Tughans Solicitors

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme The Government has updated its guidance on the operation of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the Scheme). This follows the publishing of formal directions from the Treasury to HMRC on the operation of the Scheme on 15 April 2020. This advice note is kept under review but does not constitute legal... Read More

Coronavirus: Companies House

The impact of coronavirus is being felt by everyone and there are various measures being put in place to assist businesses (and Companies House) to deal with the disruption. The following updates from Companies House should be considered by businesses: Companies will be given an additional 3 months to file accounts with Companies House to... Read More

Residential Mortgage Payment Holidays

Residential Mortgage payers who are facing financial difficulty due to coronavirus are to be offered payment holidays of up to three months, the government has announced.  This also applies to buy to let mortgages over residential properties.   Chancellor Rishi Sunak made the announcement on Tuesday 17 March as part of emergency measures designed to... Read More

Covid 19: Will your business interruption insurance apply?

From 29 February 2020 Covid-19 has been listed as a notifiable disease in Northern Ireland. Since then, the severe impact of Covid-19 has been felt by businesses across Northern Ireland as they deal with the government and public health guidelines, most notably in the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors. Following a press conference on 16... Read More

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

The UK Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, targeted measures to support businesses through the disruption caused by COVID-19.  Businesses of all sizes will have access to a package of Government-backed loans and guarantees, with further capacity should it be required.

Covid-19 – considerations for tenants

In response to the Covid-19 epidemic Finance Minister Conor Murphy has announced that all businesses in Northern Ireland will pay zero rates in the next three months and the issuing of rates bills has been deferred from April until June. The Minister has acknowledged, however, that in current circumstances rates relief alone will not sustain... Read More

Who carries the risk of the impact of Covid-19 on construction projects?

Unfortunately, it’s becoming clear that the Covid-19 outbreak will adversely affect the execution and completion of construction projects in Northern Ireland. Disruption is already being experienced in obtaining the delivery of goods and materials, as well as on the availability of the workforce currently engaged by contractors. The extent and duration of these impacts is... Read More

Liquor licences – a word of comfort

The temporary closure of premises in the hospitality industry is already well documented.  Many more will be considering a temporary shutdown or restricted trading hours.   Among the myriad considerations for such businesses will be the impact of the closure on what is a valuable and core asset – the liquor licence.  Liquor licences trade... Read More

Conducting ‘business as usual’ during COVID-19

With the increasing spread of COVID-19, many businesses will be alive to statements such as that released by Stormont that we simply cannot operate ‘business as usual’ in this unprecedented time. Whilst it is inevitable that most businesses will face disruption in some form, be that as a result of limited face-to-face interactions or employees... Read More

Force majeure: superior force -v- contractual requirements

While the purchase orders for toilet rolls, pasta and paracetamol are undoubtedly flowing freely, the performance of countless goods and services contracts are being heavily impacted by the ever-changing situation caused by Covid-19. Government shutdowns, closure of hospitality venues, staff unavailability and an almost across-the-board movement to “WFH” have meant that demand... Read More