Certain industries, perhaps most notably the care industry, rely on workers being on-call; sometimes even sleeping at work so that they’re on site and available to help if needed. The perennial question, for employment law purposes, is whether these workers are ‘working’ – and entitled to the rights that go with that (not least the National Minimum Wage) – for the entire time, and not just when they are awake and attending to duties.
‘FinTech’ or financial technology is a phrase increasingly used in the media, the finance sector and the business world in general. In the broadest sense, financial technology is any technology that is used and applied in the financial services sector which improves the delivery of financial services. But what does that mean and why should you care that it is one of the fastest growing areas for venture capitalists or that the sector generated almost £7billion revenue in 2016?
The Neuberg family operated a business producing light metal products and traded under the name Neuberg Metal Spinners for many years. In 1998 a company operated by Mr Neuberg called Neuberg Metal Spinners Limited went into liquidation. Despite this, the family business continued to trade under the name Neuberg Metals but through a new company, Watergate Services Limited, of which Mrs Neuberg was the sole director and secretary.
You buy (or think you buy) a vacant investment property. You complete the purchase and all goes smoothly until you get a visit from someone who says he is the owner and that he never sold you anything…
Rebecca joined Bermans in September 2016 as a Consultant in the Property team.
She has a degree in law & French and qualified as a Solicitor in 2005.
Rebecca advises a variety of clients including SMEs, private individuals and international investors. She specialises in all aspects of commercial property, in particular acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant, property finance and property development.
She is also a volunteer for Henshaws Society For The Blind and is a member of Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Alissa is a Partner in our asset based lending team, acting for both financial institutions as well as corporate borrower clients. Since joining Bermans in 2017, she has undertaken a broad range of banking and finance work including invoice finance, asset finance and general corporate finance.
Alissa graduated from Liverpool University with a law degree before qualifying as a solicitor in 2010.
Alissa has a keen interest in live music and travelling, and have previously spent time travelling Thailand, Australia and Fiji.
Andrew joined Bermans in January 2017 as a Partner based in Manchester, becoming Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution in 2022.
Andrew studied law at University College, Oxford and The College of Law, Guildford, before qualifying as a Solicitor in 1987.
Andrew advises for owner-managed businesses, professional practices, insolvency practitioners, property developers, secured lenders and individuals.
He specialises in property litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes; litigation for secured lenders; contract disputes; professional negligence and insolvency.
Outside of work, Andrew enjoys football (both playing 5-a-side and watching Manchester City); running; walking/climbing; music and learning to play the piano. Plus he is a member of the Manchester Law Society.
Anita joined Bermans in 1987 and has over 25 years of experience in the recoveries arena and a deep understanding of finance and asset based recoveries procedures.
In addition to producing and managing court process for a variety of commercial clients Anita has her own caseload of undefended and defended small claims litigation primarily for the asset based lending industry.
Pat is a qualified Chartered Legal Executive and joined Bermans in 1997.
She works in our Litigation department and deals with a wide range of contract disputes and also property litigation matters (particularly Landlord and Tenant possession actions and Landlord’s claims for rent arrears).
She has developed real litigation nous and is respected by clients’ in their own right, as adept lawyers in their fields.
Melanie joined Bermans as a Trainee Solicitor in 2015, qualified into the Property team in 2017 and became a Senior Associate in 2021, before becoming a Partner in July 2023.
Melanie graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in Law in 2011, before completing the Legal Practice Course at The University of Law, Chester. Prior to joining Bermans, she spent time as a paralegal and working at an international bank.
Melanie deals with a wide range of property matters, including all types of property finance, commercial property acquisitions and sales, residential and commercial developments and acquisitions and redevelopment of buy-to-let properties. She also provides property advisory support for transactions conducted by our Corporate team and prides herself on her friendly, common-sense approach with clients.
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