The first stage of the pension reforms announced in the 2014 Budget has come into effect. From 27 March 2014, pension holders will find it easier to access their savings and they will enjoy more flexibility in managing their pension pots. Cashing in From 27 March 2014, the limit for cashing in pensions will be […]
Men in full time employment earned an average 33 per cent more than women in 2013, according to research by Halifax. The study reveals a persistent gender gap in the workplace despite earnings narrowing over the last decade. Women’s earnings for full-time employees have increased by 34 per cent on average since 2003 compared to […]
There are significant changes being proposed which will make it easier to access your pension fund pot if you have a defined contribution (money purchase) pension scheme. As a general rule, 25% of the pension fund can be taken as a tax free lump sum at age 55, although this age will be increased in […]
In April 2014 the Court fee to start divorce processdings will rise from £410.00 to £750.00. Fees were increased last year from £385.00 to £410.00. The further increase follows a hike in fees charged to commercial cases. As there is no correlation between commercial court litigation and family court litigation, family lawyers have challenged the […]
Date: 7 May 2014 Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm Venue: 20-21 Jockey’s Fields London WC1R 4BW [ Location map ] This is a free session enabling you to pick the brains of our experienced London team of commercial employment solicitors on any employment law matters including: grievances; disciplinary hearings; redundancies/restructuring; TUPE; employment tribunal claims; and other employee issues. Please call us on […]
Gail Sykes of Buckles Solicitors LLP will bring you up to date with the latest developments in housing law including: The great bedroom tax debacle! Recent bedroom tax and welfare reform cases and the on-going what is “a bedroom” debate The Draft Anti-Social Behaviour Crime & Policing Bill – changes, challenges and a game of […]
The inheritance tax (IHT) threshold should be raised above its current £325,000 limit for individuals, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. Speaking at a meeting in East Sussex, the Prime Minister suggested that IHT should “only really be paid by the rich.” Although the IHT threshold usually rises in line with inflation, it has been […]
Women now hold more than a fifth of all board positions in FTSE100 companies, according to the latest figures. The annual progress report into women on boards, the third since Lord Davies’s 2011 review, found that 20.7 per cent of board positions in FTSE100 companies are held by women. This figure is up from 12.5 […]
Employers need to do more to take full advantage of ‘age diverse’ workforces, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). A study of almost 3,000 employees and more than 900 employers found that multi-generational workforces bring greater knowledge and innovation to businesses. However, the CIPD found that many firms are […]
74 per cent of consumers say they have not yet felt the benefits of the fledgling economic recovery, according to a survey by uSwitch.com. Despite economic growth of 1.8 per cent in 2013, the research found that 54 per cent of UK households feel their standard of living has declined in the last year, while […]
Litigation, first and foremost, can be extremely expensive. It is common knowledge that most cases settle before ever reaching court. However, for those that do go to the courtroom what expenditure is recoverable? Before embarking on litigation in the English courts it is well worth considering whether your legal fees will be repaid if you […]
Today George Osborne announced his penultimate budget before the general election in a year’s time, and with the economy gaining real momentum it was his final opportunity to truly shape this government’s fiscal priorities before political posturing commences. In his Autumn Statement, Osborne argued that the best way to help business is by lowering the burden […]