Skip to main content

Insights & News

Search for Insights & News

  • Clare Reddy comments for Property Week: Industry welcomes Lords report calling for overhaul to unlock potential for offsite manufacturing

    Press

    03 August 2018

    Clare Reddy comments in an article for Property Week, which discusses offsite manufacturing and the need for clients, designers and contractors to collaborate if the innovative construction technique is to take off in UK.

  • Dougal Ainsley writes for The Planner: Lewis Silkin and the birth of the modern planning system

    Press

    27 July 2018

    In an article for The Planner, Dougal Ainsley reflects on the impact of the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act steered through Parliament by the firms founder, the planning minister Lewis Silkin.

  • Tom Merrick comments for LexisNexis: Requirement for non-reliance clause to be reasonable upheld (First Tower Trustees Ltd and anor v CDS (Superstores International) Ltd)

    Press

    26 July 2018

    Discussing the Court of Appeal decision in First Tower Trustees, Tom Merrick advises that sellers and landlords need to take extreme care in ensuring that replies to pre-contract enquiries are accurate and up to date and be alive to the potential risks in enforcing non-reliance clauses.

  • Construction Law Update – Fighting back against “Smash and Grab” Adjudications

    21 May 2018

    The case of Grove Developments Ltd v S&T (UK) Ltd (February 2018) is worthy of note, not least because it potentially provides employers with a quick means of reclaiming the loss suffered, following a “smash and grab” adjudication by starting its own adjudication on the true value.

  • Smart Cities and Renewable Energy

    14 May 2018

    In the time before smart cities, electricity by and large was generated by burning fossil fuels in relatively remote locations before being transmitted via high-voltage power lines to population centres.

  • Sarah Mogford comments for Retail Design World: Why upsizing fashion flagships is on-trend

    Press

    05 April 2018

    In an article for Retail Design World, Sarah Mogford comments on fashion retailers upsizing stores while other sectors explore smaller store formats.

  • Lewis Silkin announces Anthony Van Hoffen as real estate partner

    Press Release

    12 February 2018

    LONDON – Top 100 UK law firm Lewis Silkin LLP today announces the appointment of Anthony Van Hoffen as a partner in the firm’s Real Estate legal practice group.

  • From the pub to the court room

    19 December 2017

    It is not uncommon for commercial deals to be agreed with a handshake in an informal setting (often a bar, restaurant or other social venue). If agreed, parties usually then move the matter on to their lawyers to document the terms. But what if terms are never documented? How much reliance can be placed on commercial terms that are agreed orally?

  • New Welsh Land Transaction Tax

    02 November 2017

    From April 2018, Wales will have a new tax known as Land Transaction Tax (LTT), its own version of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). LTT mirrors much of the SDLT regime and many of the SDLT rules have been incorporated into the Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (businesses and tax practitioners have emphasised the need for consistency between SDLT and LTT), but there are differences which the Welsh Government say make the tax simpler and fairer, and improve its efficiency and effectiveness.

  • Unsafe property causes death, but still no claim allowed

    02 November 2017

    A man visits a friend at his flat, falls down the stairs of the building (which are unsafe) and is killed. You would expect his widow would be able to sue the owner of the building in respect of her loss wouldn’t you?

  • Smart Cities – what does this mean for the Property world?

    26 October 2017

    One of the trending topics in property circles at the moment is the rather confusing term ‘Smart Cities’. Whilst there is a great deal of buzz around the topic the main question is what exactly is a ‘Smart City’?

  • Autonomous Vehicles and the Built Environment

    25 September 2017

    Self-driving cars are on their way. The trailblazers (Tesla, Google, Uber) are conducting increasingly sophisticated tests in real-world conditions. The traditional car makers (General Motors, BMW) are acquiring start-ups or partnering with established tech companies to boost their capabilities. Ford recently promoted the head of its smart mobility unit to chief executive and aims to have a mass market fully autonomous car by 2021.

  • CDM 2015: Who is the Principal Designer?

    01 August 2017

    By now, everyone is familiar with The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (“Regulations”). However, there still seems to be confusion as to who should fulfil the role of the Principal Designer (“PD”).

  • Rates debate - Re-development or disrepair?

    07 July 2017

    Business rates have been big news recently following the Government’s controversial revaluation which took effect from 1 April 2017. Against the backdrop of all this negativity, the Supreme Court decision of Newbigin (Valuation Officer) v S J & J Monk [2017] at least provided some positive news for those carrying out developments or refurbishments of property.

  • Tenants still can’t assign to their guarantors

    07 July 2017

    There are often very good reasons why a lease would be assigned to a guarantor (e.g. corporate restructuring or the tenant’s insolvency). However, a case in 2016 - EMI Group Ltd v O & H Q1 Ltd - decided that such an assignment would be void at law, even if all parties agreed to it.

  • Seller/Landlord beware! You need to take care with replies to preliminary enquiries

    07 July 2017

    As part of any commercial property transaction a seller/landlord will usually be required to provide to the prospective buyer/tenant replies to a set of pre-contract enquiries (known as “preliminary enquiries”) – typically using the standard form Commercial Property Standard Enquiries (CPSEs) .

  • Ignore Japanese knotweed at your peril!

    07 July 2017

    Japanese knotweed is an invasive non-native species and is problematic because it can cause physical damage to land and buildings, particularly through spreading roots. During the summer months, it can grow up to 10 centimetres a day and roots can extend to a depth of three metres and up to seven metres laterally. The presence of knotweed can have a significant and detrimental effect on the marketability and insurability of property and may also adversely affect value.

  • Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 - The Basics

    Inbrief

    27 June 2017

    Part II of the 1954 Act is perhaps the most important legislation governing commercial premises. The provisions of Part II of the Act were substantially amended with effect from 1st June 2004 and did away with many of the tactical manoeuvres that were available under the old regime.

  • Lewis Silkin delighted to be associated with long standing client Sager House (Almeida) Limited

    Deal

    20 June 2017

    Lewis Silkin is delighted to be associated with long standing client Sager House (Almeida) Limited (a joint venture between the Sager Group of companies and US investment fund Cain Hoy) in providing legal services for the delivery of a major mixed use development of the former North London Post Sorting Office off Upper Street, Islington.

  • Clicks & bricks - keeping digital while going physical

    Press

    06 June 2017

    Julia Poulter and Tom Merrick have written an article for Essential Retail as they take a look at the challenges of omnichannel and what e-tailers should think of before turning to physical.

Back To Top