We are able to advise, assist and take action in a full range of legal areas for businesses and individuals. We offer a highly personal and professional service with the client's best interests always as our main priority. The service we offer is tailored to the needs of the client and we are not a bulk provider of any legal service. We are dedicated to our clients – delivering a first class service for their legal requirements. You will have a Solicitor or other fee earner act for you from the beginning to the end of the matter that we are dealing with on your behalf. You will be able to contact your Solicitor on the telephone, or by letter or email, and have close contact with your Solicitor and his or her support staff during the period we are acting for you. We will outline our fees at the start of the matter and keep you regularly updated with regard to these so that you can budget accordingly. Where possible, we would always ask for an early meeting with you, so that we can get to know you and get matters moving. Most of our clients come to us by recommendation or are returning time after time owing to the high quality of the advice and commitment we demonstrate.

Accident and injury claims.

We act for individuals and businesses in bringing or defending personal injury claims of all types. We have many years experience in dealing with various types of claim including road traffic accidents, tripping and slipping claims, accidents at work and repetitive strain injuries. We can also assist with Criminal Injury Compensation Authority claims. If the accident has happened in the last three years and was due to the fault of another, please call us to discuss your claim. We can often act under a Conditional Fee Agreement (no win, no fee) and will arrange After the Event Insurance where this is necessary. We are members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. Home or Hospital visits and out of hours appointments are available to suit our clients needs. Call us on 01702-423400 for some free initial telephone advice.

Inheritance and family disputes.

We can act for Executors and Personal Representatives in defending Probate claims brought against the Estate, for example, under the Inheritance (Provision for Family Dependants) Act 1975. We also have extensive experience and success in acting for individuals in making these and similar claims against the deceased's Estate. We are able to act for individuals in challenging the validity of Wills. Call us for some initial free telephone advice.

Landlord and Tenant.

We regularly act for individuals and businesses in obtaining possession of properties for non-payment of rent or breach of covenant under a Lease or Tenancy Agreement or in obtaining possession where there are squatters or trespassers. We can advise in all aspects of Landlord & Tenant law and have extensive experience in court proceedings under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954. We frequently act in opposed and unopposed renewals of business tenancies. We are able to prepare and serve the appropriate Notices and commence legal proceedings rapidly where necessary. We can advise in regard to leasehold enfranchisement, obtaining lease extensions or purchasing the freehold. For further information, call us on 01702-423400 for some initial free telephone advice.

Employment law.

We have wide-ranging experience in dealing with all aspects of employment law. We can prepare Employment Contracts for employers and appropriate policies for dealing with grievances, disciplinary issues, equal opportunities, redundancy and many others. Step-by-step guidance and advice is given on conducting the disciplinary process to comply with current legislation.
We act for employers in defending employment law claims based on unfair dismissal and sex, race, age and disability discrimination.
Equally we act for individuals in bringing claims against their employers and where there have been infringements of their statutory employment rights. We can advise on all aspects of employment proceedings including settling disputes through ACAS and mediation. The Employment Team can prepare and advise on Compromise Agreements for employers and can advise and negotiate for employees on Compromise Agreements they have been asked to sign. We can prepare and advise on Directors Service Agreements and in particular on restrictive covenants imposed on Directors to prevent them from setting up business in competition, poaching staff or using confidential information obtained whilst employed. Advice on the TUPE Regulations (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations) can also be given in relation to the sale or purchase of a business where the Regulations apply. Call us on 01702-423400 for further information and some initial telephone advice.

Litigation.

We have specialised in Litigation, acting for individuals and businesses, throughout our long history. We will provide a costs estimate at the outset and advise in relation to the timescales involved. We are able to act in a full range of disputes promptly and cost-effectively in the civil courts, having extensive experience in the County and High Courts. We are experts in all aspects of court procedure including preparing and issuing claims, Acknowledgements of Service, Defences and Counterclaims, preparing Applications, Witness Summonses, Summary Judgment applications, Injunction applications and taking all steps from the outset of a dispute to the trial and enforcing any judgment obtained there. We can act in various disputes including :-

1. Intellectual Property Rights Issues e.g. Patent, design rights, copyright, trade marks.
   
   
2. Contractual Disputes - including advising on and preparing standard terms and conditions and enforcing these.
   
   
3. Professional Negligence e.g. claims against Surveyors, Solicitors and Architects.
   
   
4. Landlord & Tenant e.g. proceedings for forfeiture, breach of covenant and dilapidation's claims, preparing and serving Section 146 Notices, defending or bringing illegal eviction claims.
   
   
5. Neighbour/boundary disputes e.g. .Party Wall Act disputes, trespass.
   
   
6. Building Contract/construction disputes.
   
   
7. Public procurement issues e.g. claims against Government bodies for breach of procurement regulations.
   
   
8. Protection from Harassment Act (1997) proceedings - applying for or defending injunction proceedings brought under this statute.
   
   
9. Partnership disputes e.g. winding up Partnerships, drafting and enforcing Partnership Agreements.
   
   
10. Insolvency e.g. bankruptcy and winding up proceedings.
    
    
11. Consumer disputes e.g. disputes involving the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended) and the Supply of Goods and Services Act involving goods which are not of satisfactory quality or services not carried out with reasonable care and skill.

We can advise on Alternative Dispute Resolution for all disputes e.g. Arbitration, Mediation.

Call our Litigation Department on 01702-423400 for some initial telephone advice.

Debt recovery.

We can act in collecting debts of all sizes. We can advise in relation to claims in the Small Claims Court up to the High Court owed by both companies and individuals. We are able to issue Statutory Demands, Winding Up Petitions or County/High Court proceedings to recover debts. Advice will be given on all aspects of enforcing judgments obtained from Charging Orders to Third Party Debt Orders. Bailiffs and High Court Enforcement Officers can be instructed to seize goods from the debtor in appropriate cases. We can also act for individuals and businesses in defending claims for debts where necessary. We are able to send letters before action for a fixed fee if required.
For some initial telephone advice please call 01702-423400   and speak to our Debt Recovery Team.

Licensing and Gambling Law.

We are members of the Institute of Licensing. We have a very busy Licensing Department specialising in all aspects of alcohol, regulated entertainment and gambling law. We are constantly making applications on behalf of clients for new Licences or variations of Premises Licences under the Licensing Act 2003 or Gambling Act 2005 throughout England and have experience of acting for :-

• Off Licences
• Public Houses
• Restaurants
• Nightclubs
• Bingo Clubs
• Casinos
• On Line Gaming sites
• Golf Clubs
• Late Night Refreshment premises e.g. Kebab shops
• Adult Gaming Centres
• Amusement Arcades
• Betting Offices
• Residential Objection Groups
• Holiday Resorts
• Private Members Clubs
• Proprietary Clubs
• Cafes/Bars
• Ten Pin Bowling Clubs
• Leisure Centres

Our clients range from individuals to PLC's and most of our clients we have acted for for many years impressed by our effective, efficient service and the value we add to their business.

Licensing Act 2003.

We advise and appear as advocates in applications before Licensing Authorities and Magistrates Courts throughout England for new Premises Licences, Personal Licences, variation of Premises Licences, Temporary Event Notices, Reviews of Premises Licences and Appeals. We act for Residents Groups who have made representations (objections) to new applications as well as for companies and individuals who make applications for their premises. We are able to obtain Criminal Record Bureau checks as part of the Personal Licence application procedure.

We have extensive experience at all levels of contested and non-contested Licensing applications . As we specialise in this field we are happy to act alongside other Solicitors in connection with the purchase of a licensed premises dealing solely with the Licensing issues raised in the transfer of the Licences and necessary variation applications that arise.

Gambling Act 2005.

We can advise and represent operators in all aspects of gambling law including applying for new Premises Licences for Casinos, Bingo Clubs, Betting Offices, Adult Gaming Centres, Family Entertainment Centres and variations of these Premises Licences. Applications to the Gambling Commission for all types of Operating Licence are also part of our specialty along with applications for Personal Management Licences, Personal Functional Licences and advice and preparation of policies on promoting social responsibility and the licensing objectives under the Gambling Act 2005. We have experience of acting for both Remote and Non-Remote Operators for Casino and Bingo premises.

Whatever your Licensing query – call us first on 01702-423400. We have time to talk to you and will provide some initial free advice on the telephone.

Residential Conveyancing.

We have a substantial residential conveyancing department and can undertake all aspects of this work, including buying and selling houses, flats and areas of land, and mortgages and re mortgages. We are panel Solicitors for the majority of mortgage lenders. We can also advise on shared ownership purchases.
We can prepare Home Information Packs (HIP'S) at competitive prices and produce these for use by a client's Estate Agent. On this basis the HIP remains the property of the client, and can be sent to more than one agent if required. This gives considerable freedom of choice to a client when deciding on a marketing strategy.
Moving house can be hugely stressful but we seek to make the process as pain-free as possible by ensuring that the person who is handling your matter is always available to talk to at the end of a telephone. You will never have to deal with a call centre, or a succession of faceless individuals who have no personal knowledge of you or your matter.
We will provide you with a full breakdown of costs at the commencement of a transaction and would always advise you if we thought that additional work might be needed.

Commercial Conveyancing.

We act for individuals and companies in the sale, purchase and leasing of all kinds of commercial property including retail office and industrial units. We can assist landlords in the drafting of modern commercial leases reflecting all the latest legislation to suit the needs of you and your business.
We also act for tenants on a regular basis in relation to entering into new leases or in relation to assignment of their existing lease. In addition we can deal with ancillary matters for landlords and tenants such as licences to assign, rent deposits, underlettings and consents for alterations. We can assist both Landlord and Tenants with renewals of their existing leases under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
We can deal with all aspects of commercial property finance including mortgages and re-mortgages over commercial property.
Assistance can also be offered in relation to option agreements and pre-emption agreements and other similar matters.
Whatever the commercial property transaction please call us on 01702 423400 for some free initial telephone advice.

Wills.

We have considerable experience in the preparation of Wills and can advise on all aspects of this work, including the potential impact of Inheritance Tax and other capital taxes. For the majority of people it is essential that they have a valid Will in place, and we will discuss your personal situation in detail, and ensure that the Will which we prepare for you is tailor made to your requirements. If desired, the partners in the Firm can be appointed as Executors, although we would not hesitate to say if we thought this was not necessary in a particular case. We are always happy to arrange a home visit, or to visit a client in hospital, if they are unable to come to the office.

Probate, Administration of Estates and Trusts.

Because of the age of Drysdales, we have one of the largest probate practices in the area, and our Solicitors have considerable expertise in this field. We can help you when someone has died leaving a Will, or in circumstances where they have not. We can guide you through all the formalities of arranging a funeral, and sorting through the papers and affairs of the deceased. We can calculate the Inheritance Tax liability of an estate and undertake all necessary correspondence with HM Revenue & Customs. We can also advise on the desirability and/or possibility of post-death variations of a Will.
As in other areas of our work we will tailor what we do to your requirements. If you want us to do everything then we will; but alternatively you may prefer that we only deal with the technical aspects of a probate application, and our fees would be adjusted accordingly. We can also advise on the setting up and management of Trusts.

Powers of Attorney.

We can advise on the creation and use of Lasting Powers of Attorney, which came into being on the 1st October 2007, under the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. in certain situations, a partner in the Firm will accept a power of attorney from a client, and we would be happy to discuss with you how we can help where you are concerned with the management of your affairs or those of a member of your family. We have many clients who have no close relatives, yet are concerned to know that there will be someone who can look after their finances should their health deteriorate. We have great experience in this field, and can also arrange applications to the Court of Protection where someone does not have the mental capacity to sign a Lasting Power of Attorney.

Business Sales and Purchase.

We have extensive experience of acting for both individuals and companies in relation to asset sales and purchases including the following types of business:

• Restaurants
• Public houses
• Newsagents
• Shops
• Hairdressers
• Cafés
• Takeaways
• Travel agents
• Nurseries
• Estate Agents

We can advise on all aspects of the transaction including the transfer of any licences and the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.
We can also assist in relation to share sales and purchases.
Whatever business you are intending to buy or sell please call us on 01702 423400 for some free initial telephone advice.

Company/Commercial.

We can advise in relation to general company commercial matters including:

• Partnership Agreements
• General Company Advice
• Terms and conditions of business and other commercial agreements
• Franchise Agreements

Whatever the matter please call us on 01702 423400 for some free initial telephone advice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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