https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/ Trusted legal advice for individuals and businesses en Wed, 11 Nov 2026 01:46:23 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/tenant-dies-mid-tenancy-landlord-family-guide/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/tenant-dies-mid-tenancy-landlord-family-guide/ A tenancy does not simply stop when the tenant dies, and the weeks that follow are rarely a matter of paperwork alone. This guide explains who can bring a tenancy to an end, how the deposit is dealt with, and how landlords and families can manage access and belongings without creating a dispute or an unlawful eviction. Bentley Law Private Client Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:45:27 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/stranger-on-the-register-fraudulent-companies-house-appointments/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/stranger-on-the-register-fraudulent-companies-house-appointments/ A Companies House record is a statement to the world — and it can be altered by anyone with a filing code and sufficient nerve. This guide explains how fraudulent appointments and bogus filings occur, what a director should do in the first days after discovering one, and how identity verification now in force changes the landscape. Bentley Law Commercial Law Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:45:27 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/best-endeavours-reasonable-endeavours-contract-clause-litigation/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/best-endeavours-reasonable-endeavours-contract-clause-litigation/ Few phrases have generated more litigation, at greater cost, than the endeavours clause. This article argues that the courts are unlikely ever to settle its meaning, and that the only reliable solution is drafting that removes the argument before it starts. Bentley Law Dispute Resolution Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:45:27 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/algorithm-rejects-equality-act-ai-recruitment/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/algorithm-rejects-equality-act-ai-recruitment/ Automated screening tools promise efficiency, but they can inherit the very biases employers thought they had left behind. This guide examines how the Equality Act 2010 reaches into the recruitment pipeline, who bears responsibility when software discriminates, and the practical safeguards every employer should adopt. Bentley Law Commercial Law Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:09:15 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/restrictive-covenants-after-an-employee-leaves/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/restrictive-covenants-after-an-employee-leaves/ Non-compete and non-solicitation clauses do not end at the exit interview, yet many employers overestimate their reach and many employees underestimate theirs. This guide examines what UK courts will actually enforce, why badly drafted covenants fail, and how both sides can navigate a departure without a courtroom. Bentley Law Commercial Law Tue, 03 Nov 2026 20:10:01 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/landlords-guide-unauthorised-subletting-commercial-leases/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/landlords-guide-unauthorised-subletting-commercial-leases/ When a commercial tenant quietly installs an occupier of their own, landlords are often the last to know. This guide explains how unauthorised subletting arises, what your lease does and does not permit, and the practical routes from investigation to enforcement. Bentley Law Commercial Property Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:08:46 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/vanishing-co-owner-business-partner-refuses-to-engage/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/vanishing-co-owner-business-partner-refuses-to-engage/ When a co-owner goes silent — unreachable, estranged, or simply unwilling to pick up the phone — the business does not have to grind to a halt. This guide sets out the legal routes available in England and Wales, from partnership dissolution to unfair prejudice petitions, and the drafting that prevents the problem in the first place. Bentley Law Dispute Resolution Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:16:36 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/letter-before-action-guide-uk/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/letter-before-action-guide-uk/ The letter before action is far more than a courtesy note — it is a procedural gateway that courts take seriously and one that can shape the entire course of a dispute. This guide explains when one is required, how to draft it without undermining your claim, and what to expect once it lands on the other side's desk. Bentley Law Dispute Resolution Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:09:25 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/the-72-hour-clock-small-business-data-breach-response-plan/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/the-72-hour-clock-small-business-data-breach-response-plan/ Discovering that customer or employee data has been compromised is one of the most stressful moments a small business owner can face — and UK law gives you just 72 hours to respond formally. This guide sets out what the ICO expects, when you must report, and how to communicate with affected clients without turning an incident into an exodus. Bentley Law Commercial Law Mon, 02 Nov 2026 04:06:35 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/closing-the-door-properly-winding-up-a-company/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/closing-the-door-properly-winding-up-a-company/ Striking off a company can cost a few pounds in fees or hundreds of thousands in personal liability, depending on how it is done. This guide examines the two principal routes to dissolution, the tax traps lurking in each, and the mistakes that follow former directors long after the company has disappeared from the register. Bentley Law Commercial Law Sun, 01 Nov 2026 20:05:19 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/construction-delay-damages-adjudication-guide/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/construction-delay-damages-adjudication-guide/ Building projects that overrun on time or budget are among the most common disputes we see from homeowners and small developers. This guide explains the contractual mechanisms that decide who bears the cost — and when escalation is worth the legal fees. Bentley Law Dispute Resolution Sun, 01 Nov 2026 04:08:35 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/business-continuity-after-loss-of-capacity/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/business-continuity-after-loss-of-capacity/ A stroke on a Tuesday can freeze a company's bank account by Wednesday. This guide explains what happens when a sole trader or director loses mental capacity without a lasting power of attorney, and the practical steps every business owner should take while they still can. Bentley Law Private Client Sat, 31 Oct 2026 20:08:45 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/passing-off-and-trade-marks-small-business-guide/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/passing-off-and-trade-marks-small-business-guide/ A rival's van wearing your logo, a competitor listing a product under your product name — what can you actually do about it? This guide explains the law of passing off, the limits of unregistered rights, and how to build a case before you ever need a courtroom. Bentley Law Commercial Law Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:11:58 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/legal-architecture-of-multigenerational-living/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/legal-architecture-of-multigenerational-living/ Inviting an elderly parent to live with you is one of the most generous decisions a family can make — and one of the least legally documented. This guide examines the equity, care fee and inheritance consequences that surface when the arrangement is left to goodwill alone. Bentley Law Family Law Sat, 31 Oct 2026 08:07:21 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/founders-farewell-structuring-clean-departure/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/founders-farewell-structuring-clean-departure/ Leaving a company you founded from nothing requires more than a handshake and a farewell email. From share buybacks to restrictive covenants, the terms of your departure are negotiated long before the door closes behind you. Bentley Law Commercial Law Sat, 31 Oct 2026 04:07:40 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/signed-off-not-shut-out-sick-leave-capability-law/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/signed-off-not-shut-out-sick-leave-capability-law/ Illness at work raises questions most employees never expected to face: what am I paid, what can my employer ask, and when does absence management cross a legal line? This guide sets out the framework under English law, from statutory sick pay to disability discrimination, for staff and small employers alike. Bentley Law Dispute Resolution Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:07:06 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/divorce-and-business-assets-van-tools-workshop/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/divorce-and-business-assets-van-tools-workshop/ For plumbers, electricians and other sole traders, the business is not separate from the marriage — it is often the largest asset on the table. We explain how courts value and divide trading assets, and what practical steps can keep the van on the road while a fair settlement is reached. Bentley Law Family Law Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:05:28 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/bank-of-mum-and-dad-loans-legal-guide/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/bank-of-mum-and-dad-loans-legal-guide/ Billions of pounds change hands between generations each year, often with nothing more than a text message to show for it. When relationships fracture, those informal arrangements are tested against the law of gifts and loans. This guide explains how to structure family lending so that both the money and the family remain intact. Bentley Law Family Law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:05:22 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/fences-foundations-and-feuds-neighbour-disputes/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/fences-foundations-and-feuds-neighbour-disputes/ Boundary lines, party wall notices and the thump of a neighbour's building works can turn a quiet street into a battleground. This guide sets out the legal framework in England and Wales, the sensible escalation path from friendly word to formal notice, and what each step is likely to cost you. Bentley Law Dispute Resolution Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:04:35 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/behind-the-shield-limited-liability-fails-directors/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/behind-the-shield-limited-liability-fails-directors/ The corporate veil is thinner than most directors assume. From personal guarantees to wrongful trading and HMRC enforcement, this guide examines where limited liability ends and personal exposure begins — and what you can do about it. Bentley Law Commercial Law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:12:19 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/handshake-deals-verbal-agreements-small-business/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/handshake-deals-verbal-agreements-small-business/ Plenty of British trade is still done on trust, a phone call and a firm handshake. This opinion piece argues that the habit is costing small businesses dearly — and sets out a practical, relationship-preserving way to put agreements in writing before disputes do it for you. Bentley Law Commercial Law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:12:19 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/settling-a-digital-estate-england-wales/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/settling-a-digital-estate-england-wales/ Executors today inherit more than bank statements and title deeds — they inherit cloud storage, cryptocurrency and decades of correspondence locked behind two-factor authentication. We examine how English probate law copes with the digital afterlife, and what a well-drafted will should say about it. Bentley Law Family Law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:10:57 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/pre-employment-promises-binding-obligations/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/pre-employment-promises-binding-obligations/ Employment tribunals are littered with cases that began before the successful candidate's first day. From loose remarks in interviews to conditional offers sent in haste, we look at how pre-employment conduct creates legal exposure for UK employers — and how to close the gaps. Bentley Law Commercial Law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:10:57 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/legal-guide-sandwich-generation-carers/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/legal-guide-sandwich-generation-carers/ A growing number of UK adults are raising children while managing ageing parents' affairs, often with little legal preparation. This guide walks through Lasting Powers of Attorney, care fee thresholds, deputyship and family conversations — before a crisis makes those decisions for you. Bentley Law Family Law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:12:44 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/hidden-cost-of-informal-business-agreements/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/hidden-cost-of-informal-business-agreements/ Remote working and digital tools have made informal arrangements easier than ever to make — and harder than ever to prove. We examine why the verbal understanding has become a genuine commercial risk and offer a practical minimum-paperwork checklist for sole traders and micro-businesses. Bentley Law Commercial Law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:12:44 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/contractor-agreement-clauses-small-business-uk/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/contractor-agreement-clauses-small-business-uk/ The line between self-employment and employment has never been blurrier, and HMRC and tribunals are scrutinising both sides of it. This guide sets out the clauses small businesses should insist on before engaging a contractor, and how to audit arrangements already in place. Bentley Law Commercial Law Wed, 28 Oct 2026 20:14:27 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/defamatory-online-reviews-legal-response-uk/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/defamatory-online-reviews-legal-response-uk/ A defamatory review can spread further in a day than a poor trading year ever could, but the legal response matters as much as the original slur. We examine the Defamation Act 2013, the serious harm threshold, and why the best first move is often a keyboard, not a courtroom. Bentley Law Family Law Wed, 28 Oct 2026 20:14:27 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/talking-to-family-about-your-will/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/talking-to-family-about-your-will/ Most UK families would rather discuss anything other than inheritance — and that silence often proves costly. We examine why estate conversations matter, how to begin them, and the disputes that proper planning can prevent. Bentley Law Family Law Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:15:27 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/partnership-agreement-clauses-that-cause-disputes/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/partnership-agreement-clauses-that-cause-disputes/ Most partnership and shareholder agreements are written for the good times — and fall apart the moment things turn sour. We identify five clauses UK business owners most commonly leave out, and what their absence costs. Bentley Law Commercial Law Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:15:27 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/no-fault-divorce-financial-settlements-2025/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/no-fault-divorce-financial-settlements-2025/ Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 took effect, the process of ending a marriage has become less adversarial — but the financial questions remain as complex as ever. We examine how pensions, inherited wealth, and timing now shape modern settlements. Bentley Law Family Law Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:14:42 GMT https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/commercial-lease-clauses-to-negotiate-uk/ https://www.bentley-law.co.uk/commercial-lease-clauses-to-negotiate-uk/ Signing a commercial lease is one of the most consequential commitments a UK business will make, yet many owners accept the landlord's draft without meaningful scrutiny. This guide highlights seven provisions that routinely cause costly disputes — and explains how to negotiate them from a position of strength. Bentley Law Commercial Property Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:14:42 GMT