Death and Incapacity: How Business Owners Can Plan for the Unexpected
Planning for growth and investment as part of the long-term strategy of a business is important. An equally important (but often overlooked) aspect of business ownership is preparing for circumstances where an owner can no longer take part in that business.
Cheltenham Animal Shelter is BPE’s Charity of the Year
Thanks to the nominations and votes of the BPE team, Cheltenham Animal Shelter was selected as Charity of the Year for the financial year 2026-2027. Philip Allen shares information regarding leaving gifts in wills.
Property risks for unmarried couples
More couples than ever are choosing to live together without getting married. While this reflects modern relationships, the law has not kept pace.
Acting as an Attorney: Authority, Responsibility and Risk
It is widely reported that making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is part of sensible future planning. Far less attention, however, is given to what happens next: the responsibilities of the person appointed as attorney.
Withdrawing a Job Offer: A costly misstep for employers
It is not uncommon for employers to issue a covering letter setting out the headline terms of employment when approaching a candidate for a role. Comfort is often taken from describing the offer as “conditional”, subject to references and / or right to work checks. The assumption is that no binding contract exists until those conditional steps are satisfied and that the offer can therefore be withdrawn at that stage without risk.
Your questions from Wednesday Working Lunch answered
On Wednesday 25th of March, BPE hosted Wednesday Working Lunch. Here are the answers to the questions that were raised during the session.
Statutory demand prompts full payment of rent arrears and further recovery action
BPE’s Commercial Litigation team has successfully secured full payment of rent arrears for a commercial landlord client, following the service of a statutory demand over the festive period.
Why HR should know about Rockstar and Grand Theft Auto
When people hear the name Rockstar Games, they usually think of the blockbuster franchise Grand Theft Auto (GTA). However, the studio recently found itself in the spotlight for something different: an Employment Tribunal dispute involving 29 developers working on the next instalment of the game, Grand Theft Auto VI.
When should you apply for a Final Order (Decree Absolute) in divorce proceedings?
Divorce involves a number of formal legal stages, and understanding when to apply for a Final Order (previously known as a Decree Absolute) is an important part of the process.
Selling a company to an Employee Ownership Trust – is it still worth it?
BPE Solicitors LLP (BPE) have recently advised a number of clients on selling their companies to an employee ownership trust (EOT). Selling a company to an EOT offers significant tax advantages, including CGT relief for selling shareholders and tax-free bonuses for employees, provided statutory conditions are met.
The Hidden Risk in the Unfair Dismissal Reforms
The Employment Rights Bill received Royal Assent on 16 December 2025, creating the Employment Rights Act 2025 and laying the groundwork for a series of significant employment law reforms due to take effect throughout 2026 and 2027.
EOT vs MBO: Which Ownership Model is Right for Your Business?
For many business owners planning their succession, the question of how to pass on their company is one of the most important – and often the most complex – decisions they will face. Two increasingly popular options are an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) or a Management Buy-Out (MBO).
