Going digital is a way forward, and the law needs to catch up The Digital Copyright Directive is one of the steps towards implementing the Digital Single Market in the EU. The Directive has two purposes: (a) clarification of online services’ role and (b) the regulation of online services used to host user-generated content with […]
Press Release: Axiom Stone Solicitors is delighted to announce its appointment to the Approved Panel of solicitors for Jewish Legacy, an umbrella organisation for over 40 Jewish charities. The firm prides itself as a racially-diverse practice involving staff, its recruitment and training and its client base. And this is yet another example of this policy. […]
Press Release: One of the capital’s fastest-rising law firms is growing further with some top-level recruitment. Axiom Stone Solicitors, a full-service business, has offices in Mayfair, Edgware and Birmingham. It has now become the successor practice to Harrow-based Everatt’s Solicitors and its founder Shilan Shah is joining as an Axiom Stone Partner. Shilan has over […]
1. An Intercreditor Deed and Deed of Priority tend to be used interchangeably in the industry as both types of document seek to rank creditors. However, the main difference between the two is that the former is more complex in material. 2. A Deed of Priority only seeks to rank secured debt providers to regulate […]
Press Release: With Furlough to end after October, a wave of job losses now seem inevitable, comments Rachel Lester of Axiom Stone Solicitors Despite huge pressure from all sides of the political divide, from industry and the trade unions, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has resisted pleas to extend the Furlough scheme and, instead, announced its […]
Press Release: Axiom Stone Solicitors has secured a court victory for members of a family fighting for the right of their Tanzanian-born mother to have her funeral here. In a highly-unusual case, the children of Sally Salome Fidelis, who lived in Britain for 27 years and died in June, had fought over where she should […]
Axiom Stone Solicitors this week underlined its growing reputation as a leading force in the field of sports business and sports litigation. It represented the majority shareholders which have successfully fought off an injunction which would have prevented the takeover of Charlton Athletic Football Club. The Mayfair-based law firm acted on behalf of Panorama Magic […]
Milli Davey considers the issues facing co-parents when term begins The Covid-19 pandemic has caused stress and uncertainty for many, particularly those who are co-parenting and have been juggling work, home-schooling and childcare between two households. As lockdown began to ease in the UK, so did the need for home-schooling as schools gradually reopened from […]
Jonathan Metliss eases out of Lockdown depression with a return to normality I have now been in Lockdown for some four months at my house in Sussex. The flowers are in full bloom, the trees and hedges are starting to get overgrown and the birds and butterflies, and assorted wildlife, are still keeping me company. […]
Why this may be the moment to downsize, explains Natalie Hall The Stamp Duty (SDLT) temporary reduction presents an opportunity to benefit from significant tax savings Downsizing your real estate now can save large tax leakage Combined with careful planning, releasing equity early from real estate can allow reductions of potential inheritance tax liabilities When […]
Press Release A leading law firm has moved to strengthen its real estate team. Hong Kong-born Vicky Tsan joins Axiom Stone Solicitors’ China Desk. In addition to English, she is fluent in the Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian and Spanish languages. At Axiom Stone, Vicky lines up alongside Mandarin-speaking colleagues handling the firm’s Chinese clients. She mainly […]
Press Release: Mira Arezina Axiom Stone boosts property litigation team A leading and growing law firm has moved to strengthen its property litigation team. Axiom Stone Solicitors, based in Mayfair, Edgware and Birmingham has appointed Mira Arezina who joins from a West End firm. Mira has worked on property litigation within […]
Many public listed companies are preparing to host annual general meetings (AGM), where they will present their reports and accounts to the company shareholders and where directors answer queries on the company’s business; the AGM Season is considered an important time to assess the performance of a company. The structure and procedure of AGMs is […]
For many companies and businesses, the untimely outbreak of COVID-19 has been stressful, creating uncertainty and doubt. At the time of writing this article, the Government’s closure of businesses, including hospitality, transport, retail and many labour intensive industries, has expectedly reduced trade and forced companies and businesses to consider their commercial interests during this period. […]
Many companies have been affected from the outbreak of COVID-19. Through these uncertain times, directors of these companies must endeavour to continue their responsibilities to avoid a breach of their legal and fiduciary duties. Directors are responsible for the management of a company and are entrusted with taking care of a company’s business and matters. […]
During this uncertain period, businesses will be developing contingency plans to protect their employees and mitigate any detriments to their commercial interests. At the time of writing this article, the UK government has announced precautionary measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, including isolation measures intended to keep the public safe. Many businesses, from sole-traders […]
In the midst of the global Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19)businesses should not ignore the increasing number of legal and practical implications that the ongoing pandemic may have on their contracts and agreements. Particularly, the inclusion and effect of Force Majeure clauses within commercial contracts. A Force Majeure clause is a clause which allows the termination or, […]
The government will allow a £10,000.00 cash grant to our smallest businesses delivered by local authorities. Small businesses that pay little or no business rates and are eligible for small business rate relief (SBBR) will be contacted by their local authority directly and need not apply. A £25,000.00 grant will also be provided to retail, […]
Sou Babaei, Commercial Property, considers the issues Although, at the click of a button, email provides a fast and cheap process for a worldwide exchange of correspondence, it is not without its disadvantages and, on occasions, can overcomplicate a simple matter. Given the prevalence of emails in business and legal communications, the issue of acceptance […]
Equal Pay recently came to the fore again with the recent successful claim brought by TV presenter Samira Ahmed against the BBC. An Employment Tribunal in Central London found that Ms Ahmed, who presents the Newswatch programme, was doing work of equal value to Jeremy Vine, the presenter of Points of View. Despite their work […]
The huge impact technology is having on the UK property industry was explored at a London business lunch. Electronic payments and transactions, property exchanges, smart technology, alternative currencies and Blockchain deals were detailed to a gathering of over 100 industry professionals at the Royal Institution, Mayfair last Wednesday (Feb 19). Real estate investors, developers, lenders […]
This is a question on many people’s mind given the recent Tribunal ruling that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief that is protected under the Equality Act. The ruling follows a claim brought by animal charity welfare worker Jordi Casamitjana, who believes he was sacked by the League Against Cruel Sports because of his ethical veganism. […]
Divorce Day or Divorce Monday is typically the first Monday after Christmas and the New Year festivities, this year Divorce Monday will fall on Monday 6th January 2020. It is the time of year when law firms expect to be inundated with fresh enquiries from couples wishing to separate and start the divorce process. From […]
Axiom Stone’s Corporate team have advised on an investment company’s floatation on one of the London capital markets. SAPO plc – formerly South African Property Opportunities – placed 29,000,000 Ordinary shares for trading on the NEX Exchange Growth Market. It was advised in the listing by Axiom Stone Solicitors, a full-service business law firm based […]
The impact that divorce can have on men, financially, emotionally and mentally is frequently ignored. Men are less inclined to express their feelings and talk about their experiences and as a result men can often be left isolated post-divorce and this can include from their children. Due to a common stereotype that women should take […]
Every year a large amount of money is donated to charity via legacies in wills and last year was no exception, with a record breaking £2.85 billion being donated to charity in wills. The average amount donated per estate is £3,300 and the average number of charitable bequests in a will is three. Charitable donations […]
This week’s awareness campaign by Resolution – First for Family Law, takes place 25 to 29 November 2019, and focusses on the need for legal reform to provide at least basic rights for cohabiting couples who separate. Whilst there is an increase in cohabiting couples, family law legislation has not caught up with the times […]
In 2018, data from the Centre for Retail Research found that more than 2,500 mostly medium to large retail businesses failed, and the outcome for 2019/2020 promises to be no better. Out of all the dooming retail news, Arcadia’s CVA approval and store closure plans for Sir Philip Green’s most renowned fashion brand, Top Shop, […]
In the wake of the Thomas Cook collapse, we look at whether the shareholders of the company have a claim of ‘unfair prejudice’ against the Board of Directors for their misappropriation of funds and disproportionate salaries and bonuses, which saw their shares quickly de-value and the company ‘de-road’ off the market. The travel agent announced […]
The SRD II aims to encourage long-term shareholder engagement and transparency between traded companies and investors. Key elements of the SRD II include: Provisions to assist companies in identifying their shareholders; Requirements regarding the transmission of information between the company and its shareholders through intermediaries; Obligations on intermediaries to facilitate the exercise of rights by […]
Couples facing a break-up are left with many difficult decisions which can be made all the worse when children are involved. A family break-up presents challenges to children which may show in various ways as they react to parental conflict. Legal disputes over where a child is to live and the time they spend with […]
“Lesson number one: Don’t underestimate the other guy’s greed” – Frank Lopez, Scarface. Movies may seem like flights of fantasy but every so often, they offer nuggets of sound advice. We have advised many partnerships at all stages of their existence ranging from inception to dissolution and there are several key points that people should […]
Many people choose to plan for the inevitable and make a will specifying how they would ultimately like their estate to be distributed on death. For various reasons, some people may wish to exclude individuals or family members from benefiting from their estate. However, people are unaware of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) […]
A leading City lawyer has joined one of the capital’s fastest-growing business law firms. Jonathan Metliss has been appointed Chairman of Axiom Stone, the growing multi-service practice, with offices in Mayfair, Edgware and Birmingham. The practice represents London, national and international clients and has gained a strong reputation with repeat business based on trusted advice […]
The ground-breaking legal battle between two step-sisters has concluded recently at the High Court. The legal battle between the step-sisters was over which of them was to inherit the home owned by Ann and John Searle. The bodies of Ann and John Searle were discovered in their home, with one body in the bathroom, and […]
A recent MoneyMail investigation has reported on a vast number of pitfalls with DIY will packs and online will writing services. These can be purchased for as little as £6.99 and are sold by popular high street and online retailers. Whilst the low cost can be very attractive, the risks associated with DIY wills is […]
A break clause is a contractual provision in a commercial lease which allows either the landlord or the tenant to terminate a lease early. Break clauses are one of the most significant landscapes during negotiations for grant of a new commercial lease. From a tenant points of view, a break clause offers flexibility, depending on […]
Marks & Spencer and Ocado have recently announced that they will be participating in a joint venture allowing shoppers to purchase the full range of Marks & Spencer food products online for home delivery. Marks & Spencer had been considering online sales for some time but had neither the software nor the infrastructure to implement […]
Judge orders Embassy of the State of Qatar to pay £167,021 in compensation and £20,000 in legal costs to Mr Ahmed after he was successful in his claims for race discrimination and harassment. The Tribunal also made a number of significant recommendations under the Equality Act 2010. A remedies hearing took place today at the […]
The Government has recently released their response to the consultation on “Overcoming the Barriers to Longer Tenancies in the Private Rented Sector”. The paper makes various observations on the consultation process that was undertaken and introduces a “generational change” by repealing the ability of a landlord to serve a s21 Notice providing the tenant with […]
AND always be prepared. Two sayings that should be in every lawyer’s arsenal and can result in big wins for you and your client. The Litigation team at Axiom Stone are instructed by a group of leaseholders involved in responding to a claim by their freeholder to determine the reasonableness of service charges claimed in […]
1. Tenure (Freehold or Leasehold) Is it freehold or is it leasehold? This is usually one of the first questions asked by your Lawyer when instructed. Both types of transactions come with various risks and rewards. Proper due diligence on leasehold properties is a must – this will reveal potential issues such as any restrictions on […]
A statutory demand is a written demand for payment of a debt served on either an individual or a company. A statutory demand is not to be mistaken for a formal court document; it does not need to be issued at the court, nor does it initiate court proceedings. It does however express a clear […]
“People who arrived in the UK many years ago and do not have documentation confirming their immigration status have faced difficulties in proving their right to work, to rent property and to access benefits and services to which they are entitled. The Government has apologised to people in this position and has made a commitment […]
Introduction Imagine, a person, all of whose assets are on-line. Mobile banking and on-line investments, email accounts, social media articles, bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Not an implausible scenario, and therefore the inevitable being the inevitable, what happens in the event of such a person’s death. Especially when their will says nothing about their digital assets or […]
Historically, by holding UK residential property in an off-shore company, a non-domiciled/non-deemed domiciled individual ensured that the property was not included in his estate for inheritance tax purposes. Non-UK domiciled individuals previously only paid inheritance tax on UK real property. By holding the UK residential property via an offshore company, the assets the individual held […]
On 15 May 2018 the Court of Appeal (“CAPP”) delivered its hotly anticipated findings in the joint appeals of Dreamvar (UK) Limited v Mischon De Reya and Mary Monson Solicitors and P&P Property Limited v Owen White & Caitlin LLP and Crownvent Limited. The first instance decisions in both cases caused considerable alarm in the […]
There has been a considerable amount of legislation in recent years which stems from the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) (Directive 2002/91/EC) of the European Parliament and theEuropean Union (EU) dated 16 December 2002. The Climate Act Bill became law on 26th November 2008 and aims to enable the UK to become a low-carbon economy […]
Your sponsorship duties may seem onerous however with a little care, there really is no reason to be caught short during your UKVI inspections. Failure to meet your sponsorship duties can lead to your licence being downgraded, suspended or at worst, revoked. Having done the hard work in obtaining your licence, we at Axiom Stone […]
The United Kingdom General Election 2017 polling has been a popular topic for discussion for most. Each party has presented their Manifesto and respective ideas in which they wish to better our country. Their notions impact all industries, predominantly focused on matters of immigration, health, housing, taxation and of course, BREXIT(*1). However, the Tory Government […]
Axiom Stone acted for the Fair Trading Commission of Jamaica on its successful appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in a dispute with Digicel Jamaica Ltd. Judgment was given on 24 August 2017. Prior to 2000 there was only one provider of telecommunications services in Jamaica but the Telecommunications Act of that […]
Child arrangements (spending time with) was previously referred to as contact. Child arrangements (living with) previously referred to as residence. With the school holidays fast approaching, many parents will be planning activities for their children, or summer holidays abroad. You may find yourself feeling upset or resentful if you have been denied the opportunity to […]
Barbara Bitis & Ruth Mabhula – our family team wins High Court application for permission to apply for financial relief after an overseas divorce (under section 13 of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984). Please contact Barbara Bitis on 0208 951 6936 or bb@axiomstone.co.uk for an initial fixed fee consultation should you require legal […]
Residential conveyancing is the legal process of buying or selling a residential property. Most people who aren’t familiar with the process use a solicitor to act for them when they buy or sell residential property. In addition, mortgage lenders typically require that the conveyancing process is carried out by a solicitor when they provide a […]
Immigration Law Explained Immigration law is the branch of law that deals with the legal entry of people from other countries into the UK. People enter the UK for all kinds of reasons; for example people enter the UK in order to study, to work, as a tourist, to join a spouse who already lives […]
Family law and matrimonial law are about families, and matters that affect families and individuals and their relationships. Within the field of family law are all kinds of issues such as marriage, separation, and divorce, as well as child adoption, custody, and access. Matrimonial law is a branch of family law that specifically deals with […]
Personal injury litigation is a field of law that deals with physical or psychological injuries that are caused by neglect, accident, error, or wrong-doing. In most personal injury cases an injured party makes a claim for financial compensation from a defendant, and the solicitors of the two parties negotiate the amount the defendant will pay. What Is A […]
As our Law Firm is based in Edgware, we wanted to provide an article that explored the history of our local area and to highlight some of the interesting facts that Edgware has to offer. Edgware’s history has been shaped by its location. It lies on the historic Watling Street, where it was once in […]
Wills and the Importance of Professional Advice We spend our lifetime working hard to fend for ourselves and our loves ones yet often, we don’t think about making a will until we are older. A will, in fact, is something anyone with assets should make, because it ensures that if for any reason we should […]
What is Corporate Law? Corporate law deals with general and specific matters pertaining to corporations, such as incorporation, public listing and delisting, mergers and acquisitions, and shareholders rights. In the eyes of the law, corporations are regarded and treated as single entities, and this branch of law deals more with corporations themselves than with the […]
What Is Property Litigation? Property litigation is a field of law that deals with disputes relating to property of all kinds. Property litigation typically involves settling disputes between property owners and their tenants, but can also include a wide range of other matters involving the ownership of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural property. In other […]
Start Date: 1st May 2014 Position: Managing Partner Specialist Areas: Property Development/Commercial and Civil Disputes Typical Working Day: I don’t think I have ever had two days that have been the same and as the firm evolves my days become and less and less typical. I do however try to fit in a gym session […]
What is the MMR (known as the mortgage market review or MMR)? The MMR was a comprehensive review of the mortgage market, which started with a Discussion Paper in 2009 and culminated in a Policy Statement and rules being finalised in October 2012. What is the background to this? The MMR set out the case […]
When: Since 6th May 2014 What: ACAS is an organisation that provides information, advice, training, conciliation and other services for employers and employees to help prevent or resolve workplace problems. From 6 May 2014 it has been compulsory for prospective claimants to first obtain an early conciliation certificate from ACAS before filing a claim at […]