| 
Bermans 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.
Jonathan Berkson, new head of recoveries, Litigation and a new arrival
Jonathan Berkson
Jonathan joined Bermans in 2013 following a stellar career with leading national firm and was the Liverpool Law Society’s “Solicitor of the Year”. He has become a key member of the asset based lending team. He will be a familiar face to many of you assisting lenders with commercial recovery work and he has worked on some highly complex cases, including acting for a US commercial financier in a claim under a Connecticut law guarantee against a UK based guarantor.
Continue ReadingClose Brothers v Hopcraft
As we write, the Supreme Court has begun the three-day hearing in the conjoined appeals in the Close Brothers litigation referred to above, concerning so-called secret commissions paid to brokers by lenders in the motor industry. The key issues to be examined by the Court include:
Continue ReadingImportant Appeal On ‘Omnibus’ Motor Finance Claims
March 2025 saw the decision of the High Court in Angel v Black Horse Ltd [2025] EWHC 490 (KC) (Mr Justice Ritchie).
Continue ReadingCity of London Law Society issues note on execution of legal assignments
Keen readers of this newsletter will recall the discussion of Frischmann v Vaxeal Holdings SA [2023] EWHC 2698 (Ch) (Spring, 2024). To recap, Frischmann was a challenge to the assignment of rights under two loan agreements and a guarantee. This involved consideration of the requirements of a valid legal assignment (sometimes called a statutory assignment), i.e., one pursuant to section 136 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (“LPA 1925”). Among other things, s.136 requires the assignment to be in writing and “under the hand of the assignor” – in other words, signed by the assignor.
Continue Reading
Sophie Wilson
Trainee Solicitor
Sophie joined Bermans in March 2025 as a Trainee Solicitor and is currently working in our Property team in Liverpool.
She obtained a First Class Law Degree from the University of Liverpool before completing her LPC and LLM at the University of Law.
Sophie is currently working on commercial property matters.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys reading, travelling and long walks with her dog.
E: sophie.wilson@bermans.co.uk
T: 0151 224 0524
Emma Martin
Commercial Property & Finance Paralegal
Emma joined Bermans as a Commercial Property & Finance Paralegal in March 2025.
Continue ReadingBermans bolsters property & construction team with new partner
Bermans has strengthened its property & construction team with the appointment of James Harris as a partner.
‘Sir …that was my chair’ – are we at work or back in primary school?
Adrian Fryer
A tribunal has found that forcing a senior employee to sit at a desk which was viewed as a ‘junior’ desk can amount to constructive dismissal.
Continue ReadingGovernment proposes changes to Industrial Relations framework
Adrian Fryer
The Government has published its response to its recent consultation on modernising industrial relations. As a result, it plans to make several changes to the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) relating to trade unions.
Continue Reading