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FIND A LAWYER
Like plumbers, builders and accountants, lawyers don’t inspire the greatest trust from the world at large.
But like those basic services, a lawyer is an absolute must for any start-up that wants to tread the legal minefield of the business world. Whether it’s a preventative measure against potential lawsuits, or as guidance through an acquisition, you’re going to want someone who has passed the bar by your side at some point in your entrepreneurial career. But how can you find one you really trust?
The first question you’ll need to ask yourself is: what sort of lawyer best suits your business? The law is a broad and constantly evolving behemoth, and you’ll find that most lawyers specialise in a particular aspect of its complexity. So, for example, if you’re an insurance company, you’ll likely want a lawyer or firm whose focus is finance or insurance law.
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KATE BRISCOE
SHARON COLEMAN
PAM AUSTEN
RECENT ANSWERS
How can an employer avoid unfairly dismissing an employee or employees?
In order to avoid unfairly dismissing an employee or employees, the employers reason(s) for the dismissal must be fair, for instance: a reason relating to the employee’s capability or qualification for performing work of the kind s/he was employed to do a reason relating to the conduct of the employee the employee is made redundant[…]
When should workers start to receive a new National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate?
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates are re-assessed annually, and currently any changes take effect from 1 October each year. A new National Living Wage (NLW) was introduced on 1 April 2016 for eligible workers aged 25 and over. This will also be reassessed annually, and any changes will take effect from 1 April each[…]
Do I have to give every employee an employment contract?
You don’t ‘give’ an employee a contract — a contract will exist, whether you like it or not, as soon as someone accepts your job offer. You are, however, legally required to give every employee a written statement covering specified terms and conditions, within two months of the employment beginning. If you fail to provide[…]
Someone working for one of our sub-contractors now wants copies of all the information we have in which his name appears. Do we have to provide it?
Probably not, but consider taking legal advice. In a case in this area, the Court of Appeal decided the fact that someone’s name appears in a document does not in itself make it ‘personal data’. It will only be ‘personal data’ where its inclusion in the document affects the named individual’s privacy. In deciding whether[…]
What happens if my Solicitor’s firm is closed down?
In an intervention, the SRA closes down a solicitor’s practice at once—to protect clients’ interests. After a firm has been intervened into, it can no longer act for its clients. If your solicitor’s firm has been closed down by the SRA and your business has not been completed, you can get more information on what[…]
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What is the right set-up for my business ?
SOLE TRADER Becoming a sole trader is the simplest form of business set-up requiring very little formal structure. All you need to do is keep records and register as self-employed for tax purposes. PARTNERSHIP A formal partnership means you are going into business with another person and creating a separate legal entity that you both[…]