News & Insights - Boodle Hatfield

Your lawyers since 1722

News & Insights

Our team of experts shine a spotlight on new legal developments, share their views on the impact of current affairs, and offer insights on issues that could impact you and your business.

3 min read Read more
13 Apr 2021 A year in lockdown – are we nearly there yet?

Following a dystopian year in which staying at home, social distancing and wearing masks in public became the norm, the long term impact on families throughout the nation is yet to be seen.

For some, increased

12 min read Read more
12 Apr 2021 Specific issue orders: A matter of evidence

Family Associate, Alexandra Hirst considers the vaccination of children where the parents are not in agreement and the approach taken by the courts.

3 min read Read more
12 Apr 2021 Protect your pet!

Yesterday marked National Pet Day, giving pet owners across the country a chance to celebrate their precious four legged friends. After a year of lockdown in which many have acquired new pets to combat social

6 min read Read more
09 Apr 2021 Non-Fungible Tokens – nifty or naff?

We have been reading with some sense of trepidation about the rise (and rise) of NFTs. What started out as a kind of internet quirk, has quickly become something where significant sums of money are transferring

4 min read Read more
07 Apr 2021 Retrofitting methods to reduce carbon emissions in Historic Homes.

The Historic Environment Forum's recent report provided the excellent news that retrofitting historic homes could save up to 84% in carbon emissions. We wrote about this recently, highlighting how this is excellent

4 min read Read more
31 Mar 2021 £1 million mediation scheme announced to help separating couples

The government has announced a new £1 million scheme to offer mediation to separating couples in England and Wales in order to resolve their differences in relation to the division of finances and the arrangements

3 min read Read more
29 Mar 2021 Retrofitting of Historic Houses can reduce carbon emissions by 84%

As many people are aware, the UK became the first major economy to pass a net zero emissions law and the legislation requires the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. 

The Historic

3 min read Read more
29 Mar 2021 Tax day 2021: the key announcements

In a recent article in the Tax Journal, Private Wealth Partner, Sue Laing highlights some key takeaways from the recent tax updates.

4 min read Read more
25 Mar 2021 Does the office have a future?

This was the question addressed this morning by Charlie Thompson of Farebrother and David Kosky at

3 min read Read more
26 Mar 2021 Family Business: The third pillar of the UK economy

The Family Business report looks in greater depth at Britain’s Top 100 family businesses, looking at who they are, and how they are built. We reflect on how Britain can ensure these entities remain strong contributors to economic growth as we look ahead, following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2 min read Read more
25 Mar 2021 Potential public sector bans for ‘negligent’ contractors and a cladding tax on building materials?

During Prime Ministers' Questions on the 17th March 2021, the Prime Minister announced that the government is considering new rules that will exclude contractors who have been deemed grossly professionally negligent

2 min read Read more
24 Mar 2021 Divorces drop despite lockdown split predictions

In a recent article in EPrivateClient, Family Partner, Emily Brand highlights how recent figures are contrary to the expectation that lockdown would cause divorce rates to rise.

5 min read Read more
22 Mar 2021 Exits: six things you need to think about

Charlie Hewlett and Hugo Brown of Boodle Hatfield and James Heath of PwC Raise | Ventures highlight six points that are often overlooked or not given enough consideration prior to an exit.

3 min read Read more
23 Mar 2021 IHT regime is outdated and in serious need of an overhaul

Private Wealth Partner, Kyra Motley appears on the FTAdviser In Focus podcast alongside Edward Grant, Director at St James’s Place and Nick Bird, Business Development Manager for Octopus Investment to discuss how inheritance tax (IHT) planning is in desperate need of an overhaul.

4 min read Read more
19 Mar 2021 Architects prepared to take legal action against developers to recover outstanding fees

Architects are increasingly prepared to take legal action against developers in a bid to recover unpaid fees for work they have completed on projects, says Boodle Hatfield, the leading private wealth law firm. Coronavirus disruption has left many architects out of pocket, leading them to take decisive action to recover fees.

3 min read Read more
19 Mar 2021 Green property: British Land’s first net zero carbon building

British Land has this week announced completion of the offset of residual embodied carbon at 100 Liverpool Street; British Land's first net zero carbon building and one of the first in London.

This next step

13 min read Read more
15 Mar 2021 How can drones be used when purchasing a property?

It is worth considering firstly how drones are presently being used in the property sector, which in recent years has become widespread. A number of organisations have been successfully using drones for many years to conduct external inspections of property.

7 min read Read more
18 Mar 2021 The use of drones in construction projects

There is a perpetual myth the construction industry trails other industries in the drive for modernisation.  Whilst this may be true in labour and recruitment practices, it is not a universal truth.

7 min read Read more
18 Mar 2021 Decisions, decisions

David Rawlence and Steve Coulson offer their thoughts on the various legal structures that property owners could adopt in the serviced office market.

2 min read Read more
16 Mar 2021 Unspent s106 and CIL cash mounting up across London

Recent figures suggest Westminster City Council is sitting on £250m in unspent section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments. This money is supposed to be spent on local infrastructure to mitigate the