Beyond conveyancing: why a full-service law firm offers more for your property transaction
Buying or selling a property is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, financial transactions you will experience in your lifetime. Conveyancing plays a major role in the process, but it can also involve mortgages, tax considerations, wills, trusts and other legal matters. This is why using a full-service law firm for conveyancing can offer significant advantages. So, what is a full-service law firm?
A reflection on the ‘one lawyer, one couple’ approach to resolving issues following a separation
It has now been a couple of years since I attended the Resolution training for the process known as' Resolution together'. This is where one lawyer is able to assist a couple jointly in discussing, and hopefully resolving, any issues arising from their separation.
BPE maintains strong rankings across all teams in The Legal 500 2027
BPE Solicitors has maintained its position across all seven of its ranked disciplines in the 2027 edition of The Legal 500 UK. The latest rankings recognise the continued strength and depth of expertise across BPE, with two of the firm’s teams retaining Tier 1 rankings and all seven ranked disciplines maintaining their position from the previous year.
From Secretary to Solicitor Apprentice: Nicola’s Career Progression at BPE
There is no single route into a career in law. For Nicola Dicks, her journey at BPE has taken her from secretary to paralegal and now solicitor apprentice, with her sights set on qualifying as a solicitor in 2028.
Can a Formerly Estranged Adult Child Claim Against an Estate? McDaniel v Talbot
The High Court has awarded an adult daughter £123,418 from her late father’s estate despite his Will expressly excluding her. The decision in McDaniel v Talbot & Anor [2026] EWHC 928 (Ch) reinforces the limited circumstances in which an adult child can successfully bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 ("the 1975 Act"), underlining the importance of keeping wills under review where family circumstances change.
Geeks Ltd v Watts – Restrain of Trade update
Can training repayment clauses be considered an unreasonable restraint of trade? The Court of Appeal confirmed that these clauses may be unenforceable if they go beyond what is reasonable to protect an employer’s legitimate business interests in Geeks Ltd v Watts.
Family Mediation FAQs: Costs, Child Arrangements and What Happens During Mediation
In the second instalment of her Family Mediation FAQ series, Helen Cankett answers some of the most common questions separating couples have about the mediation process.
Family Mediation FAQs: What You Need to Know About Mediation
Family mediation can help separating or divorcing couples resolve issues relating to finances, property and arrangements for children without going to court. Below, our Gloucestershire-based Family Mediator Helen Cankett answers some of the most frequently asked questions about family mediation, including MIAMs, mediation exemptions, shuttle mediation and how the mediation process works.
Taking Your Child Abroad: Do You Need the Other Parent’s Permission?
Planning a holiday abroad with your child can be exciting - but for separated parents, it often raises an important question: do you need the other parent’s consent?
Business Property Relief: What you need to know
For many business owners, Business Property Relief (“BPR”), or Business Relief as HMRC now calls it, is a central component of effective succession planning. Where available, it can significantly reduce (or eliminate) inheritance tax on the value of a business.
Upwards-only rent reviews are being banned in commercial leases: here’s what you need to know
The government’s proposed ban on upwards-only rent reviews marks a significant change for the commercial property market in England and Wales.
Preparing the Next Generation to Take Over
For many family businesses and owner-managed companies, succession is not simply a legal or tax exercise. It is a process of preparing the next generation to assume responsibility for ownership, management and decision-making.