Sydney Mitchell is recognised in the Top Tier of the Legal 500 and is ‘commercially minded’, ‘quick off the mark’ and ‘one you would want on your side rather than against you’ for dispute resolution and commercial litigation matters.
Sydney Mitchell has again been recognised as a Tier 1 firm for its Contentious Wills and Probate work; with Kamal Majevadia handling a significant increase in contentious estates and ‘…is well-known for his expertise in advising estates with cross border assets and complex commercial and company share issues.’
In total the firm has obtained recommendations in 12 areas of legal practice; Contentious Probate, Commercial Litigation, Debt Recovery, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery, Employment, Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Professional Negligence, Family, Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, Commercial Property and Property Litigation.
Karen Moores, Senior Partner, Sydney Mitchell commented:
What another superb result this year for Sydney Mitchell, with the firm maintaining its ranking in Tier 1 for our Contentious Probate work with Kamal Majevadia and myself identified as within the elite ‘leading individuals’ in the Midlands”. We are really pleased with the recognition and of course all of the support that we receive from our quality legal minds within the firm.
We also have Emma-Louise Hewitt noted as a rising star, heading up our employment team, plus we have 10 Lawyers recommended; many also receiving outstanding comments from clients including
‘quick to respond, accurate and concise advice’, ‘cuts to the chase and focus on the outcome...’ ‘quality and scope of work covered excellent’ and ‘…efficient litigation… able to handle legally and factually complex matters’, and ‘outstanding lawyer with an impressive legal brain coupled with exceptional emotional intelligence’.
“What more can you ask for than recommendations from your clients for the excellent service received for work undertaken by our legal teams.
Dean Parnell is recognised as '…a tough negotiator and always gets the best deal for his clients’ and ‘…Sydney Mitchell is regarded locally as punching well above its size, largely due to the expertise and personality of Dean Parnell.’
Karen Moores and the Family Team, are recognised as being ‘hardworking and conscientious… working cohesively and all members are helpful in handling your case or query efficiently. Karen is ‘beyond capable… has a knack for seeing the issues… the necessary outcome and executing a strategy to get there but delivered in a highly personal, relaxed and ease setting manner’.
Leading Midlands Law firm Sydney Mitchell is ranked in 12 Legal 500 categories and has been short-listed in the Excellence Awards in London for 2019 and in the Solihull Chamber Awards for the Large Business of the Year.
A full breakdown of the recommendations and comments on Legal 500 are shown below.
TOP-TIER FIRM RANKINGS
FIRM RANKINGS
- West Midlands: Dispute resolution
- West Midlands: Finance
- Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Employment
- Clinical negligence: claimant
- Personal injury: claimant
- Professional negligence
- Family: Birmingham
- Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Commercial property: Birmingham
- Property litigation
- West Midlands: Human resources
- West Midlands: Insurance
- West Midlands: Private client
- West Midlands: Real estate
WEST MIDLANDS: DISPUTE RESOLUTION
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: BIRMINGHAM
Commercial litigation: Birmingham - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP's skillset in litigation centres around contractual disputes and fraud claims. Dean Parnell - 'a lawyer that you want to be on your side rather than against you' - jointly leads the team and has broad experience in commercial litigation, with notable expertise in search orders. Fellow practice head Kamal Majevadia focuses on contentious trusts and estates.
Practice head(s):Dean Parnell; Kamal Majevadia
TESTIMONIALS
'A very good reputation as one of the better dispute resolution teams in the West Midlands. They place great importance on client service and making sure the right person is selected for the job.'
'A good combination of specialist intellectual property knowledge and general litigation experience.'
'This firm is regarded locally as punching well above its size, largely due to the expertise and personality of Dean Parnell.'
'Dean Parnell is an exceptional lawyer, but more importantly, he is an exceptional problem-solver. He is highly motivated, a clever tactician and a brilliant lateral thinker who can find a way through the most impenetrable of legal problems.'
'Dean Parnell would run a marathon for you if he felt it could make a difference.'
'Dean Parnell is definitely a lawyer that you want to be on your side rather than against you.'
'Dean Parnell is a highly respected dispute resolution solicitor. He is intelligent, engaging, commercial, thinks outside the box and always goes that extra mile. He does his utmost to achieve the best result possible.'
DEBT RECOVERY
Debt recovery - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP's debt recovery disputes work is handled by Birmingham- based Leanne Schneider-Rose and Kamal Majevadia, who works from the firm's Shirley office. Schneider-Rose acts on matters relating to personal and commercial bankruptcies, while Majevadia is experienced in both insolvency and corporate recovery.
Practice head(s):Leanne Schneider-Rose; Kamal Majevadia
KEY CLIENTS
AIB
West Bromwich Commercial Limited
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Instructed by Goldhill Finance Limited to recover a shortfall in the sum of £130,000 on a loan following repossession and sale of a property over which the client held a legal charge.
WEST MIDLANDS: FINANCE
INSOLVENCY AND CORPORATE RECOVERY
Insolvency and corporate recovery - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP provides comprehensive advice to lenders, insolvency practitioners and trustees on a range of insolvency and bankruptcy issues, including the recovery and sale of assets and claims involving transactions defrauding creditors. Leanne Schneider-Rose is the key member of the practice.
Practice head(s):Leanne Schneider-Rose
TESTIMONIALS
'A balanced approach and quality legal advice.'
'Leanne Schneider-Rose will always respond quickly, giving accurate and concise advice.'
'Leanne Schneider-Rose works really hard for her clients and is focused on getting results. She is a pleasure to work with.'
'Very proactive, knowledgeable about insolvency and good to work with.'
KEY CLIENTS
AIB Group (UK) Plc
West Bromwich Building Society
Dains LLP
Poppleton & Appleby
FRP Advisory LLP
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Acting for lenders in cases involving the Land Registration Act 2002 to validate an otherwise invalid legal charge.
- Acting for the trustees in bankruptcy and advising upon the vesting of property assets in a bankruptcy estate subject to alleged trust issues.
- Dealing with applications under the Insolvency Act to defer the dissolution of a company from the company register.
- Advising a liquidator on the status of an inquorate Liquidation Committee and dealing with obtaining fee approval via an application to the court for directions.
- Advising a liquidator of a member's voluntary liquidation in respect of converting to a creditor's voluntary liquidation when new claims place the company into an insolvent position.
WEST MIDLANDS: HUMAN RESOURCES
EMPLOYMENT
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Senior associate Emma-Louise Hewitt joined Sydney Mitchell LLP in September 2018 from Standley & Co Solicitors to become the new department head. Hewitt's team handles a mix of claimant and respondent matters, with recent work including whistleblowing cases, unfair dismissal claims, and matters involving disability discrimination and sexual harassment. Dean Parnell is another key member of the group, which acts for companies and senior employees.
Practice head(s):Emma-Louise Hewitt
Other key lawyers:Dean Parnell
TESTIMONIALS
'Responses were immediate and professional'.
'The firm gives practical no nonsense advice. It is not so big that its clients are just another number'.
'Dean Parnell is very knowledgeable, commercially minded and quick off the mark. He is a really tough negotiator and always gets the best deal for his clients'.
'Dean Parnell is a brilliant lawyer who naturally commands respect. He is analytical, a master tactician and a very bright individual. He has excellent attention to detail and is a very effective negotiator'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt was very quick at putting my mind at ease on a very complex case'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt is an outstanding employment lawyer. Emma is not only a great technical lawyer but one who has great empathy and compassion for her clients and I feel that she always go the 'extra mile' for them'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt is conscientious, diligent and always keen to get the best result for her clients'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt gives me practical advice that I can understand'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt was brilliant in helping me achieve what I wanted out of my case'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Represented a client in a claim for race/religious discrimination, harassment and victimisation against one of the biggest insurance companies and obtained a large settlement.
- Represented a client in a claim for unpaid commission and obtained a favourable settlement.
- Succesfully assisted a client who was alleged to have committed a serious sexual assault on a fellow colleague - all allegations have been dropped and the client has returned to work following a police investigation and 4 months on suspension.
- Represented a client in a collective redundancy exercise.
- Represented a company in redundancy process.
Emma -Louise Hewitt - Sydney Mitchell LLP
WEST MIDLANDS: INSURANCE
CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE: CLAIMANT
Clinical negligence: claimant - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP handles the full range of clinical negligence claims, including cases involving negligent treatment and delays in diagnosing cancer. Other matters stem from cosmetic surgery, brain surgery and gastric bypass surgery. In addition, other claims are connected with laparoscopic cystectomy, dentistry and gynaecology. It predominantly represents local clients in claims against local hospitals. The head of the team is Mike Sutton.
Practice head(s):Mike Stutton
Other key lawyers:Adam Hodson; David Lydon
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is extremely thorough'.
'David Lydon is the most diligent and understanding solicitor I have ever met'.
'Adam Hodson is an outstanding lawyer who has an impressive legal brain coupled with exceptional emotional intelligence'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Acting in a complex case against four defendants involving a late diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis, with liability and causation disputed throughout and ultimately achieving a favourable settlement.
- Acting for a patient with oesophageal cancer who underwent surgery which was performed negligently and led to life-long and debilitating consequences.
- Advising on negligent medical treatment that was carried out by an urological surgeon to treat prostate cancer that was unsuitable and resulted in avoidable urological consequences.
- Advising on a claim involving a new born child, where the failure of the trust to monitor the bilirubin levels and administer appropriate treatment resulted in brain injury.
- Acting in a claim involving an admitted 18 month delay in diagnosis of lymphoma but the trust is disputing causation and is seeking to argue that the disease w
PERSONAL INJURY: CLAIMANT
Personal injury: claimant - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP advises local clients on matters involving very minor injuries (as a result of minor road traffic accidents) to accidents resulting in very serious injury. Practice head Mike Sutton is skilled at representing clients who have suffered injury as a result of accidents at work, on the road or any other public place.
Practice head(s):Mike Sutton
Other key lawyers:David Lydon; Adam Hodson
TESTIMONIALS
'David Lydon stands out as a very experienced, hands on and pragmatic practitioner who is very well able to handle substantial and high value claims across the range of personal injury cases'.
'Adam Hodson is very thorough and fights hard for his clients. He leaves no stone unturned and has superb attention to detail'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Representing a claimant in a high value claim where the claimant has had some fingers amputated as a result of a work accident and who is likely to require prosthetic fingers to improve appearance and function of hand.
- Acting in a claim for compensation for a pedestrian who was knocked over as a result of an accident involving an uninsured driver and who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
- Represented a client who suffered a brain injury as a result of a road traffic accident and whose claim was settled.
- Settled a claim for the claimant who was involved in a serious motorcycle accident who suffered a serious shoulder injury resulting in him being unable to return to his pre-accident employment.
- Acting in a claim for a motorcyclist who suffered significant leg injury, described as a “de-gloving” injury and which required extensive surgical management.
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE
Professional negligence - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP handles a wide range of cases, including those involving negligence by solicitors, surveyors, accountants and architects. Other matters concern negligent advice by valuers on property transactions. The team, which is co-led by Sundeep Bilkhu and Kamal Majevadia, advises individuals, companies and financial institutions.
Practice head(s):Sundeep Bilkhu; Kamal Majevadia
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Advised on the recovery of damages against a solicitor firm that failed to ensure that the client's lease was contracted out of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
- Acting in a claim for damages for overvaluing a property, when connected individuals were committed of fraud in the Crown Court and received custodial sentences.
- Acting in a negligent claim against a valuer.
- Advising an individual on a claim arising out of missing the limitation date for a claim under the Inheritance Act (family and Dependents) Act 1975.
- Advising on a claim for solicitors negligence and breach of a solicitors undertaking arising out of failing to obtain a first legal charge.
WEST MIDLANDS: PRIVATE CLIENT
CONTENTIOUS TRUSTS AND PROBATE
Contentious trusts and probate - ranked: tier 1
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP has a thriving contentious probate department, which works closely with its busy private client department. It has recently witnessed a significant increase in the number of estates where there is a dispute relating to the ownership of private companies. Team head Kamal Majevadia is well-known for his expertise in advising on estates with cross-border assets, complex commercial and company share issues.
Practice head(s):Kamal Majevadia
Other key lawyers:Hayley-Jo Lockley; Chloe Bolton
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is experienced in contentious probate matters and is easy to deal with. They know their stuff'.
'Excellent team with an all-round attention to detail and a commercial, pragmatic approach'.
'Kamal Majevadia is a strong lawyer, practically astute and is always sensible and willing to reach a pragmatic solution'.
'Kamal Majevadia is very thorough and personable'.
'Kamal Majevadia applies a sound commercial approach to this litigation'.
' Hayley-Jo Lockley is experienced in this field and applies a good pragmatic approach to her cases'.
'Chloe Bolton is a very promising junior member of the team. Diligent, and a pleasure to work with'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Represented the executors in respect of a claim made by an only child of the deceased pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 in respect of a large estate.
- Instructed on two claims, one by an adult son of the deceased to make a claim pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 in relation to a large estate, and one by the granddaughter of the deceased .
- Instructed by the claimant to bring a claim pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 for an order that the property she jointly owns with the defendant be sold, with an option for the client to purchase the property.
- Instructed to issue a claim pronouncing against the validity of a will of the deceased.
- Instructed by the clients in relation to a dispute regarding various parcels of farmland and to issue a claim pursuant to the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 for an order for sale of the farm land.
Kamal Majevadia - Sydney Mitchell LLP
FAMILY: BIRMINGHAM
Family: Birmingham - ranked: tier 2
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP has an excellent collaborative law practice, with it fielding three fully-qualified collaborative lawyers. Its group is well regarded in complex and high value financial remedy matters, complicated Children Act cases, as well as other areas, such as protective injunctions. It also has expertise in asset preservation by way of pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Karen Moores and Mauro Vinti jointly lead the team.
Practice head(s):Karen Moores; Mauro Vinti
Other key lawyers:Amanda Holland
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is unique in its ability to cut to the chase and focus on the outcome, but in a way that keeps clients constantly at ease'.
'The family team is extremely hardworking and conscientious. It works cohesively and all members are helpful in handling your case or query efficiently'.
'Karen Moores is beyond capable. She has a knack for seeing the issues, seeing the necessary outcome and executing a strategy to get there - but delivered in a highly personal, relaxed and ease setting manner'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Represented the client in financial remedy proceedings following a long separation and successfully negotiated an order which ring-fenced the husband’s pre and post acquired pension.
- Representing a father who is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in respect of an application to see his children.
- Representing the wife in financial remedy proceedings where she was the primary wage earner.
- Advising on a declaration of parentage case.
- Advising on Child Arrangements Order with a foreign jurisdiction element.
Karen Moores - Sydney Mitchell LLP
PERSONAL TAX, TRUSTS AND PROBATE
Personal tax, trusts and probate - ranked: tier 2
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP's team has a wealth of experience of a wide range of private client matters, such as advice on succession planning for individuals and families (including small to medium-sized business owners). It has also recently had a significant increase in mandates from elderly clients, for whom the scope of the work includes advice on continuing health care (assessments and appeals), care placement and care funding. Tracy Creed leads the team.
Practice head(s):Tracy Creed
TESTIMONIALS
'What a great team! '.
'Tracy Creed is very thorough'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Advised on the administration of an estate with a mixture of beneficiaries, some of whom were chargeable and some were not chargeable to IHT.
- Prepared a submission for an appeal against an ‘ineligible’ decision for Continuing Healthcare.
- Advised on a complex estate and a deed of variation.
- Advised on a complex estate where poor advice had been given from previous firm of solicitors and accountants.
- Advising on an application for business property relief in an estate (Holiday let).
WEST MIDLANDS: REAL ESTATE
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: BIRMINGHAM
Commercial property: Birmingham - ranked: tier 5
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP assists Midlands-based private individuals, lenders, property developers and corporate occupiers with acquisitions, leasing, secured lending and development matters. Energy and leisure are among the practice's sector expertise. Richard Cox joined as a consultant from Shakespeare Martineau LLP in November 2018.
Practice head(s):Div Singh; Fahmida Ismail
Other key lawyers:Georgina Walsh
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is always engaging and looking for solutions in an easy-to-understand way.'
'The quality and scope of the work covered is excellent.'
PROPERTY LITIGATION
Property litigation - ranked: tier 5
Sydney Mitchell LLP
At Sydney Mitchell LLP, associate Sundeep Bilkhu advises landlords and tenants on a range of commercial and residential property issues, such as neighbour disputes, adverse possession claims, dilapidations claims against, repair covenants, unlawful evictions and collections of rent arrears. Kamal Majevadia handles trespass claims and fraudulent transfers of property.
Practice head(s):Kamal Majevadia; Sundeep Bilkhu
TESTIMONIALS
'Sydney Mitchell has an efficient litigation practice. They are able to handle legally and factually complex matters'
'The firm gives clear direction for the client's benefit'
'Associate Sundeep Bilkhu is always well prepared and thorough. He gives a full range of alternatives so the client can take appropriate action, explains legal terms to inform the client and gain understanding, and is able to hold strategic information until the appropriate time to gain maximum impact'
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Representing a client in a dispute with his neighbour, who was granted planning permission to build a two-storey house in his garden, which will impact the client's property.
- Advising a client on a land dispute relating to a claim for adverse possession of a parcel of land and a further application for first registration of certain unregistered land.
Please see below links for all areas covered in the Legal 500 to read more information about Sydney Mitchell LLP.
WEST MIDLANDS
Offices in Birmingham, Shirley, and Sheldon
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation: Birmingham
- Dispute resolution : Debt recovery
- Finance : Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Human resources : Employment
- Insurance : Clinical negligence: claimant
- Insurance : Personal injury: claimant
- Insurance : Professional negligence
- Private client : Contentious trusts and probate
- Private client : Family: Birmingham
- Private client : Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate : Commercial property: Birmingham
- Real estate : Property litigation
West Midlands law firm, Sydney Mitchell has been short-listed in the medium size law firm of the year category at the Law Society Excellence Awards for the second year running. The medium law firm of the year category, which is open to all law firms in England & Wales with between 5 and 29 partners, is judged on matters such as professional excellence, staff engagement and development, business and client acquisitions.
Senior Partner, Sydney Mitchell LLP, Karen Moores commented,
We have had a fantastic year and it is wonderful that the Law Society has recognised our success by short-listing our firm in their national awards. It is also amazing to have been short-listed in these Awards for the second year running and I would like to thank all of our clients and staff for all of their support.
Sydney Mitchell is the only law firm based in the West Midlands within this category and so will be waving the flag for the West Midlands legal community at the Law Society Legal Excellent Awards ceremony which takes place in London on 23 October 2019.
The Law Society president Simon Davis said:
There are more than 140,000 solicitors in England and Wales – to be shortlisted for an Excellence Award is to be recognised as among the very best of the profession. The firms and solicitors shortlisted should be commended for going above and beyond to support their clients, often navigating tricky and sometimes contentious areas of the law.
Full details of all shortlisted ... https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/events/excellence-awards/shortlist/#
More details can be found on the Law Gazette article link ...
On the 6 July a team of four intrepid climbers from Sydney Mitchell Solicitors will take on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. 12 hours, 3 Peaks, 64 pairs of socks and an abundance of plasters, is in between them and victory.
They are taking on this gruelling challenge to raise funds for two worthy causes, Age UK Solihull and The Buddy Bag Foundation.
Age UK Solihull is a charity with a mission to improve the lives of older people within the Solihull Borough. Age UK Solihull provides many services including social clubs and befriending programmes to tackle feelings of isolation and loneliness many within the older generation are going through.
Please click on the following link to learn more: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/solihull/about-us/
The Buddy Bag Foundation provides comfort to children who enter emergency care after fleeing violent situations at home. Buddy bags help to restore a sense of safety and security into a child’s life during a traumatic time.
To learn more about The Buddy Bag Foundation click on the following link: https://buddybagfoundation.co.uk/our-mission/
To sponsor our “Peaky climbers” in their aim to raise money for these two charites please click on the link below and donate, all donations are welcome.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/PeakyClimbers-Sydneymitchell
Watch out for more information. Hour by hour coverage will be posted on the 6 July on our Facebook page @SydneyMitchellSolicitors
Sydney Mitchell has again been recognised as a Tier 1 firm for its Contentious Wills and Probate work; with a ‘driven professional team’ led by Kamal Majevadia handling a variety of high-value complex cases.
In total the firm has obtained recommendations in 13 areas of legal practice; Contentious Probate, Commercial Litigation, Debt Recovery, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery, Employment, Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Professional Negligence, Family, Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, Health, Commercial Property and Property Litigation.
Sydney Mitchell’s clients have made some excellent comments on the work undertaken by the legal teams.
Div Singh, Senior Partner, Sydney Mitchell commented:
“What an excellent result again this year for Sydney Mitchell, with the firm maintaining its ranking in Tier 1 for our Contentious Probate work and in particular Kamal Majevadia being singled out as a ‘leading individual’”.
Many of our talented solicitors have been named throughout for their hard work with our ‘client care second to none’.
It is great to see new team members being recognised, David Lydon, Adam Hodson, Samantha Glynn, Hayley-Jo and Gemma especially have shone through this year. Our clients and referrers have made fantastic comments on the work we have undertaken including…
‘solid, well respected team’, ‘can-do attitude’ ‘an approach to client care that is second to none’, ‘caring straight-to-the-point’ and ‘manages expectations’.What more can you ask for than recommendations from your clients for the excellent service received for work undertaken by our legal teams.
Dean Parnell is recognised as “very experienced and sensible; ...calm and reassuring, firm but not aggressive and tactically astute negotiator who secures good deals for his client’ and ‘…strong on shareholder disputes and claims relating to directors’.
Karen Moores, Head of the Family Team, is recognised for her ‘compassionate’ and ‘understanding’ manner.
Leading Midlands Law firm Sydney Mitchell is ranked in 13 Legal 500 categories and won Birmingham Law Firm of the Year 2018.
END
Legal 500 information links are included below:
West Midlands: Dispute resolution
Commercial litigation: Birmingham - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP is ‘very strong’, and for some ‘probably the best in central Birmingham outside the large national and international firms’. The practice handles a range of matters, many of which with fraud elements, with clients ranging from international businesses, trade bodies, regional businesses and individual executives. Dean Parnell, whose expertise includes acting as a supervising solicitor for court-ordered searches, on top of being ‘very experienced and sensible: he is calm and reassuring, firm but not aggressive, and a tactically astute negotiator who secures good deals for his clients’, is ‘particularly strong on shareholder disputes and claims relating to directors’ – he represented a foreign company on recovery of losses from director-level frauds. Kamal Majevadia acted for an engineering company concerning unpaid invoices for engine components – he also handles cases concerning alleged fraud.
Debt recovery - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP ’s workload includes a number of matters acting for finance providers concerning lending secured on residential property, plus matters concerning social care fees, vehicle finance and unpaid invoices. Kam Majevadia heads the practice, with solicitor Hayley-Jo Lockley a name of note below partner level. Gemma Parker is a key legal executive. Clients include West Bromwich Commercial.
West Midlands: Finance
Insolvency and corporate recovery - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP's Leanne Schneider-Rose advised an insolvency practitioner on gaining access to and possession of a sports and leisure club, and handled several cases concerning the sales of care homes from administration. Section 216 cases and personal bankruptcy are also areas of expertise.
West Midlands: Human resources
Employment - ranked: tier 5
Sydney Mitchell LLP is 'a solid, well respected team' that is 'a very popular locally' with 'a reputation that is growing nationally'. Dean Parnell leads the team and is 'very popular with clients', and has 'a "can-do" attitude'. He has a broad expertise in employment, and acts on behalf of employers and very senior employees. Also recommended is solicitor Samantha Glynn, who specialises in contentious issues.
West Midlands: Insurance
Clinical negligence: claimant - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP handle a range of clinical negligence claims, with 'an approach to client care that is second to none'. Mike Sutton heads up the team and 'very well respected locally'. He is assisted by senior personal injury executive David Lydon, Adam Hodson and Stephen Jesson.
Personal injury: claimant
Personal injury: claimant - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP is 'a small team that has built up considerable experience', whose 'approach to client care is second to none'. Mike Sutton leads the team and is 'very well respected locally within the profession'. He specialises in handling road and work accidents, and recently represented a client who suffered from complex regional pain syndrome due to falling from a ladder. David Lydon recently joined the firm from Pearson Rowe Incorporating Springthorpes and has a similar focus on work and road accidents. He recently acted for an individual who required amputation to due to injuries suffered by his fingers while at work. Also recommended is solicitor Adam Hodson.
Professional negligence - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP 's litigation team is highly active in professional negligence cases, most notable against in the areas of legal services and construction. Sundeep Bilkhu is a key figure with extensive experience in negligence relating to property transactions.
West Midlands: Private client
Contentious trusts and probate - ranked: tier 1
Sydney Mitchell LLP
The 'driven' and 'professional' Sydney Mitchell LLP is led by Kamal Majevadia who is a 'caring, straight-to-the-point person' who 'tells it like it is' and 'manages your expectations'. He is particularly known for disputes on estates with a cross-border or commercial aspect. Shirley-based Tracy Creed is also a key figure, with notable strengths in probate, trusts and estate planning.
Family: Birmingham - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP
The 'excellent' Sydney Mitchell LLP focuses on complex matrimonial disputes and childcare arrangements. Karen Moores is a key contact and is known for her 'compassionate' and 'understanding' manner. Mauro Vinti is also recommended and advises on all aspects on relationship breakdowns.
Personal tax, trusts and probate - ranked: tier 2
The 'excellent' Sydney Mitchell LLP is particularly strong in dealing with elderly client issues, with additional expertise in wills and estate planning, powers of attorney and administration work. Tracy Creed leads the team and has extensive experience in probate and trust matters. Also recommended is Shirley based solicitor Nicholas Bennett , who focuses on will and probate issues, and solicitor Ravinder Sandhu, who is experienced in wills, trusts and probate issues.
West Midlands: Public sector
Health - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP focuses on GP mergers, disputes, leasing and tax issues. Fahmida Ismail leads the team and is heavily involved in property and finance matters pertaining to GPs and medical practices. Consultant solicitor Tony Harris is active on Primary Care Commissioning and extending existing GP premises. Consultant solicitor Dean Parnell works on commercial disputes and employment issues.
West Midlands: Real estate
Commercial property: Birmingham - ranked: tier 5
Sydney Mitchell LLP’s team handles a range of multimillion-pound deals. Consultant Georgina Walsh in Shirley handles work concerning purchases and sales of development sites... At partner level Div Singh , who is based in Birmingham, also handles buy-side deals, often involving title issues. Fahmida Ismail is also a key contact.
Property litigation - ranked: tier 5
Sydney Mitchell LLP
At Sydney Mitchell LLP, associate Sundeep Bilkhu handles a range of commercial property disputes, frequently acting for landlords. Highlights include representation of a landlord in a dispute over the unauthorised removal of a stud wall, which was initially thought to have caused £30,000 of damage but triggered a subsequent order from the local authority to demolish and replace the buildings. Other work concerns boundary restrictive covenant disputes and Party Wall Act matters. In Shirley, Kam Majevadia handles trespass to land matters concerning residential developments, including Court of Appeal cases.
Further information on Sydney Mitchell LLP
Please choose from this list to view details of what Legal 500 say about Sydney Mitchell LLP in other jurisdictions.
West Midlands
Offices in Birmingham, Shirley, and Sheldon
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation: Birmingham
- Dispute resolution : Debt recovery
- Finance : Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Human resources : Employment
- Insurance : Clinical negligence: claimant
- Insurance : Personal injury: claimant
- Insurance : Professional negligence
- Private client : Contentious trusts and probate
- Private client : Family: Birmingham
- Private client : Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Public sector : Health
- Real estate : Commercial property: Birmingham
- Real estate : Property litigation
Our lawyers are recommended in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2018 editorial (listed below)
WEST MIDLANDS
Dispute resolution - Commercial litigation - Birmingham
- Dean Parnell
- Kamal Majevadia
Dispute resolution - Debt recovery
- Kamal Majevadia
- Hayley-Jo Lockley
- Gemma Parker
Finance - Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Leanne Schneider-Rose
Human resources - Employment
- Dean Parnell
- Samantha Glynn
Insurance - Clinical negligence - claimant
- Mike Sutton
- David Lydon
- Adam Hodson
-Stephen Jesson
Insurance - Personal injury - claimant
- Mike Sutton
- David Lydon
- Adam Hodson
Insurance - Professional negligence
- Sundeep Bilkhu
Private client - Contentious trusts and probate
- Kamal Majevadia (leading individual)
- Tracy Creed
Private client - Family - Birmingham
- Karen Moores
- Mauro Vinti
Private client - Personal tax, trusts and probate
-Tracy Creed ~
- Nicholas Bennett
- Ravinder Sandhu
Public sector - Health
- Dean Parnell
- Fahmida Ismail
- Tony Harris (Deceased)
Real estate - Commercial property - Birmingham
- Georgina Walsh
- Div Singh
- Fahmida Ismail
Real estate - Property litigation
- Sundeep Bilkhu
- Kamal Majevadia
Focus has been on the sales of toilet paper, hand sanitiser and self-isolation, but consideration had to be given to the overall affect that the virus was having on businesses themselves and the potential risks to businesses facing a downturn in work.
Clients had contracts cancelled/postponed during their usual busy period, which meant that they had to question what they do with all of their employees who were still expecting to come into work and be paid, when they had no work. So whilst advice on issues such as self-isolation and dependant leave was vital, no-one had addressed the question as to what happens to employees if businesses have a downturn in work.
Businesses will need to review their employment contracts to see whether they have clauses allowing them to either lay off employees or place their employees on short-time working during any downturn in business.
Laying off employees means that the employer provides employees with no work (and no pay) for a period while retaining them as employees and short-time working means providing employees with less work (and less pay) for a period while retaining them as employees. This is a temporary solution to the problem of no work or less work saving the employer money during an unexpected downturn in its business or unforeseen circumstances such coronavirus.
If the employment contract contains an express clause permitting lay-off or short-time working, then the employer will be entitled to exercise this right. However, if there is no such term in the employees’ contract and the employer does this, then this will constitute a breach of contract entitling the employee to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal or remain in employment and claim unlawful deduction from wages in the Employment Tribunal.
However to avoid this, the Government has put in place a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme under which, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those affected by lay off or even redundancy during this crisis.
To access the scheme, employers will need to designate those affected employees as “furloughed workers”, keep the employee on the payroll, but the employee will not be able to undertake any work for the employer whilst they are furloughed. This will enable the employer to claim a grant of up to 80% of the employees wage for all employment costs, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. This scheme will be in place for at least 3 months from 1 March 2020, but it will be extended if necessary.
It is advisable that businesses should use this as an opportunity to review their policies, procedures and employment contracts to ensure that they are covered for the future.
Link here also to Government information pages
For help on this or other related Employment Law matter, please contact Emma-Louise Hewitt on 0808 166 8827 or email Emma at e.hewitt@sydneymitchell.co.uk
As of 12th March, a total of 460 people in the UK have tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) which has now been classed as a pandemic.
As public concern around Coronavirus grows, we have seen an increase in queries from employers asking for advice on how they should deal with various employment issues that may arise as a result of the Coronavirus. Therefore, please see below for our list of frequently asked questions.
What can we do as a business to protect the health and safety of our staff?
It is good practice for employers to:
- send round an email/guidance encouraging employees to be extra-vigilant with washing their hands, using and disposing of tissues
- put up handwashing signs in the toilets, kitchen and any communal areas
- make sure there are clean places to wash hands with hot water and soap
- encourage everyone to wash their hands regularly
- provide hand sanitiser and tissues for staff, and encourage them to use them
- place hands sanitiser in the toilets, kitchen, communal areas such as reception, meeting rooms
- if you have the capacity to do so, designate an ‘isolation room’ where an employee who feels unwell can go and sit away from the rest of the staff and privately call ‘111’ before taking any further necessary action
- consider whether any travel plans to affected areas are essential
- ensure that no-one is singled out or treated differently because of their race or ethnicity
- make sure that all staff including managers know what the symptoms of coronavirus are and how to spot such symptoms
- ensure that all relevant processes and procedure are clear such as reporting sickness absence and sick pay, just in case someone in the workplace develops the virus
- review any existing Business Continuity Plan and consider whether it is necessary to update this
What do I do if someone becomes unwell at work and it is suspected coronavirus?
If an employee becomes unwell and has recently come back from an area affected by coronavirus or been around someone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus, they should:
- go home
- ensure that they remain at least 2 metres away from other people
- if awaiting transport, go to an empty room or an area behind a closed door, such as an office
- avoid touching anything
- cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if the employee does not have any tissues, advise them to cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow
- use a separate bathroom from others, if possible
- Use their own mobile phone, tell them to call either:
- 111, for NHS advice or
- 999, if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk
When on the call the employee should tell the operator:
- their symptoms
- which country they have returned from in the last 14 days or
- who they have come into contact with
What do I do in an employee with coronavirus comes to work?
It is important to ensure staff are advised that under no circumstances should they come into work if:
- they have COVID-19
- they have COVID-19 symptoms and/or
- they have been in recent contact with someone who has been confirmed as having COVID-19 or who has just returned from one of the high risk countries
In the event that an employee (who has been confirmed as having COVID-19) does come into work, they should be told that they should be immediately isolated from other people and they should refrain from touching anything or anyone. You should then get in touch with Public Health England (“PHE”) health protection team and they will:
- discuss the case
- identify people who have been in contact with the affected person
- carry out a risk assessment and
- advise on any actions or precautions to take
What do I do if I need to close the office/workplace?
You may want to plan just in case you need to close the workplace temporarily. So ensure that employees have a way to communicate with you (you should ensure that they have all contact details for their supervisor and line manager) and other people they work with.
One option is to allow employees to work from home. Where work can be done at home, you could:
- ask those who have work laptops or mobile phones to take them home so they can carry on working and
- arrange paperwork tasks that can be done at home for those employees who do not work on computers
Alternatively, you may need to consider lay-offs and short-time working. In some situations, you might need to close down your business for a short time. However, unless it says in the employees’ contract or is agreed otherwise, you still need to pay their employees for this time. This has been dealt with below under the heading
If you think that you will need to do this, you need to ensure that you talk to the employees as early as possible and throughout the closure.
Do we have to pay an employee if they have to self-isolate?
The answer to this question depends upon whether they have chosen to self-isolate or whether they have been TOLD to self-isolate.
The government has stated that if NHS 111 or a doctor advises an employee or worker to self-isolate, they will be entitled to receive any Statutory Sick Pay due to them.
Due to a change announced to the statutory sick pay rules (“SSP”), SSP will now be paid from the first day of absence without the need for waiting days and all employers who employ fewer than 250 employees will be reimbursed by the government any SSP paid during the first 14 days.
This change is temporary and will only apply during the coronavirus pandemic, after which sick pay may revert to the previous position, which is that it is only paid from the fourth day of absence and is not recoverable from the government.
SSP is paid at a rate of £94.25 per week.
If you offer contractual sick pay, it is good practice for you to pay this as the employee is deemed as being unable to work and in most cases contractual sick pay also includes an element of SSP which can be claimed back from the government.
Please note that you may need to be flexible if you require evidence from the employee or worker. For example, they may not be able to provide you with a sick note ('fit note') if they have been told to self-isolate for 14 days.
But then again, there is nothing preventing the employee from having the fit note collected by a friend/family member and it being posted through their home letterbox, or alternatively having the fit note sent to them via post or on email enabling the employee to send the same to you by email only so no contact has to be made with the actual fit note.
You may also have to make allowances for the fit note to be sent via text message through pictures on text or WhatsApp.
Therefore, entitlement to SSP only arises when the employee has been told by a medical professional i.e. a doctor or NHS 111 to self-isolate.
What do we do if the employee chooses to self-isolate?
You are unlikely to be able to require employees to take holiday for any period of self-isolation in the absence of a contractual right to do so. As these employees are not "sick" per se, it is unlikely that they will be covered by sick leave.
Where an employee voluntarily remains away from the workplace due to self-isolation without discussing this with the employer, you may be able to consider such leave to be unpaid, although this will depend on the individual circumstances.
Can we make an employee self-isolate?
If you have instructed an employee who, according to government guidance should self-isolate to remain away from their place of work; these employees are likely to be on a period of leave. This leave is likely to need to be paid at full pay by the employer, unless an employer has a contractual right to place the employee on a period of unpaid leave, which is unlikely, however consideration will need to be given to the employees contract of employment.
Can we expect an employee required to self-isolate following travel from a particular geographic area to work from home?
This will all depend on the circumstances such as:
- whether the employee has symptoms – in which case, they should be on sick leave and therefore not working or
- whether the employee is able to work from home
You may want to start thinking about whether you need to take any steps to facilitate the possibility of home working which may include ensuring that all employees have a way of logging on to secure systems from home.
Allowing this will ensure business continuity and also gives the employees security of payment during this period.
If an employee has been told to self-isolate can we prevent that employee from attending our premises?
In short yes. You have a duty to your staff under Health and Safety Law too. If you knowingly allow an employee/worker who has been told to self-isolate to attend work and come into contact with other people, you may be in breach of those duties, particularly where any of those other employees/workers are more vulnerable to infection for example, pregnant employees and those with long-term health conditions.
In this particular scenario, suspension may be an option where the employee who has been advised to self-isolate refuses to do so. However, before doing so, ensure that you obtain legal advice as you may or may not have the right to suspend.
What happens if an employee needs time off work to look after someone?
All employees are entitled to time off to help/care for someone who depends on them, namely a dependant which, in most cases, is usually a child or can sometimes be an elderly parent or relative.
This occurs in an unexpected event or emergency. With the situation as it is, this would apply to situations to do with the coronavirus. For example:
- if the employee has children that they need to look after or arrange childcare for because the school has closed for a deep clean and/or
- to help their child or another dependant if they are unwell or need to go into isolation or hospital
Please note however, there is no statutory right to pay for this time off. Nevertheless, some employers might offer pay depending on the employee’s contract or its own workplace policies.
The amount of time off an employee takes to look after someone must be reasonable for the situation. For example, they might take 2 days off to start with, and if more time is needed, they have the option of booking holiday or agreeing to a period of unpaid leave.
I have an employee who does not want to come to work due to the risk of the virus, what do I do?
Some employees may feel that they do not want to go to work as they are afraid of catching coronavirus. In this situation, you should listen to any concerns they may have.
If there is a genuine concern, you must try to resolve it to protect the health and safety of your employees. For example, if possible, you could offer flexible working or alternatively the employee could work from home.
If the employee still does not want to go into the office, you may be able to agree with the employee that they take the time as holiday or unpaid leave. However, you do not have to agree to this.
Following on from all of the above, if an employee still refuses to attend work, it could result in disciplinary action. But please take advice first.
My industry is being affected by the coronavirus and I have limited work for my employees but I don’t want to make them redundant, what can I do?
You need to check the employees’ contract of employment to see if there is a clause allowing you to place the employee on short-time working or lay off. If the employment contract contains an express clause permitting lay-off or short-time working, then you will be entitled to exercise this right. However, if there is no such term in the employees’ contract and you lay off the employee anyway, then this will constitute a breach of contract entitling the employee to resign and potentially claim constructive unfair dismissal.
I have laid off and/or placed employees on short-time working previously but there is no clause in the contract allowing me to do this, can I still do it?
If you operate within an industry where, there has been a custom and practice of laying off employees or putting them on short-time working, then it can be argued that you have an implied right to do so. However, before deciding that such a term is implied into an employees’ contract, there must be a custom of laying-off within the business i.e. it had to have been done before, meaning that the custom is both "reasonable, certain and notorious"; and such that "no workman could be supposed to have entered into service without looking to it as part of the contract".
This is a strict test and you should be confident that you can satisfy it before relying on an implied term to lay off employees.
I have an employee who has tested positive for coronavirus what can I communicate about that employee to the wider workforce?
Personal data concerning health is a 'special category data'. This means that employers need to ensure that any communication does not include any data about the individual who is absent under UK data protection law.
It would be fine to let employees know that there has been a confirmed coronavirus case within its workforce, it would not be appropriate to provide any details from which the individual might be identified.
If you need any advice or assistance on any of the issues raised in this article, please contact us on 0121 746 3300 or email us at e.hewitt@sydneymitchell.co.uk
SHORTLISTED IN THREE CATEGORIES IN THE BIRMINGHAM LAW SOCIETY AWARDS 2020
Sydney Mitchell LLP, Top Tier Legal 500 Law Firm, has been short-listed for three Awards in the Birmingham Law Society Awards:
- Sydney Mitchell for Law Firm of the Year (Regional Law Firm)
- Karen Moores for Partner of the Year
- Excellence in Client Service - Business Clients for the Dispute Resolution Team
Senior Partner, Karen Moores commented:
I am so proud that the firm has been shortlisted in the awards, together with our Dispute Resolution Team and myself as Partner of the Year.
We have seen great investment in the firm over the past 2 years and are proud to see the firm shortlisted in three categories in the 2020 Birmingham Law Society Awards.
It is fantastic that the firm, partners and staff have been recognised for the quality of work both individuals and teams provide for clients. It truly reflects the high calibre and dedication staff give to the firm and its clients.
Sydney Mitchell LLP’s specialist teams include employment, commercial property, company and commercial services, litigation and insolvency. Private client teams include family law, residential property, dispute resolution, immigration and wills and probate, tax and trusts and personal injury.
For more details about the awards - https://birminghamlawsociety.co.uk/legal-awards/the-shortlist-2020/
If you would like help on any legal matters, please call 0121 698 2200 or email enquiries@sydneymitchell.co.uk or fill in our online enquiry form.
COPY OF LIST FROM THE LAW SOCIETY WEBSITE…
THE BIRMINGHAM LAW SOCIETY AWARDS 2020 SHORTLIST
The judges were very impressed with the calibre of nominees and the quality of work being done in Birmingham.
PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Martino Giaquinto – Mills & Reeve LLP
Kirsty McEwen – Higgs & Sons
Karen Moores – Sydney Mitchell LLP
Richard Morgan – Harrison Clark Rickerbys
Clive Read – VWV
Emma Rush – Irwin Mitchell LLP
EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE - BUSINESS CLIENTS
Funding and Finance – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Real Estate Team – DLA Piper UK LLP
DWF International Arbitration and Litigation – DWF Law LLP
Family Team – Harrison Clark Rickerbys – Birmingham
Employment Team – Irwin Mitchell LLP
Dispute Resolution Team – Sydney Mitchell LLP
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (REGIONAL)
Enoch Evans LLP
QualitySolicitors Davisons
Sydney Mitchell LLP
The Wilkes Partnership
Other awards …
TRAINEE SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR
Anna Dearden – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Mischa Howell – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Demi Hughes – Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
Jastinder Samra – Mills & Reeve LLP
Rachel Sutcliffe – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
PARALEGAL OF THE YEAR
Jess Allan – Irwin Mitchell LLP
Rebecca Kennedy – Pinsent Masons LLP
Isha Khatun – Shoosmiths LLP
Emily Morris – DWF Law LLP
Marie Newton – Irwin Mitchell LLP
BARRISTER OF THE YEAR
Esther Gamble – No5 Chambers
Jason Hadden – St Ives Chambers
Elizabeth Isaacs QC – St Ives Chambers
Vanessa Meachin – 3PB
Iqbal Mohammed – St Philips Chambers
EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE - PRIVATE CLIENTS
Private Client Team – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Clinical Negligence – Irwin Mitchell LLP
Personal Advisory Division – Shoosmiths LLP
VWV Private Client team – VWV
Wills, Trusts, Estates & Court of Protection – Weightmans LLP
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL)
DWF Law LLP
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Gateley Legal
Pinsent Masons LLP
Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
BIRMINGHAM LAW SOCIETY PRO BONO AWARD
Birmingham Legal Advice Clinic – Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, Bevan Brittan, Gowling WLG
The Litigation Programme – The University of Law
Emma Hardman – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Mischa Howell – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Nadine Mansell – Capsticks Solicitors LLP
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Michelle Blackwell – Bevan Brittan LLP
Laura Brown – Irwin Mitchell LLP
Aimee Haden – Bevan Brittan LLP
Brogan Maxwell – Irwin Mitchell LLP
Beth Walters – Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR
Kishma Bolaji – Shoosmiths LLP
Christina Georgiou – Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
Simon Grimshaw – Hogan Lovells International LLP
Alice Kinder – Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
Samantha Miller – Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SOLE PRACTITIONERS AND FIRMS UP TO 5 PARTNERS)
Adcocks Solicitors Limited
Averta Employment Lawyers
KJ Conroy & Co
TRP Solicitors
Over 200 people attended the Sydney Mitchell Charity Ball held at the National Conference Centre on 22 November 2019, raising over £10,000 for two local charities; the Buddy Bag Foundation and Age UK Solihull.
Karen Moores, Senior Partner, Sydney Mitchell thanked everyone for their support of the charities and welcomed Chris Williams of the Buddy Bag Foundation and Anne Hastings, CEO of Age UK Solihull to say a few words on behalf of the charities.
It was an amazing night aimed at raising funds for two well-deserving Midlands’ charities and I can’t thank everyone enough for their generosity on the night and to all who donated prizes for the raffle. We chose our charities this year covering both the young and old in our communities. It is a real pleasure to be able to give something to people who are vulnerable and needing support. Thank you again to all supporters and those who gave their services or time to make this event successful.
The National Motorcycle Museum and Pellier Noir Photography donated a percentage of sales on the night to the charities. Over £4300 was raised from the ‘tops and tails’ and the raffle on the night. Prizes were generously donated by contacts and local businesses namely; John McHale, Jask, CIPP, Mondelez International, Heritage IFA, Hogarths Hotel, the National Conference Centre, DACS, Move Exchange, Birmingham Underwater Exploration Club, The Buddy Bag Foundation and Sydney Mitchell. A special thank you to Andrew Lockington of Avalanche Capital Financier of Properties in Solihull and Warwickshire, who donated a cheque for £1,000 direct to the Buddy Bag Foundation at the event.
Chris Williams, Founder of the Buddy Bag Foundation gave an emotional speech about how the charities help children who are often taken from their homes in the middle of the night following a traumatic event in the home.
Many times children are unable to take any personal belongings with them when taken to a place of safety. The Buddy Bag is designed to give a little comfort during that time and contains a few items like underwear, pyjamas, toiletries, a book, notepad and a cuddly toy or teddy bear.
Anne Hastings, CEO of Age UK Solihull, explained that without the support of local businesses in the community, many of our older people in Solihull would not benefit from the activities currently provided to help improve the wellbeing of those living in the borough.
We are grateful to all present for their support and to Sydney Mitchell for hosting this Charity Ball enabling us to improve and develop the services Age UK Solihull is able to provide across the borough.
Legal 500 Top Tier Law Firm Sydney Mitchell is an award winning Midlands based firm with specialist legal teams that include employment, commercial property, company and commercial services, litigation and insolvency. Private client teams include family law, residential property, dispute resolution, immigration and wills and probate, tax and trusts and personal injury. Sydney Mitchell LLP has been providing legal advice in the Midlands for over 250 years.
-Ends-
Picture: Karen Moores, Senior Partner, Sydney Mitchell
For further information, please contact:
Linda Heyworth, Senior Marketing Manager
Tel – 0121 746 3300 Mobile: 0777 279 5041
Email – l.heyworth@sydneymitchell.co.uk
Notes to Editor
About Sydney Mitchell:
Midlands based Sydney Mitchell is an award winning ‘Top Tier’ Legal 500 law firm, with offices in Birmingham City Centre, Sheldon and Shirley with additional facilities in Sutton Coldfield. Offering a range of specialist legal services for both businesses and individuals, Sydney Mitchell is Lexcel accredited and won the Law Firm of the Year in 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011 and 2008 (5-15 partners) in the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards.
The firm’s specialist teams include employment, commercial property, company and commercial services, litigation and insolvency. Private client teams include family law, residential property, dispute resolution, immigration and wills and probate, tax and trusts and personal injury. Sydney Mitchell LLP has been providing legal advice in the Midlands for over 250 years.
l.heyworth@sydneymitchell.co.uk @SydneyMitchell_ www.sydneymitchell.co.uk
About the Buddy Bag Foundation
The Buddy Bag Foundation was created in response to the rising number of children who enter emergency care after fleeing violent situations at home. The Foundation helps restore a sense of safety and security into a child’s life during a traumatic time. By providing these children with a few essential items, the charity can help make the transition into emergency care a little easier. Over 48000 children require emergency accommodation each year in the UK. Founder Karen Williams launched the Buddy Bag foundation in 2014 after being inspired by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation in Australia.
hello@buddybagfoundation.co.uk www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk @buddybagsuk Charity No. 1164916
Age UK Solihull
Age UK – Solihull provides help and support to older people in the borough of Solihull. The Vision of Age UK Solihull is of a world where older people flourish and our Mission is to improve the lives of all older people in the borough. The Core, Central Library Building, Solihull, B91 3RG
0121 704 7840 info@ageuksolihull.org.uk @ageuksolihull Charity number 1055887
Social Media for our recent fundraising event:
Twitter and LinkedIn - #smcharityball2019
In an era of apparently ever-increasing property prices, many young people rely on the so-called ‘bank of mum and dad’ to help buy their first homes. In a ground-breaking decision, the High Court took that into account in awarding the three dependent sons of a road accident victim more than £200,000 in damages.
The twice-divorced father was aged 52 and had a son, aged 22, and twin boys, aged 12, when he was knocked off his motorbike by a car, suffering fatal injuries. The motorist’s insurers admitted liability for the accident on his behalf but disputed the amount of compensation due to the sons. The Court was therefore required to assess the financial value of their dependency on their father.
In ruling on the matter, the Court noted that the father was a self-employed project planner in the building industry who earned in the region of £55-60,000 annually. It was apparent from the evidence that he was a loving and generous father who took an active interest in the lives of his three children. Although his oldest son was an adult when he died, he had only just left university and was still to some extent financially dependent on his father.
Noting the difficulties that young people nowadays face in climbing onto the property ladder, the Court found that the father would have contributed to the cost of buying his sons’ first homes. He would, amongst other things, have given the boys presents and paid towards the cost of their holidays, birthday parties and weddings if they chose to get married. He would also have paid regular maintenance in respect of the twins and funded their continuing education, including driving tuition.
The total award in respect of the sons’ loss of dependency on their father came to £203,741. The Court awarded a further £10,765 to the father’s estate to reflect the pain and suffering he endured before his death and various costs, including funeral expenses.
For help or advice on this or other personal injury claim matter, please speak to David Lydon d.lydon@sydneymitchell.co.uk
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