The local property market is vibrant despite fears it would stutter after the Stamp Duty deadline, with conveyancing instructions well above normal. At ORJ, we enjoyed a record-breaking first quarter of the year for new conveyancing matters as house buyers rushed to beat the changes to Stamp Duty rules. From April 1 the Stamp Duty […]

Fiona Mainwaring, Head of Wills and Probate at ORJ, explains how and when a will can be contested after a death. Will disputes are on the rise, with as many as 10,000 people in England and Wales embroiled in legal action over inheritance every year. In 2021-22, 195 disputes went in front of judges, up […]

They say that nothing is certain in life except death and taxes – and that is truer now than ever for farmers after the Chancellor introduced major changes around agricultural land and inheritance tax. Prior to last year’s Autumn Budget, the vast majority of farms were entirely exempt from inheritance tax thanks to the Agricultural […]

Lorraine Smith, Corporate and Commercial Law Solicitor at ORJ, looks at why and when a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) may be necessary to protect company secrets  Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – or confidentiality agreements as they are also known – are often used in commercial dealings as a way of protecting sensitive business information. They are regularly […]

Zoe Smith, Head of Commercial Property at ORJ, looks at the options available to commercial landlords when faced with non-payment If you’re a commercial landlord and your tenant fails to pay rent, it’s easy to act in haste. While swift action is required, it’s important to know the law and to stay within the boundaries […]

Sian Wolstenholme, Commercial Property Solicitor at ORJ, explains why tenants must be cautious when signing leases with sustainability clauses. Over recent months and years, I have seen a notable increase in sustainability provisions being drafted into commercial leases. This can take a number of forms, but typically I see landlords asking tenants to enter into […]

At ORJ, we have more than 30 years of commercial litigation experience, dealing with cases ranging from minor disagreements between companies to complex, multi-million-pound disputes. Often, we can help businesses resolve disputes amicably but there are also occasions when we must represent our clients in court. But prevention is better than cure, as the old […]

Fiona Mainwaring, Head of Wills and Probate at ORJ, explains the legal process when disputes arise over what happens to a body after a funeral Disputes after a family death are common – but not always for the reasons you might expect. A recent study found 40% of deaths lead to some level of disagreement […]

Family Solicitor Tia Bickley is passionate about cohabiting couples protecting their rights and safeguarding their futures in the event of separation. Here she discusses the options available to those people who want to live together while enjoying legal security. Despite numerous attempts to reform the law, what happens when a cohabitating couple separates remains a […]

Angie Parker, Head of Family at ORJ, looks at options available to grandparents if they are being denied access to their grandchildren When a relationship breaks down, the heartbreaking reality is it can lead to grandparents losing contact with their grandchildren through no fault of their own. Some grandparents who have been prevented from seeing […]