Welcome to InBrief Autumn 2020

We would normally at this time of year be seeing many clients and friends of the firm at the autumn ploughing matches and various rural events but sadly these have all had to be postponed.  This year we are however delighted to be supporting the first ever virtual ploughing match, raising funds for the air ambulance charities nationally, so details of how to enter can be found on page 3.

In this edition we are focusing a number of pages on the theme Let’s get working.  Despite reports at the time of writing this of localised lockdowns and a possible national lockdown again, the broader business community here in Kent is optimistic and we are here to help you and your business embrace the new normal we find ourselves in to survive and thrive.

Commercial property is in the spotlight on pages 4 and 5.  As many people are continuing to work from home, how should you approach your commercial property requirements in the future? Our Q & A guide aims to answer your key questions on commercial leases.

The residential housing market is reported to be buoyant with people looking to escape city life and move to the country but changes to legislation regarding septic tanks need to be considered by both home buyers
and sellers.

The Government has also put the spotlight on the construction sector as a way of helping Britain build its way out of recession, so we look at some of the changes to planning rules and also land options for farmers and landowners who might be approached for future schemes on pages 8 and 9.

The charity sector is one which has been hit hard in recent months and many will be considering a range of options, so we take a look at the subject of charity mergers on page 11.

Finally, on page 12 we catch up with employment partner Amanda Finn on some of the many employment issues which continue to keep her and her clients very busy and what employers should be focussing on in the coming weeks.

Whatever your business sector we provide a range of legal services so get in touch to discuss how we can help you and your teams get fully working again.

John Roberts
Managing Partner