News archive: 2019

House numbers
16th December 2019

Sarah Rowden, a residential conveyancing expert with MacDonald Oates LLP in Midhurst, offers some advice on selling your home in a flat market. Be informedSpeak to your estate agent about what sort of price you could realistically ...

28th November 2019

Whilst every transaction is different, there are a number of crucial steps in the legal process that are common to each sale and purchase transaction and we have outlined these below by way of a general guide. SELLING A PROPERTY Once ...

23rd September 2019

A recent case in the Employment Tribunal looked at whether vegetarianism was a belief for purposes of Equality Act 2010. Under the Equality Act (the Act) religion or belief is a protected characteristic and this means that employers ...

MacDonald Oates LLP Solicitors
18th September 2019

We are delighted to welcome Graham Jewell to our Company and Commercial Department. Graham joins us as an Associate with a wealth of experience and is based at our Petersfield office. Kevin Smith, Partner and Head of Company and ...

House numbers
7th August 2019

Television programmes like Homes Under the Hammer have raised the profile of property auctions. Although auctions still only account for two per cent of all property sales, some experts believe this proportion will rise. In an ...

5th August 2019

When Aretha Franklin died in August 2018 her family initially believed she had not made a will.  Certainly nothing had been prepared by her lawyer. It was not until months later while clearing out her home that three handwritten ...

Key to success
13th June 2019

Matthew Archer, commercial property specialist in our commercial department, has recently helped his client, Liphook Day Centre, secure a much reduced rent allowing the centre to remain open for elderly members of the community. This ...

3rd June 2019

Hot on the heels of changes in relation to stamp duty land tax, from 1 June landlords face another set of new rules under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.  This includes obligations relating to deposits, charges and membership of client ...

2nd May 2019

Below we consider 10 points that should be considered prior to terminating someone’s employment. 1.      Reason. Although it appears obvious to consider at the outset what is the reason for the dismissal, it is ...

Track
29th April 2019

This month has seen judgment handed down in the High Court case of Andrew Guest v David Guest and Josephine Guest, which is the latest in a line of farming proprietary estoppel cases, following Gillet v Holt, Thorner v Major and ...

Family Law
24th April 2019

At MacDonald Oates we pride ourselves on providing our clients with the best possible service. We seek feedback from our clients on a regular basis and following a review of all completed feedback forms returned in 2018 we are ...

disability concept - inscription on the desk
4th April 2019

Under the Equality Act an employer must take such steps as are reasonable where a provision, criterion or practice (PCP) puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with those who are not disabled. This ...

Stags
2nd April 2019

From the hire of company cars to the shipping of goods, the term ‘bailment’ encapsulates one of the most common forms of legal relationship for those operating a business. Patrick Jenkins, commercial dispute resolution expert in our ...

1st April 2019

Quick reference: Rates and Limits A guide to the current rates and limits. Most of the rates set out below are updated yearly. Maternity, paternity and adoption From 7 April 2019 Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay £148.68 ...

MacDonald Oates LLP Solicitors
27th March 2019

MacDonald Oates LLP are delighted to announce that our Tim Melville-Walker, head of our family department, has been appointed a Deputy District Judge in the latest round of judicial appointments. A Deputy District Judge deals with ...

MacDonald Oates LLP Solicitors
6th March 2019

We take a look at the current protection for workers under the whistleblowing protection The Employment Rights Act prohibits dismissal or detrimental treatment because a worker has raised a protected and qualified disclosure. In order ...

MacDonald Oates LLP Solicitors
20th February 2019

There are many reasons you might need access to your neighbour’s land to repair or maintain your property and it can be difficult to know what to do if your request for access is refused. The general rule is that to go onto someone ...

MacDonald Oates LLP Solicitors
30th January 2019

News for the New Year MacDonald Oates LLP has undergone an extensive recruitment campaign with 7 new fee earners joining the firm over the past few months and with further recruitment planned to continue into the New Year. This drive ...

MacDonald Oates LLP Solicitors
24th January 2019

In this recent case, Lamb v The Garrard Academy UKEAT/0042/18 , it highlights the complex area of disability discrimination and the knowledge of the employer. Employers should seek medical advice for those employees on long term ...