People join Howes Percival for many reasons but everyone has a good reason to stay: the culture here is like no other law firm they’ve encountered. It is a genuinely supportive working environment across all departments. There is a high level of respect between people at every level of office or seniority in the firm. Everyone wants you to do well…
With the problem of ever more rules and laws controlling, determining and restraining what organisations and people can do, Our Regulatory team is the solution. The team specialises in many regulated sectors and activities, advising on law, compliance and dealing with regulatory bodies.
At Howes Percival, we see innovation as a catalyst for delivering better outcomes — for our clients, our communities, and each other. As a forward-looking firm, we embrace technology and agile ways of working to stay responsive, collaborative, and aligned with the people we serve.
Getting recruitment right is critical to ensure you recruit the right people for the success of the business. It’s essential that any recruitment process is fair, consistent and complies with legal requirements including discrimination law. Whether recruitment is internal or external, there are many pitfalls for the unwary manager. Implementing a robust…
The strength of the communities where we work is founded on the success of its businesses and the confidence of its people. We contribute to both directly through our work, providing the advice and guidance to help everyone make better plans, and also through ongoing partnerships and community fundraising campaigns.
Conferences, seminars, in-house training, tailored sessions and training materials for HR professionals, directors, managers and supervisors.
Our multi-faceted Government & Public Sector team combines legal expertise with in-depth sector knowledge to provide you with a full range of legal advice tailored to your needs.
We understand the importance of preparing for the future and ensuring your loved ones are provided for. Whether you need advice on preparing a will, managing your estate or preserving wealth by limiting tax implications, our in-depth experience means we can help you reach the best solutions for you and your family.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has confirmed it has achieved Investors in People accreditation for another three years.
Social Housing expert Estelle Corner looks at what RPs need to know about Right to Shared Ownership, plus a review of the recent All Party Parliamentary Group report on shared ownership housing for older people.
Howes Percival has partnered with The Careers & Enterprise Company to help young people in Norwich prepare for the fast-changing world of work.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the fifth year running and been awarded the highest level of accreditation for 'world class' levels of workplace engagement.
Law firm Howes Percival’s turnover increased 19% in 2023, according to its latest annual results. The result follows a period of sustained growth, with turnover now up 33% over the last three years.
A sell-out workshop on emotional resilience, organised by leading regional law firm, Howes Percival is expected to raise over £900 for the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, which will be given to local charities and projects dealing with health and emotional wellbeing issues.
Howes Percival has been awarded with a bronze accreditation for supporting the ‘Norwich for Jobs’ programme.
The problems faced by generation rent and first time buyers dominate the housing headlines, but there is another element to the housing crisis which gets less attention. The supply of housing for older people is not keeping up with a changing demographic.
Howes Percival is a bit different from your average law firm—and what a relief that is. It might be the diversity of the culture or the singularity of our purpose, or simply because we like being here, helping people and businesses.
Estimates of the percentage of people in the UK who have not made a Will are all disturbingly high, often topping 60%. Failure to take this simple precaution can leave people extremely vulnerable, particularly in the case of couples who choose not to marry or form a civil partnership. This article explores some of the relevant issues.
When the Covid pandemic hit the UK it brought into sharp focus for a lot of people that they may not be indestructible. With additional time during lockdown and the threat looming large of a deadly virus, many people made the decision to get their affairs in order, leading to the rise of the DIY Will.
Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court, has revealed in a technical briefing that Court admin errors have resulted in people being granted divorces by mistake. This article looks at the impact of those errors on people who believed their marital affairs were in order.
Howes Percival has won Legal Firm of the Year at the 2023 Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards. The annual awards celebrate the best and brightest of the Northamptonshire business community. The Northamptonshire business community convened at the unique County Ground Cricket Club on Thursday 9 November with comedian, Rob Beckett hosting the…
Howes Percival has been awarded a Norwich for Jobs’ Silver Award for its work helping young people get into work. Over the past year, volunteers from the leading regional law firm have supported the Norwich for Jobs project in several ways, including running mock interviews, providing training on CV writing and by holding workplace tours and presentations.
In such uncertain times as these, it is more important than ever to make sure that as many people as possible, particularly those who are elderly and vulnerable, have appropriate safeguards in place to protect and help them in difficult periods.
On the 28 May 2020 the Statutory Sick Pay Regulations were amended. It added to the list of people deemed incapable of work for statutory sick pay purposes to include those who have been notified they need to isolate due to coming into contact with somebody with Covid-19.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has announced a series of new investments in IT, its people and skills development, as it positions itself for the post-Covid-19 recovery.
Howes Percival has advised homelessness charity Emmaus Gloucestershire on the purchase of a new shop to expand its social enterprise, generating more income to support people out of homelessness and providing additional work experience opportunities for those it helps.
Our Norwich office has been taking part in ‘Miles in May’ to support its charity of the year, TimeNorfolk. Miles in May encourages people to walk, cycle or run as many miles during the month of May to help support the fantastic work that TimeNorfolk does.
Announcing an overhaul of the government’s model tenancy contracts last month, the Housing Secretary called on landlords to make it easier for responsible tenants to have well-behaved pets in their homes. As more and more young people and families are forced into long-term renting, the government says its mission is to improve life for tenants.
From 15 September 2021, for a temporary period, people working or volunteering in care homes who have a medical reason why they are unable to have the vaccine will be able to self-certify that they meet the medical exemption criteria.
It is a truism to say that the numbers of people consulting solicitors’ family lawyers rises in January.
As solicitors, we encourage people to make a professionally prepared will, to both accurately record your last wishes and to reduce the chance of a successful claim being advanced against your estate.
The myth of common law marriage still abounds – many people believing that in the event of their death a long-term partner enjoys all manner of rights that in reality simply do not exist.
As 2024 unfolds, we want to hear from you about emerging people issues and your organisation's readiness to respond.
Many people reach a point in their lives when they become able to make gifts to their children, sometimes fairly significant. This may be to help them with university fees or to look to help them onto the first step of the housing ladder.
Fiona Stuart, a personal and corporate insolvency law associate at Howes Percival, has achieved insolvency practitioner accreditation, having successfully completed the Joint Insolvency Examination Board (JIEB) exams. She is one of only 18 people to achieve accreditation this year.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was finally published on 24 July 2018 just before the summer recess of the House of Commons. Howes Percival’s planning team review the implications of the largest overhaul of national planning policy since 2012.
The coronavirus pandemic has revolutionised the way we work. Boris told us to work from home and we did! We worked from home in a way we had never done before. This was not possible for all roles but we have seen people performing duties from home which we never dreamed would be possible! A large part of this is down to better investment in and use…
The impact of coronavirus on company cash flows is extreme. With the increased restrictions on movement of people and non-essential economic activity, many well-run companies could be facing the possibility of insolvency.
Family law expert, Justine Flack discusses whether divorce is still possible during lockdown and what people who are considering divorce can do now in preparation for when restrictions are lifted.
Boris Johnson has announced what the Government has described as “the most radical reforms to our planning system since the Second World War, making it easier to build better homes where people want to live”. The new proposals are expressed to soften the economic impact of coronavirus with the PM vowing to “build, build, build”.
On Saturday 25 July 2020 the UK Government announced (with less than 6 hours’ notice) that people arriving to the UK from Spain would be required to enter into a 14 day quarantine, a move which is expected to impact on 1.2 million Britons this August alone.
Howes Percival has received three nominations for Insider Media’s East Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2024. The annual awards recognise high quality work from the top professional services firms in the East Midlands region. The categories are judged by a panel of independent experts and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner event taking place…
Labour promised a whole host of changes to employment law in their manifesto and a “new deal for working people”. Now that Sir Keir Starmer has taken the reins as Prime Minister, employers and HR professionals are left wondering: what do these proposals actually mean?
As the largest commercial and cultural centre in East Anglia, Norwich is unique, but that’s not enough to guarantee success. Like any important city today, its people and its businesses rely on the guidance of supportive, knowledgeable advisors who understand their needs and can help them look ahead.
A Will is a serious document – your last word on what happens when you are gone – but for some people their Will has been an opportunity to leave some unusual bequests.
Two recent cases have dealt with different issues in relation to restrictive covenants. The first related to an applicant having difficulty registering their disposition of a registered title because of a restriction (a common frustration for many people making Land Registry applications). The second dealt with the interpretation of a restrictive covenant…
Anyone who is in the process of applying for training contracts will know that it can be a frustrating and worrying time, with fierce competition meaning that hundreds of people could be applying for just a handful of spaces. Many may lose faith that they will ever secure a place, and may feel forced to give up on pursuing law as a career. When competition…
The Home Office estimates that while over four million people have switched to an eVisa, about 600,000 individuals still hold a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or an EU Settlement Scheme Biometric Residence Card (BRC) without a UK Visas & Immigration account.
As the Chancellor came to the latter stages of her Autumn Budget 2024 speech she announced several changes to the inheritance tax legislation for farmers,
Staff at Leicester law firm Howes Percival have returned to the office after a three-month makeover designed to reflect modern working practices and create a welcoming space for clients and contacts.
Howes Percival is working towards becoming a dementia-friendly business. So far, over 60 staff across the law firm’s six offices have received training and have become Dementia Friends.
We recently interviewed our Trainee Solicitor, Chloe Bayliss, to find out more information about why she chose the Training Contract route to train becoming a solicitor and why she chose Family Law.
Financial abuse of older and vulnerable adults is an increasingly frequent cause of concern. Spotting the signs and risks of this can be key in alerting wider family and stopping this type of abuse in its tracks.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) has now issued interim guidance on the practical implications of the Supreme Court’s recent landmark judgment in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers.
You would hope that the answer to the title question is always a resounding “no” but from recent experience it would appear that some local planning authorities are not so sure when it comes to providing supported living at existing flats.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has confirmed it has created 50 new roles in the last 2 years to meet increased demand for its services post-pandemic and is set to extend that growth with a new, two-year recruitment plan.
Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the third year running.
Howes Percival’s Northampton office has raised over £8,000 for its Charity of the Year 2021/2022, The Trussell Trust.
In May, the government published the draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law.
Family law partner, Justine Flack and employment law partner, Graham Irons consider the importance of taking pensions into account on divorce and the value of employer pension schemes.
Howes Percival’s health and safety specialists have been giving some thought to what it means for employers and their duties under health and safety law, to bring dogs into the workplace environment.
Howes Percival has cemented its reputation as a leader in the business community after winning two prestigious awards at the East Midlands Chamber’s Leicestershire Business Awards 2024.
Howes Percival and Milton Keynes College hosted an event to officially launch the “TeenTech Cities: Milton Keynes Festival” to businesses and organisations from all along the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford corridor and explain how they can get involved.
There has been a lot of talk about no fault divorce in the press recently, with the government now launching a public consultation to look at changing divorce law in the UK. Family Law partner Justine Flack looks at the background to the issue and shares her views on the matter.
There are two stages to the sale or purchase of land in England and Wales. The first is an exchange of contracts and the second is completion.
We have all heard the phrase “any publicity is good publicity” but I would also say the same is true for “experience”. I think there can sometimes be a misconception that firms are only interested in your legal work experience and not all the other types of work you may have previously undertaken. I have to say that was definitely not true for me and…
On 10 May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the UK to set out his, and the Government’s vision, on how the country can be eased out of the Coronavirus lockdown.
Howes Percival has been ranked in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’ list for the second year running.
Howes Percival trainee, Zara Khan discusses becoming part of the firm's Equality and Diversity Committee and the work it does throughout the firm.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office has raised over £9,000 for its Charity of the Year 2022, Nelson’s Journey.
Howes Percival’s construction and property lawyers summarise the findings and recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry’s final report published earlier this month.
For the first time, Wills could be made digitally. A major step towards modernising the process. The new rules would allow for secure electronic signing and storage, once the technology is ready.
A team from Howes Percival will be taking part in this year's Chariots of Fire Race in Cambridge on 17 September 2017.
Last month The Guardian highlighted again the case of Joan Blass who died in 2016 aged 91. Joan Blass had suffered from vascular dementia having been diagnosed in 2011. That same year she met Colman Folan who was 24 years her junior. He moved into the home of Joan Blass just a month later.
Howes Percival has appointed family law expert, Sally Harris as a director. She joins the leading law firm from Steeles Law where she was a partner and head of the family law team.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival has announced 31 senior promotions, including five new partners, Jennifer Laskey, Alexandra Hornsby, Nick Benton, Tom Redman and Jamie Childs.
Earlier this week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (‘IFS’) suggested that a way to raise revenues and make the tax system ‘fairer’ may be to restrict three types of relief from Inheritance Tax and to no longer give ‘special treatment to some assets’.
The King’s Speech yesterday morning marked the State Opening of Parliament following Labour’s election victory earlier this month.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office is due to take part in The Eastern Legal Support Trust’s 2018 Norwich Legal Walk on Thursday 7 June.
South Norfolk MP, Richard Bacon, joined representatives from Norfolk’s leading property businesses to discuss the challenges of meeting Norfolk’s housing needs at a dinner organised by Howes Percival.
Howes Percival is embarking on a recruitment drive that should create over 30 new jobs following a post-pandemic increase in client instructions.
As our brand new chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak prepares for his first Budget, history suggests that if the Government wants to make unpopular changes to tax we should expect them this year.
Howes Percival recognised for ‘outstanding’ commitment to workplace engagement
If you have been appointed as someone’s Attorney or Deputy, your role will continue despite the unprecedented situation in which we are living.
Howes Percival’s planning team comment on the recent developments arising in the sphere of planning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
Health and safety risk management issues employers may need to consider when the lockdown ends.
Planning law partner, Paul Hunt and senior associate, Sarah Hollis at Howes Percival, discusses the Government’s plan to boost housing supply and whether it will succeed in meeting their ambitious target.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack discusses the concept of winning and losing when it comes to divorce and what it really means to achieve the best outcome.
In this article, we turn our attention to the challenges arising from the presence of defective external wall systems (EWS) in commercial buildings, a topic that has not received much recognition from government or the media but which is no less important for occupiers and owners.
Making a Will is a sensible approach to organising your affairs and something that almost everyone should do. As clients get older the destination of their assets when they are no longer here to enjoy them will often become a more pressing consideration.
On 14th September 2023, the UK Parliament passed, without amendment, the Powers of Attorney Bill (the “Bill”), which will make substantial changes to the procedure for making Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) in England and Wales.
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival has announced 11 senior promotions, including four new partners, Miles Barnes, Jeremy Hyde, Jasmine Mason and Richard Turner.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office has raised over £9,000 for its 2024 Charity of the Year, The Feed.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is an increasingly popular method of resolving commercial disputes without the time and cost of taking litigation to a final hearing. Whether you’re dealing with a technical disagreement, a contractual issue, or a breakdown in communication, choosing the right ADR strategy can save time, reduce costs, and preserve…
The long awaited Housing White Paper (“HWP”) claims to set out ‘new measures to ensure the housing market works for everyone, including people on lower incomes, renters, disabled and older people’. A key feature of the HWP is that it embraces all types of housing and all types of needs; this includes support for private Build to Rent development and…
It is a great time to be a logistics business in our region. The growth of e-commerce has significantly increased demand and our infrastructure should only improve with the continued development of the Oxford Cambridge Arc. Nevertheless, our local logistics firms can’t afford to rely on geography alone to succeed and need to get the basics right to…
The additional day off is part of a series of initiatives aimed at supporting the team
Howes Percival has recognised Black History Month 2021 with a series of initiatives throughout October.
Howes Percival has announced 14 senior promotions, including five new partners.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, care sector clients have reported a significant rise in the number of grievances being raised. This may be a direct result of the severe pressure placed on care sector employees during, and after, the pandemic (which has certainly been exacerbated by the issues caused by the introduction and revocation of the mandatory…
Senior Associate at Howes Percival, Gemma Evans, provides some top tips on things to consider when an unmarried couple purchases a property together.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office has raised over £8,000 for its Charity of the Year 2023, Norfolk & Waveney Mind.
Howes Percival’s healthcare sector team partnered with Care Talk to curate an exclusive dinner at the historic Delapré Abbey in Northamptonshire. The event brought together a dynamic mix of operators, funders, and advisers in the care sector, offering a platform to share and debate issues facing the sector today.
Most employers have a grievance procedure, which sets out how an employee can raise a complaint and how it will be managed. Many procedures have a section about raising grievances informally in the first instance. Notwithstanding this, far too many grievances seem to proceed straight down the formal route.
When it comes to applying for training contracts, there are hundreds of firms to choose from. Of course in today’s competitive environment, acquiring that training contract is the most important goal. However, looking forward, being selective about the firms you apply to is key. Different firms have different attitudes, and training can differ greatly…
COVID-19/Coronavirus is respiratory condition that can severely impair an affected person’s lungs and airways. The majority of people who catch COVID-19 will suffer mild to moderate symptoms but in the most severe cases, COVID-19 can be fatal. It has the potential to spread to anyone coming into close contact with a carrier of COVID-19 particularly…
Howes Percival’s Finance Director, David Abrahams will spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day volunteering for homelessness charity, Crisis.
The government is consulting on abolishing section 21 notices and assured shorthold tenancies. Our property experts discuss the impact in their latest article.
Sophie Key looks at the role of the family law solicitor dealing with unrepresented parties.
Howes Percival celebrated the fourth anniversary of the opening of its Cambridge office, with a party at Downing College. Over 100 clients and contacts joined partners and staff to mark the occasion with an evening of drinks, canapes and music.
At the end of my LPC, I cheered that I never had to sit another exam again and could move straight onto my training contract and concentrate on the job.
Fortunately, a new year comes with new opportunities to learn, grow, and pursue your goals. Therefore, if one of your goals for this year is to secure a vacation scheme or training contract, now is the perfect time to get started.
During this period of social distancing, there can be concerns over what rights you might have to exclude customers and staff if you are operating premises where employees and members of the public will be mixing, such as shops, bars and restaurants.
During this period of social distancing, there can be concerns over what rights you might have to exclude customers and staff if you are operating premises where employees and members of the public will be mixing, such as leisure facilities, holiday venues, bars and restaurants.
Howes Percival has elected a new Chairman. Partner and head of litigation, Geraint Davies, has taken over the role for a three-year term.
Family law partner, Justine Flack discusses the impact of bankruptcy on divorce settlements and family financial arrangements in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Employers - one of the biggest health and safety risks of Covid-19 is making you neglect other health and safety risks
Trainee Solicitor, Amy Ward, talks about her experience at Howes Percival since joining in September 2019 and gives some helpful tops for getting involved.
On 22 September the government announced further national measures to try to control the escalating number of coronavirus cases in England. Under their devolved powers, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have also introduced new measures along broadly similar lines but with differing levels of severity. Many of the new rules in England will have a significant…
The latest lockdown sees the UK placed under the most restrictive measures which, sadly, will affect a great proportion of the equestrian community. Here is what you need to know about the latest regulations and how it will affect you.
The corporate, commercial, and banking team at leading law firm Howes Percival has reported an ‘incredibly busy’ start to 2021, completing 32 deals in the first quarter, with a combined value of £263 million.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack highlights four things you should consider when divorce proceedings come to an end.
On 12 July 2021, the Prime Minister announced that from Monday 19 July the Government instruction to ‘work from home where you can’ will be lifted.
With a variety of organisations (including Waterstones, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and TFL) now announcing that they will require face coverings following ‘Freedom day’, employers should review their internal policies and consider whether they will require employees and any visitors to wear face coverings.
With a variety of organisations (including Waterstones, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and TFL) now requiring face coverings post ‘Freedom day’, employers in the leisure and tourism sector should review their internal policies and consider whether they will require employees and visitors to wear face coverings.
An intestacy occurs when someone dies without making a valid Will. This may be because they simply have not made a Will or because the Will they have made is not properly executed or witnessed or they lacked the capacity to make the Will.
Over recent years the Courts have seen an increase in the number of claims being brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Howes Percival has welcomed eight new trainee solicitors to the firm and has appointed its first solicitor apprentice. It has also appointed four new solicitors who have recently completed their training contracts with the firm. Trainee SolicitorsThe eight new trainees are Eliza Kay, Lauren Farthing, Lilika Peutherer,Iona…
Our experts discuss the steps you can take to avoid any unnecessary family disputes after your death if you intend to leave unequal shares of your estate to your children.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack considers timing when it comes to issuing divorce proceedings; a current topic with the introduction of no fault divorce.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has updated its guidance on consumer law advice for UK care home providers. As care home providers, it is important for you to understand and comply with consumer law obligations.
In this article, we look at why these regulations are needed and what smart charging means. We also look at opportunities for landowners and summarise relevant planning rules, policies and other provisions relating to EV charge points.
Howes Percival has been appointed to housing and care provider, Anchor’s legal services panel following a tender process.
On July 21st, Beth Boucher, Helaina Mann and Lilika Peutherer will be joining Norfolk and Waveney Mind for their Annual Tandem Skydive, jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet, to raise funds for Howes Percival’s Norwich Office Charity of the Year 2023.
On Friday 10 October 2024, the Government submitted the Employment Rights Bill to Parliament.
In recent years, there has been an increase in court cases being adjourned at short notice due to a lack of judicial availability.
As another year starts the press is again littered with reports of families at war in the High Court over Wills and inheritances, both in this country and abroad.
Howes Percival’s Cambridge staff have moved into a new office in Terrington House, following a bespoke refurbishment of the first floor for the firm. The enhanced space and design support modern ways of working to assist with the firm’s client service offering.
The recent podcast series The Willpower Detectives – Shadow World (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025vhg) garnered a lot of attention.
Howes Percival has moved to new premises to house its rapidly growing team and marked the 10th anniversary of its Cambridge office with a party for clients and contacts.
The Supreme Court has allowed the appeal by Unison against the legality of employment tribunal fees, holding that the current fees regime prevents access to justice and is unlawful.
Howes Percival, Interdirect and Milton Keynes College, have got together to undertake a new charity fundraising walk in the City on 8th September 2017. The Challenge Walk is a 25.48 mile walking route over existing countryside and Parks Trust walkways and pathways, taking in Willen Lake, parkland, rivers, canals and reservoirs. The event was the brainchild…
The Government has published the eagerly awaited ‘Good Work’ report setting out the findings of the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices.
Irritability, headaches, sleep problems, loss of appetite; we all probably recognise the symptoms of stress. In 2013 a survey by the Mental Health Foundation revealed that nearly half of adults felt stressed on a regular basis. A recent Labour Force survey has also shown that in 2013/14 11.3 million working days were lost in the UK because of stress.There…
If your current Will was made before October 2007 and you were married at the time, there is every chance that it contains a Nil Rate Band (NRB) Trust. Unless a trust is needed for reasons other than making sure the NRB was used, it is no longer serving any purpose and could soon pose the risk of actually causing additional tax.Every person (unless…
In March 2015 the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 was enacted to “place a duty on certain public authorities to keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who wish to acquire serviced plots of land to bring forward self-build and custom housebuilding projects and to place a duty on certain public authorities to have…
Howes Percival were proud to sponsor the Club Together 2017 charity 3 day cycle ride which took place between 8th and 10th September 2017.
Over 150 clients and friends helped leading regional law firm Howes Percival celebrate 20 years in Leicester with a special event at The Curve Theatre.
When considering how to divide assets and liabilities on divorce, the focus can often turn to property, and the need to know where everyone will be living. This is understandable, but should not be the sole focus.
Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack provides an update on the No Fault Divorce and the potential benefits and drawbacks of the new legal system.
The change in self-isolation rules coincides with the expiry of the exemption of self-isolation rules for ‘critical workers’ that ran until 16 August. Close contacts are now advised to take a PCR test “as soon as possible” rather than self-isolating.
The 2022 edition of The Legal 500 – the authoritative guide to the UK’s leading law firms – has recommended Howes Percival for 21 different practice areas and awarded the firm top tier ranking in 11 different legal specialisms.
This week saw the Housing Minister, Michael Gove, announce a raft of measures designed to resolve the cladding crisis that has engulfed the government since Grenfell Tower burned down on the night of 14 June 2017.
Following consultation, the government has announced that from 15 March 2022, the requirement for mandatory vaccination for all frontline health and social care workers and volunteers in England will no longer apply.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office is thrilled that its chosen charity for 2017 is Norwich Door to Door. The local transport charity helps people who have severe mobility problems and the low incomes that constrain their ability to get out and about, providing a door to door minibus service with affordable fares. The charity operates a fleet of ten mobility…
Applying for a training contract can be seen as a time consuming and somewhat daunting task. I personally spent many hours applying for training contracts before I was fortunate enough to obtain one with Howes Percival. Although different firms may run their application processes differently, many firms will cover the process of an initial application…
This month, our Leicester, Northampton and Norwich offices got together with friends, clients and contacts to raise money for charity at a series of festive quizzes.
An estimated 2.9 million* adults in the UK now use e-cigarettes but, how should employers treat the use of e-cigarettes in the workplace?
During the stressful time of separation and Divorce, the use of Social Media should be exercised with caution and careful consideration as Joanne Wilbraham, Solicitor in our family team explains.
Further research supports the growing demand for a change in the law to allow for no fault divorce.
Acas has published its latest guidance on how discrimination on the grounds of a person’s religion or belief can be prevented. The guidance is of particular significance to recruiters, as it covers the prevention of discrimination in respect of job advertisements, job specifications and interviewing amongst other areas.
On Thursday 15 November, Howes Percival took part in the Norwich Sleep Out in aid of The Benjamin Foundation.
The founder of the Leicestershire Corporate Finance Club has hailed the group’s first event a huge success and confirmed that plans are already coming together for the next meeting on 12th February 2019.
Howes Percival’s Finance Director, David Abrahams has raised over £4,000 for homelessness charity, Crisis.
If your parents divorced you may be predisposed to experience divorce too. The Family team considers why that might be and steps you can take to help your children.
Payment Protection Insurance, more commonly known as PPI, is a product that enables a person to insure repayment of loans, mortgages, overdrafts, credit cards and store cards, to protect against accident, sickness, involuntary unemployment, or loss of life.
Howes Percival is celebrating 30 years in Norwich. The firm marked the occasion with a drinks party for clients and friends, which included a reunion for the four original founding partners of the Norwich office - Alan Kefford, Andrew Barnes, Andrew Wood and Sandy Munro.
Local, wherever you need us
The draft National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2017 have been published which increase the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage from 1 April 2017.
The Court of Appeal has now confirmed that signs which are clearly visible can be effective in stopping prescriptive rights from accruing.
Howes Percival’s Norwich office was delighted to work with Norwich Door to Door as their chosen charity for 2017.
Many cohabitants are still mistaken about their rights upon separation. Family Law Solicitor Joanne Wilbraham explains some of the most common misconceptions and the steps that a cohabitant can take to protect themselves.
Howes Percival litigation partner, Satnam Chayra and trainee, Donna-Marie Helgeson have taken part in Welcome Break’s Nine Hour Challenge in aid of BBC Children in Need.
In October last year, the Government launched a consultation on updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (“NPPF”) and the National Planning Practice Guidance (“NPPG”) setting out proposed alterations to the standard method for assessing local housing need to ensure that it is consistent with increasing the supply of homes.
Following an increase in new instructions, Howes Percival has expanded its Norwich-based commercial property team with the addition of three specialist commercial property lawyers.
A recent Channel 4 drama explored the issue of coercive control in a relationship which can be a subtle form of domestic abuse but is no less damaging than inflicting physical pain.
I know I am not the only third seat trainee feeling anxious and apprehensive about qualification. Not only is there the pressure of attempting to determine exactly which department you would like to qualify into, there is also the fear of not securing an NQ role at all.
First it was the ‘B’ word, now it is the dreaded ‘C’ word. The widespread impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains is impacting us all, both in the business world and at home.
The COVID-19 virus will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the construction industry, given its reliance on a readily available supply of labour and materials. Contractors, sub-contractors and professional consultants are all likely to be affected, and construction projects at every stage will face potential delays and disruption.
We understand that for many the rapidly changing situation will be causing considerable concern for them and their family. To help guide you through these uncertain times, we have identified some key considerations for your estate planning.
At Howes Percival, trainees are encouraged to move offices during their training contract. Not only do you benefit from the experience of different specialisms, you get to meet more of your colleagues and build your professional network. Who doesn’t want more LinkedIn connections?
The UK Government announced a plan to avoid mass redundancies through the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic by offering to cover 80% of workers’ wages for four months starting retrospectively from 1 March 2020, known as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“Scheme”).
Partner and family law expert, Justine Flack gives some key considerations for those receiving or paying maintenance on divorce in the wake of COVID-19.
Paul Hunt, partner in Howes Percival’s Planning Team comments on the recent Government paper entitled “Planning for the Future”.
Following on from our previous updates on the effect of the Government’s furlough scheme (the “Scheme”) and its impact on sales out of administrations, the Government has provided a further update, and the High Court has made its first decision on the interrelation between the Scheme and insolvency practice in the context of the recent administration…
Ex-Dentons head of Corporate and Commercial, Andy Harris, re-joins the firm
Family law partner, Justine Flack looks at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on divorce settlements and gives some practical steps for those who feel their settlement has become unfair in light of the circumstances.
To mark 50 years since the Equal Pay Act 1970 was passed, Acas have issued updated advice on equal pay including good practice guidance for employers on how to try to prevent discriminatory practices in their workplace.
Family law partner, Justine Flack discusses how the coronavirus pandemic may affect property in divorce proceedings and highlights what those going through a divorce should consider.
In September 2019 I started my training contract with Howes Percival LLP, by March 2020 the world was in a tailspin and we were in lockdown. When I started my training contract I never thought I would have to adapt to working almost entirely from home. So let’s talk frankly about what that means as a trainee, trying to forge your way in the crazy legal…
The Office of the Public Guardian has introduced a new digital service for Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”). ‘Use A Lasting Power of Attorney’ went live on 17 July 2020 and all LPAs registered after this date will be able to make use of the service.
Howes Percival has strengthened its Family Law practice with two senior appointments. Based in the Leicester office, family law partner Justine Flack has been promoted to become the new national Head of the firm’s Family Law department, while Melanie Westwood has joined the Leicester team as a senior associate.
Howes Percival has welcomed six new trainee solicitors. The firm has also appointed five new solicitors who have recently completed their training contracts with the firm.
Landlords and tenants often include break clauses within heads of terms – the commercial arrangement is that one or either party can terminate the lease and exit the property.
As the restrictions imposed on everyday life in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve, licensing and planning law specialist Jamie Childs examines what operators of licensed premises should consider when contemplating changing the use of their premises.
The development and housing sectors will see many changes through 2021 and beyond. Regulatory expert, Robert Starr predicts that next year will see one of the biggest shake-ups in fire safety to date and urges those with fire safety obligations to start planning now.
2020 has been an extremely busy year for employment law, with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic placing both employers and employees in uncharted territory. This year saw many employers needing to get to grips with the new concept of ‘furloughing’, keep up to date with ever-changing Government guidance and adapt to homeworking (a change likely to…
Family law expert and partner at Howes Percival, Justine Flack urges business owners to consider taking steps early to minimise the impact of divorce and prevent future problems from arising should their marriage come to an end.
Employment expert, Nick Benton, partner at Howes Percival, comments on the importance of having effective anti-harassment training in the workplace, to give employers the option of the reasonable steps defence if faced with a harassment claim.
In this blog, Carl Mifflin, Head of Restructuring and Insolvency at Howes Percival, examines how investment fraud has thrived in recent years, highlights how economic uncertainty provides a breeding ground for fraudsters and identifies some of the key ways to avoid falling victim to investment fraud.
Whilst we are all looking forward to the normality of life returning, the pandemic has provided us with a unique opportunity to gain more from both our work and social lives which we should take advantage of as trainees.
Amy Walpole, Partner at Howes Percival and Family Solicitor, offers guidance on the importance of protecting your pensions entitlements attached to pension sharing orders following divorce.
With the 1st of July marking the tenth anniversary of the UK Bribery Act coming into force, Robert Starr, Regulatory Partner at Howes Percival takes a look at what effect the Act has had during this time and whether businesses should be doing anything more as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.
In our last article, we summarised the effects of the cladding crisis on residential leaseholders who own flats in affected blocks. In this article, we look at what the government has done to date in terms of funding.
Howes Percival has advised on the sale of Corby based foam conversion business Technical Foam Services to the Vita Group.
When someone dies and family members consider they have not been provided for adequately under the terms of a Will, it may be possible to bring a claim against the Estate.
James Pitts is a trainee solicitor in our Northampton Office. Here he explains what Northampton as a town has to offer to potential trainees and the work involved at the office.
Howes Percival has won the Professional Services category at this year’s Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards.
In the first of a series of articles, Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack considers the consequences of a death within divorce proceedings.
In the second of a series of articles, Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack discusses the impact of health issues within divorce proceedings.
In the final of a series of articles, Head of Family Law at Howes Percival, Justine Flack discusses the issue of coercive control in a marriage and the steps you can take to seek help.
Howes Percival trainee, Daniel Ingle discusses the importance of personal development courses during a training contract.
Trainee Solicitor, Iona Palmer offers her top five tips for your first seat of a training contract.
Howes Percival’s Corporate, Commercial, and Banking team has seen a strong start to the year, completing 37 deals with a combined value of just over £299.5 million in Q1.
Howes Percival is marking 25 years of its Leicester office with 25 events to celebrate and give back to the city, including volunteer days and events to raise money for local charities.
In this article, we explore the strengths and limitations of the new The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 and consider whether it has brought us any closer to creating a fairer system of leasehold homeownership in England and Wales.
The 2024 edition of The Legal 500 - the authoritative guide to the UK's leading law firms - has just been published and we are proud to announce that our employment team has retained its status as a top tier law firm for employment services.
In the recent case of AECOM Ltd v Mallon [2023], the Employment Appeal Tribunal has found that an employer was under a duty to make reasonable adjustments (and failed to fulfil that duty) when its requirement for job applicants to create an online profile and complete an online application form put an applicant with dyspraxia at a substantial disadvantage.
Property experts Erica Gradus and Bill Trow discuss what's about to change with the introduction of The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
In anticipation of the first self-driving vehicles being rolled out, the government has introduced the Automated Vehicles Bill which will deliver a legal framework for self-driving vehicles with the stated purpose of making safety of paramount importance.
World renowned as a centre for education and enterprise, Oxford is a thriving hub for invention, ideas and creativity and a valuable source of intellectual property rights. Its research institutions, science parks and leading publishers form part of an ecosystem that has global impact, culturally, commercially and socially. In an increasingly…
Howes Percival has appointed Corporate Solicitor Ollie Flowers as a Legal Director in its rapidly growing Corporate, Commercial and Banking (CCB) team in Cambridge.
The new Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), following on from the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022, received Royal Ascent on 26 October 2023 and became law.
Howes Percival has won the Excellence in Legal Services Award at the Nachural Entrepreneurship Awards 2024.
When a person dies, responsibility for the administration of their estate rests with an Executor appointed by their Will or a person who is later appointed as an Administrator if no Will exists.
We are delighted to announce that Joseph Keeping, a Senior Associate in our Private Client Team, has been awarded a STEP Worldwide Excellence Award for achieving the highest overall mark in the STEP Diploma in Trusts & Estates (England & Wales) across all 2023 graduates. The STEP Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional achievement, recognising…
For the past few days, we have been able to enjoy the Olympics and have had the privilege of watching elite sports men and women compete. The competition represents the culmination of years of training and dedication to their sport, with people striving to be the best.Many of the competitors will be married and have children; Tom Daley has said that…
What are the differences between the two bills and what does this mean for landlords?
Howes Percival are very pleased to announce that Director, Jan Tyler, and Senior Associate, Joseph Keeping, have now achieved full STEP member status.
The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 would have created a new statutory right for certain atypical workers – for example, those on zero-hours contracts – to request a predictable working pattern.
Howes Percival are delighted to be announced as the official sponsor for the U16 and U18 Girls County Cup for the 2024/25 season for the Leicestershire & Rutland County Football Association (LRCFA).
Howes Percival has been named as one of The Times Best Law Firms for the fourth year running.
We would be delighted if you could join us at our next Business Breakfast event on Tuesday 21 January 2025 aimed at business owners, decision makers and their professional advisers.
2025 is set to be a pivotal year for employment law, following the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill in October 2024.
Leading law firm Howes Percival has confirmed the appointment of high-profile family law Partner, Amanda Glass to its growing team in Oxford.
There are only a limited number of grounds upon which you can challenge the validity of a Will. The provisions set out in a Will can be “hurtful… ungrateful or unfair to those whose legitimate expectations of testamentary benefit are disappointed” (Hawes v Burgess [2013] EWCA Civ 74) but if a person has testamentary capacity it will be very difficult…
Parvinder Rama joins Howes Percival as an Associate Solicitor and has a wide range of experience within the commercial property sector .
Howes Percival has recruited contentious trusts and probate specialist Anna Kelly following a sustained increase in new instructions for the team.
Howes Percival has been shortlisted for the ‘Corporate Law Firm of the Year’ category at Insider Media’s East Midland’s Dealmakers Awards 2025.
In Dervis v Deniz [2025] EWHC 902 (Ch) a Claimant sought to include a new argument in an appeal in a claim regarding the co-ownership of property she held with her former partner.
Howes Percival’s turnover increased 22% in 2025, according to its latest annual results.
Recently, Howes Percival’s health and social care sector team partnered with Care Talk for their annual exclusive dinner at the historic Kilworth House Hotel in Leicestershire.
To celebrate 20 years in Leicester, leading regional law firm Howes Percival has announced that staff will take part in a year-long series of fundraising and volunteering events in support of three local charities: Alex’s Wish, Leicestershire Cares and Action Homeless. Twenty years ago, in July 1997, Howes Percival opened its first Leicester office…
Howes Percival LLP has successfully advised Northampton based private equity firm, Constant Equity, in relation to its acquisition of a majority stake in Corby-based manufacturer Keencut. The company, which makes precision cutters for the digital printing industry, now has the backing to push forward with ambitious expansion plans. These…
Leading regional law firm, Howes Percival, has further expanded its range of services with the appointment of Litigation Partner, Michael Green and Private Client specialist, Amy Wallhead as an Associate Solicitor. The new appointments follow hot on the heels of Employment Law Partner, Matthew Potter and Corporate and Commercial Solicitor Venetia…
New gender pay gap reporting regulations are now in force which will impact on schools. From 31 March 2017 (and 6 April 2017 for private sector employers), there is a new obligation on employers with 250 or more employees to publish gender pay gap information.The gender pay gap is not the same as equal pay. Equal pay is the pay difference between men…
In the Government Legal Service v Brookes the EAT has confirmed the earlier decision of the Employment Tribunal, that a candidate required to carry out a psychometric test as part of a recruitment process, was placed at a particular disadvantage because she had Asperger’s syndrome.
BackgroundOn the international stage, London is a popular forum for the resolution of commercial disputes, and indeed a number of emerging legal markets have based their procedure on that of the English courts. However, with the Brexit vote casting uncertainty over various aspects of international jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition of England’s…
When starting your training contract, it is hard to see yourself as the sparkling legal eagle that you see and hear around the office; offering excellent legal advice as standard, consistently bringing in business for the firm and being invited to speak at industry events.
The application deadline for our Vacation Scheme is fast approaching so log on and apply before 31 March 2016! Most of the current trainees completed a vacation scheme at the firm so it really is worthwhile applying now if you are considering a training contract here. This is your opportunity both to get to know us better and to show us your potential…
