News

Latest News

Meet our newest Partner Jennifer Allen

We are delighted to announce that Jennifer Allen has joined our Equity Partnership with effect from April 2023. Jennifer started her legal career with Hughes Paddison in 2006 as a Trainee solicitor. Having successfully completed our 2-year Training...

Why we chose Winstons Wish as our Charity of the Year

This year we are delighted to support ‘ Winston’s Wish ’ as our Charity of the Year. Winston’s Wish is a national charity that provides bereavement support, guidance and information to children and young people (up to 25) and their...

An amazing year of FUN-draising for Hollie Gazzard Trust

2022 was an action-packed year for Hughes Paddison full of exciting fundraising activities and events. Dedicated fundraisers from Hughes Paddison devoted their time and lots of energy to raising much needed funds for the Hollie Gazzard Trust . There was a...

How to Embrace Equity

Encouraging Employers to Embrace Equity on International Women's Day This year International Women’s Day 2023 has everyone talking about embracing equity. To begin with, what do we mean by equity? As with last years’s IWD campaign to...

Commercial Expertise Boosted with New Appointments

Hughes Paddison Boosts Commercial Expertise with New Appointments Hughes Paddison broadens its commercial offering to both our existing clients and to Gloucestershire and UK wide businesses with two new appointments. We are delighted to welcome Katie...

Exciting expansion for one of Gloucestershire's Largest Family Law Teams

Building on an exceptional reputation for client service, Hughes Paddison continues to expand its Family Team – making it the largest in Gloucestershire.

Following a successful recruitment drive, we’ve taken on a significant number of both family legal experts and support staff to ensure we can maintain the professional, personable service our clients have come to expect. 

Fantastic news for our Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Marcus Crawley has recently been appointed an Associate Solicitor in the Family Law Team, here at Hughes Paddison. With one of the largest Family Departments in Gloucestershire, Marcus is looking forward to helping even more families across the county and beyond, often when they are facing some of life’s toughest challenges.

What does it take to become an Associate at Hughes Paddison, one of Cheltenham’s burgeoning law firms? We caught up with Marcus, who was still brimming with pride and excitement, and here’s what he had to say.

Hollie Gazzard Trust - Charity of the Year Official launch

To kick-off our Charity of the Year, we invited the Hollie Gazzard Trust to talk at our launch event. Nick Gazzard, Hollie’s father and CEO of the Trust explained the essential work the trust does in tackling domestic abuse and stalking.   ...

Hughes Paddison Runners join the fight against stalking and domestic abuse

Hughes Paddison are entering this year's Cheltenham Running Festival to raise essential funds for The Hollie Gazzard Trust . This energetic event will see our team run laps around the renowned Cheltenham Racecourse! We will be entering...

These boots were made for walking!

Walk4Hollie is the Hollie Gazzard Trust’s very special annual walk to remember the life of Hollie. The walk starts this Sunday, so it's not too late to join in. Simply make a donation and join the fun.  Walk4Hollie is this Sunday and we...

Hollie Gazzard Trust our Charity of the Year 2022-23

Staff at Hughes Paddison nominated several worthy causes for the focus of their fundraising efforts this year, but after the staff votes were counted there was only one winner.... Hughes Paddison are very excited to announce that the Hollie Gazzard Trust...

Charity of the Year

Hughes Paddison has voted The Hollie Gazzard Trust as our Charity of the Year 2022-2023.  We would like to raise the maximum amount of funds, so every little donation will help us along the way. We’d love you to sponsor us on our Team Page where...

Is your employee data safe?

Join us to boost your knowledge on employee GDPR regulations and employee data management. About this event Safeguarding Employee Data Think CVs, photos, CCTV film, employee access card data, personal details -  employee data exists all across...

Celebrating inspirational women ​working in the legal profession

Female role models at Hughes Paddison We are extremely lucky to have a host of inspirational women working at Hughes Paddison. Regardless of job title, we value every single employee; their style, personality, and individual strengths they bring to the...

Promoting gender equality in the legal profession

How Hughes Paddison are helping to #BreaktheBias

As a firm, we are proud of our people, their achievements, and the exceptional level of professional service that every one of them delivers for our clients.

Today, on International Women’s Day, when the theme is #Breakthebias we want to share our passion for supporting and empowering women who work in the legal profession.

Solicitor - Commercial Property

Solicitor – Commercial Property Cheltenham Hours: Full-time Salary: Dependent upon experience We have created an exciting opportunity for a solicitor to join our busy Commercial Property Department.  We are an established law firm based in...

Hughes Paddison celebrates 2021 qualifications

Hughes Paddison is pleased to announce the qualification of Amy McCormick as a Solicitor into the Corporate and Commercial team, Jess Reynolds as a Legal Executive in the Residential Property team and Emma O’Brien as a Solicitor in the Family team. Hughes Paddison has a strong track record of training Solicitors and Legal Executives and enabling them to establish long and successful careers at the firm.

The Ins and Outs of Employment Contracts

Please come and join us for this information packed HR and Networking session in association with HR People Support sponsored by Hughes Paddison. Our own Kimberley Whalen-Blake, Employment Solicitor will be on the panel of experts at this very popular and informative HR and Networking event.

Hughes Paddison to take part in Seminar for start up businesses

Jon Rathbone from Hughes Paddison is taking part in a free online Seminar on 23rd June 2021, organised by Eagle Tower titled "How to make your New Business soar". It is specifically aimed at people who are thinking about starting a new...

Life after Lockdown? Live Q&A with an Expert Panel

A chance to hear the latest on employment, property, corporate and restructuring and insolvency and to ask questions and share your opinions.

DATE: Thursday 7 May 2020, 10:00am - 11:00am- delivered via Zoom Video Conference

Hughes Paddison makes two senior promotions

Cheltenham based solicitors, Hughes Paddison, have announced two promotions within their Senior Management Team. Jon Rathbone has been made an Equity Director within the firm, whilst Julie Bennett has been made a Director.

 

COVID 19 Legal Information Update April

Across the team at Hughes Paddison we have been looking at the potential implications of Coronavirus and its consequences on different situations and legal aspects. We have pulled together in this Legal Information Update all the blogs that the team here...

Hughes Paddison nominated for Recruitment Award

Hughes Paddison are pleased to announce their nomination in the ‘Best Recruiter – Small Firm’ category at the LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards 2020. LawCareers.Net (LCN) is a widely recognised leading online resource...

Hughes Paddison Training Contract Programme

The Directors at Hughes Paddison are now inviting applications for the 2021 Training Contract Programme, across two intakes in Spring and Autumn 2021. We look to recruit candidates with excellent interpersonal skills, a strong academic record and who...

Acquisition of Units for McDonnell Price (Roofing) Contractors Ltd

Hughes Paddison recently acted on the successful acquisition of 3 Units for McDonell-Price (Roofing) Contractors Limited at the newly constructed Gabwell Business Centre at Quadrants Way, Hardwicke, Gloucester.  McDonnell-Price initially approached...

New Director appointed in the Private Client Team

We are pleased to announce that Caroline Farmer of the firm’s Private Client Department has recently been appointed as a Director of the firm and head of the Private Client Department. Caroline has been with the firm since 2014 and prior to that...

Hughes Paddison expand offer with appointment of new Employment Law Director

Cheltenham based Solicitors Hughes Paddison, have added Employment Law to the range of corporate and commercial legal services the firm offers its business clients, with the recruitment of Kimberley Whalen-Blake as a Director and Solicitor.
 

Hughes Paddison strengthen team with new appointment

Hughes Paddison have made a new senior addition to further strengthen their Private Client Department, with the appointment of Sue Senkbeil.
   

Joint Bank Account - For Convenience?

A recent case heard in the UK Privy Council (whose Judges are for the most part Judges of the UK Supreme Court) has highlighted the need for care to be taken when making these arrangements.

In the case (Whitlock –v- Moree) the deceased was a 90 year old business man.  At the time of his death he had a substantial sum in his bank account.  The year before he died he added Mr Moree to his bank account. 

Update in respect of Nuptial Agreements with Brexit in mind

This article by Jennifer Allen looks at the extent to which either pre or post-nuptial agreements will be taken into account by the Court and also looks forward to the impact Brexit may have on this area of law.

Hughes Paddison in Supreme Court Divorce case

The Supreme Court is to hear a wife's appeal against the dismissal of her divorce petition. Hughes Paddison represented Hugh Owens when his wife's petition for divorce was heard in the Central Family Court in January 2016. His Honour Judge Tolson QC...

International Perspective - Repossession in Panama

The service of a termination notice by the owner of a luxury hotel in Panama got out of hand earlier this month. The hotel was managed by a company owned by Donald Trump.

Property Disputes - Quarterly Update - Spring 2018

The latest edition of our Property Disputes Quarterly Update for Spring 2018

Property Disputes - Questions and Answers - Spring 2018

Your questions answered. How to terminate an existing tenancy when it is a protected business tenancy and can I charge interest on late payments in a commercial lease, when there is nothing about interest in the lease?

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards - are you prepared?

New Rules from 1 April 2018: If a Landlord is going to let a commercial property after 1 April 2018 (or for existing lettings after 1 April 2023), they will have to comply with the MEES Regulations.  Not all commercial properties are subject to the...

Surrender of passport

In the case of Corbiere Limited v Xu , the Court ordered a defendant to surrender his passport until he had complied with a disclosure order requiring him to disclose the location of certain confidential information that he had obtained unlawfully. The...

Property Disputes - Questions and Answers - Winter 2017

This time round our Property Disputes Q&A touches on court procedures and documentation, lengths you can go to protect your property and the Landlord and Tenants Act.

Property Disputes - Quarterly Update - Winter 2017

You can download the latest edition of our Property Disputes Quarterly Update, Winter 2017 via the link at the bottom of this preview of what is featured.

Overseas Perspective: costly interference

It sounds like the start of a bad joke: a story involving two nuns, Katy Perry, and a convent. But it was no laughing matter when a Los Angeles Court last month ordered a local business woman, Mrs Hollister, to cough up compensation to Katy Perry to the tune of $5 million.

Court of appeal finally concludes the 'Holocaust fund' case

Last week saw the final hearing of an application for permission to appeal in the long running ‘Holocaust fund’ case of Hamilton v Hamilton . The court’s judgment included interesting guidance for those who seek to adduce new evidence...

Court of Appeal in IVF breach of contract claim

Hughes Paddison’s Head of Litigation, Rachel Stewart, represents the claimant (ARB) in a much publicised High Court case in which a father sued an IVF clinic for over £1 million, after a frozen embryo was thawed and implanted into his...

Annual Drinks Party and Reception

The Annual Hughes Paddison Drinks Party and Reception took place on 9th November.

Property Disputes - Quarterly Update - Summer 2017

You can download the latest edition of our Property Disputes Quarterly Update, Summer 2017 via the link at the bottom of this preview of what is featured. Stories include: WHEN DOES "OR" NOT MEAN "OR"? A landlord’s notice...

Ask the expert: Lee Hibbert, ER Systems Global

In our latest "Ask the expert" feature Andrew Turner caught up with Lee Hibbert, Chairman of ER Systems Global.                      Lee Hibbert - Chairman of ER Systems ER Systems...

When does "or" not mean "or"?

A landlord’s notice was ruled not to have been validly served despite the lease apparently giving the landlord two alternative addresses for service. The case of Grimes v The Trustees of the Essex Farmers & Union Hunt is a case that has driven...

International Perspective: Brooklyn wins fight to preserve mural

A huge mural of The Notorious B.I.G on the side of a house in Brooklyn was set to be destroyed due to the owner’s plans to renovate the building. The Notorious B.I.G. an American rapper who died in 1997 who featured in the mural that was...

Property Disputes - Questions and Answers - Summer 2017

I am about to issue a claim against someone and I do not want that person to know my home address. Am I able to give my address as “care of” my solicitors?  The general rule is that a claimant must state on the Claim Form an address at...

Hughes Paddison involved in high profile IVF case

Hughes Paddison’s Head of Litigation, Rachel Stewart, represents the claimant in a much publicised High Court case in which a father is suing an IVF clinic for over £1 million, after a frozen embryo was thawed and implanted into his...

Restrictive covenants: the Lands Tribunal or the Court?

The Lands Tribunal has the power under Section 84(1) of the Law of Property Act 1925 to modify or remove a restrictive covenant affecting land. There are various grounds for removal or modification. The Tribunal does not however have the power to determine...

Damages: is it the court's role to punish people?

In the case of Marathon Asset Management LLP v Seddon, the trial judge stated that “ punishment and deterrence are not purposes for which damages for civil wrongs can be awarded in English law ”. In this case, the claimant was one of three...

Professional in the Hot Seat - Jonathan Rathbone

We caught up with Jonathan Rathbone, Hughes Paddison’s new Director tasked with growing the Company and Commercial Department. Jon joins Hughes Paddison from international law firm, DAC Beachcroft, bringing with him more than 14 years’...

Property Disputes - Quarterly Update - Spring

You can download the latest edition of our Property Disputes Quarterly Update, Spring 2017 via the link at the bottom of this preview of what is featured. Stories include: A SOLICITOR COVER UP BUT "NO DISHONESTY" We look at a case where a...

Hughes Paddison in major Court of Appeal divorce case

Hughes Paddison represented the husband in the widely reported Divorce case of Owens v Owens heard by the Court of Appeal recently. The case was notable in that the Court of Appeal refused to overrule the judge hearing the case last year when he had...

Disinheriting your children - the Supreme Court speaks out

Judgment was handed down this week in Heather Ilott’s battle in the Supreme Court involving her claim against her late mother’s Estate. Mrs Ilott had been disinherited and was doing battle with charities that her mother had chosen to be...

HP go "Potty" over Corporate and Commercial Director

Hughes Paddison have boosted their team with the appointment of Jon Rathbone a new Corporate and Commercial Director.

Full and Final Satisfaction? Beware!

If you are owed money and the debtor sends a cheque stated to be in “full and final satisfaction” of the debt, you must proceed with caution. The temptation will obviously be to cash the cheque and pursue the balance, but can you do this? The...

Do I need to make a Will?

If you die without a Will, your estate will be divided according to a set of default rules known as “the intestacy rules”. This may mean that your estate passes to someone you did not intend to benefit. Whilst it is prudent for everyone who is...

You can run but you can't hide

A case which shows the importance of providing your tenants with an up to date address for service of notices.   In the case of Levett-Dunn v NHS, the court was asked to determine whether break notices served by a tenant had been validly served where...

Silence is golden

High Court rules that trying to drown out neighbouring noise nuisance by creating your own noise is unreasonable. In the case of Waltham Forest LBC v Mitoo, the High Court ruled that playing loud music to drown out the noise from local building works was...

Property Disputes Quarterly Update Autumn 2016

You can download the latest edition of our Property Disputes Quarterly Update, Autumn 2016 here . Stories include: YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE A case which shows the importance of providing your tenants with an up to date address for service of...

Solicitors step up to Cheltenham Half Marathon Challenge

When the thousands of runners get underway in the Cheltenham Half Marathon on Sunday 25th September, amongst them will be a group of Solicitors from Cheltenham firm, Hughes Paddison. The team which includes several runners who have never taken part in a...

Hughes Paddison adopt Maggie's Cancer Centre

Cheltenham based Solicitors Hughes Paddison have adopted the Cheltenham Centre of the cancer charity Maggie’s as their Charity of the Year for 2016-17. Hughes Paddison have also set themselves a target of raising £2,500 for the charity through a...

Experts stumble and fall in lease renewal proceedings

A recent High Court decision has highlighted the dangers of relying upon inadequate expert evidence in lease renewal proceedings.  The case of Flanders Community Centre Ltd v Newham London Borough Council concerned an unopposed lease renewal of a...

Win in "Holocaust Fund" case

A High Court judgment was handed down on Friday in favour of our client, the sister in the well publicised case of Hamilton -v- Hamilton. The case involved a brother and sister arguing about £3.2M of assets held offshore in a Liechtenstein Foundation,...

Specific Performance - Jumping The Gun?

Specific performance is an order compelling a party to take certain action, often in order to comply with its contractual obligations.  Although it is a remedy that is usually sought after a party has breached its contract, a recent case confirmed that...

International Perspective - Trols Povlsen

There was once a time when the arrival of Vikings on these shores was met with quite understandable concern.  Pillaging and looting was never a rewarding experience for those on the receiving end.  But how times have changed.  The previously...

Disrepair And Loss Of Amenity

The Court of Appeal has clarified when you can claim damages for loss of amenity. The case of Moorjani v Durban Estates Limited concerned a flat that was in disrepair because of the landlord’s failure to comply with its repairing obligations. The...

Property Disputes: Your Questions Answered - Winter 2015-16

Question: I am a tenant of a flat in an apartment block containing several flats. My lease is a 999 year lease. Last year, I had to issue proceedings against the landlord to get him to deal with disrepair affecting my flat. I eventually reached a...

Professional in The Hot Seat - Winter 2015-16

We caught up with the Property Disputes Quarterly Update designer, Andy Teakle, to find out more about the life of a Freelance Graphic Designer. How would you define graphic design? That’s a good question... ‘Graphic Design’, like any...

Divorce form error leading to unfair settlements

Computerisation of legal forms is often seen as a way to streamline proceedings and to lessen the amount of paperwork needed. There has been a worrying development however in the software used for submitting a particular form used in divorce proceedings...

Expert witness knocked senseless

The Court has recently issued one of the most damning criticisms of an expert witness that has been seen for quite some time (Van Oord UK Ltd v Allseas UK Ltd).  Any expert witnesses of a nervous disposition, look away now. The case in question...

Autumn Budget Update - How it could affect your Property.

In today’s Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced that from 1 April 2016 buy-to-let landlords and people buying second homes will face paying Stamp Duty Land Tax at a rate 3% above the current rate.  There will be exemptions for certain types...

Negligent valuations - the blame game

A valuer produces a negligent overvaluation of residential property. The lender relies upon that valuation and then sues its solicitors when it discovers that the valuation was wrong. Barking mad? Not so thought the High Court in Goldsmith Williams...

Bankruptcy threshold rises to £5,000

As of the 1 October 2015, the minimum level of debt that can trigger bankruptcy has risen from £750 to £5000. This is the first increase of the bankruptcy threshold since it was set 30 years ago. The new rules mean that you can no longer serve...

Capital Allowances on Buildings

In The Hot Seat With Sara Crowther, Crowther Associates Chartered Accountants When a business calculates the profits on which it must pay tax it cannot deduct capital expenditure.  One exception to this rule is capital allowances.  These allow a...

Landlord Releases - The Pressure is On!

As a landlord, you might expect that once you have assigned your interest in a lease you will no longer be liable for any of the landlord covenants that you entered into when granting the lease. Unfortunately, the recent case of Reeves & Downing v...

Energy Performance Certificates - They Really Will Matter!

In January this year there was a media frenzy when David Cameron stated that he would refuse to attend the TV debates in the run up to the General Election unless the Green Party were invited to attend. The increased prominence of the Green Party has...

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 - A Summary of Key Changes

Consumer law has changed, with the new Consumer Rights Act (“CRA”) which came into force on 1st October 2015. The Act is exclusively about consumers doing business with traders, and will affect both consumers and businesses selling to consumers....

Trouble in Paradise

A naturist resort. A chalet. And a modest plot of land. Those were the subjects of the hotly contested case of Spielplatz Limited –v- Pearson. The legal issues that were laid bare during the proceedings centred on whether the chalet was a chattel or...

International Perspective - New York and 'tenant relocators'

The real estate market in New York is booming. So much so that tenants of rent-regulated apartments are being harassed by landlords and by professional “tenant re-locators” who are trying to persuade them to move out so that they can re-let and...

Hitting the Forfeiture Jackpot

The landlord in the case of Freifeld –v- West Kensington Court Limited could hardly believe its luck. The landlord was faced with a situation where its tenant had breached its lease by underletting the premises in deliberate breach of covenant. The...

Where there's a Will, there's an argument!

The decision by the Court of Appeal on 27 July 2015 in the case of Ilott v Miston, a dispute which started over 8 years ago, has upheld the original County Court decision. The decision appears to make it easier for adult children to make a claim against...

'Without Prejudice' - the myth continues

The ability to make a formal offer to settle a dispute, without that offer coming to the attention of the court, is an essential tool in any dispute resolution armoury.  There have however been many examples of the ‘Without Prejudice’...

International Perspective - Lessons from Berlin?

On 1 June 2015, Berlin began enforcing rent controls preventing landlords from charging  over  10% more  than  the  local  average  rent  for  new tenants.   The chairman of  the Berlin ...

Breaking and entering - is it worth it?

According to the Court of Appeal, the answer to this question in the case of Mr Best is “yes!”. Mr Best has emerged victorious from the Court of Appeal with the court having confirming that Mr Best is entitled to snaffle ownership of a property...

Forfeiture: the residential spanner in the works?

Forfeiting a lease of commercial premises can be as simple as changing the locks.  But in the case of residential premises, a landlord has to tread with much greater care. Changing the locks is not an option. So says the Protection from Eviction Act...

Property Disputes: Professional In the Hot Seat

We caught up with David Carter, Chief Executive of the Sheriffs Office, to find out more about the life of a sheriff. Describe your typical working day.    Personally, I’m no early bird and prefer to work late into the evening, including...

Property Disputes: Your Questions Answered

QUESTION: I have served a Section 25 Notice under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954on my tenant.   The expiry date contained in the Notice has now passed but there have been several extensions of that date.  We are now four months beyond the...

Service charge sting in the tail

The Supreme Court has this week dismissed an appeal brought by a group of lessees challenging the interpretation of service charge clauses.   The lessees are long leaseholders of holiday chalets at Oxwich Leisure Park near Swansea.  The...

Service with a smile

In that elusive happy–go-lucky world where landlords and tenants co-exist in blissful harmony, serving formal notices on each other is probably unnecessary. No doubt, a cup of tea and a friendly chat achieves the same purpose. But in the real world of...

When your tenant just won't let go...

Forfeiture is a powerful weapon for a landlord. One breach and the tenant can be booted out. But what happens if you kick that commercial tenant out and he comes banging on the door demanding to be let in again? Is he down as well as out?  ...

There's always a way

If you have a right of way over neighbouring land and you stop using it for a long period of time, perhaps several years or more, will you eventually be regarded as having abandoned your right of way?   The answer is no. Non-use, even for many years,...

Vince v Wyatt - The importance of financial orders upon divorce

If ever a case was to highlight the importance of ensuring all financial matters are finalised at the time of divorce by way of court order, this is it. Mr Vince and Ms Wyatt separated in 1984 after just 3 years of marriage.  Mr Vince left to live a...

Putting a value on 33 years of cohabitation

The Court of Appeal has recently awarded a cohabitee a 25% beneficial interest in a property solely owned by her partner despite the Court finding that her financial contribution had been “insignificant” In the recent Court of Appeal case of...

Break or bust

Conditional break clauses continue to haunt tenants. Once again, a tenant has been stung by onerous break clause conditions that were virtually impossible to comply with ( Sirhowy Investments Limited v Henderson & Knight ). Mr Henderson and Miss...

Warning To Landlords - Do Not Delay Tenant's Requests

Paul Engelbrecht, Commercial Property Solicitor in Cheltenham advises that Landlords must think carefully, and quickly, in considering a request for the assignment, or transfer of a lease. Failure to do so could result in costly consequences. The Court of...

No contract, no problem!

The judgment in the recent case of Rendlesham Estates Plc v Barr Limited illustrates how the Defective Premises Act 1972 can make a building contractor liable to a subsequent occupier of a dwelling, even where there is no contractual relationship between...

Taking no notice

It is not often that someone can say that they got lucky in the highest court in the land. But Mr Telchadder who was the subject of the recent Supreme Court ruling in Telchadder v Wickland Holdings Limited had a very lucky escape. The Telchadder case...

Press verses Privacy in Divorce Cases

Jennifer Allen, Director within the family team of Hughes Paddison, reports on a recent attempt made to impose a blanket ban on reporting on one of the UK’s largest divorce cases.  This ban was rejected by the High Court Judge.   ...

Promises not forgotten

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a cohabitee was entitled to a slice of the equity in a property owned in her partner’s sole name and to which she made no financial contribution. The case of Southwell v Blackburn has served as a reminder to...