Insights & News

Lewis Silkin shortlisted for Real Estate Team of the Year award 2019

Press Release

08 May 2019

Lewis Silkin has been shortlisted for the Real Estate Team of the Year award at The Lawyer Awards 2019.

Secure future: Good news for tenants in relation to their retail premises

29 April 2019

Whilst recent years has seen a trend for retailers to shift from a store-based past to a digital future, for many retailers having a high street presence remains an important part of their brand. Indeed for some retailers, (particularly high end fashion labels) it is critical for their flagship store to be seen to be in a prime location to contribute to the luxury image associated with their brand and they will often pay substantial premiums to ensure they secure a lease of a prime site. Further significant sums will subsequently be spent on the shop fit-out.

The impact of protestors on retailers and how to deal with them

12 April 2019

Everyone has the right to hold opinions and impart information and ideas including by peaceful assembly and association with others. These are ‘human rights’ which we all enjoy and which protect the right to protest and which may not be interfered with by a public authority. However, whilst the right to protest is enshrined in law, any protest must be lawful and balanced with the rights of others, including those at whom the protest is directed.

Harry Potter, Fracking, eco-warriors and ‘mob rule’ or freedom of expression – the Court of Appeal decides in the Ineos injunction case

04 April 2019

Where is the dividing line between mob rule and lawful freedom of expression? This is one of the leading questions of the day. Should students be permitted to invite politicians with extreme views onto campus? Should a celebrated Oxford law professor be sacked for alleged homophobia? What about Brexit? Should protestors be arrested for confronting our MPs and expressing their views? And companies carrying out their lawful business – should they be allowed to do so without interference from protestors?

Sports Q&A - What are the key terms to be aware of when preparing and negotiating Heads of Terms in lease transactions?

01 April 2019

Here we look at some of the key things to be aware of with regards to heads of terms (HoTs) in commercial lease transactions, such as taking new office space or granting a lease of space in a stadium, and why HOTs are so important.

Supreme Court introduces new test for assessing a landlord’s intention to redevelop

13 March 2019

The Supreme Court recently handed down its judgment in the case of S Frances Ltd v The Cavendish Hotel (London) Limited. The decision marks a dramatic departure from the previously settled position regarding the proper test to be applied when establishing whether a landlord has the necessary intention to redevelop under ground (f) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Introducing a new element to the test, a landlord must now be able to demonstrate, in addition to it having a settled intention to carry out the works, that it would do those same works even if the tenant left voluntarily.

Community Infrastructure Levy

Inbrief

18 January 2019

The Community Infrastructure Levy (“CIL”) is a discretionary planning charge which was introduced in 2010 through the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010.

Section 106 Agreements - a note for anyone developing land

Inbrief

18 January 2019

When granting planning permission for development, local planning authorities often impose planning obligations on the party promoting the development. These obligations are usually contained in what are known as Section 106 Agreements or Planning Agreements – separate legal agreements that sit alongside the planning permission. Those agreements will, generally, bind the land to which the planning permission relates – so anyone who owns that land will be bound by the obligations.

Boundaries

Inbrief

19 December 2018

The purpose of this guide is to help you should you need to identify the extent of a site or ownership and responsibility of boundaries.

The new visa route for recognised or emerging leaders in architecture: what does this mean for the architectural sector?

13 December 2018

The Government has announced a new immigration category for overseas recognised or emerging leaders in architecture that has the potential to ease access to jobs in the UK. With Brexit looming on the horizon, this news will provide some much needed reassurance that the UK’s Architecture sector will still be able to attract the best global talent over the coming years. However the new measures are limited in their scope and are unlikely to plug the gap that will be left once freedom of movement for EU workers comes to an end.

Lewis Silkin appointed to Crown Commercial Service wider public sector legal services panel

06 December 2018

Lewis Silkin is delighted to announce its appointment to the Government’s Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Wider Public Sector Legal Services agreement (RM3788) to provide a full range of legal services to public bodies in the UK.

Sarah Mogford and David Lyons co-write for Building: Blockchain and the UK property industry: opportunities and risks

Press

12 October 2018

Sarah Mogford and David Lyons have co-written an article for 'Building' which discusses the use of Blockchain in the UK property industry.

Permission to issue a warrant for possession is no longer required in rent arrears cases

27 September 2018

The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2018 (SI 2018/975) come into force from 1 October 2018 so that a writ or warrant for possession may be issued without the court’s permission where there has been non-compliance with an order suspending possession on payment of money.

The importance of gas safety

19 September 2018

On 6 April 2018, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 were amended with the new regulations allowing ‘flexibility’ for landlords when carrying out annual gas safety inspections. It’s important to note that these amendments do not change or relax a landlord’s obligations to carry out an annual gas safety inspection. They simply allow for the annual inspection to be carried out within a two month period prior to the expiry of the existing certificate, whilst retaining the existing expiry date.

Clare Reddy comments for Property Week: Industry welcomes Lords report calling for overhaul to unlock potential for offsite manufacturing

Press

03 August 2018

Clare Reddy comments in an article for Property Week, which discusses offsite manufacturing and the need for clients, designers and contractors to collaborate if the innovative construction technique is to take off in UK.

Dougal Ainsley writes for The Planner: Lewis Silkin and the birth of the modern planning system

Press

27 July 2018

In an article for The Planner, Dougal Ainsley reflects on the impact of the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act steered through Parliament by the firms founder, the planning minister Lewis Silkin.

Tom Merrick comments for LexisNexis: Requirement for non-reliance clause to be reasonable upheld (First Tower Trustees Ltd and anor v CDS (Superstores International) Ltd)

Press

26 July 2018

Discussing the Court of Appeal decision in First Tower Trustees, Tom Merrick advises that sellers and landlords need to take extreme care in ensuring that replies to pre-contract enquiries are accurate and up to date and be alive to the potential risks in enforcing non-reliance clauses.

Construction Law Update – Fighting back against “Smash and Grab” Adjudications

21 May 2018

The case of Grove Developments Ltd v S&T (UK) Ltd (February 2018) is worthy of note, not least because it potentially provides employers with a quick means of reclaiming the loss suffered, following a “smash and grab” adjudication by starting its own adjudication on the true value.

Smart Cities and Renewable Energy

14 May 2018

In the time before smart cities, electricity by and large was generated by burning fossil fuels in relatively remote locations before being transmitted via high-voltage power lines to population centres.

Sarah Mogford comments for Retail Design World: Why upsizing fashion flagships is on-trend

Press

05 April 2018

In an article for Retail Design World, Sarah Mogford comments on fashion retailers upsizing stores while other sectors explore smaller store formats.