Tughans Solicitors

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

Working from Home

It is usually the case that requests to work from home come from the employee to the employer and not the other way around.  However, in these unusual circumstances, in light of the current coronavirus panedemic and as a result of recent guidance from the government on home working, it is becoming a reality that... Read More

Preparing for Coronavirus – what are your legal obligations as an employer?

Tughans’ employment team are currently advising clients on their legal obligations as employers arising from the evolving Covid-19 (“Coronavirus”) outbreak, as the number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland increase and both the UK government and Assembly escalate preventative measures. The following advice note is provided as guidance only. You should take specific advice on... Read More

The tension between adjudication and insolvency

The Construction Contracts (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 enables a party to a construction contract to refer a dispute under that contract to Adjudication. Most disputes are about payment and the idea is to speed up payment and aid cashflow. The Adjudicator must reach a decision within 28 days and the Courts give effect to  that... Read More

Trade talks and the Environment

As negotiations on the UK-EU Trade Agreement have commenced, the implications for future environmental standards in the UK are coming into sharp focus and are likely to form a key flash point in negotiations. Trade Negotiations The UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020, and an 11-month implementation period, expiring on 31st December,... Read More

New Environmental Watchdog for Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland faces unique challenges to environmental protection as a result of Brexit. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland share several cross border protected sites, three international river basin districts and the management of Carlingford Lough and Lough Foyle. Environment is also one of the areas of co-operation under the Good Friday Agreement. Most... Read More