New employment rights raise another red flag for employers

Who’s who on the payroll is an ongoing challenge for employers in the run up to new payslip requirements.   New payslip requirements are set to come into force, requiring itemised calculations for variable rates of pay and hours worked. Alongside, the requirement for payslips will be extended to include workers, not just employees.   The two amendments to the 1996 Employment Rights Act will come into force on April 6 2019.  From that date, employees and workers, including those under casual or zero hours contracts, must receive correctly detailed written, printed…

Civil partnerships for heterosexual couples – an update

Big news for heterosexual couples who don’t want to get married – the law is about to change to allow you to apply for a civil partnership. It’s been a while coming, but one of the last areas of inequality in the world of formally recognised partnerships is about to be rectified. The choice to opt for a civil partnership rather than marriage has been closed to heterosexual couples ever since civil partnerships were introduced in 2004, when the Civil Partnership Act stated that only same-sex couples were entitled to…

When ‘Banter’ crosses over into abuse

“It’s just banter, mate! Just banter!” If you work in any kind of environment, from an office to a building site, you’ll be familiar with the term ‘banter’. It’s that humorous back and forth we all use to make the day a little brighter, to have a joke and a laugh with our colleagues, and to generally brighten up what can be a mundane working environment. But is it ‘just banter’, or could it be something more sinister, and more harmful? Workplace banter has its place. However, the term ‘banter’…

Macmillan coffee morning success!

At the very end of last month, Bowling & Co, alongside event partner Stratford Original, hosted a joint Macmillan coffee morning at Bowling & Co's Stratford office. The event was a great success, attended by an enthusiastic and generous gathering of local business owners and clients of the firm. Overall we managed to raise a total sum of £1,111 for Macmillan Cancer Support, which is a very worthwhile cause. Click here to see a slideshow gallery of photos taken at the event. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British…

Disinheritance – a quick guide to cutting someone out of your Will

The message is slowly starting to get through to the public – making a will is an important life decision that could save your relatives a great deal of heartache once you’ve gone. You can express your wishes, designate who gets what, and that’s the end of it. Or is it? Legal research has reported that the number of disputed wills has shot up in the last couple of years, from 116 in 2015 to 158 in 2016. That may not seem like a high number, but it represents nearly…

Interview with Huseyin E. Huseyin our Senior Partner

Interview with Huseyin E. Huseyin our Senior Partner Q: How long have you worked at Bowling & Co? A: Since January 2004.  Q: What do you find interesting about the Commercial Property work you do? A: Every day is a different challenge. You certainly  can say you learn something different every day. Q: Who or what inspired you to become Lawyer? A: Watching a popular series on the TV called 'Crown Court' (which ran from 1972 to 1984), a Court room drama - my mother subjected it to me almost…

Interview with Mohammed Akram of our Corporate department

Interview with Mohammed Akram of our Corporate department Q: How long have you worked at Bowling & Co? A: Since May 2017.  Q: What do you find interesting about the Corporate work you do? A: No two days are the same and each client is different, requiring a personal touch unique to the client's needs, irrespective of whether or not the transaction is similar to the one previously completed. There is no substitute for that warm feeling at the end of a deal knowing that you have pleased a client…

Can’t afford to get on the property ladder? Shared ownership could be an option

The price of properties, even so-called ‘first-time homes’ are completely out of proportion to the average income. To save for a deposit on your first home is now taking house-hunters (especially first-timers) years longer than before. The ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is an option if you’re struggling to get the funds together on your own, but if you don’t have the ability to borrow from family members, or are unable to raise the money for that essential deposit on your own, there is another way to get your foot…

Who is responsible when you get scammed: you or the bank?

In the first six months of 2018, online scammers had a bit of a field day with UK customers’ bank accounts. In fact, they drained over £500million from British customers between January and June. So despite the advent of better firewalls, higher levels of awareness about online scams, and repeated reminders to stop people randomly giving away their personal and account details, the scammers are seemingly still making a nice living from UK banking customers. £145million of that amount was the result of what are known as ‘Authorised Push Payment’…

Can I leave assets to a child in my Will?

Clients tend to leave money under their Will for children or grandchildren. However, especially where the children are very young or the sums are large, we are often asked how this works in practice. Wills can be structured to prevent children from accessing large amounts of money at too young an age, whilst still ensuring that living expenses and education costs can be met. When should a child inherit? The answer to this will depend greatly in each personal situation. The ages and personalities of the children, asset values, and…