Tughans Solicitors

WEBINAR: Covid-19 Business Recovery – Employment Law Update

The second of two webinars delivered in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council.  Many businesses are concerned about the end of the Furlough Scheme and are seeking advice on how to identify options for the business and employees. Topics such as redundancy and how to deal with potential local lockdowns are addressed by... Read More

WEBINAR: Covid-19 Business Recovery – Property and H&S updates

The first of two webinars delivered in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council This webinar addresses the property legal framework as well as health and safety measures for businesses, employees and customers. The information is not sector specific and most companies can benefit from the expertise provided by our partners. Details and areas... Read More

Coronavirus: Employment law updates for August 2020

Employers should take note of several important changes which will come into effect in August, as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme continues to wind down and public health guidance changes.   Job Retention Scheme: The grant support available to employers under the Scheme will reduce in August for the first time. While the Government will... Read More

The Use of Electronic Signatures in Property Transactions

The Land Registry in England and Wales has confirmed from yesterday, 27 July 2020 and until further notice, it will accept witnessed electronic signatures for registration of certain deeds (including transfers, leases and discharges and releases). This marks a further step forward from the recent announcement that deeds which had been signed using the “Mercury... Read More

Schrems II – Turning off the Tap on Trans-Atlantic Data Transfers?

It is well established in data protection law that regular transfers of personal data to outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) are generally prohibited unless the recipient is either: situated in a jurisdiction which the European Commission considers provides adequate privacy protection; or is subject to additional obligations and protections above and beyond what... Read More

The Chancellor’s Summer Statement July 2020

When it was initially announced that a “mini-budget” would take place in July, there was understandable speculation that it would be used as a an opportunity for the Chancellor to raise some much needed revenue to reduce the deficit caused by the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and other emergency measures which have been introduced... Read More

Code of Practice for Commercial Property Relationships during the Covid-19 Pandemic

A new Code of Practice for commercial property relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Simon Clarke MP, on 19 June 2020.  It can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-the-commercial-property-sector/code-of-practice-for-commercial-property-relationships-during-the-covid-19-pandemic   Helpfully, this Code of Practice is expressly stated to apply to Northern Ireland too.  Unhelpfully, it is... Read More

Details released on flexible furlough scheme

On Saturday 13 June, the Government updated the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme with much anticipated details on how “flexible furlough” will operate and further clarification on how the Scheme will wind down. The key details are below.   Scheme updates The Scheme is closed to new entrants, with limited exception. From 1 July, it will... Read More

WEBINAR: Planning a Return to the Workplace

On Thursday 11 June, Tughans continued with the successful series of webinars in partnership with IoD NI, this time focusing on considerations for employers who are planning a return to the workplace. Participants heard from industry experts on how NI businesses have pivoted to react to the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges they have faced and how... Read More

Reopening the Land Registry of Northern Ireland

As the Land Registry begins to resume some of its functionality, Gavin Robinson (Associate Solicitor) keeps us up to date on how it proposes to deal with applications, going forward from 8 June 2020 (the “Reopening Date”):   any priority note currently registered with an expiry date falling between 25 March 2020 and the Reopening... Read More