Machins Solicitors regularly advise start-up businesses on the legal aspects of their new venture. Set out below is a basic checklist of the main points for you to consider and which we are usually asked to advise on: Business Structure Choose an appropriate business structure. The most common are: Sole trader – is when you
Many will be familiar with contracts in one way or another. However, to some, preparing or reviewing such documentation may seem like a wasteful expense, particularly for a new business as the cost would cut into that all important bottom line. Legally, a contract can be written or spoken and therefore an effective agreement could
A beauty therapist who was made redundant by the Bannatyne Fitness group because she was unable to work weekends has been awarded £18,000 for unfair dismissal and injury to her feelings. The Employment Tribunal heard that Emma Holt had worked at Bannatyne Fitness in Carlisle for nearly 10 years. She had a flexible hours agreement
A pilot who was suspended by travel company Thomas Cook after saying he was too tired to fly has won his grievance claim. The Employment Tribunal was told that Captain Mike Simkins was suspended for six months and threatened with dismissal because he refused to fly a Boeing 767 with more than 200 passengers on
The director of an employment agency has been fined £17,000 for eight breaches of regulations relating to his business sector. Stephen Paul Harvey, who is aged 63 and from N10 in London, was also banned from being a company director for two years. Mr Harvey’s offences related to the operation of two companies, one incorporated
A landlord is not liable to pay council tax if a fixed term tenancy ends early. The payment remains the responsibility of the tenant even if they are no longer resident. That was the decision of the Court of Appeal in a case involving Leeds City Council. The landlord in the case had granted assured
Five model agencies and their trade association have been fined a total of £1.5m for colluding on prices. An investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that FM Models, Models 1, Premier, Storm and Viva – and their trade association, the Association of Model Agents – colluded together for two years. The CMA
The government has announced new regulations to help small businesses get paid quicker when supplying large companies. The new ‘duty to report’ will require large companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) to publicly report twice yearly on their payment practices and performance, including the average time taken to pay supplier invoices. It’s hoped this will
The government is to use banning orders to crack down on rogue landlords and property agents. The orders will be used in cases involving serious offences against tenants. Ministers say such offences could include failing to carry out work required by the council to prevent a health and safety risk to tenants, threatening tenants with
The director of a restaurant has been disqualified for six years for employing illegal workers. Anwar Hussain was the director of a restaurant company trading under the name Mim Spice in Southend-On-Sea. In April 2015, Home Office Immigration Enforcement Officers discovered that Mr Hussain was employing three workers who were not eligible to work in