It is not unusual for land and property to be held within a trust for the benefit of family members (and is a particularly common arrangement for farming families). Predictably, this arrangement can enter choppy waters when one of the beneficiaries wants – or needs - to sell their share.

Deathbed gifts, known as Donatio Mortis Causa or DMC claims, are subject to rigorous judicial scrutiny before they will succeed. The latest case to come before the Court was Rahman v Hassan, in which the Claimant was successful.

If you have been left out of a will or are a ‘disappointed beneficiary’ in that you have not received what you expected, you may be able to challenge it using a Larke v Nugus request if the will was drafted by a solicitor. It is important to distinguish this type of challenge from making a claim for financial provision under the Inheritance Act which would proceed on the basis that the will is valid.

The new government has delivered on setting up a new UK Border Security Command (BSC) to enhance security and tackle organised criminality around trafficking and scrapped the expensive and controversial Rwanda plan. Against this background, what should businesses, still worried about skill shortages and employment costs, expect?

In the ever-evolving world of commercial real estate, one acronym is gaining significant traction: ESG—Environmental, Social, and Governance. These three pillars are increasingly shaping the way commercial developments are planned, constructed, and managed. As both investors and occupiers place greater emphasis on sustainability, social impact, and governance practices, enhancing ESG credentials has become a priority for developers.

A recent case about invasive Japanese knotweed has changed the way in which alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is handled. Following the case, relevant parts of the law that previous only allowed courts to encourage ADR have been formally amended, and from October 2024 judges will be able to stop court proceedings and compel parties to engage in ADR.

This article looks to provide an overview of what was discussed in respect of the two employment law bills and the likely timings of these changes to help employers better prepare for the future.