News & Insights - Boodle Hatfield

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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.

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06 Nov 2020 Remote family law hearings – for better or for worse?

Many would say that there are significant benefits to remote hearings not least that they often result in a saving in time and money. Physical hearings often involve longer delays outside the Court door and require

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30 Oct 2020 Entrepreneurship in the UK: how much does background matter?

A report from the British Business Bank flags what many of us will have suspected - there is a link between the success of a new business and the background of the entrepreneur.

The report flags disparities in

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29 Oct 2020 Considerations for Landlords Installing Electric Charging Points

The UK is proposing banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars within the next 10 to 20 years. London is ahead of the curve having made it expensive for cars with high emissions to drive through central London.

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29 Oct 2020 Despite the second wave Q3 rent collection up on Q2

Research has shown that whilst commercial rent collections are still down on 2019 levels, the impact of government schemes, such as 'eat out to help out', have led to an increase in the level of rent collected this

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29 Oct 2020 Stamp Duty Holiday Extension?

Industry experts have written to the Chancellor urging an extension to the Stamp Duty holiday to avoid a collapse in transactions in the Spring.

It also begs the question about the timing of the upcoming 2%

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29 Oct 2020 What to do with all this space?

As the revolution (or decimation) continues in the retail sector, those bricks and mortar retailers have a further conundrum; what to do with surplus space? 

High street stalwart, John Lewis, clearly

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23 Oct 2020 Charity Commission welcomes Public Interest News Foundation in cynical times – new charitable purpose born, wonders world!

The Charity Commission’s decision to admit Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) to the register of charities comes at a point when public confidence in the fourth estate (even the historically hallowed BBC) is at

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21 Oct 2020 Demand for Senior Living

Cushman and Wakefield have today released their Report on Housing and Care for Older People. The Report focuses on specialist housing schemes which offer support and / or care to residents. The Report looks at

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20 Oct 2020 Bloodbath on the high street

Yet more bad news reported for retail.  As we have written about previously, the pandemic has served to accelerate trends that were already happening especially the drive to online shopping.  

What

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19 Oct 2020 How do the new Covid tier restrictions impact on children with separated parents?

The new Covid restrictions provide an additional challenge for children who have separated parents. Whilst it was clarified during the national lockdown that children were able to move between their parents' homes,

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16 Oct 2020 Apple’s iPhone 12 to work on 5G: A predicament for landlords

Apple have this week unveiled their first iPhone with 5G capabilities.5G is faster than 3G and 4G; offers greater capacity, meaning a lot more devices can be connected at the same time; and reduces latency

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14 Oct 2020 Drive Thrus: The key to driving up occupancy rates on retail parks?

Whilst the majority of the hospitality sector has suffered under stringent Covid restrictions, one aspect of the hospitality sector has thrived: the drive-thru. Canadian restaurant brand Tim Hortons has this week

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13 Oct 2020 The times they are a-changing – Institute of Art and Law delivers first online course

We are all learning to adapt and cope with new technologies and challenges. It was great to present on issues relevant to collectors and museums with my colleague Becky Shaw. We covered the topics of insurance and

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13 Oct 2020 The race is on to find a new retail leasing model

Retail agents teamed with data consultancies are racing to come up with new and innovative leasing models that would see rents linked to footfall and would include online sales. 

Long leases with

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12 Oct 2020 Remote witnessing Wills – the stepping stone to reform or the backdrop for further disputes

Legislation has recently been introduced to allow Wills to be validly witnessed by video link rather than in person.  A testator still needs to sign a Will in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the

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07 Oct 2020 Urban farming – an alternative use for commercial space?

An entrepreneurial business plan and a fascinating use of commercial space in central London. Entocycle, which currently operates from railway arches at London Bridge, "feeds local food waste – typically surplus

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06 Oct 2020 Green shoots for Senior Living?

At the end of 2019, the Senior Living sector was following hot on the heels of the BTR and Student Accommodation sectors. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, by targeting the elderly, investors were looking to

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02 Oct 2020 New beneficial ownership register for BVI companies – a victory for transparency or a dangerous precedent?

The decision by the BVI government to create a publicly accessible register of company ownership predictably has been broadly welcomed. Like many offshore jurisdictions, the world's go-to destination for holding

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02 Oct 2020 Reports of the death of the office have been greatly exaggerated

So much has been written about how the pandemic is going to see the death of the office.  Office space is, after all, one of the biggest expenses of any business. Surely, the move to mass home working means that

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02 Oct 2020 Drones for virtual viewings of commercial properties?

Amazon has unveiled an indoor drone which is capable of surveilling homes. How long will it be until the same technology is adopted for virtual viewings of commercial properties? Not long, one would have thought,