Can it really only be six weeks before Christmas? This last month seems to have whizzed by with so much happening.
We are delighted to have reported on our website on 2nd November that bucking the trend, we opened an office in Northampton mainly to service property work! The first few weeks of the new Northampton office have been very promising and we are hoping that the office will be a very positive step for Neves in its continuing expansion.
As reported last month, we once again agreed to support the Will Aid scheme whereby we give our time for free to produce basic wills, in return for our clients donating a sum of money to the Will Aid charity which then distributes the funds amongst several different very worthy causes. Very quickly we became fully booked for this scheme and are now running a cancellation waiting list! We will report in next month's newsletter the final amount of money that has been raised.
Our series of seminars continued over the last month with our "Who inherits your wealth - Could it be the Taxman?" (in association with Keens Shay Keens) which took place on 3rd November. If you missed the seminar, but would like a copy of the slides then please click here to be taken to our website where they can be downloaded.
James Harvey of our litigation and debt recovery department delivered his first ever solo seminar at the Harpenden Business Exhibition on 13th November. He concentrated on debt recovery matters, but also looked at ways of trying to prevent debts arising and provided tips on early steps that can be taken. For more information, and to obtain a copy of James' slides, please click here.
And finally, by way of reminder, this coming Thursday (19th November) sees Stewart Matthews of our commercial department jointly deliver a seminar on Business Sales and Purchases in conjunction with Landers Accountants. For more information and to book your place please click here to be taken to our website.
Varying a Contract of Employment? Take care…
 Reducing staff costs is something many businesses are looking into, including British Airways and British Telecom who are reported to have offered staff increased time off work in return for a pay deduction. However, if you are thinking about making changes to working arrangements, you must remember that an employment contract can only be varied with the agreement of both parties. Making a change to an employee’s conditions of employment without their agreement is usually construed as a breach of contract and in some cases, the employee could well resign and claim constructive dismissal. To avoid issues like this, you must seek legal advice before taking action. Read the full article on our website and if you are in this situation, get in touch.
Construction workers: Employed or Self Employed?
 Cases concerning whether builders on construction sites are employed or self-employed are common. A recent review aims to address the issue of ‘false self-employment’ which occurs when workers are treated as self-employed for Income Tax and National Insurance purposes despite the fact that the way in which they work demonstrates an employment relationship. If you are involved in employing workers in this industry, read the full story on our website this month and contact us for advice if you are in any doubt as to the nature of the employment status of your workers.
Pre Nups
Back in July, British legal history was made when a German heiress saw her pre-nuptial agreement backed by the Court. Katrin Radmacher’s husband had been awarded some £5.6 million by a lower court after the couple divorced. However, he had signed a pre-nuptial agreement which waived his rights to his wife’s wealth should they divorce and this was recognised by the Court of Appeal which ruled that he should only receive about £1 million from her estimated £100 million fortune. A pre-nuptial agreement is not just designed for the wealthy; it can protect anyone and is a useful estate planning tool which could save money in the long term. To find out more about how a ‘pre-nup’ could benefit you, contact Mary McEvoy or Beth Woodward in our Family Department.
Dealing with Debtors
It is important to strike the correct balance when chasing debts, if you are too relaxed then you might not be taken seriously and payment may not arrive; if you are too aggressive you could upset a good customer and lose future business. Remember- a customer is really only a good customer if they pay you! Contact James Harvey for more advice.
Dealing With Your Affairs If You Are No Longer Able
A property and affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a power of attorney which allows you to authorise one or more named persons to make decisions on your behalf in order to manage your property and financial affairs if you are no longer able or willing to do so yourself. Contact Gail Donaldson or read more below. | 
