With farmland sales in England reaching a 20-year high, the process of preparing agricultural property for market has never been more critical for farming families. From resolving title issues and securing necessary agreements to optimizing tax positions and deciding whether to sell as a whole or in lots, proper preparation can make the difference between a smooth transaction and costly delays.

When a neighbour's farming business diversifies into new activities like falcon breeding or scaffolding operations, can the resulting noise, smell or disturbance lead to legal liability? A recent Court of Appeal case reveals the crucial distinction between nuisance and negligence claims, and why planning permission alone won't protect rural businesses from costly disputes with their neighbours.

When a sustainability data platform attracted venture capital interest, the founders believed their growth trajectory spoke for itself. But as due diligence uncovered gaps in share structure, unsigned contracts, and unassigned intellectual property, what seemed like a straightforward investment began to unravel. This case study examines how hidden operational issues can transform investor confidence into doubt...

A recent Court of Appeal ruling has significantly narrowed the 'box-shifting' loophole that landlords have used to reduce business rates on empty commercial properties. The judgment in City of London Corporation v 48th Street Holdings Ltd challenges artificial occupation arrangements, potentially creating financial difficulties for landlords who have relied on these schemes.

The new National Planning Policy Framework represents the most significant overhaul of England's planning system in a generation, introducing a pro-growth agenda that fundamentally reshapes how development proposals are assessed. From enhanced presumptions in favour of development to new rules for station-proximate sites and grey belt land, these changes create both opportunities and challenges for developers navigating the approval process.

The UK's new National Planning Policy Framework represents the most significant overhaul of planning policy in decades, introducing streamlined rules and stronger support for rural landowners seeking to modernise farms, diversify operations, or develop their land. From explicit presumptions in favour of agricultural development to enhanced protections for water infrastructure and expanded green belt permissions...

Employers across all sectors now face two significant new trade union obligations under the Employment Rights Act 2025, regardless of whether unions have previously operated in their workplace. With trade union membership rising to 22.4% of the UK workforce and new duties taking effect in October 2026, businesses must prepare to inform workers of their union rights and potentially grant union access to their premises.

The UK government has introduced the most significant overhaul of national planning policy in decades through a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), fundamentally shifting the balance towards sustainable development and housing delivery. While the changes create stronger presumptions in favour of appropriately located development—particularly near transport hubs and on grey belt land—they maintain...

A recent Upper Tribunal decision confirms that directors of close companies can face unexpected personal tax liabilities when their overdrawn loan accounts are deemed 'written off' by liquidators, even without formal release documentation. The case of HMRC v Gary Quillan demonstrates how a liquidator's statement that no further recovery is expected can trigger immediate income tax charges on directors, regardless of whether the debt remains technically payable.