The firm’s teams across its offices in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, London and Romsey have a strong presence in the Legal 500 2021, which reviews the strengths of lawyers across the UK and recommends them based on feedback from their clients and peers. Success in the rankings reflects the breadth and depth of Thrings’ specialist sector teams in private wealth, banking and finance, agriculture and development of land, and its ability to act as trusted advisers to medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs, and family-owned businesses. Thrings’ Agriculture team, headed by partner Duncan Sigourney, retai ..read more

Norfolk Homes Limited (NHL) submitted an outline application for planning permission to erect up to 85 dwellings, access, public open space and associated infrastructure. North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) granted the planning permission subject to a section 106 agreement for the provision of 45% affordable housing together with several financial contributions. NHL later made two applications under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA). Applications made under section 73 of the TCPA enable an applicant to vary planning conditions attached to a planning permission. NHL ..read more

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 that was announced in April 2020 became law after its progress was accelerated through the House of Commons and House of Lords on 25 June 2020. Many of its temporary provisions extended until 30 September 2020. However, this ‘end date’ has now been changed by ‘extension regulations’ made on 24 September 2020. Key provisions of the act have been amended by these regulations. To recap: Winding-up petition – Temporary changes to company winding-up provisions were introduced in June 2020. They limit the ability to advance a winding-up petition agai ..read more

Senior associate Karen Perugini and solicitor Harriet Burt will work within the firm’s growing Succession and Tax team. Karen has 18 years’ experience working as a private client solicitor, most recently at personal injury specialists Novum Law. She advises clients on a wide range of issues including private wealth, inheritance, wills and probate, lasting powers of attorney and Court of Protection cases. She is a qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and an accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE). Karen said: “Thrings has a well-deserved reputat ..read more

The scheme is set to support workers returning to work following the end of the current furlough scheme which is due to finish on the 31 October 2020. It is understood this new scheme will seek to support businesses and preserve jobs. The key provisions of the new scheme are detailed below: The scheme will begin on 1 November 2020 for a 6 month period; The scheme will assist businesses in continuing to employ people on reduced hours; Assistance is available to businesses regardless of whether they used furlough previously or not; To be eligible, employees must have been on the employer’s Real ..read more

Following on from the successful ‘Thrings Meets’ series, ‘Thrings Eats’ celebrates the businesses, groups and organisations that put food at the heart of Hampshire. The project is being run by Thrings in support of the Countryside Education Trust (CET), the charity which aims to help children and adults learn about, understand and care for the countryside. This month father-and-son team Simon and John Martin talk to Mark Charter, partner in Thrings’ Agriculture team, about their family’s 90-year association with Nunton Farm, and explain how keeping 800 dairy cows happy is key to producing five ..read more

Swindon-based FS4S, which offers bespoke finance, payroll and HR services to schools, academies and multi-academy trusts across the UK, has been acquired by Juniper Education for an undisclosed sum. FS4S was formed by directors Lorraine Billis, Andy Madgwick – who will remain at the company during the transition – and Neil Miles in 2008 to offer bespoke finance services to schools. The organisation has gone from strength to strength since its inception, including the addition of support businesses Payroll Bureau Services for Schools and HR Services for Schools to its portfolio. Juniper Educati ..read more

The impact of COVID-19 and the nationwide lockdown that followed has brought business interruption (BI) insurance – and more specifically whether insurers are required to cover the claims of organisations affected by the pandemic – into sharp focus. BI caused by property damage (e.g. fire or flooding) is what often springs to mind as a key risk to be insured against; but some BI policies go further than this by also covering non-property damage, such as losses caused by diseases or by closures of or restrictions to business premises for various reasons. The extent of cover is determined by the ..read more

The next quarter day in England will fall on 29 September, meaning any rent for the first quarter of 2020 not paid by a tenant to their landlord will soon be more than six months old. Property landlords looking to recover rent arrears from former tenants and guarantors for the March period – which coincided with the coronavirus lockdown – will be able to do so if they entered into an Authorised Guarantee Agreement (AGA) at the time of the assignment  A landlord is able to recover rent arrears due under the lease from former tenants and their guarantors. However, landlords must be aware of ..read more

August’s ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper offers a series of exciting changes on the legislative horizon for the planning system in England. The government intends to legislate for “a streamlined development management process with automatic planning permission for schemes in line with plans”. Councils will have to identify local areas as Growth Areas, Renewal Areas or Protected Areas. These, and related changes, are described in pillar one of the White Paper, entitled ‘Planning for Development’. For Growth Areas the proposal is that development would automatically be granted “outline pla ..read more