| 
Bermans bolsters litigation team with senior hire
North west law firm Bermans has strengthened its litigation team with the appointment of James Thornton as a senior associate.
Continue ReadingInheritance Tax (IHT) and Pensions – The “Safe Haven” is about to Disappear
John-Paul Dennis
For many years, pensions have been one of the most effective tools for IHT planning, allowing individuals (particularly business owners and senior professionals) to pass on substantial wealth outside of their taxable estate. However, significant legislative changes coming into force from 6 April 2027 will fundamentally alter this position.
Continue ReadingFee Earner Q&A with Chris Brain
Chris Brain (pictured), joined Bermans in September 2020 and is a Solicitor in our Insolvency team. We spoke to him to learn more about him and his work.
Five ways the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 will make things easier for businesses
Rob Eakins
Changes have been made to the UK’s data protection regime through the introduction of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA). Whilst the provisions considered in this article are already in force, others will be introduced over time. The DUAA does not replace the UK’s existing data protection legislation (including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR)) but will make some changes to that legislation in order to simplify the UK’s data protection regime.
Continue ReadingSean Hughes’ Will Case Is No Joke
Mike Carter
Sean Hughes spent much of his life making audiences laugh. Yet the legal dispute that followed his death is a serious reminder that when it comes to wills, there is little room for humour. The decade‑long court battle over the comedian’s estate shows, in stark terms, how informal drafting can leave even clear intentions tied up in costly uncertainty.
Continue ReadingCourt of Appeal victory for Bermans’ client in lease guarantee dispute
Bermans has successfully acted for the Appellant in a significant Court of Appeal decision (Kiko UK Limited v Pianoforte Holdings SpA [2026] EWCA Civ 513) concerning the scope of a parent company guarantee under a lease of commercial property.
Continue ReadingEmployment Rights Act 2025: The Latest Updates and What UK Employers Need to Do Now
Sarah Marten
The Employment Rights Act 2025 came into force on 18th December 2025 and marks a fundamental shift in UK employment law, introducing wide‑ranging reforms that significantly increase employer obligations while strengthening worker protections.
Continue Reading‘Snakes and ladders’ risks increase for landlords as renters’ rights act shifts balance towards tenants
Mike Carter
Residential landlords are being warned that the Renters’ Rights Act will substantially increase setbacks in possession claims, with a wrong move likely to send more cases back to square one in a game of snakes and ladders.
The Act is being rolled out from May 1 and introduces the most significant reforms to tenancy law in decades.
Continue ReadingBermans expands Manchester presence with city centre office move
Bermans has expanded its presence in Manchester with a move to a larger city centre office to accommodate its growing team.
Bermans had outgrown its space on the third floor of One King Street, where it occupied 3,460 sq ft, and has now taken the entire fifth floor in the building on a 10-year lease.
Continue ReadingNew statutory rates for 2026
Adrian Fryer
April marks the month each year where changes to statutory rates come into force. Most rate changes take effect from 6th April (to align with the start of the new tax year).
The statutory rates for family leave, sick pay, redundancy and the cap on unfair dismissal compensatory awards are, from 6th April 2026, as follows:
Continue Reading