Legal500

Blocks

ARCADE CHAMBERS, 2-6 ARCADE STREET, IPSWICH, IP1 1EL, ENGLAND

Tel:: Work 01473 230033
Fax:: Fax 01473 230150
DX:: 3207 IPSWICH

Web:: www.blockslegal.co.uk
Email:

Ipswich IP1, Ipswich IP1, Felixstowe

What we say about the firm's legal practice in East Anglia

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in East Anglia, Blocks is a second tier firm,

The ever-popular Howard Wright at Blocks remains one of Felixstowe’s busiest lawyers, raising the firm’s profile across Suffolk.

Within Corporate and commercial: Ipswich, Blocks is a second tier firm,

Blocks continues to advise Norwich and Peterborough Building Society and has many dental practices and doctors’ surgeries as clients. Andrew Fleming garners great respect locally.

Crime, fraud and licensing

Within Licensing, Blocks is a third tier firm,

Graham Mead and Andrew Fleming at Blocks count many licensed premises as clients, including hotels, bars, restaurants, conference centres and entertainment complexes. Clients appreciate the firm’s good value for money.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: Ipswich, Blocks is a third tier firm,

‘Friendly and approachable’, Graham Mead at Blocks has an extensive litigation practice advising the SME community in Ipswich.

Within Debt recovery, Blocks is a third tier firm,

A local favourite, Blocks handles debt recovery as part of its litigation practice, led by the popular Graham Mead.

Human resources

Within Employment, Blocks is a third tier firm,

Frances Barker is active in redundancy matters and contentious work at Blocks, as the firm cements its ties with employers and employees around Ipswich.

Private client

Within Agriculture and estates, Blocks is a third tier firm,

Gerry Field at Blocks assists many farming clients diversifying into aerobic digestors and renewable energy development. He acted on the demerger of one of the country’s largest farming companies.

Within Family, tier 4

Blocks has five fee-earners accredited by Resolution, with Ben French a favourite. The firm no longer handles publicly funded work, and Michael Sheehan is now practising as a barrister.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Ipswich, Blocks is a second tier firm,

Louise Long at Blocks is a notary public and STEP member, and attracts high-value trusts and probate work from the local area and London.

Real estate

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in East Anglia, Blocks is a third tier firm,

Howard Wright at Blocks is sought after in Felixstowe and has concluded many property deals in the docks for local hauliers.

Within Commercial property: Ipswich, Blocks is a third tier firm,

Blocks has a growing practice in property transactions in the healthcare sector, and advises on surgery developments for doctors and PCTs. Clients of Andrew Fleming and Julie Hoy’s team include national lender Aldermore plc.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Ben French has a thriving building disputes practice at Blocks.

Within Social housing, Blocks is a second tier firm,

Many housing associations, including Suffolk Housing Society, go to Gerry Field and Julie Hoy at Blocks for funding and property advice.

Further information on Blocks

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Blocks in other jurisdictions.

East Anglia

Offices in Ipswich IP1, Ipswich IP1, and Felixstowe

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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

COUNCIL TAX

In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.

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QUEEN’S SPEECH

Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.

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Standards

In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.

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A justified retrospective

Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation

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Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:

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Public Sector Equality Duty

Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.

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Judicial Review

The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.

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The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.

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Immigration update May 2012

In this issue:

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP