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First-tier Tribunal considers whether a single supply may be taxed at two VAT rates
When a taxpayer makes a supply of goods or services, it is not always clear cut whether there is more than one supply, or a single composite supply for VAT purposes.
Read moreNew Kids on the Block : alternative funders in the real estate lending market
Over the last couple of years, there has been a surge in real estate lending by non-bank lenders as traditional banks started withdrawing from the market.
Read moreRobust judicial case management in action
In a Judgment handed down on 14 March 2013, the Court has sent a powerful message to all parties, and to their solicitors, about the immediate and painful financial consequences of 'manoeuvring' and seeking to frustrate effective judicial case management.
Read moreWhat are the potential risks associated with BIM?
This is the second of three blogs about Building Information Models, or BIM. This blog will consider the potential risks associated with BIM, but don't worry we provide some practical advice on how these risks can be tackled in our final BIM blog.
Read moreLSB request rejected: SRA confirm no review into separate business rule
The Solicitors Regulation Authority ("SRA") have rejected the Legal Services Board ("LSB") request that they conduct a review of the separate business rule ("SBR"), as it is not in the public interest to do so and the necessary resources are not available.
Read moreNo Fishing!
A recent High Court decision has reminded Claimants that pre-action disclosure applications cannot be used as fishing expeditions to form or strengthen any unsubstantiated claims.
Read moreECJ ruling in Grattan plc v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2012] All ER (D) 246 (Dec)
The Court of Justice of the European ('ECJ') has recently confirmed the opinion of the Advocate General in Grattan Plc v HMRC.
Read moreSuccessful lawsuit against bank in Singapore but appeal due
In Deutsche Bank AG v Chang [2012] SGHC 248, the Singapore High Court has upheld a retail investor's claim that the bank owed a pre-contractual duty of care to advise him as to (among other things) the preservation of his new wealth, despite contractual disclaimer and estoppel points arising out of a subsequently signed service agreement with the bank.
Read moreNew Sanctions Guidance For Accountants and Actuaries' Investigations
The Financial Reporting Council ("FRC") has published its first Sanctions Guidance for individuals and member firms under investigation.
Read moreThe rush for ATE – and the risk of claims arising
After-the-event insurance premiums have been a plague to surveyors, who have borne the brunt of claims arising from the property crash.
Read moreTribunal finds for the taxpayer and concludes that a trade was being carried on
In the recent case of Albermale 4 LLP v HMRC,1 the First-tier Tribunal ('FTT') was called upon to consider the difficult question of the meaning of 'trade' for the purpose of section 262 Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 ('ITTOIA 2005').
Read moreGood Faith Clauses
There is no general doctrine of good faith in English law and it is not therefore implied into contracts.
Read moreLate expectations – taxpayers succeed in their application to appeal out of time
The 30 day time limit, contained in section 31A Taxes Management Act 1970 ('TMA 1970'), for giving notice of appeal against an amendment of a self-assessment contained in a closure notice is well known to tax practitioners
Read moreRights to Light Reform: Law Commission Consultation
On 18 February 2013 the Law Commission announced that it was beginning a consultation process regarding possible changes to the law governing "rights to light".
Read moreFlood risk insurability – are you exposed?
On 1 July 2013, barring unexpected developments, flood risk insurance for residential property will move to the open market leaving an estimated 200,000 properties exposed to the possibility of severe capital value reductions.
Read moreFinal curtain call
On 14 February 2013 the Court of Appeal in Miller v Sutton [2013] EWCA Civ brought to an end a long running campaign by Mr Miller against his former solicitor in relation to his failed business selling Jimi Hendrix CDs.
Read moreJCT Insurance Options: what's the right fit for fit-out?
Where a tenant is fitting out premises within a multi-occupied building, the JCT's standard insurance options are not always appropriate and, left unaddressed, place unintended and severe risks on the tenant.
Read moreSubstantively procedural: Delineating boundaries in cross-border litigation
In a recent decision, the High Court has ruled that the manner in which expert evidence should be given is to be determined by reference to the procedural law of the forum and not the applicable, substantive law governing the dispute.1
Read moreTake care of your letterhead ...
In UCB Home Loans Corporation Ltd v Soni & Co the Court of Appeal has found that a partner in a solicitor's firm was not liable under the S14 Partnership Act 1980 for fraudulent representations made by another partner to a mortgage lender.
Read moreLenders' contributory negligence - a blunted blade?
Notwithstanding the growing impact of limitation defences, many UK lenders' portfolios remain exposed.
Read moreClarification of solicitors' breach of trust claims in a re-mortgage situation
The Court of Appeal on 8 February 2013 in AIB Group (UK) plc v Mark Redler & Co [2013] EWCA Civ 45 has provided further clarification of the necessary ingredients to establish breach of trust by solicitors in a lender's claim.
Read moreThe Prudential decision – implications for taxpayers
The Supreme Court has refused to extend legal advice privilege ('LAP') to legal advice given by professionals who are not lawyers.
Read moreGoing viral: Supreme Court on YouTube
It has now been two weeks since the launch of the UK Supreme Court's YouTube channel.[1]
Read moreSecurity Trustee – fiduciary or mortgagee?
The High Court has recently given judgment in a case* relating to the duties owed by a security trustee to mezzanine lenders, in circumstances where the security trustee is enforcing security on behalf of senior lenders.
Read moreEngineer held liable for losses caused by the fall in property values
An engineer may be liable to his client for losses caused by a fall in property values. So held the Court of Appeal in the case of John Grimes Partnership Ltd v Gubbins.
Read moreLeO maximum monetary award increases – but at least it's final
The Legal Ombudsman – or LeO to its new friends – has today been granted the power to award £50k (up from £30k).
Read moreTaxpayer misled by HMRC amidst settlement confusion
It is normally very clear to both parties when a tax dispute has been settled by way of agreement, but this is not always the case, especially when the 'agreement' was based on a misunderstanding.
Read moreGovernment property, Kirstie and Phil style?
Ok, so Ms Allsopp and Mr Spencer haven’t quite been called in yet, but almost.
Read moreAnnual Review 2012/13
2013 is set to be a turbulent year across many classes of insurance business, especially those which will be affected by the Jackson Reforms revolution in the UK.
Read moreThe End of the British High Street?
2012 was a hard year for the retail sector but 2013 is shaping up to be an even tougher year for High Streets in the UK.
Read moreRICS guidance note on Risk
As a profession, surveyors (and their insurers) have been hit very badly as a result of claims arising from the credit crunch.
Read moreCourt dismisses interest rate swap misselling case
Green & Rowley v RBS1, the first reported case of its kind to come before the English court, saw Mr Green and Mr Rowley – property developers operating in a partnership (the "Claimants") – bring proceedings against the Royal Bank of Scotland (the "Bank"), alleging that they had been mis-sold an interest rate hedging product.
Read moreIs the Green Deal a great deal?
There is no denying the Green Deal has many advantages but consider the deal in relation to short term leases and it may not be as great as it initially seems.
Read morePermission to appeal denied in Walter Lilly v Mackay
Permission to appeal was refused on 24 January 2013 in the case of Walter Lilly and Company Limited v (1) Giles Patrick Cyril Mackay (2) DMW Developments Limited.
Read moreNew standard terms for Bar creating controversy
The Law Society yesterday issued a practice note on the new standard contractual terms for the supply of legal services of barristers. These rules are due to come into effect in January 2013.
Read moreThe Court of Appeal's decision in Henry v News Group Newspapers: costs budgeting
Costs budgeting is one of the key planks of the Jackson reforms due in force on 1 April 2013.
Read moreReport Card
We're casting our critical eye over the Government's employment law proposals and writing its school report.
Read moreFaith and Freedom
In a debate that has lasted several years, one of my colleagues and I have been at odds on the case of Lillian Ladele, the Islington registrar who refused to conduct civil partnership ceremonies.
Read moreSurveying the legal landscape
The Court of Appeal has handed down its much anticipated judgment on the admissibility of survey evidence in the long running trade mark dispute between Marks & Spencer and Interflora.
Read moreCrown Prosecution Service announces major expansion of prosecutions for tax fraud
As announced in the national press this week (see e.g. the Financial Times Monday 21 January 2013) the Crown Prosecution Service ('CPS') has announced that it will increase five-fold the number of tax cases that it considers for criminal prosecution.
Read moreHave you notified a claim?
How precise do you need to be when notifying your professional indemnity insurers of a possible claim?
Read moreLegal advice privilege remains for qualified lawyers only
The Supreme Court has today rejected an attempt to extend legal advice privilege to legal advice given by professionals other than lawyers.
Read moreThe meaning of (commercial) words
Arguing over the meaning of words is an archetypal lawyerly activity and one which litigators accustomed to disputes over contractual construction know all too well.
Read moreAccountants' Duty of Care to Third Parties
In a welcome reminder of a long established principle, the High Court decision in the October 2012 case of Arrowhead Capital Finance Limited v KPMG
Read moreNEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract "Guidance Notes": more important than you realise for interpreting the ECC
Certain terms of the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract ('ECC') are open to interpretation, and the recent case of E-Nik Ltd v Department for Communities & Local Government [2012] EWHC 3027 (Comm) has cast into doubt whether even something as routine as VAT is crystal-clear under the ECC.
Read moreVictory for the taxpayers in the Charlton case as the UT confirms that HMRC's discovery assessments were unlawful
The eagerly awaited decision of the Upper Tribunal ('UT') in HMRC v Charlton, Corfield & another [2012] UK FTT 770, has now been delivered.
Read moreThe dangers of being helpful with evidence…
Developers' fraud proceedings against Chartered Surveyors struck out as "unjust harassment"
Read moreEnforcing Insolvency Orders in England & Wales following Rubin v Eurofinance
The UK Supreme Court judgment in the conjoined cases of Rubin and another v Eurofinance SA and others and New Cap Reinsurance Corporation (in Liquidation) and another v AE Grant and others [2012] UKSC 46, which provides vital clarification on the effect of foreign insolvency judgments on the UK courts.
Read moreFSA market study into insurance add-ons 'shines a light' on competition
The FSA has recently announced details of a market study into general insurance add-on products in a bid to 'shine a light' on how competition operates within the 'relevant markets' for such products.
Read moreDevelopment incentives – but at what cost?
In light of what is starting to appear to be a wholehearted failure to persuade local communities to meet requisite housing targets, Nick Boles last week proposed self-proclaimed "bungs" to local communities.
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