The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that the new obligations contained in the Funeral Markets Investigation Order 2021, which was made in June 2021, are now in force for funeral directors and crematoria.

Step-families are an ever increasing family type within the United Kingdom, yet the rights of step-parents after divorce are often overlooked. 

All clinicians including GPs have faced an exceptionally difficult time during the Covid crisis and the restrictions created by the pandemic has evidently made diagnosis of serious conditions a real challenge. 

If you are acting for someone who is elderly or vulnerable, it is important that you understand how your responsibilities might need to adapt under any current rules and restrictions.

When couples are separating and looking at their finances, they will be asked to provide full and frank disclosure of their financial position.

After initially examining 250 cases it has since been widened to focus on nearly 1,900 cases dating back decades and is now the largest ever review into NHS maternity care.

Unless express instructions are included in the lasting power of attorney (LPA) for property and financial affairs about providing for others or making gifts, the general rule is that the LPA attorney does not have power to benefit others apart from the very restricted authority to make the usual Christmas and birthday gifts and to make gifts to any charity to whom the donor may have been making regular payments.

When a relationship breaks down, dogs often get caught up in the separation process leading to difficulties arising over who will retain ownership at an already incredibly stressful and emotional time. 

Unlike personal injury litigation, clinical negligence litigation relies on medical expert opinion to identify and determine both liability (whether there were failings in the care provided) and quantum (the losses arising from any injuries sustained).

Back in March 2015 a scandal hit a maternity unit when it was blamed for the needless deaths of 12 mothers and babies between 20024 and 2012, once again this unit has been criticised for providing poor care.

The introduction of No Fault Divorce has been long awaited by clients and practitioners alike. Many have speculated whether it is wise to wait until April 2022 to initiate divorce proceedings in the hope of achieving a more amicable separation. In our latest insight article we discuss why, in certain situations, it may be more beneficial to begin divorce proceedings before the reforms take effect.

Many businesses – especially those in hospitality – are suffering from dire staff shortages. Whilst a measure of relief is in sight with news that the criteria for being pinged by the NHS app have been relaxed and the easing of rules on self-isolation from 16 August for those who have been double-jabbed or who are under 18, it seems clear staffing is likely to be a problem for many employers for some time.