Views & Insights
The law evolves continuously, and one of our missions is to keep you informed about how this could affect you, particularly where it presents new opportunities or risks. Use the filters below to search for a topic, or simply enter a search term.

Marilyn Bell joins the board of the St Albans Business Improvement District (BID)
We are delighted to announce that Marilyn Bell, Partner and head of our family law team, has joined the St Albans BID Board.

Staying safe from the scammers
Both organisations and their customers can be the victims of invoice fraud. What can businesses do to protect or defend themselves?

Benefitting from menopause training
Law firms are recognising the benefits of training that raises awareness of the effects of menopause amongst staff.

Trialling the 4-day working week
70 businesses are taking part in a 4-day working week trial, for no loss of pay. What could this mean for employers, employees and customer service?

International Family Law in a Post-Pandemic World
Fingers crossed, we are now in a post-pandemic world. What does that mean and what lessons have we learned? What trends do we see? I, for one, have experienced…

The Future of Data Protection in the UK
The Queen’s speech on 10th May 2022 confirmed the Government’s intention to reform the UK’s Data Protection Legislation. This presents quite significant…

The Domestic Abuse Act and Family Law
The Domestic Abuse Act received royal assent on 29 April 2021, but what has it done for victims of domestic abuse, their children, and how such matters…

Lady Barclay’s battle
Once a couple divorces, what happens if the financial settlement remains unpaid? In the ongoing battle between the Barclays, Kiran Beeharry considers…

Is London still the divorce capital of Europe?
Brexit has changed the rules on cross-jurisdictional matters involving families and family commercial disputes

Crypto assets make divorces tougher
Increasing investment in crypto currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is bringing new challenges for divorcing couples.

Fraud Alert - Beware the Bogus Bailiff (Again)
I wrote this article in late 2018 and am revisiting it because the ‘bailiff scam’ is still a problem.An opponent called me this week to find…

Could your employees work from home abroad?
UK skills shortages and a challenging recruitment market have led some employers to consider allowing staff to work from home abroad. Could this be a…

No-fault divorce is here: legal experts share their views
In an article where legal experts share their views on the recent update to family law 'no-fault' divorce, Marilyn Bell comments about how no-fault divorce…

What is a no-fault divorce? The new laws explained: How to apply and what the new minimum wait means
Changes introduced by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 are now in effect. In an article on iNews, Marilyn Bell answers the question 'what…

The implications of voluntary liquidations post-Covid
Helen Young and Simon Walsh in SA Law's Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution department have written an article for Accountancy Today. The…

Don't ask about salary history if you want to improve the gender pay gap
The Fawcett Society has recently urged employers to stop asking about salary history, due to findings that it contributes to the gender pay gap by keeping…

M&A audit risks – implications of HP and Lynch litigation
In Britain's biggest civil fraud trial, HP wins its High Court claim against Autonomy's founder and chief executive Mike Lynch. Commercial Litigation…

No fault divorce - ending the blame game
A monumental and long-awaited development in family law takes place on 6 April 2022 – the introduction of ‘no-fault’ divorce. Hopefully this long overdue…

Why parental leave policies should be used to attract the best candidates
Personnel Today, has published an article written by SA Law's employment solicitor, Christine Caffrey, about how upgrading parental leave policies will…

Delay, disruption and disputes
Where deliveries are delayed, the most pressing question for either party is ‘can the contract be terminated’? Clare Mackay, Senior Associate in SA Law's…

How mishandling sexual harassment claims can damage a business
In an article for Reward Strategy, Vincent Billings, Corporate Partner, and Gita Patel, Employment Solicitor, spoke about how employers can tackle allegations…

Co-op shop floor workers win equal pay row
Reward Strategy has published a online article about shop floor workers at Co-op having successfully won a legal argument over securing equal pay.Beth…

SA Law sponsors 2022 Inspiring Herts Awards
Businesses of all sizes encouraged to share their success stories and enter the Inspiring Herts Awards.

Children as Social Media Influencers
Over the last decade or so, there has been an explosion of social media platforms. I remember the days when all you had was a choice of MySpace or Bebo,…

Delays, excuses, and termination of contracts
What can you do when a contract has not been performed on time? Delay can happen as the result of many factors, ranging from goods being stuck further…

Family run businesses and succession planning
Marilyn Bell (Partner and Head of Family Law team) and Simon Walsh (Partner in the Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution team)…

Thomson Reuters consultation board appointment for leading lawyer
Robert Ryall, has been appointed to the Thomson Reuters Consultation Board for Practical Law’s dispute resolution service. The appointment comes on the…

Taking a holistic approach to business and family life
In an article for SME Today, Simon Walsh (Partner in the Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution team) and Marilyn Bell (Partner…

Could parties in family proceedings face financial penalties?
Justice secretary, Dominic Raab, is looking at ways to address the issues as to how the number of family cases in the court process may be reduced…

SA Law returns as principal sponsor of the Harpenden Christmas Carnival 2021
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Hopefully this year things will feel a little more ‘normal’ compared to 2020. We are so pleased to confirm…

Viral video highlights workplace sexual harassment claims
HR publication, Reward Strategy, has published an article about a warehouse worker going viral on TikTok after documenting her experience of harassment…

What is leasehold? Everything you need to know about buying a leasehold property
In a recent article on Ideal Home online, Tamara Kelly, Digital Editor has written an article focusing on leasehold properties. The article features in-depth…

Brexit and what’s changed for expatriates in applying to the Family Courts
Head of the family department, Marilyn Bell, was invited by Today's Family Law to discuss the impact of Brexit on high-net-worth expats disputes in the…

Exceptional feedback secures rankings in UK law firms guide
A leading global research organisation, Chambers & Partners guides seek to provide buyers of legal services with the rankings, editorial and analysis…

SA Law Legal 500 results 2022
St Albans and London firm SA Law is proud to announce it has retained its top rankings in this year’s Legal 500 research. The go-to guide for those seeking…

The return of statutory demands and winding-up petitions
What are the new rules for statutory demands and winding-up petitions and what are your options if your business is on the receiving end of a demand or…

Will and probate disputes - FAQs
We have set out below some of the common issues that we are frequently asked about contested wills and contentious probate matters. Whatever your situation,…

On what grounds can I challenge the validity of a will?
There are a number of arguments that you may be able to run to challenge the validity of a will, which are mainly:The will has not been properly executed…

Making a claim against a will
Under English law, people are entitled to leave their assets to whoever they choose. However, it may be possible to bring a claim under the Inheritance…

SA Law proud sponsors of the St Albans Food and Drink Festival 2021
We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of this year’s St Albans Food and Drink Festival. The last 18 months have been a roller-coaster to say the…

Divorce, money, and children
The end of a marriage is a very difficult time for most couples, and it is not unusual for one party to seek an advantage and try to control the situation.…

Honest answers - financial settlements for separating and divorcing couples
When a couple divorces there is a difference between matrimonial assets (those acquired during the marriage) and non-matrimonial assets (which may, for…

Honest answers - children arrangements for separating and divorcing couples
When determining arrangements for children, the courts always have the best interests of the children in mind. It will consider all relevant factors,…

'I can transfer money to a trusted friend and it cannot be counted as a marital asset'
When someone is going through divorce or separation and they hear that potentially ‘all is up for grabs’, they might be forgiven for wanting to protect…

Forged will allegations in a £35m estate
Two of the factors that we often see contribute to probate disputes are the value of an estate and increasingly complex family dynamics, particularly…

'Can I stop my ex introducing the children to their new partner?'
Sadly, all too often following a separation, one party becomes quickly embroiled in a new relationship. This inevitably leads to more hurt and upset for…

Modernising lasting powers of attorney
Since their inception 36 years ago, Powers of Attorney have become increasingly popular. Created first as Enduing Powers of Attorney, then reformed to…

New Debt Respite Scheme (breathing space) – changes for debtors and creditors
A new scheme designed to encourage people with problem debt to seek advice has been launched by the Insolvency Service. The scheme, known as the Debt…

Challenging a will – delusions and mental capacity
With family structures becoming ever more complex and the size of the average estate increasing, it comes as no surprise that there has been a rise in…

We are proud to be a part of the St Albans Half Marathon 2021
Following a turbulent 15 months of uncertainty and various lockdowns, it is great to finally see the return of events! We are delighted to have been a…