Fresh air, closer to nature, room to grow, the ability to forge farming and other business ventures, control your own space and to positively affect the landscape and ecosystem around you; there are many reasons why farms can be great places to live, work and raise families.

This Thursday 7 March will see the third phase of updates to the Charities Act 2022 come into force. The below insight provides a summary of the changes that you need to be aware of.

There continues to be many widely publicised examples of retailers taking legal action to protect their much-loved products against lookalike products circulating in the market and IP lawyers have been eagerly anticipating the judgment on Aldi’s attempt to overturn the judgment made last year. The result? M&S were victorious as Aldi’s appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

In September 2020, the UK Parliament passed an order that amended the Wills Act 1837, a law that dates back to the Victorian era. The order allowed people to make valid Wills by using video-conferencing or other visual transmission, as long as the witnesses could see and hear the testator (the person making the Will) in real time. This was a temporary measure to help people who were self-isolating or facing lockdown restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The order applied to Wills made on or after 31 January 2020, and was initially set to expire on 31 January 2022.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently concluded its year-long housebuilding market study in England, Scotland, and Wales. The final report highlighted several significant areas of concern for the housebuilding sector, which are summarised in our latest insight.

When emotions are high, and conflict occurs, employees may resign in the heat of the moment. While it may be tempting to simply acknowledge this resignation and leave things at that, employers should treat this type of resignation with caution.

It always serves to do some basic groundwork ahead of a sale of your land, whether that sale is imminent or not. Prior preparation can facilitate a smooth sale at the agreed price, rather than having to deal with the disappointment of delays and price adjustments down the line.

In February 2021, residents of Exeter had the briefest of glimpses into life almost 80 years ago, when a large unexploded World War II bomb was found by site workers. In the vicinity were various residential properties and several blocks of halls of residence owned by the University. The plans to make the bomb safe were always going to be risky and, alas, the bomb detonated in quite spectacular fashion, causing damage to properties in the vicinity.

The use of generative artificial intelligence is transforming the way individuals are working. Informed and responsible use of generative AI has the potential to increase efficiency in the workplace, improve decision making and foster innovation.

A discretionary trust is a piggy bank into which assets are placed and which are looked after by your trustees on behalf of a pool of beneficiaries chosen by you.

Where there are finances to be resolved, it is advisable to obtain a Financial Order to record how the matrimonial finances are to be distributed. The first step to address the finances will be for both parties to complete and exchange their full and frank financial disclosure. People are increasingly treating crypto assets as a hobby or an investment opportunity and, however big or small your current holding, it must be disclosed.

On World Sepsis Day 2023, I wrote an article raising awareness of this devastating illness, and shared the work being courageously undertaken by Martha’s parents, after Martha sadly and avoidably lost her life to sepsis at just 13 years old.