Umbrellas are useful at this time of the year, as the seasons change and the misty drizzle returns. But the right umbrella is critical: if it isn’t sturdy and wind-resistant it may not keep you dry. The same is true of umbrella companies that are used by agency workers, contractors, and self-employed professionals to manage their payroll administration.

There are many reasons why you might like to become a trustee of a charity: positive support for a good cause, putting a particular skill set or experience to good use, or remaining active in the community.

The Insurance Act 2015 comes into force on 12 August 2016. Although this may seem a long way off, it fundamentally changes the way business insurance will be underwritten, so if you take out any sort of insurance cover for your business it is worth being aware sooner rather than later.

In light of the recent Carillion demise, this guide provides a starting point on common forms of contract for both employers and subcontractors looking at how insolvency affects the supply chain from both directions.

The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill which has been brought forward and will be fast tracked through the Houses of Parliament in response to the war in Ukraine.

As the beginning of the new tax year approached, HMRC was busy. To maximise recoveries to help to pay the national debt, its use of winding-up petitions has been increasing each quarter, resulting in a steady rise in the number of compulsory liquidations of companies. Many tax claims (called Regulation 80 determinations) were also issued before their potential expiry at the end of the tax year. And, to fulfil its announced intention to conclude as many tax avoidance matters relating to loan charges as possible before the end of March 2023, many more taxpayers who HMRC considers to be subject to the loan charge received decisions on what they owe.

Over the last few years, the opportunity for businesses in financial difficulty to be rescued by proposing a restructuring plan rather than entering an insolvency procedure has generally been well received by stakeholders. Making this measure more accessible to SMEs may see it become an even more popular regeneration option for businesses and their creditors.

Disguised remuneration scheme users who had an outstanding loan on 5 April 2019 are now liable to the controversial Loan Charge.

Disclosure involves identifying and making available documents that are relevant to the issues in dispute to the other parties to the case.

When negotiating terms at the start of any commercial relationship, focussing on how you and the other party can terminate that relationship might seem counterintuitive. However, businesses should always try to ensure they have contractual rights that allow them to exit from agreements that cease to be commercially/economically viable.