Experienced business leader Robin Hall has been appointed Chairman of a leading Stafford-based law firm. Robin has been handed the non-executive role at ORJ with a remit of driving the firm forward and assisting with the day-to-day running of the business. He has been working with ORJ in a consultancy role for the past two […]

Fiona Mainwaring, Head of Wills and Probate at ORJ, explains why anyone with assets or dependents should have a will – regardless of age. According to statistics, the average age to write a will in the UK is 58, compared to the significantly younger average age of buying a first home, which is 36. Writing […]

An increasing number of married couples across the UK are considering signing post-nuptial agreements to safeguard their future finances, our new research has revealed. Analysis of Google habits across the country ORJ has revealed an explosion in the number of post-nuptial-related searches over the last 12 months. Google statistics show the number of people searching […]

We often receive calls from worried business owners who have received a Letter Before Claim, also known as a Letter Before Action. Sometimes this letter has dropped through the door completely unexpectedly and the recipient does not know what to do next. Firstly, it’s important not to panic. A Letter Before Claim is usually the […]

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 […]