Tughans Solicitors

Stand and deliver – Ransom strips

It is strange to think that in our modern times any person can be held to ransom; legally no less. However, it is a fate that can befall any one of us that would acquire land without proper access. A ransom strip is the given expression for a portion of land that exists at the... Read More

Reasonable Adjustments – how much should an employer pay?

Employers will be aware that under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (“the DDA”) they may have a duty to consider reasonable adjustments to assist disabled employees in certain circumstances and that this duty to consider reasonable adjustments is to assess whether the adjustment itself will prevent any disadvantage to the disabled employee continuing.  Examples of... Read More

Closure of The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) on 31 March – Can your renewables project avail of a grace period?

Government incentives for renewable energy have been something of a hot potato in Northern Ireland politically over the past months, but whilst the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), and issues around the management of that scheme, have dominated the headlines, the main government support mechanism for renewable technologies, the NIRO, is closing to non-wind technologies on... Read More

Failure to serve “Pay Less Notice” not fatal

Those who administer payment under construction contracts have had to be very much on their toes since the Construction Contracts (NI) Order 1997 came into force. The legislation introduced a statutory scheme designed to speed up the flow of cash in the construction industry by introducing a regime for determining stage or periodic payments. One... Read More

Love thy neighbour or face the consequences – A right to light

Right to light issues can have serious implications on development schemes in the initial stages and, more problematically, those that have already begun.  Neighbours can obtain injunctions to prevent interferences with their rights to light and/or be awarded significant damages to compensate them for the loss of their rights, even when the infringement is considered... Read More

A Festive Fallout…Vicarious Liability of employers and Christmas parties

As everyone gets into the swing of party season the recent case of Bellman v Northampton Recruitment Limited has emphasised the responsibilities on employers even on a Christmas night out.  The facts of the case are the defendant company held a Christmas party at a local golf club at which most of the staff attended.... Read More

Bankruptcy limit increases from £750 to £5,000

Changes to insolvency laws in Northern Ireland, due to the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 coming into force, mean that as of 30 November 2016, a creditor must be owed at least £5,000 before being in a position to petition for a debtor’s bankruptcy. This is a substantial increase from... Read More

No need to sign on the dotted line?

Most people are probably of the view that it’s only when they sign an agreement that they are bound by it. What happens if the agreement has not been signed? Can a binding contract still come into existence? The recent case of Reveille Independent LLC v Anotech International (UK) Ltd EWCA Civ 443 demonstrates... Read More

What does the recent Uber decision mean for employment rights?

Whether individuals are self-employed, company employees or workers depends on a number of factors and the true nature of their relationship with a company.  The exact nature of that relationship will determine what rights the individuals have and what a company’s obligations to them may be. It is often thought that the determining factor in... Read More

Tax Payment and Registration Issues for Irish Citizens Born in Northern Ireland or UK Citizens in Dealing with Property in the Republic of Ireland

Tughans’ Real Estate Department discuss issues arising when a person, not ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland and not holding the Irish equivalent of a UK National Insurance Number (called a Personal Public Service Number “PPS Number”), seeks to buy or sell,  grant a lease, or take a lease of property in the Republic... Read More