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Bermans bolsters litigation team with senior hire
North west law firm Bermans has strengthened its litigation team with the appointment of James Thornton as a senior associate.
Continue ReadingSean Hughes’ Will Case Is No Joke
Mike Carter
Sean Hughes spent much of his life making audiences laugh. Yet the legal dispute that followed his death is a serious reminder that when it comes to wills, there is little room for humour. The decade‑long court battle over the comedian’s estate shows, in stark terms, how informal drafting can leave even clear intentions tied up in costly uncertainty.
Continue ReadingCourt of Appeal victory for Bermans’ client in lease guarantee dispute
Bermans has successfully acted for the Appellant in a significant Court of Appeal decision (Kiko UK Limited v Pianoforte Holdings SpA [2026] EWCA Civ 513) concerning the scope of a parent company guarantee under a lease of commercial property.
Continue Reading‘Snakes and ladders’ risks increase for landlords as renters’ rights act shifts balance towards tenants
Mike Carter
Residential landlords are being warned that the Renters’ Rights Act will substantially increase setbacks in possession claims, with a wrong move likely to send more cases back to square one in a game of snakes and ladders.
The Act is being rolled out from May 1 and introduces the most significant reforms to tenancy law in decades.
Continue ReadingTenancy Reform 2026: What Landlords Need to Know About the Renters’ Rights Act
The Renters’ Rights Act introduces the most significant tenancy reform in decades, with major changes coming into force from 1 May 2026.
For landlords, understanding these reforms now is essential to staying compliant, protecting assets, and avoiding costly pitfalls.
Continue ReadingWill I still get my costs back if I win? – Fixed costs, 2 years on
Andrew Koffman
This is the latest in a series of articles on the “fixed recoverable costs” regime introduced in the civil courts in October 2023. The most recent articles before this one can be found here:
Continue ReadingDo I have to take my dispute to mediation?
Andrew Koffman
In an article in December 2023 we reported on the Court of Appeal’s decision which, for the first time, gave the courts the power to compel parties to mediate.
Court of Appeal backs compulsory alternative dispute resolution (ADR) | Bermans
There have been further developments since then. In October 2024, changes to the court rules (CPR) were made to give the court the specific power to order the parties to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as mediation.
Continue ReadingTrapped in your own company?
Elizabeth Wilkinson
We have noticed an increase recently in instructions from clients who own shares in private companies and who for a variety of reasons want to leave and sell their shares but find this difficult to achieve.
Continue ReadingBermans accelerates growth with new Head of Commercial and Litigation Partner
Bermans has appointed a new head of its commercial team and a litigation partner as it continues to strengthen its ranks with key strategic hires.
Watch out for the fine print – again!
Elizabeth Wilkinson
A business’s terms and conditions can be a life saver if care is taken when drafting them. Of the many points which ought to be considered, addressing the fixed recoverable costs (FRC) regime introduced in the courts recently should be high on the list.
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