Legal guides, in plain English.
155 articles from our team — the questions clients actually ask, answered clearly. Filter by specialism or search for your issue.
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154 articles
An executor's guide: from the death to the final distribution
What an executor does, from registering the death to the final accounts: the grant, inheritance tax deadlines, creditor notices and family claims.
Directors' duties: the seven general duties, and declaring an interest
The seven duties in sections 171 to 177 of the Companies Act 2006, declaring interests under s.182, the creditor duty and Companies House ID checks.
What is an injunction? How the court orders someone to stop — and how fast
How the court decides whether to order someone to stop: the American Cyanamid test, the cross-undertaking, without-notice applications, costs and contempt.
The Commercial Property Acquisition Process in England and Wales
The acquisition of commercial property in England and Wales is a structured legal process. Each stage of the transaction carries its own procedural requirements, and each is a stage at which a buyer’s position can be materially strengthened or exposed. This piece is the first in a four-part series f
Enforcing Brand Rights Against Online Infringement
The unauthorised use of a brand’s name, marks, imagery or reputation online is now a routine commercial risk. The first response for most brand owners is an informal report through the platform on which the infringement appears. Platform takedown routes resolve a proportion of matters, and quickly,
The Law of Defamation and Digital Publication
The legal framework for defamation in England and Wales is set out primarily in the Defamation Act 2013, supplemented by the common law. The Act applies to any published statement regardless of medium, but the practical questions it raises have shifted materially with the widespread use of email, me
Suing for breach of contract: time limits, pre-action steps and court fees
Six years from the breach — and what can move that date. Limitation, the right pre-action protocol, track allocation, court fees and statutory interest.
Director disqualification: unfitness, time limits and undertakings
Under section 6 the court must disqualify once both conditions are met. The unfitness test, the two deadlines, and what an undertaking really commits you to.
Settlement agreements: what makes one legally binding, and who pays for your advice
When is a settlement agreement binding? The advice you must take, who can give it, who pays for it, how the money is taxed, and the 2026-27 changes.
What Coca-Cola’s contour bottle teaches us about trade marks, distinctiveness and building an asset that outlives its patent
The history of Coca-Cola is a lesson in business and branding and a part of American culture in itself. From the secret “Coke” formula to the logo and bottle design, Coca-Cola, like any business, has to deal with its share of infringers, not always successfully. After a century, many aspects of Coca
Managing a Shareholder Dispute in the Early Stages
A shareholder dispute typically begins with a deterioration in relations between the parties before it becomes a dispute in the strict legal sense. The position taken in the early stages – when the parties are still communicating and before any formal step has been taken – often has a disproportiona
Grounds for Contesting a Will in England and Wales
A challenge to the validity or fairness of a will is one of the more sensitive areas of legal practice. The family circumstances surrounding a contested estate are often as significant as the legal ones, and the decision to proceed requires both careful consideration of the merits of the claim and a
Investigations and Considerations When Acquiring Commercial Property
The acquisition of commercial property in England and Wales is governed by the principle of caveat emptor – let the buyer beware. The legal effect is that a buyer takes the property as they find it, with the burden being on them to investigate matters that may affect the value, use, or title of the
Image Rights and Personality Rights for Public Figures
The commercial value of a well-known individual often extends well beyond their primary source of income. For a sports professional that may be the salary from a club; for an actor, musician or social media influencer it may be performance, appearance or platform income. In each case, endorsements,
Reducing Aged Debtors Through Robust Terms and Conditions
Aged debt is a structural risk for any business that extends credit on its commercial invoices. Outstanding invoices represent work already completed and costs already incurred, and the longer they remain outstanding the more they constrain a business’ working capital position. While debt recovery a
Key Considerations in Trademark Registration for Early-Stage Businesses
Trademark protection establishes a business’s legal claim over the brand under which it trades. For early-stage businesses, the trademark position can affect the ability to grow, to raise investment, and to defend the commercial identity of the business against later entrants. An application made on
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025: what landlords need to know
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27th October 2025, with its first phase taking effect on 1st May 2026. The Act is the most substantial change to the assured tenancy regime since the Housing Act 1988 and reshapes how landlords let, manage, and recover possession of residential p
Service Charge Demands: What Landlords and Managing Agents Need to Get Right
A practical guide for landlords and managing agents on issuing valid service charge demands, including section 21B notices, statutory summaries, section 47 and 48 requirements, the 18-month rule and common leasehold disputes.