Slee Blackwell's blog

The employment tribunal case of Hashman v Milton Park (Dorset) Ltd concerned a Dorset man who was unfairly dismissed from his job at a garden centre because of his anti-hunting principles.

The case dealt with the legal assessment about what can amount to a ‘belief’ under the Equality Act 2010. The provisions make any discrimination in the workplace on grounds of religion or belief unlawful. The definition of ‘belief’ includes any ‘religious or philosophical belief’.

The Legal 500 UK 2011 edition has just been published and Slee Blackwell Solicitors are again being recommended in the areas of claimant personal injury law and professional negligence.

The Legal 500 is acknowledged as the leading guide to the legal profession. Based on independent research carried out annually, it claims to be the “definitive judgment of law firms’ capabilities.”

A landmark decision by the Court of Appeal in Scullion –v- Bank of Scotland on 17th June 2011, has effectively cut off any potential professional negligence claims by buy-to-let investors against valuation and mortgage surveyors for overvaluing property.

Lucy Squire reviews the clinical negligence protocol

The Pre-Action Protocol for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes was instigated by the Clinical Disputes Forum, a multi-disciplinary body which was formed in 1997 following Lord Woolf’s groundbreaking ‘Access to Justice’ Reforms.

Slee Blackwell Solicitors Expect Avalanche of Claims
in Devon and The South West

The banking industry is in turmoil following their failed attempt to block compensation claims for people who have been mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI).

The banks are now bracing themselves for a £4.5 billion payout.

When making a will most people are very aware of the assets they own; their house, their investments, their possessions.

However, in the age of the internet assets are increasingly held in an electronic forma. This presents a risk that some of these digital assets could be overlooked. There is also the danger that the information required to access those assets might be lost.

These assets fall into two main categories:-

Sam Hannon reviews the likely impact of this latest piece of legislation

The long-awaited Guidelines for The Bribery Act 2010 have now been published.   The Act will be in force from 1 July 2011, replacing the complicated, piecemeal offences at common law and Acts of Parliament dating back as far as 1889.  The Bribery Act is intended to assist in combating bribery and corruption worldwide.  Slee Blackwell Solicitors have undertaken a review of this controversial new law and its potentially serious and far-reaching implications.

A Personal View by Michael Clarke

Having been a specialist injury solicitor for over 25 years, I am used to hearing the following phrases:-

“My friend told me you should never accept the first offer they make.”

“Insurers are always happy to take your money, but they will wait until the last minute until they pay out.”

Franchise Businesses are more likely to thrive in a recession than a non Franchise Business.  UK Franchise turnover in 2009 was 11.8 billion.  Today there are approximately 465,000 jobs and 842 Franchises in the UK with over 34,800 franchised units (ref:  Natwest/British Franchise Association Survey 2010).