News & Blogs

A legal update in respect of EPC requirements for residential lettings

Referral fees are paid by some solicitors to estate agents in order for the estate agent to refer the work to them. This isn't something that Lawson Lewis Blakers do because it isn't good for clients. Read more here.

As our employment solicitor, Chris Kingham, has just announced the birth of his baby boy, we thought it timely to post something on here about shared parental leave and pay!

We've been raising funds in support of the fight against breast cancer (and eating lots of cake)...

New guidance has been issued by the Charity Commission surrounding charities and fraud.

An update on the change to the rules regarding the disqualifcaiton of charity trustees.

We are delighted that our team won the Relate golf competition

The rules about automatic disqualification for trustees of charities are changing from 1st August.

Lawson Lewis Blakers proudly took part in the recent Citizens Advice Eastbourne 10k Legal Walk.

We can assist with Business Lasting Powers of Attorneys

Historically solicitors’ firms have attracted clients by “word of mouth” recommendation. Thirty years ago they weren’t allowed to advertise! The world has moved on and bringing many benefits for consumers.

Employment Tribunal fees scrapped as access to justice prevails. In July 2013 cases sent to the Employment tribunal peaked at a little over seven thousand.

In July we supported the Lewes Annual Raft race. A great event put on by Lewes Round Table and good fun for all the family.

Robert Hamilton, Christos Christou and all of the Civil litigation team are celebrating a week of successes. They have won three multi track cases in Brighton and another in Central London County Court.

If you own a business and lose mental capacity – perhaps because of a serious accident or physical or mental illness then in the absence of a Lasting Power of Attorney

Whatever your views on politics, the calling of the Election has meant that the proposed increase in the Probate Court fees has had to be scrapped by the Government.

We all know that every individual on death can pass an amount of £325,000 tax free to their beneficiaries. This is referred to as the Nil Rate Band.

When someone dies, quite often it is necessary for their executors or administrators to apply to the Probate Registry for a Grant of Probate to that person’s will

After the over indulgences that Christmas often brings it’s sometimes hard to motivate yourself to get back into the swing of things in January, particularly if you are contemplating a major change like moving house

With the growth of AirBnB and similar services there has been a large increase in the number of home owners letting out their properties to raise money from holiday lettings.

Christos Christou congratulates Richard Palmer on his new appointment as President of Eastbourne Law Society.

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 introduces a new (and complex) requirement for companies to maintain a register of their ‘persons with significant control’ (‘PSC’)

The number of Wills which are being contested is ever increasing. There are a number of ways that a person may contest a Will.

A very public row has engulfed the family company Sherlock Holmes International Society Ltd, which owns the Sherlock Homes museum, over disputed withdrawals of funds of more than £2m from the compnay

Until now, companies have been required to file an Annual Return every year which updates the Register of Companies with current information about Directors, shareholdings, registered office, etc

Last year the Ministry of Justice ran a ‘Choice not chance’ campaign, in an attempt to make people aware of the importance of planning for their future by making Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

The cohabiting couple family is the fastest growing family type in the UK with over 3.2 million couples cohabiting as of 2015

Report on - Lancashire County Council (LCC) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2016

Gary Lineker has complained that that division of resources upon divorce should be resolved by a “Mathematical equation” and that lawyers manipulate parties into avoidable disagreements.

I once heard that the whole process of selling, purchasing and actually moving house was third on the list of most stressful events a person can endure, being superseded only by bereavement and divorce!

Planning for the unexpected is what we do best at Lawson Lewis Blakers. We have discussed before the importance of preparing a Will

I am a residential conveyancer, acting for individuals buying and selling properties. I also prepare trust deeds for joint owners, deal with re-mortgages, new builds, lease extensions,

Making a Will provides you with an opportunity to choose who your beneficiaries will be. Of course there are some exceptions to this, but in general a Testator (person making a Will) is able to decide whom they

Lawson Lewis Blakers are pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Palmer as director.

Whilst conveyancing teams across the country have been gearing up to deal with the anticipated changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on buy to lets

Lawson Lewis Blakers solicitors celebrated 140 years in Eastbourne at the Town Hall, Eastbourne on 22nd October 2015.

We are pleased to announce that Jeremy Sogno and Rebecca Cole have each had their membership of the Law Society Family Law Advanced Specialist Panel renewed for the next five years.

When the Working Time Regulations were introduced in 1998 they required an employee to take annual leave within the leave year in which it was due.

From 1 February 2016, all private landlords in England will have to check that new tenants have the right to be in the UK before renting out their property (right to rent).

I am on the civil and litigation teams.In civil litigation I advise clients on their legal issues and make applications to the court on their behalf and attend hearings

Everybody knows (or should know) that the Equality Act 2010 protects disabled employees. Disability is a protected characteristic.

There has been much talk recently about the rise of zero hours contracts. On the one hand they provide flexibility to both the employer and the employee.

Now that there is no statutory retirement age, many people work well into their 60’s and early 70’s and sometimes this creates difficulties.

Do I have to pay tax when I am being made redundant/my employment is being ended?

As solicitors are so fond of saying this will depend on the facts. In the recent case of McElroy - v - Cambridgeshire Community Services, Mr McElroy was dismissed for attending for work while “smelling of alcohol”.

The Court of Appeal has now delivered judgment in the case of Ilott –v- Mitson – which concerns a dispute over a Will. A mother left her entire estate to the RSPCA and several other charities excluding her daughter

We are very proud of our team who won the Relate Golf tournament at the Downs Golf Club on the 24th July 2015.Robin Comber and Christos Christou with Ryan Smith and Phillip Mann.

Not content with indicating an intention to shut the Eastbourne Family Court, the Government are now “consulting” on increasing Court fees.

The Law Society has devised a quality scheme designed specifically to guarantee to clients standards of integrity, service and competence within the field of residential Conveyancing.

Lawson Lewis Blakers was established as a Solicitors practice in Eastbourne in 1875 meaning that this year we celebrate our 140th birthday!

Lawson Lewis Blakers are members of the Law Society backed “Lexcel” kitemark. The award of this quality mark is made after a rigorous audit of each member firm’s systems

As a result of recent case law, Parliament has changed the rules for landlords who let properties on Assured Shorthold Tenancies

Our Lewes Office has been continually supporting The Institute of Cancer Research through their Free Wills Scheme and this year have managed to raise in legacies the sum of £60,100!

We helped raised £5,500 for St Peter & St James Hospice in their Free Wills Scheme, well done and thank you to everyone who participated.

Well done to Nadine who raised £930 for SASBAH (Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) by running the Brighton Marathon in 3 hours 40 minutes.

Our Christos Christou is the new president of Eastbourne Law Society, pictured here with the outgoing president, Robin Bates.

More and more commercial tenants nowadays, given the economic uncertainty of our times, ask the landlord to insert a break clause in their leases

It is not uncommon for Tenants who want to sell or transfer (‘assign’) their Leases to someone else, to allow that third party to take over the premises before the legal formalities have been completed.

The High Court has recently decided the case of Ali v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which has provided fresh warning for Landlords who wish to ensure that Rights of Way

We are delighted to announce that Quintin Barry, one of our Employment solicitors, has had his sixth book published

Village greens have been in the local news a lot over the past year or two, the Newhaven beach case being particularly prominent.

Our Lucy Robinson graduated at the annual graduation ceremony for new Chartered Legal Executives (Fellows)

Rebecca Cole a Solicitor in our family department has achieved admission to the Children’s Panel. A rigorous qualification gained by examination and interview

We are running the Free Wills Month if you are over the age of 55 years we will be able to prepare a simple Will for you under this scheme.

Lawson Lewis Blakers are delighted to announce that Rory McColl, a solicitor, has joined the conveyancing team.

Had a Fantastic evening and Peter James was an amazing speaker — at Pelham House Hotel

The partners of Lawson Lewis Blakers (left to right Nadine Ashford, Jeremy Sogno and Mark Barrett) welcome Stuart Grace and Chris Christou to the firm.

We are pleased to announce that we have joined forces with Stuart Grace Associates, Solicitors

Lawson Lewis Blakers raised over £100 for the WRAS and the Salvation Army in lieu of Christmas Cards this year.

Carole Gregory of Care for the Carers won the bottle of Prosecco at the 3VA exhibition at Lewes town hall yesterday.

The Charity Commission has added another 12 charities who have double defaulted on their accounts.

Lawson Lewis Blakers joined the Lewes crowds to witness the Remembrance Sunday parades and observances.

Jeremy Sogno attended the chamber of commerce breakfast yesterday morning speaking about the legal revolution, he did brilliantly and got a rousing applause with lovely comments from people...

Well done to everyone we managed to get 34 shoe boxes for the "Love in a Box" Campaign for another great cause.

Well done everyone. We raised £141.37p

Lawson Lewis Blakers supports local business and joined the campaign to “ Keep Albert Parade Special” in Old Town Eastbourne.

Lawson Lewis Blakers are pleased to announce that the firm’s overall Lexcel accreditation has been successfully renewed and that the Lexcel Quality Kitemark has been awarded to the firm’s office in Lewes...

Lawson Lewis Blakers are pleased to announce that the legal team based at the firm's Lewes office has been strengthened by the transfer of Nicola Davies Chartered Legal Executive from the office at Eastbourne...

Eastbourne businesses Brufords and Lawson Lewis Blakers have joined a new Home-Start initiative

Lawson Lewis Blakers are pleased to announce that they have been joined by Richard Palmer

Following the merger between Lawson Lewis & Co and Blaker Son & Young the newly merged firm moved into modern, purpose built offices at Sackville House, Lewes. The new offices offer free parking and easy access by lift.

Whilst many of us may be planning a holiday in Britain this summer, not too many will be seeing quite as much of it as local solicitor Nadine Ashford of Lawson Lewis Blakers. On 23 July, Nadine will begin a ‘downhill'

Lawson Lewis & Co gained the Conveyancing Quality Mark. This is a quality mark established by the Law Society to recognise excellence in conveyancing services. Lawson Lewis & Co were amongst the first solicitor’s firms

Lawson Lewis Blakers are very pleased to announce that Lucy Robinson has passed her final examination to qualify as a Member of the Institute of Legal Executives. Lucy works in the firm’s Charity Department and a

We are pleased to welcome Robert Hamilton MA, a solicitor specialising in civil litigation. Robert has over 30 years experience as a solicitor practising in East Sussex. Robert will work alongside our existing civil

Lawson Lewis Blakers Family Department gains recognition for its expertise. Rebecca Cole and Jeremy Sogno have been appointed members of the Law Society Advanced Family Law Panel – in Rebecca’s case for her work in the