Tughans Solicitors

Tughans makes marathon effort for new charity partner

Tughans has announced Action Cancer as its chosen charity for the next year. A 10-strong team from Tughans has already run in the Belfast City Marathon to raise money for Action Cancer and a team from the company will also take part in the 10k Bra Walk next month.   Tughans, which earlier this year... Read More

Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016

The latest enactment of the European Directives revising public procurement has been made in the UK, with the introduction of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (UCR) coming into force on Monday 18 April 2016. The Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 also became effective on the same day, creating a discrete regime for the operation of concession... Read More

Northern Ireland’s top ‘green’ organisations announced at 2016 Action Renewables

Local businesses and organisations who are paving the way for a ‘green’ future for Northern Ireland have received commendations from Action Renewables at the leading renewables industry awards, the annual Action Renewables Awards.  Praised for their work in furthering the renewables industry locally and displaying outstanding renewables practice, winners from across Northern Ireland were announced... Read More

Persons with Significant Control (PSC) Register in effect from today – what does this mean for me and my company?

From 6 April 2016 almost all UK companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) will be required to identify and keep a register of the individuals or legal entities that own or have significant control over them.  This register is known as the persons with significant control register (PSC Register). From 30 June 2016, all relevant... Read More

Call for evidence on permitted development rights for mineral exploration

Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, has issued a ‘Call for Evidence’ on permitted development rights for mineral exploration. This follows a number of high profile cases where members of the public have opposed proposals to explore for shale gas both in Fermanagh and in Woodburn, County Antrim. The Minister will formally gather views on whether... Read More

Government decides to keep reduced rate of VAT on solar panels

Following the 2016 Budget debates, the government has said that it is withdrawing its proposals to levy VAT at the standard rate (20%), rather than the lower rate of 5%, on the supply of solar panels in certain circumstances. HM Revenue and Customs had consulted in December 2015 on the proposals to increase VAT, in... Read More

Consultation on the closure of NIRO to small scale wind

Last week DETI published its consultation on proposals to close NIRO to small scale wind. The consultation paper follows on from the large scale wind consultation paper on 4 March 2016. The paper provides three options:- Option 1 – Close on 30 June 2016 Option 2 – Close on 30 September 2016 Option 3 –... Read More

Double Success for Tughans

Tughans, the leading Belfast law firm, has celebrated double success at Insider’s Northern Ireland Dealmakers Awards 2016.  Claiming the title “Corporate Law Firm of the Year”; corporate partner John McGuckian also won Young Dealmaker of the Year. Tughans corporate team led by John-George Willis received the highest score from the voting heads of corporate finance... Read More

NI: Employment Bill passed at the NI Assembly – What changes will it bring?

The Employment Bill has now reached the Final Reading stage at the NI Assembly. This Bill has come about as a result of the Employment Law Review in Northern Ireland, which began in 2013. The Bill covers several areas of reform and particular areas of interest include: Early Resolution of Workplace Disputes This is one... Read More

Tughans legal trainees bound for Canada after winning prestigious competition

Our legal trainees Ellen Forester and Nicola Coghlan are heading off to Canada to represent Northern Ireland after winning a contest held at Law Society House in Belfast. The two trainees from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) have triumphed in the regional heat of the Louis M. Brown and Forrest S. Mosten International... Read More