September 2010
Equality Act 2010: main provisions come into force 01 October
The Government Equalities Office announces “the vast majority” of the Act applies from the first wave of implementation.
MoreThe Company Names Tribunal
22nd October 2009
Has a company name been registered at Companies House too like yours?
The Companies Act 2006 (the Act) may provide the answer. The Act distinguishes between a company name being too like another and one where the registration is considered to be an opportunistic registrations. Under section 69 of the Act the Company Names Tribunal has been set up at the Intellectual Property Office and adjudicators appointed.
The adjudicators have recently made adjudications in favour of Coca-Cola Ltd against Coke Cola Ltd and Zurich Insurance Co against Zurich Financial Special Risk Ltd. and Zurich Risk Transfer Ltd and Harrods against Harrods Limousine Ltd. The adjudicators have ordered the offending companies to change their name and to pay £700.00 costs to the applicant. If the offending company’s name is not changed the adjudicator will change the name to that of the company’s registered number.
The Company Names Tribunal state opportunistic company name registrations share similar characteristics to opportunistic Internet domain name registrations (called cyber squatting) such as registering one or more variations of the name of a well known company. But note, the adjudicators cannot deal with cases where someone feels that another company name is too similar to their own company’s name where the dispute will be dealt with by Companies House, and if it amounts to passing off it may be actionable by the courts.
Click here to speak to a specialist commercial lawyer.
September 2010
Equal pay guidance issued to SMEs
New free on-line tool allows firms to calculate equal pay gap.
MoreAugust 2010
The insured has the freedom to choose own lawyer
FSA clarifies that legal expenses insurance must not limit freedom to choose a lawyer.
MoreAugust 2010
Plans for additional paternity rights appear under threat
Uncertainty as Theresa May signals Coalition rethink of policy on parents' rights to leave, due to come in to force in April 2011.
MoreJuly 2010
Compulsory retirement age to be axed from October 2011
The Government has today launched a consultation on its proposal to scrap the Default Retirement Age (DRA).
MoreJuly 2010
Acas launches guidance on holiday rights as summer requests step up
Employers get advice on balancing requests for time off and their business needs at popular holiday times.
MoreAugust 2010
How to Conduct a Disciplinary Hearing
A recent presentation by Employment solicitor, Susan Mayall, setting out the stages for handling a disciplinary, referencing the ACAS Code of Conduct.
July 2010
Recent Case Study: Doing Battle in the Boardroom
How Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law helped members of the Board of Directors achieve the outcome they sought in their boardroom dispute with a senior executive director.
May 2010
How the Mergers & Acquisitions team helped Lanes Group PLC achieve their LAS sell-off
Drainage specialists dispose £12.3 million majority stake in Lanes Assistance Services.
March 2010
PH Employment Direct
The Employment team at Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law have created PH Employment Direct - a user-friendly and simple service that gives you access to the best advice at the end of a phone 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
February 2010
Oldham Construction Sector
On 3 February 2010 Corporate Commercial partner Roger Hinchliffe delivered a presentation entitled, ‘Joint Ventures’ to the Oldham Construction Sector group.
January 2010
Debt Recovery Service
With our specialist commercial Debt Recovery service you can significantly increase the speed and likelihood of recovering the money owed to your business.
October 2009
M&A Opportunities
A live selection of current assignments offered by Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law or those of our professional partner organisation,
August 2008
Franbar Holdings Limited –v- Patel and Others
Concerning the Derivative Actions introduced by the Companies Act 2006.