Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.
Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.
What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.
While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.
You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.
The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.
Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.
While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.
Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.
Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.
Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.
As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.
Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.
Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.
With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.
The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.
As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.
Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.
Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.
Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.
Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.
Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.
From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.
Private client solicitors can guide you through the range of family and personal law issues that affect individuals. From buying or selling a home to what to do if you are injured in an accident, professional advice from a private client solicitor is a must. Equally, planning ahead to deal with key personal law issues can help you to avoid significant problems such as dying without making a will.
For many private client solicitors, property law makes up a significant part of their personal law activities. Whether you are buying or selling a property, becoming a buy-to-let landlord or thinking about equity release, a private client solicitor can offer advice, handle the paperwork and negotiate on your behalf if you wish.
Other personal law issues may arise in less happy circumstances. Family law often focuses on separation and divorce, with a private client solicitor helping to negotiate the financial terms of an agreement. Private client solicitors can also manage the estate when someone dies, acting as executor and dealing with probate.
You should take specialist personal law advice if you suffer a personal injury. If the injury is someone else's fault, a private client solicitor can help negotiate compensation.
Many individuals consult a private client solicitor only when there is a clear and immediate need. But planning ahead with the right personal law advice can be a valuable investment.
Nothing is certain but death and taxes. Drawing up a will is essential if you want to ensure that your assets will be dealt with the way you want. At the same time, proper tax planning may significantly reduce the potential inheritance tax liability.
Drawing up appropriate powers of attorney helps protect you if you later lose the capacity to take care of your own affairs.
For those considering marriage or cohabitation, a private client solicitor can advise on a pre-marital or cohabitation agreement. While some consider this area of personal law ?unromantic', an agreement can provide important protection for both partners.
Whatever aspect of personal law you need advice about, you will want to ensure that you use your private client solicitor cost-effectively.
To start with, you should think carefully about what you are trying to achieve. You should also gather any paperwork you need. A private client lawyer can act more effectively on your behalf with clear instructions and the right information.
It's worth taking legal advice early, for example, to ensure that you don't say or do anything you shouldn't. Your lawyer can advise you if there is an opportunity to keep costs down by negotiating the main points of an agreement yourself.