in the business community after winning two prestigious awards at the East Midlands Chamber’s Leicestershire Business Awards 2024.
A team from Howes Percival will be taking part in this year's Chariots of Fire Race in Cambridge on 17 September 2017.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office is due to take part in The Eastern Legal Support Trust’s 2018 Norwich Legal Walk on Thursday 7 June.
There has been a lot of talk about no fault divorce in the press recently, with the government now launching a public consultation to look at changing divorce law in the UK. Family Law partner Justine Flack looks at the background to the issue and shares her views on the matter.
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.
South Norfolk MP, Richard Bacon, joined representatives from Norfolk’s leading property businesses to discuss the challenges of meeting Norfolk’s housing needs at a dinner organised by Howes Percival.
Howes Percival is embarking on a recruitment drive that should create over 30 new jobs following a post-pandemic increase in client instructions.
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…
On 10 May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the UK to set out his, and the Government’s vision, on how the country can be eased out of the Coronavirus lockdown.
Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the second year running.
Last month The Guardian highlighted again the case of Joan Blass who died in 2016 aged 91. Joan Blass had suffered from vascular dementia having been diagnosed in 2011. That same year she met Colman Folan who was 24 years her junior. He moved into the home of Joan Blass just a month later.
Howes Percival trainee, Zara Khan discusses becoming part of the firm's Equality and Diversity Committee and the work it does throughout the firm.
Howes Percival has appointed family law expert, Sally Harris as a director. She joins the leading law firm from Steeles Law where she was a partner and head of the family law team.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office has raised over £9,000 for its Charity of the Year 2022, Nelson’s Journey.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival has announced 31 senior promotions, including five new partners, Jennifer Laskey, Alexandra Hornsby, Nick Benton, Tom Redman and Jamie Childs.
Earlier this week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (‘IFS’) suggested that a way to raise revenues and make the tax system ‘fairer’ may be to restrict three types of relief from Inheritance Tax and to no longer give ‘special treatment to some assets’.
The King’s Speech yesterday morning marked the State Opening of Parliament following Labour’s election victory earlier this month.
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.
The long awaited Housing White Paper (“HWP”) claims to set out ‘new measures to ensure the housing market works for everyone, including people on lower incomes, renters, disabled and older people’. A key feature of the HWP is that it embraces all types of housing and all types of needs; this includes support for private Build to Rent development and…
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…
As our brand new chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak prepares for his first Budget, history suggests that if the Government wants to make unpopular changes to tax we should expect them this year.
Howes Percival recognised for ‘outstanding’ commitment to workplace engagement
If you have been appointed as someone’s Attorney or Deputy, your role will continue despite the unprecedented situation in which we are living.
Howes Percival’s planning team comment on the recent developments arising in the sphere of planning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
Health and safety risk management issues employers may need to consider when the lockdown ends.
Planning law partner, Paul Hunt and senior associate, Sarah Hollis at Howes Percival, discusses the Government’s plan to boost housing supply and whether it will succeed in meeting their ambitious target.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack discusses the concept of winning and losing when it comes to divorce and what it really means to achieve the best outcome.
It is a great time to be a logistics business in our region. The growth of e-commerce has significantly increased demand and our infrastructure should only improve with the continued development of the Oxford Cambridge Arc. Nevertheless, our local logistics firms can’t afford to rely on geography alone to succeed and need to get the basics right to…
In this article, we turn our attention to the challenges arising from the presence of defective external wall systems (EWS) in commercial buildings, a topic that has not received much recognition from government or the media but which is no less important for occupiers and owners.
The additional day off is part of a series of initiatives aimed at supporting the team
When a person dies the assets they owned at the date of their death form their Estate. Those assets – including any land, investments, personal belongings and property – will be distributed according to the wishes of the Deceased if they left a Will or the rules of intestacy if they did not make a Will.
Howes Percival has recognised Black History Month 2021 with a series of initiatives throughout October.
Making a Will is a sensible approach to organising your affairs and something that almost everyone should do. As clients get older the destination of their assets when they are no longer here to enjoy them will often become a more pressing consideration.
Howes Percival has announced 14 senior promotions, including five new partners.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, care sector clients have reported a significant rise in the number of grievances being raised. This may be a direct result of the severe pressure placed on care sector employees during, and after, the pandemic (which has certainly been exacerbated by the issues caused by the introduction and revocation of the mandatory…
Senior Associate at Howes Percival, Gemma Evans, provides some top tips on things to consider when an unmarried couple purchases a property together.
On 14th September 2023, the UK Parliament passed, without amendment, the Powers of Attorney Bill (the “Bill”), which will make substantial changes to the procedure for making Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) in England and Wales.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office has raised over £8,000 for its Charity of the Year 2023, Norfolk & Waveney Mind.
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.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival has announced 11 senior promotions, including four new partners, Miles Barnes, Jeremy Hyde, Jasmine Mason and Richard Turner.
Most employers have a grievance procedure, which sets out how an employee can raise a complaint and how it will be managed. Many procedures have a section about raising grievances informally in the first instance. Notwithstanding this, far too many grievances seem to proceed straight down the formal route.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office is thrilled that its chosen charity for 2017 is Norwich Door to Door. The local transport charity helps people who have severe mobility problems and the low incomes that constrain their ability to get out and about, providing a door to door minibus service with affordable fares. The charity operates a fleet of ten mobility…
If your current Will was made before October 2007 and you were married at the time, there is every chance that it contains a Nil Rate Band (NRB) Trust. Unless a trust is needed for reasons other than making sure the NRB was used, it is no longer serving any purpose and could soon pose the risk of actually causing additional tax.Every person (unless…
In March 2015 the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 was enacted to “place a duty on certain public authorities to keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who wish to acquire serviced plots of land to bring forward self-build and custom housebuilding projects and to place a duty on certain public authorities to have…
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…
Howes Percival were proud to sponsor the Club Together 2017 charity 3 day cycle ride which took place between 8th and 10th September 2017.
This month, our Leicester, Northampton and Norwich offices got together with friends, clients and contacts to raise money for charity at a series of festive quizzes.
An estimated 2.9 million* adults in the UK now use e-cigarettes but, how should employers treat the use of e-cigarettes in the workplace?
During the stressful time of separation and Divorce, the use of Social Media should be exercised with caution and careful consideration as Joanne Wilbraham, Solicitor in our family team explains.
Further research supports the growing demand for a change in the law to allow for no fault divorce.
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.
On Thursday 15 November, Howes Percival took part in the Norwich Sleep Out in aid of The Benjamin Foundation.
The founder of the Leicestershire Corporate Finance Club has hailed the group’s first event a huge success and confirmed that plans are already coming together for the next meeting on 12th February 2019.
Howes Percival’s Finance Director, David Abrahams will spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day volunteering for homelessness charity, Crisis.
Howes Percival’s Finance Director, David Abrahams has raised over £4,000 for homelessness charity, Crisis.
When considering how to divide assets and liabilities on divorce, the focus can often turn to property, and the need to know where everyone will be living. This is understandable, but should not be the sole focus.
If your parents divorced you may be predisposed to experience divorce too. The Family team considers why that might be and steps you can take to help your children.
Payment Protection Insurance, more commonly known as PPI, is a product that enables a person to insure repayment of loans, mortgages, overdrafts, credit cards and store cards, to protect against accident, sickness, involuntary unemployment, or loss of life.
Howes Percival is celebrating 30 years in Norwich. The firm marked the occasion with a drinks party for clients and friends, which included a reunion for the four original founding partners of the Norwich office - Alan Kefford, Andrew Barnes, Andrew Wood and Sandy Munro.
The government is consulting on abolishing section 21 notices and assured shorthold tenancies. Our property experts discuss the impact in their latest article.
Sophie Key looks at the role of the family law solicitor dealing with unrepresented parties.
Howes Percival celebrated the fourth anniversary of the opening of its Cambridge office, with a party at Downing College. Over 100 clients and contacts joined partners and staff to mark the occasion with an evening of drinks, canapes and music.
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.
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.
During this period of social distancing, there can be concerns over what rights you might have to exclude customers and staff if you are operating premises where employees and members of the public will be mixing, such as shops, bars and restaurants.
During this period of social distancing, there can be concerns over what rights you might have to exclude customers and staff if you are operating premises where employees and members of the public will be mixing, such as leisure facilities, holiday venues, bars and restaurants.
Howes Percival has elected a new Chairman. Partner and head of litigation, Geraint Davies, has taken over the role for a three-year term.
Family law partner, Justine Flack discusses the impact of bankruptcy on divorce settlements and family financial arrangements in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Employers - one of the biggest health and safety risks of Covid-19 is making you neglect other health and safety risks
Trainee Solicitor, Amy Ward, talks about her experience at Howes Percival since joining in September 2019 and gives some helpful tops for getting involved.
COVID-19/Coronavirus is respiratory condition that can severely impair an affected person’s lungs and airways. The majority of people who catch COVID-19 will suffer mild to moderate symptoms but in the most severe cases, COVID-19 can be fatal. It has the potential to spread to anyone coming into close contact with a carrier of COVID-19 particularly…
On 22 September the government announced further national measures to try to control the escalating number of coronavirus cases in England. Under their devolved powers, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have also introduced new measures along broadly similar lines but with differing levels of severity. Many of the new rules in England will have a significant…
The latest lockdown sees the UK placed under the most restrictive measures which, sadly, will affect a great proportion of the equestrian community. Here is what you need to know about the latest regulations and how it will affect you.
The corporate, commercial, and banking team at leading law firm Howes Percival has reported an ‘incredibly busy’ start to 2021, completing 32 deals in the first quarter, with a combined value of £263 million.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack highlights four things you should consider when divorce proceedings come to an end.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack provides an update on the No Fault Divorce and the potential benefits and drawbacks of the new legal system.
On 12 July 2021, the Prime Minister announced that from Monday 19 July the Government instruction to ‘work from home where you can’ will be lifted.
With a variety of organisations (including Waterstones, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and TFL) now announcing that they will require face coverings following ‘Freedom day’, employers should review their internal policies and consider whether they will require employees and any visitors to wear face coverings.
With a variety of organisations (including Waterstones, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and TFL) now requiring face coverings post ‘Freedom day’, employers in the leisure and tourism sector should review their internal policies and consider whether they will require employees and visitors to wear face coverings.
The change in self-isolation rules coincides with the expiry of the exemption of self-isolation rules for ‘critical workers’ that ran until 16 August. Close contacts are now advised to take a PCR test “as soon as possible” rather than self-isolating.
The 2022 edition of The Legal 500 – the authoritative guide to the UK’s leading law firms – has recommended Howes Percival for 21 different practice areas and awarded the firm top tier ranking in 11 different legal specialisms.
Over recent years the Courts have seen an increase in the number of claims being brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
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…
Our experts discuss the steps you can take to avoid any unnecessary family disputes after your death if you intend to leave unequal shares of your estate to your children.
This week saw the Housing Minister, Michael Gove, announce a raft of measures designed to resolve the cladding crisis that has engulfed the government since Grenfell Tower burned down on the night of 14 June 2017.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack considers timing when it comes to issuing divorce proceedings; a current topic with the introduction of no fault divorce.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has updated its guidance on consumer law advice for UK care home providers. As care home providers, it is important for you to understand and comply with consumer law obligations.
In this article, we look at why these regulations are needed and what smart charging means. We also look at opportunities for landowners and summarise relevant planning rules, policies and other provisions relating to EV charge points.
Following consultation, the government has announced that from 15 March 2022, the requirement for mandatory vaccination for all frontline health and social care workers and volunteers in England will no longer apply.
Howes Percival has been appointed to housing and care provider, Anchor’s legal services panel following a tender process.
On July 21st, Beth Boucher, Helaina Mann and Lilika Peutherer will be joining Norfolk and Waveney Mind for their Annual Tandem Skydive, jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet, to raise funds for Howes Percival’s Norwich Office Charity of the Year 2023.
On Friday 10 October 2024, the Government submitted the Employment Rights Bill to Parliament.
The Supreme Court has allowed the appeal by Unison against the legality of employment tribunal fees, holding that the current fees regime prevents access to justice and is unlawful.
Howes Percival, Interdirect and Milton Keynes College, have got together to undertake a new charity fundraising walk in the City on 8th September 2017. The Challenge Walk is a 25.48 mile walking route over existing countryside and Parks Trust walkways and pathways, taking in Willen Lake, parkland, rivers, canals and reservoirs. The event was the brainchild…
The Government has published the eagerly awaited ‘Good Work’ report setting out the findings of the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices.
Irritability, headaches, sleep problems, loss of appetite; we all probably recognise the symptoms of stress. In 2013 a survey by the Mental Health Foundation revealed that nearly half of adults felt stressed on a regular basis. A recent Labour Force survey has also shown that in 2013/14 11.3 million working days were lost in the UK because of stress.There…
Over 150 clients and friends helped leading regional law firm Howes Percival celebrate 20 years in Leicester with a special event at The Curve Theatre.
The Government has announced that the Employment Rights Bill is being introduced in Parliament later today (10 October 2024).
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have opened a consultation seeking views on proposals relating to permitted development rights titled “Consultation on additional flexibilities to support housing delivery, the agricultural sector, businesses, high streets and open prisons;…
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…
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…
New gender pay gap reporting regulations are now in force which will impact on schools. From 31 March 2017 (and 6 April 2017 for private sector employers), there is a new obligation on employers with 250 or more employees to publish gender pay gap information.The gender pay gap is not the same as equal pay. Equal pay is the pay difference between men…
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival, has announced the retirement of Senior Partner Andrew Barnes, after 28 years with the firm. Andrew was one of the founding partners responsible for setting up the Howes Percival Norwich office in 1989, when he moved across the city from Overbury Steward & Eaton, where he started out as a trainee in 1979.…
The Ministry of Justice has shocked professionals by confirming that probate fees in England and Wales are set to increase dramatically in May. Currently, a flat fee of £155 is payable where a probate application is submitted by a solicitor. The new tiered system will see fees linked to the size of the estate. The new bottom rate…
It is often said that one should never mix business with pleasure. Not everyone heeds this advice which may come home to roost when a marriage breaks down. Equally, business disagreements can themselves put a huge strain on family relationships.
Dress codes have recently been thrown into the spotlight, following a government review of current workplace practices. A joint report issued by two Parliamentary committees said that the Equality Act 2010 should be properly enforced to ban sexist dress rules at work, which discriminate against women.
In the Government Legal Service v Brookes the EAT has confirmed the earlier decision of the Employment Tribunal, that a candidate required to carry out a psychometric test as part of a recruitment process, was placed at a particular disadvantage because she had Asperger’s syndrome.
The National Living Wage has gained renewed publicity following the Shadow Chancellor’s comments at the Labour Party conference in which he outlined Labour’s plans to create a “real Living Wage”, suggesting a rate above £10 per hour.
The Court of Appeal has now confirmed that signs which are clearly visible can be effective in stopping prescriptive rights from accruing.
BackgroundOn the international stage, London is a popular forum for the resolution of commercial disputes, and indeed a number of emerging legal markets have based their procedure on that of the English courts. However, with the Brexit vote casting uncertainty over various aspects of international jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition of England’s…
In recent times tattoos have increased in popularity, particularly now that many celebrities have now taken up the craze. David Beckham is leading the way and is reported to be the proud owner of at least 32 tattoos, including ‘full sleeves’ on both arms. Many others, including his wife, Victoria, have now followed suit choosing to decorate their bodies.This…
Howes Percival has been listed in Insider Media’s Midlands Corporate Finance Guide 2022 as the law firm which completed the second highest number of deals in the region within the last year.
WHAT IS AN ACADEMY? General overview of an Academy: An Academy Trust (AT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee.It must have at least three Members (those people who establish the AT). In law, the Members are the owners.The Members shall attend and vote at general meetings of the AT and be responsible for appointing the AT’s Board…
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.
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…
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.
Intellectual Property & IT Partner James Howarth will be taking part in Celebrity JustDance 2017 on 18 November at Arena MK.
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.
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;…
At Howes Percival our aim is to make our website as accessible as possible to the widest range of visitors and customers. Communicating as effectively as possible is paramount for us.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office was delighted to work with Norwich Door to Door as their chosen charity for 2017.
New site aims to be the ‘Go-to for all things East-West’
Many cohabitants are still mistaken about their rights upon separation. Family Law Solicitor Joanne Wilbraham explains some of the most common misconceptions and the steps that a cohabitant can take to protect themselves.
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…
Ensure you don’t allow your cohabitation, pre or post-nuptial agreement to fade into irrelevance with these key guidelines on when to review.
Mark Baldwin of our Insolvency Service team considers what can be done to show that a person has acted as a de facto director.
On the 27th May 2018, Amy Wallhead will be jumping 10,000 feet, and free-falling at over 120mph, in a tandem skydive to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society. Funds raised will go towards research into the cause, care, cure and prevention of all types of Dementia.
On July 7th, Ashlie Cox and Kieran John will be jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet above sea level to raise funds for Howes Percival LLP's charity of the year, TimeNorfolk.
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…
Care home providers will be breathing a sigh of relief as the Court of Appeal in Mencap v Tomlinson-Blake has today held that carers who sleep at a client’s home and are technically “on call”, are not entitled to the minimum wage whilst they are asleep.
Laura Clay-Harris reports on the recent decision by the Supreme Court to dismiss appeal but the call for parliament to review divorce laws continues.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has welcomed the announcement that The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will consult on ‘no-fault’ divorces and the length of time the parties need to wait before becoming entitled to divorce.
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 litigation partner, Satnam Chayra and trainee, Donna-Marie Helgeson have taken part in Welcome Break’s Nine Hour Challenge in aid of BBC Children in Need.
On Wednesday 7 November, Howes Percival’s dispute resolution solicitor, Max Galt won the annual Leicester Stand Up Comedy Challenge.
Businesspeople from a variety of backgrounds in and around Leicester had an opportunity to celebrate Diwali recently at Howes Percival’s Leicester office.
A paralegal from Howes Percival’s Commercial Property team has launched a new Instagram account for horse-lovers, equestrian business owners and land and property agents with connections to the equestrian sector.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival has been shortlisted in five categories in the prestigious Legal 500 UK Awards 2019.
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.
Employment law is always fast moving and provides traps for the unwary employer. Apart from expecting the usual raft of employment tribunal decisions that impact how employers manage their staff, the focus in 2019 will be on pay.
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…
Howes Percival’s Norwich office has raised over £5,000 for its Charity of the Year 2018, TimeNorfolk and staff have nominated Norwich Foodbank as their Charity of the Year 2019.
Hat-trick of Spearing Waite hires creates the largest corporate finance team in Leicestershire
We are all familiar with the phrase “a right to privacy”. It is something that we all value and it is common for celebrities to fight for it through the courts, but to what extent can we rely on it when going through a divorce? Do we have a right to keep certain information to ourselves? What about past secrets that have been kept during the marriage?…
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.
Howes Percival’s licensing law expert, Jamie Childs, provides some top tips for owners and operators of licensed premises to be aware of.
In October last year, the Government launched a consultation on updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (“NPPF”) and the National Planning Practice Guidance (“NPPG”) setting out proposed alterations to the standard method for assessing local housing need to ensure that it is consistent with increasing the supply of homes.
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.
Following an increase in new instructions, Howes Percival has expanded its Norwich-based commercial property team with the addition of three specialist commercial property lawyers.
Last month, Laura Clay-Harris of our Family Department reported on the importance of considering pension assets on divorce. More recently, the Financial Times has reported on research showing that private pensions are the largest asset in divorces where the parties have a net worth of one million or more.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival has announced 14 senior promotions, including three new partners as it prepares for further growth.
Trainees are in a unique position where every six months brings a new department, area of law, skills, experiences and concerns.
Court bans boss of a company that offered investment opportunities in Brazilian social housing for 14 years after he misled his clients.
Not everyone can afford a solicitor to represent them at court so if you are faced with attending on your own, this guidance may help you to prepare.
Separation and Divorce brings about a number of significant changes. In circumstances where one party has worked fewer hours or not worked at all, is it fair to expect that party to now seek full time employment?
A recent Channel 4 drama explored the issue of coercive control in a relationship which can be a subtle form of domestic abuse but is no less damaging than inflicting physical pain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We understand that for many the rapidly changing situation will be causing considerable concern for them and their family. To help guide you through these uncertain times, we have identified some key considerations for your estate planning.
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?
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”).
Partner and family law expert, Justine Flack gives some key considerations for those receiving or paying maintenance on divorce in the wake of COVID-19.
Paul Hunt, partner in Howes Percival’s Planning Team comments on the recent Government paper entitled “Planning for the Future”.
Following on from our previous updates on the effect of the Government’s furlough scheme (the “Scheme”) and its impact on sales out of administrations, the Government has provided a further update, and the High Court has made its first decision on the interrelation between the Scheme and insolvency practice in the context of the recent administration…
Ex-Dentons head of Corporate and Commercial, Andy Harris, re-joins the firm
Family law partner, Justine Flack looks at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on divorce settlements and gives some practical steps for those who feel their settlement has become unfair in light of the circumstances.
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.
Family law partner, Justine Flack discusses how the coronavirus pandemic may affect property in divorce proceedings and highlights what those going through a divorce should consider.
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…
The Office of the Public Guardian has introduced a new digital service for Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”). ‘Use A Lasting Power of Attorney’ went live on 17 July 2020 and all LPAs registered after this date will be able to make use of the service.
Howes Percival has strengthened its Family Law practice with two senior appointments. Based in the Leicester office, family law partner Justine Flack has been promoted to become the new national Head of the firm’s Family Law department, while Melanie Westwood has joined the Leicester team as a senior associate.
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.
Landlords and tenants often include break clauses within heads of terms – the commercial arrangement is that one or either party can terminate the lease and exit the property.
As the restrictions imposed on everyday life in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve, licensing and planning law specialist Jamie Childs examines what operators of licensed premises should consider when contemplating changing the use of their premises.
The development and housing sectors will see many changes through 2021 and beyond. Regulatory expert, Robert Starr predicts that next year will see one of the biggest shake-ups in fire safety to date and urges those with fire safety obligations to start planning now.
2020 has been an extremely busy year for employment law, with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic placing both employers and employees in uncharted territory. This year saw many employers needing to get to grips with the new concept of ‘furloughing’, keep up to date with ever-changing Government guidance and adapt to homeworking (a change likely to…
Family law expert and partner at Howes Percival, Justine Flack urges business owners to consider taking steps early to minimise the impact of divorce and prevent future problems from arising should their marriage come to an end.
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 this blog, Carl Mifflin, Head of Restructuring and Insolvency at Howes Percival, examines how investment fraud has thrived in recent years, highlights how economic uncertainty provides a breeding ground for fraudsters and identifies some of the key ways to avoid falling victim to investment fraud.
Whilst we are all looking forward to the normality of life returning, the pandemic has provided us with a unique opportunity to gain more from both our work and social lives which we should take advantage of as trainees.
Amy Walpole, Partner at Howes Percival and Family Solicitor, offers guidance on the importance of protecting your pensions entitlements attached to pension sharing orders following divorce.
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.
In our last article, we summarised the effects of the cladding crisis on residential leaseholders who own flats in affected blocks. In this article, we look at what the government has done to date in terms of funding.
Howes Percival has advised on the sale of Corby based foam conversion business Technical Foam Services to the Vita Group.
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.
Share buybacks are a popular and effective way for companies to maintain control of their share capital, buy out troublesome shareholders, or return some capital to existing ones.
When someone dies and family members consider they have not been provided for adequately under the terms of a Will, it may be possible to bring a claim against the Estate.
Writing a Will is the most sensible way to ensure that your wishes are followed after your death. The vast majority of Wills go unchallenged and families are able to grieve the loss of a loved one and administer their Estate. In some cases, however, a Will – or the lack of a Will – creates grounds for a dispute.
Howes Percival has been named one of the top 200 law firms in England and Wales in The Times’ Best Law Firms 2022 list published on 4 November 2021.The list is based entirely on recommendations from thousands of solicitors across England and Wales who were asked to choose which law firms they would recommend for a number of categories…
Since the start of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) Pandemic we have been contacted by many employers to ask about their reporting obligations under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) and specifically in relation to whether employers must report incidences where someone working for them catches Covid-19…
Following consultation, the government has now announced that all frontline health and social care workers and volunteers in England (including the NHS) are to be fully vaccinated by 1 April 2022.
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 has won the Professional Services category at this year’s Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards.
An innovative consortium of three law firms has been appointed to a prestigious central government panel to provide legal advice to government departments and their agencies.
