Tughans Solicitors

Make a clean break – Partitions render break clause ineffective

Break clauses within commercial leases can be an area of contention should ambiguity seep into the drafting or in the event conditions attaching to the break are not precisely complied with.  A break clause affords either one or both parties a mechanism to exit the lease on a set date or dates, usually years ahead... Read More

The power of a NED

Often associated with public companies only, the non-executive director (or “NED”) can be invaluable for SMEs. Skilled and experienced business people could easily step in to the role of the NED for such businesses providing objectivity and strategic direction to help them grow. Benefits Most executive directors will be focussed on the day-to-day management of... Read More

No point crying over lost data

A legal perspective on how to think about responding if your IT Systems have been targeted by the WannaCry Ransomware, or other malware. What do you do as a CTO if you wake up in the morning to a string of emails from your Chief Exec, a buzzing twitter feed and a breakfast TV special... Read More

GDPR: How to save €20 million

The countdown for the United Kingdom’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is fast approaching, with almost 12 months to go until 25 May 2018, the date by which affected companies are required to ensure compliance, or face penalties. The GDPR is the widest-ranging amendment to data protection law in the UK in... Read More

The Invisibility of Mental Health Issues in the Workplace – What employers need to know

A business owner recently informed me that an employee, absent due to stress at work, should be in the workplace as he “didn’t have a broken leg” and he suspected there was “nothing wrong with him”.  Unfortunately this view, by some employers, still prevails, ie if you cannot see an illness then that person really... Read More

Investor Tax Reliefs

This note provides a summary of the different types of generous tax reliefs which are available to investors and “business angels” in the UK including an introduction to a new “investor relief” which was introduced by the Finance Bill 2016 BACKGROUND To stimulate and support entrepreneurship, HMRC offers a number of tax incentives for individual... Read More

Deus Lex Machina – Will Artificial Intelligence Technology Replace Lawyers Any Time Soon?

A couple of lawyers from Tughans were at a leading technology conference in Belfast last week and the discussion moved to the future of the legal sector and the potential for lawyers to be replaced by AI technology in the short to medium term. The host asked if there were any lawyers present in the... Read More

Dubious Intent

Time and money are the cornerstones of any construction project.  However, it is often the case that work on construction projects is started in the absence of any formal contract having been executed in the belief that this will save time and money.  Instead, parties use letters of intent in the often mistaken belief that... Read More

Short term lettings – Is it worth the risk?

The recent case of Iveta Nemcova v Fairfield Rents Limited will serve as a warning to residential property owners and tenants who are considering or are already granting short term lettings of their properties on platforms such as Air bnb.   In this case the tenant held a flat under a long term lease containing... Read More

A query about equal pay

“A female member of staff has complained to me that she believes she is earning less than her male colleagues for doing the same job. She wants me to give her details of their salary and move her pay to the same rate. What should I do?” Firstly, you should be careful about disclosing personal... Read More