Supreme Court holds that company directors are liable for their actions
The Supreme Court has rejected the idea that directors can avoid responsibility for offences like fraud by trying to make their company responsible for their wrongdoing. The case, involving Bilta UK...
View ArticleDeciding whether to buy or lease commercial property
During the recession, many firms shelved plans to move to better and larger premises. Indeed, some businesses looked to downsize rather than expand. However, as the economy gradually recovers and...
View ArticleHow the new bills in Queen’s Speech will affect Suffolk Businesses
The Queen’s Speech outlined several Bills that could have a significant impact on businesses. The government says the main theme behind most of its proposals is to strengthen the UK’s competitiveness...
View ArticleCourt upholds compulsory buy-out of minority shareholder
A minority shareholder was not unfairly treated when his former colleagues decided to buy him out against his will. That was the ruling of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a private equity...
View ArticleHow are damages assessed when your supplier fails to deliver?
It is not uncommon for a company’s business to be disrupted because a supplier to fails to deliver materials on the agreed date. In such cases, how do you assess the extent of the damage caused and...
View ArticleContractor wins right to challenge £658,000 award
A contractor has won the right to challenge a £658,000 award made against it by an adjudicator more than six years ago. The court heard that the contractor had been engaged by a developer to carry out...
View ArticleCompany lost lucrative contract through lack of foresight
A company had a multi-million pound contract terminated because it failed to foresee the extent of ground contamination on a development site and failed to carry out its own checks. The case involved a...
View ArticleFormer benefit claimants set up 70,000 new businesses
Former benefit claimants have set up 70,000 new businesses under the government’s New Enterprise Allowance scheme. The scheme provides seed funding and a mentor for jobseekers, lone parents and people...
View Article‘Excluded’ junior partner ousts director as company manager
A woman who helped set up a business as a junior partner has succeeding in ousting the senior shareholder-director who ignored their agreement and misused company money. The two parties had agreed to...
View ArticleGovernment urged to rewrite the rulebook on late payment
The government is being urged to throw out the rulebook relating to late payments and start afresh if it really wants to tackle the problem that bedevils so many small businesses. The Association of...
View ArticleNew Commissioner ‘to help small firms tackle late payment issues’
The government is planning to appoint a Small Business Commissioner to help firms tackle late payment issues and unfair practices carried out by larger companies. The move comes after research by Bacs...
View ArticleCompany protects its business from poaching by former director
A businessman has failed in his attempt to overturn an injunction preventing him from competing with his former company and trying to poach its customers. The court heard that the businessman had been...
View ArticleFirm loses all its assets in misunderstanding over contract
A firm that entered into a contract before the final details were agreed has ended up losing all its assets. The case involved a firm that wanted to buy a property but could not raise the purchase...
View ArticleLate payment problems to get worse
Nearly a third of small businesses expect late payment problems to increase and cash flow to get worse, according to a survey conducted by Lloyds Bank. The survey reveals that late payment of invoices...
View ArticleCompany granted injunction to protect intellectual property
Firm stops former directors using its software with rival business A computer programming company has been granted an injunction preventing some of its former directors from using its software in a...
View ArticlePlans to make it easier to disqualify directors
New measures could lead to more director disqualifications New regulations designed to improve standards in business could lead to more directors being disqualified. The measures, which came into force...
View ArticleEstate agency enforces no-competition clause on franchisee
A national estate agency that operates on a franchise basis has successfully taken legal action to prevent competition from a former franchisee. The agency offered training and support to partners...
View ArticleArchitects win £150,000 dispute over development project
A firm of architects have won their case before the Court of Appeal that a developer should pay them £150,000 for work carried out on a new hotel. The court heard that the architects were hired by the...
View ArticleTraining course provider wins appeal over non-payment of invoices
A company providing environmental training courses has won its appeal against the non-payment of invoices by a major client. The issue arose after the provider was hired to provide training on behalf...
View ArticleEmployers urged to prepare for paying the National Living Wage
Ministers have urged employers to start preparing now for the National Living Wage (NLW), which comes into effect on 1 April this year. Research carried out on behalf of the government suggests that...
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