Commercial Law
16 Birthdays shops to close in Northern Ireland
17th May 2012
Clinton cards is to close 16 of the 30 Birthdays card shops in Northern Ireland, after weeks of speculation of the future of the UK stores. Around 350 of the... Read more
Northern Ireland retailers endure low business levels
14th May 2012
A new survey by Ulster Bank suggests that Northern Ireland is one of the worst regions of the UK in terms of new private sector business activity. While the rest... Read more
Record fine under new corporate manslaughter laws
8th May 2012
Northern Ireland farming company, JMW Farms Limited of County Armagh, has become the first company in the province to be convicted under new corporate manslaughter legislation, and have been hit... Read more
Bmibaby Belfast flights dropped by IAG
4th May 2012
The new owners of the Bmibaby airline, International Airlines Group (IAG) have announced that it will cease to operate all flights to and from Belfast, though reiterated their earlier commitment... Read more
Court ruling in favour of BofI debt recovery
4th May 2012
The High Court has ruled that the Bank of Ireland can recover a debt of £1.5million loaned to fund an east Belfast property development a few months before the property... Read more
Murdoch not a 'fit steward' says MP report
1st May 2012
The report containing the conclusions of the culture committee after interviewing former journalists and bosses of the News of the World delivers a strong opinion on the ability of Rupert... Read more
Assurance over Belfast to Heathrow flight route
27th April 2012
The head of the parent company of British Airways, IAG, has confirmed that they have no intention of scrapping the route from Belfast to London Heathrow. Willie Walsh said he believed... Read more
Record number of NI start-up companies in March
19th April 2012
Data analysed by Duport Associates Ltd shows that there were a record number of start-up companies formed in County Antrim and Country Fermanagh of Northern Ireland in the month of... Read more
Belfast waste firm sold for £786,000
18th April 2012
Skipway, the waste management company in west Belfast, has been sold for £786,000 after parent company O'Neill Contracts Ltd went into administration. It is not yet known who has purchased... Read more
Commercial property owners warned to get fire risk assessment
16th April 2012
Commercial property owners in Northern Ireland were warned to ensure that they carry out a sufficient fire risk assessment of their properties following the death of an 81 year old... Read more
'Tesco tax' will not cost jobs says Wilson
2nd April 2012
Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has defended criticism of the new tax on large stores in Northern Ireland, saying that it will not result in the loss of jobs. One of the... Read more
'Northern Ireland should set up enterprise zones'
2nd April 2012
The secretary of state, Owen Paterson, has encouraged the Northern Ireland executive to join the rest of the UK in setting up enterprise zones. Enterprise zones, first conceived by Margaret Thatcher's... Read more
Cuts to UK corporation tax rate accelerated
21st March 2012
The Chancellor has announced in his Budget speech that the rate of corporation tax in the UK will be drop from 26% to 24% as of next month. The rate has... Read more
Belfast businessman battles Barclays twins in court
20th March 2012
Paddy McKillen of Belfast is in the High Court trying to block what he describes as a "takeover plan" by his co-investors in Coroin, the company which owns three of... Read more
NI big business tax unfair says Sainsbury's boss
14th March 2012
Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury's, says the 'big business tax' to be levied on large retailers in Northern Ireland from 1st April is unfair. Mr King did however say he... Read more
Could Scotland independence affect NI corporation tax plans
7th March 2012
Finance Minister for Northern Ireland, Sammy Wilson, feels that Westminster concerns over Scottish independence could bar the way to a positive outcome on devolving tax powers to the Northern Ireland... Read more
Lack of flights could prejudice NI business
15th February 2012
Leading Northern Ireland businesses have been told that the lack of flight connections in and out of the country could jeopardise future trade and job opportunities. Research from Oxford Economics, culminating... Read more
Northern Ireland 'Tesco tax' begins in April
7th February 2012
The tax on large retail stores in Northern Ireland, nick-named 'Tesco tax', has passed the final stage of approval in the assembly and will take effect from 1st April this... Read more
Belfast city to get £150m revamp
1st February 2012
Belfast City Council has announced a £150million investment programme to be spent in the city with a view to elevating Belfast to a status to rival other major European capitals. The... Read more
Business Secretary Cable visits Northern Ireland
31st January 2012
In his first visit to Northern Ireland, Business Secretary Vince Cable has done a tour of a number of companies, saying that what he has seen in Belfast refutes the... Read more
No private sector growth in NI for 4 years
9th January 2012
While the rest of the UK recorded a growth in private sector business at the end of 2011, Northern Ireland saw no change in November, followed by a large decline... Read more
Gov pledge to tackle big firm tax avoidance
5th January 2012
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have both spoken of a need to tackle tax avoidance by large companies in the UK. Mr Cameron told a group of small businesses and entrepreneurs... Read more
Tax office to target small businesses
4th January 2012
Despite 2011 being full of promises from the HMRC to simplify the tax system and introduce measures that would generally allow small businesses to get on with business, it was... Read more
Proposal to extend ‘Tesco tax’ to all big NI businesses
12th December 2011
In mid-2011 Finance Minister Sammy Wilson announced a consultation on a possible rates increase for large retail stores in Northern Ireland in order to subsidise reduced rates for smaller businesses.... Read more
New stats show 2010 a bad year for NI business
9th December 2011
New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that there were more closures of businesses in Northern Ireland than there were new start-ups in 2010. There were 5,390 Northern... Read more
Ministerial meeting on corporation tax in December
30th November 2011
The first joint ministerial meeting to discuss the future of corporation tax will take place in December. Secretary of State Owen Patterson confirmed the meeting had been arranged, and will... Read more
Stormont calls for improved finance for businesses
21st November 2011
Stormont's Finance Committee is calling for improved access to finance for businesses in its regular meetings with the British Bankers' Association and representatives of the four largest banks in Northern... Read more
Comet electrical stores sold for £2
10th November 2011
Troubled electrical retail company Comet is to be sold for £2 by Kesa, though they themselves will invest £50million into the new holding company in order to guarantee employees' final... Read more
Stormont-Westminster group meeting on Corporation tax
28th October 2011
A joint Westminster and Stormont group of ministers are to meet next month for the first time to discuss devolving power to alter corporation tax to the Northern Ireland Executive.The... Read more
Osborne intervenes to save Belfast to NY flights
26th September 2011
Chancellor George Osborne has overseen negotiations on a deal to save the Belfast to New York flight route. The route operated by Continental is the only Northern Ireland flight to... Read more
No NI corporation tax cut this term
20th September 2011
Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has announced that there will be no reduction in the Northern Ireland rate of corporation tax during the current assembly term, saying that there was as... Read more
NI businesses call for US flights to be saved
15th September 2011
Northern Ireland businesses have called on the provider of the only US flight to and from Belfast to continue the route, as the airline is set to make a decision... Read more
First prosecution under new Bribery Act
1st September 2011
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that a London Magistrates' court employee is the first person to be prosecuted under the new Bribery legislation. Munir Yakub Patel was charged under Section... Read more
Financial Times skeptical on NI Corporation tax cut
25th August 2011
The debate over whether or not to grant Northern Ireland power to alter its' rate of corporation tax has been going on long enough now that just about everyone has... Read more
NI businesses optimistic for the future
23rd August 2011
While many businesses in Northern Ireland are currently facing a daily struggle for survival, most it would appear are optimistic about the future of the economy according to research carried... Read more
Nearly 2 in 10 Northern Ireland shops vacant
22nd August 2011
A new study by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has revealed that Northern Ireland is the region of the UK with the highest rate of vacancies in retail properties, with... Read more
UK firms plan more redundancies
15th August 2011
A new survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) reveals that there are more employers planning redundancies in the third quarter of this year than there are... Read more
Another NI property firm in administration
11th August 2011
Newry firm, KB developments, has joined the growing list of Northern Ireland property firms to go into administration over the last year. According to the last filed accounts of the... Read more
Interest rates remain at 0.5 per cent
4th August 2011
As widely predicted, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted in favour of maintaining interest rates at the record low of 0.5 per cent. Few economists are predicting... Read more
Cost of cutting NI corporation tax increases
21st July 2011
The debate over whether or not to cut the rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland has largely been defined by two differing views on the cost versus potential reward;... Read more
Cut NI air passenger tax to grow economy say MPs
8th July 2011
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has issued a report that recommends getting rid of air passenger duty (APD) from all flights departing from the country. It believes the move is... Read more
UK companies prepare for new bribery legislation
1st July 2011
New legislation aimed at tackling bribery in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK comes into effect today, 1st July, causing many companies to take legal advice from their... Read more
NI company directors facing 15 year disqualification
13th June 2011
Brothers Patrick and Hugh Hegarty, whose Londonderry based property company went into administration, are now facing court action that could see them disqualified from acting as company directors for up... Read more
MP not convinced on NI corporation tax cut
12th June 2011
The debate on whether or not the Northern Ireland corporation tax rate should be reduced has gathered momentum of late, with the public consultation element to be closed in two... Read more
Tax threat to banks over poor business lending
9th June 2011
The government has issued a threat to the largest lenders in the UK that they need to improve on their "disappointing" lending to businesses, or face "further action with tax... Read more
PM to visit NI to discuss corporation tax cut
8th June 2011
David Cameron will visit the Stormont Assembly in Belfast, Northern Ireland this Thursday to discuss the issue of lowering the rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister will... Read more
Committee supports NI Corporation tax cut
25th May 2011
The Westminster 'Northern Ireland Affairs' committee has voiced its support for a cut in the rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland. A reduction in the tax has been debated... Read more
Banks miss small business lending targets
24th May 2011
The major lenders operating in Britain have failed to meet their targets for lending to small and medium-sized businesses by more than £2billion. The Project Merlin deal signed in February... Read more
3 NI construction companies in administration
23rd May 2011
The survey published last week by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showed that the Northern Ireland construction sector had reached a new low. That pessimistic evaluation of the... Read more
Northern Ireland construction sector in further decline
20th May 2011
A new survey released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has confirmed that the construction sector in Northern Ireland has declined to a new low. The stagnant residential... Read more
Golf resort owners anger at bank
18th May 2011
Jim Treacy, owner of the Lough Erne Golf Resort in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, has hit out at the bank for their decision to place the five star resort into... Read more
NI 5 star hotel and golf resort in administration
12th May 2011
It has been announced that the five star Lough Erne hotel and golf resort in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, has gone into administration less, than 4 years after it was... Read more
No change to UK interest rates
5th May 2011
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has again voted to maintain interest rates at their record low of 0.5%, in a move which was widely predicted by economists... Read more
Small Claims Court increase claims limit to £3000
5th May 2011
The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service increased the financial limit on Small Claims Applications. As of 2nd May 2011 you can issue a Claim within the Small Claims Court... Read more
Belfast office block to get 10-storey extension
3rd May 2011
Kinler Properties, based in Dungannon, has announced a major extension to their Belfast city centre office block at the back of 40 Linenhall Street and development of neighbouring land. The... Read more
Sale of Quinn Insurance business confirmed
28th April 2011
The sale of Quinn Insurance company to Liberty Mutual Direct Insurance (LMDI) has been confirmed, together with an assurance that the 1,570 jobs in Northern Ireland or and the Republic... Read more
Red Sky goes into voluntary administration
21st April 2011
Following the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) decision last week to terminate contracts with maintenance company Red Sky valued at £8million, the firm has said it has had "no alternative"... Read more
Northern Ireland retailer tax criticised
15th April 2011
A proposal to impose a new tax on large retailers contained in the Northern Ireland Executive budget statement has been criticised by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) as being self-defeating. Few... Read more
NIHE terminates Red Sky maintenance contracts
14th April 2011
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has sent a termination letter to Red Sky construction company to end maintenance contracts in three months time. Red Sky is based in east Belfast,... Read more
Anti-bribery laws given July implementation date
30th March 2011
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has today confirmed that the new anti-bribery legislation, the Bribery Act, will come into force on 1st July. The bill was originally intended to be... Read more
Northern Ireland Corporation tax paper published
24th March 2011
While the mainland UK gets over its surprise of a 2% cut in Corporation tax from April this year; most had expected it to be 1%, the Northern Ireland debate... Read more
Corporation tax to be cut to 23 per cent by 2014
24th March 2011
The announcements made in the budget speech by George Osborne on Wednesday have caused many to call it a 'Budget for businesses', with the business body CBI themselves saying it... Read more
NI business activity decline slowing down
14th March 2011
The rate of decline in business levels in Northern Ireland has fallen at the slowest rate since December 2009, according to the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) published by the Ulster... Read more
Northern Ireland corporation tax cut in 2012
14th March 2011
The BBC presenter Andrew Neill has said that the Politics Show "has learned from senior treasury sources that the London government is indeed minded to grant Northern Ireland its wish"... Read more
Interest rates remain frozen despite speculation
10th March 2011
Despite mounting speculation that interest rates could be due to increase very soon, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) have opted to maintain the record low rate of... Read more
Firms told to double number of women in boardroom
24th February 2011
A new report by Lord Davies has warned firms to double the number of women on their boards by 2015, or otherwise face possible government measures. He has urged FTSE 350... Read more
Most UK companies confused by tax system
24th February 2011
A new report by the accountancy organisation BDO has revealed that almost two thirds of companies in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK say they are so confused... Read more
Inflation rate rises to 4 per cent
15th February 2011
January saw the UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual inflation rate increase to 4%, adding more pressure on the Bank of England to withdraw from their policy of keeping interest... Read more
Northern Ireland firms struggling for survival
14th February 2011
The latest purchasing managers index (PMI) published by Ulster Bank shows that business activity in Northern Ireland dropped by a "substantial" amount, and is the only region of the UK... Read more
Banks make business lending pledge in Project Merlin
9th February 2011
The government has announced that the UK's largest banks have signed an agreement called Project Merlin that contains commitments on lending, bonuses and transparency. In the agreement, the lenders commit to... Read more
Draft treasury paper favours NI corporation tax cut
8th February 2011
A draft government paper obtained by the BBC seemingly comes out in favour of the much debated cut in the rate of Northern Ireland corporation tax, suggesting that it could... Read more
Failed property developers serve writ on bank
7th February 2011
Michael and John Taggart, the two brothers behind one of the biggest property companies in Northern Ireland to go into administration in the aftermath of the recession, have turned the... Read more
Failed property company's site dropped 90% in value
2nd February 2011
County Down property company, Olympus Development and Investments, bought a nine acre development site in County Roscommon with a Bank of Ireland loan of £732,000, and the administrator has now... Read more
Interest rates stay at 0.5 per cent
13th January 2011
As expected, interest rates in the UK have been kept at 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. There was also no announcements of plans... Read more
Paterson says corporation tax cut could help NI
12th January 2011
Secretary of State Owen Paterson has joined the debate about the potential benefits of a cut in corporation tax in Northern Ireland, saying that reducing the rate to make it... Read more
Osborne says VAT rise tough but necessary
4th January 2011
Chancellor George Osborne has described the rise in the top rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20% as "tough but necessary" for the good of the UK economy. The increase is... Read more
Retailers says VAT increase will hurt NI economy
4th January 2011
The NI Independent Retail Trade Association (NIRTA) has said that the increase of VAT from 17.5% to 20% will hinder the recovery of the Northern Ireland economy and will result... Read more
NI firm managers banned from being company directors
16th December 2010
Three former managers of Co Down tile firm, Eurotile Marketing limited, have been banned by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) from acting as company directors as a... Read more
Finance Minister meets banks to improve lending
13th December 2010
Finance Minister for Northern Ireland Sammy Wilson has met with local banks and the Institute of Directors to discuss improving lending to businesses and customer relationships in general. Representatives from... Read more
Corporation tax cut 'totally unattractive'
9th December 2010
The momentum for a cut in the Northern Ireland corporation tax rate took a large blow when Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, told MPs that such a move could mean... Read more
Snow costs business £1.2billion a day
9th December 2010
The cost of disruption to businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as a result of the severe winter weather has been estimated at £1.2billion a day... Read more
Corporation tax cut would cost NI £300m
30th November 2010
Leading tax expert, Richard Murphy of Tax Research UK, has slammed calls from Northern Ireland business leaders for a corporation tax cut, saying it would cost the country £300m from... Read more
NI Corporation tax rate cut for SMEs only
26th November 2010
A proposal limiting any reduced rate of corporation tax in Northern Ireland to small to medium sized businesses only has been published by the Ulster Unionist Party. The document proposes... Read more
Northern Ireland construction sector decline continues
19th November 2010
The Construction Market Survey released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows that construction activity in Northern Ireland experienced a substantial drop in the third quarter of this year,... Read more
Banks deny they aren't lending to NI businesses
18th November 2010
The executive director of retail lending of the British Bankers' Association (BBA), Eric Leenders, has denied claims that banks are not lending to businesses in Northern Ireland during his appearance... Read more
Small businesses told to get ready for VAT increase
16th November 2010
The 2.5% VAT increase due to come into force in January is predicted by insolvency practitioners to pose a significant problem for small businesses, many of whom have yet to... Read more
Northern Ireland recession to end in 12 months
12th November 2010
A new report on the economies of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by accountancy firm Ernst and Young suggests that the economy north of the border will rise... Read more
Commercial property development to decline further
10th November 2010
A survey by property consultant Savills has shown that commercial property development activity declined in October for the third month in a row. Public sector activity decreased significantly for the... Read more
Half of winding petitions issued by HMRC
9th November 2010
Over half of all winding petitions in 2009/2010 were issued by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) as approximately 6,400 companies struggled to make payment on their tax bill. The number... Read more
NI business decline runs into 35th month
8th November 2010
After 34 months of a downward trend in business activity in Northern Ireland, there will be little surprise at the Ulster Banks release of its Purchasing managers' index (PMI) for... Read more
Coca-Cola threatens legal action over Restaurant sign
5th November 2010
A UK restaurant owner has received a threat of legal action from soft drink giant Coca-Cola over a supposed copyright breach involving the sign that hangs outside the restaurant. Owner... Read more
Time up on HMRC's Time to Pay for businesses
1st November 2010
The number of refusals of requests by businesses to defer tax payments under the 'Time to Pay' scheme (BPSS) by HMRC has nearly doubled in 2010, and other figures suggest... Read more
Government backs compulsory company pensions
27th October 2010
The government has agreed to the principle of automatic enrolment of employees in company pension schemes that was created in the 2008 Pensions Act. As such, from September 2016 all... Read more
Cameron vows to improve bank lending to business
26th October 2010
David Cameron has announced his intent to use government influence to make the banking sector "focus on small business lending ... rather than the banks thinking how [they] can become... Read more
Four NI firms in administration on same day
25th October 2010
Four Northern Ireland companies went into administration on the same day last week, with fears that 80 jobs could be lost as a result. The news will come as a... Read more
Fears of NI construction decline as result of cuts
21st October 2010
The announcement on Wednesday that the Northern Ireland executive's capital spending budget would be reduced by 40% has led to fears that the construction sector could suffer even more than... Read more
Big business supports government spending cuts
18th October 2010
A letter has been sent by 35 of the largest companies in the UK to the Daily Telegraph to convey their public support for the proposed government spending cuts ahead... Read more
Banks propose £1.5bn fund for small businesses
14th October 2010
UK Banks have reacted to continued government criticism of their seemingly unwillingness to lend to small businesses by proposing the creation of a £1.5billion fund for investment in small businesses. The... Read more
Unions question lowering NI corporation tax
13th October 2010
A report commissioned by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Trade Union Congress, and written by director of Tax Research Richard Murphy, questions the calls from various sectors... Read more
Northern Ireland economy still in decline
11th October 2010
The latest Ulster Bank report on the economy in Northern Ireland has shown that the previous downturn has not abated and continued into September, despite the rest of the UK... Read more
UK business confidence at recession-level low
11th October 2010
The Business Trends optimism index produced by BDO shows a fall to 91.6 in September compared to 93.1 in August, and means that confidence among UK businesses has fallen to... Read more
NI needs to grow private sector says Nick Clegg
8th October 2010
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has pledged to re-examine the spending cuts proposed in Northern Ireland after talks with the first and deputy first ministers this week. He said he... Read more
Chancellor vows to make UK best for business
7th October 2010
In a week of announcements about benefit cuts and other tough moves designed to reduce the deficit, the Chancellor was careful to stress that the government was not just about... Read more
£1.8m tax bill for 19 years of empty offices
30th September 2010
A new report by the Stormont Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that taxpayers have had to foot a £1.8million bill for rental of offices in Campsie Northern Ireland that... Read more
Failed NI company gets mortgage 10 days before collapse
29th September 2010
In a lending climate where private individuals and viable business owners alike are complaining about a shortage of credit and reluctance from banks to lend, one Northern Ireland company, McDaid... Read more
Failed NI company gets mortgage 10 days before collapse
29th September 2010
In a lending climate where private individuals and viable business owners alike are complaining about a shortage of credit and reluctance from banks to lend, one Northern Ireland company, McDaid... Read more
Bank bricked up in protest over lack of credit
27th September 2010
Developer, Cameron Hope, and a number of other protesters bricked up the front entrance to the Dorset branch of Barclays bank in protest at the reluctance to lend to small... Read more
Bank bricked up in protest over lack of credit
27th September 2010
Developer, Cameron Hope, and a number of other protesters bricked up the front entrance to the Dorset branch of Barclays bank in protest at the reluctance to lend to small... Read more
Business Secretary vows review on corporate behaviour
23rd September 2010
In a much criticised speech attacking rampant capitalism Business Secretary Vince Cable announced plans to review company governance and takeovers. The speech was made at the Liberal Democrat party's conference... Read more
Business Secretary vows review on corporate behaviour
23rd September 2010
In a much criticised speech attacking rampant capitalism Business Secretary Vince Cable announced plans to review company governance and takeovers. The speech was made at the Liberal Democrat party's conference... Read more
NI businesses call for public sector pay freeze
22nd September 2010
A proposal by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) calls for the cuts to public sector jobs as well as an introduction of a pay-freeze and a revision of pension... Read more
NI businesses call for public sector pay freeze
22nd September 2010
A proposal by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) calls for the cuts to public sector jobs as well as an introduction of a pay-freeze and a revision of pension... Read more
NI property company owes £2.2m to bank
15th September 2010
When administrators were appointed last year property company Hanna Quality Homes Limited owed £3.4million to the Ulster Bank. A sale of assets, including land and properties in the Portrush and... Read more
Northern Ireland sees falling levels of trade
13th September 2010
A survey by Ulster Bank has shown that Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK with declining business activity levels. A 33rd consecutive month of decline in new... Read more
Royal mail to be floated or sold
10th September 2010
Businessman Richard Hooper's advice to Business Secretary Vince Cable is that the Royal Mail will only survive with an introduction of cash and expertise from the private sector, prompting the... Read more
Small businesses fear insolvency over public sector cuts
10th September 2010
Almost 10% of small businesses, approximately 148,000 companies, in the UK say they could be forced into insolvency if they lose their contracts from the public sector, according to R3.... Read more
Planning permission granted for Strabane business park
7th September 2010
Planning permission has been granted to Invest Northern Ireland to build a business park in Strabane, though they do not yet own the land. The plans to build a new... Read more
Ryanair withdrawal puts Planning Service in spotlight
1st September 2010
The Planning Service of Northern Ireland has been brought into the spotlight once again as a result of Ryanair withdrawing services from Belfast City airport; the main reason being given... Read more
100,000 pound price tag for 'Tyrone Crystal' name
31st August 2010
Tyrone Crystal Giftware Ltd went into administration in March of this year, but still had interest from three companies who wanted to purchase the 'Tyrone Crystal' name. It is expected... Read more
Ryanair to cease services from Belfast City Airport
31st August 2010
Ryanair has announced that it will no longer provide services from Belfast City Airport, effective from the end of October. The decision was said to have been made after continued... Read more
Business insolvency rate drops in July
24th August 2010
Figures published by Experian have revealed that the rate of insolvencies among businesses in the UK dropped in the month of July, with a particularly sharp drop among small to... Read more
Small firms in UK feel betrayed by banks
23rd August 2010
Small companies throughout the UK are accusing their banks of failing them when hard times set in, with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) receiving 496 complaints from businesses about their... Read more
£15m economic development project planned for Belfast
19th August 2010
A new £15million economic development project is to be built in West Belfast with joint funding by the Department for Employment and Learning, Belfast Metropolitan College, and the International Fund... Read more
Northern Ireland supermarkets' anti-competition deadline
17th August 2010
Eight of the big name supermarkets in Northern Ireland have been given a five year deadline to terminate anti-competition agreements with landowners that stop rivals from planting a store in... Read more
Northern Ireland Corporation tax to be reviewed
30th July 2010
A group of MPs called the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will review the current level of Corporation tax in the province to consider if it should be altered to something... Read more
Record number of new businesses expected this year
29th July 2010
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has predicted a boom in the number of people becoming self-employed in the next year, expecting a record number of 300,000 new small businesses... Read more
Public sector cutbacks to increase Business insolvencies
29th July 2010
Credit professionals are predicting that the massive cutbacks to be made to the public sector will increase the number of business insolvencies by 10-20% over the next 12 months. The research... Read more
Banks threatened with penalties to improve loans to SMEs
29th July 2010
Business Secretary Vince Cable has issued a warning to banks that penalties may be imposed if they continue to fail to provide loans to good businesses. Cable's business department, along with... Read more
Northern Ireland start-up firm aids hedge-fund success
23rd July 2010
Software designed by a Northern Ireland start-up company, Rantec Research, has helped a $100million Swiss-based hedge fund to success, while many major global funds elsewhere were suffering losses. The software 'EA1'... Read more
Government cuts could sink construction sector
9th July 2010
A new report by insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor has said that the number of construction companies in the UK that are experiencing financial trouble is at an historically high level,... Read more
Northern Ireland Corporation tax rate 'drives business south'
1st July 2010
In the past five years, 21 companies that were in talks with Invest NI about setting up in Northern Ireland subsequently decided to go south of the border to the... Read more
?5.2million investment for Kilkeel plane seat firm
28th June 2010
Thompson Aero Seating Ltd is a small company located in Kilkeel, but is fast becoming the leading innovators of aeroplane seat design, increasing the credibility and reputation of Northern Ireland's... Read more
4 out of 5 directors support Budget measures
24th June 2010
A poll published by the Institute of Directors has revealed that four out of five directors support the tough measures announced in the Chancellors budget speech earlier this week. Of the... Read more
VAT hike to 20% is a "major mistake"
23rd June 2010
Glyn Roberts of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) says that the budget speech announcement of a VAT increase to 20% is a "major mistake". The NIIRTA represents... Read more
How the budget effects Northern Ireland
22nd June 2010
Chancellor George Osborne's first budget speech was certainly one of the most dynamic and surprising that there has been for some time; full of spending cuts and tax increases. While the... Read more
Murdoch's BSkyB takeover bid rebuffed
15th June 2010
BSkyB, the British satellite broadcaster, have rebuffed Rupert Murdoch's attempt to take full control of the company according to his News Corporation. News Corporation already owns 29.1% of BSkyB and... Read more
'Northern Ireland needs 12.5% corporation tax'
15th June 2010
Irish media mogul Gavin O'Reilly believes Northern Ireland needs to reduce its corporation tax to 12.5% in order to see the same growth and prosperity as the Republic of Ireland. O'Reilly,... Read more
Businesses in NI to have say in town development
11th June 2010
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has announced that new legislation will be introduced to give businesses greater involvement in the development of town centres in Northern Ireland, so that they... Read more
Corporate Tax Cut to be staggered over 5 years
11th June 2010
Commercial Secretary of the Treasury, Lord Sassoon, has announced that the Government plans to reform corporation tax over a five year period as opposed to a single swift cut of... Read more
UK Business to lose ?1billion to World Cup distraction
9th June 2010
A survey conducted by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has revealed that business in Northern Ireland the rest of UK could lose up to £1billion in production due as a... Read more
Record FSA fine for JP Morgan
4th June 2010
JP Morgan Securities has been fined a record £33.32million by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for not protecting its clients' money by keeping it in separate accounts; which would safeguard... Read more
New UK Corporate Governance Code published
1st June 2010
The new UK Corporate Governance Code has been revealed and contains changes “designed to reinforce board quality and focus on risk and accountability to shareholders” according to Baroness Hogg, chairman... Read more
Kraft factory closure u-turn breached takeover code
27th May 2010
Kraft has been censured by the Takeover Panel for breaching the Takeover code in its recent acquisition of Cadbury. Kraft had promised to keep the Somerdale factory near Bristol opened... Read more
Multi-million revamp of Belfast city centre on hold
25th May 2010
Concerns over the regeneration budget have resulted in the Department of Social Development announcing that the multi-million pound redevelopment scheme for Belfast City centre has been put on hold. The scheme,... Read more
Business and Children lose out as Gov announces spending cuts
24th May 2010
George Osborne has today announced £6.2billion worth of spending cuts and has warned that there is much more to come. The cuts are being made to make a direct impact on... Read more
High Court overturns injunction blocking BA strike
20th May 2010
The victory last week for British Airways in successfully obtaining an injunction blocking strike action has proved to be short lived as the Court of Appeal has since overturned the... Read more
High Court stops British Airways strike
18th May 2010
The British Airlines strike saga took another twist yesterday as the High Court ruled that the cabin crew strike planned to start today was illegal. The judge upheld the airlines case... Read more
More BA strikes concern Business owners
13th May 2010
Business owners in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are expressing concern about the new wave of BA strikes planned for this month and early June. While there... Read more
987 new companies formed in N.I. in 1st Quarter 2010
7th May 2010
ICC formations, have released new figures on the number of company formations in Northern Ireland in the first quarter of 2010. While the numbers may be down against the same... Read more
Northern Ireland businesses count cost of ash cloud
6th May 2010
Businesses in Northern Ireland have been warned by the tourism sector that the country is likely to suffer from the ongoing volcanic ash clouds in terms of the number of... Read more
Volcanic ash costs Ryanair ?35million in compensation
23rd April 2010
Michael O'Leary, boss of Ryanair, had initially indicated that he would play hardball and reject any compensation claims presented to Ryanair by stranded customers in the wake of the volcanic... Read more
Northern Ireland businesses least confident in the UK
19th April 2010
The latest regional trends survey released by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) shows that businesses in Northern Ireland are among the lease confident in the UK. It also painted a bleak picture of the... Read more
Administrators close doors at Laser Electrical
9th April 2010
Laser Electrical, the largest locally owned electrical retailer in Northern Ireland, has had the doors closed in its 10 stores throughout the country as administrators failed to find a buyer.... Read more
Small businesses still struggling to get loans
8th April 2010
Despite growing political pressure on banks to lend more money to small businesses, the latest survey from the Bank of England suggests Lenders proved tight handed with loans to businesses... Read more
UK businesses fear insolvency in event of double dip recession
26th March 2010
The insolvency trade body R3 has released figures after research looking at small business owners confidence in their financial stability. The research shows that many small businesses have been worn down... Read more
New credit adjudicator role to improve lending to businesses
25th March 2010
Small businesses in the UK had much to be thankful for in Alistair Darlings pre-election Budget; an extension to the 'time to pay' tax scheme, a £2.5billion package to boost... Read more
Report reveals biggest challenges to business in N.I
23rd March 2010
The InterTradeIreland Quarterly Business Monitor survey has revealed that companies in Northern Ireland are pessimistic about their profits for the near future, though most do anticipate growth in the economy... Read more
Need for confidence boost in 'pre-packaged' administration process
19th March 2010
Ian Lucas, Business Minister, today responded to a report from the Insolvency Service which said that rules designed to build confidence in 'pre-packs' were not being complied with by insolvency... Read more
Northern Ireland businesses benefit from HMRC tax rescheduling scheme
4th March 2010
Just over 7,000 businesses in Northern Ireland have been given assistance to weather the financial storm by relying on the HM Revenue & Customs' tax payment rescheduling scheme, otherwise known... Read more
NI businesses set for carbon reduction initiative
3rd March 2010
Many businesses based in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK will soon be encouraged to cut the amount of carbon they produce, as part of an initiative backed... Read more
NI firms encouraged to realise 2012 opportunities
24th February 2010
Firms based in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to look at how they might be able to benefit from the work that is being offered by the London 2012 Olympic... Read more
UK businesses winning the fight for survival
22nd February 2010
Businesses in the UK are seemingly winning the fight for survival according to a report issued by Equifax, the Business information provider. The number of business failures in January decreased... Read more
'Horrific' drop in loans to business
19th February 2010
Concerns about the state of the economy deepened with the news that Lending by banks to business fell last year for the first time since records began. The Liberal Democrats... Read more
Finger amputation leads to GBP 10,000 fine
12th February 2010
The amputation of an employee's finger in Dudley has led to a manufacturer being fined GBP 10,000, companies looking at solicitors in Belfast may be interested to discover.M&M Windows Ltd,... Read more
Kraft do U-turn on pledge not to close Cadbury plant
10th February 2010
Kraft foods have confirmed that the Cadbury Somerdale factory near Bristol is to close by 2011, with 400 jobs to be lost. The news will increase widespread fears that the... Read more
BSkyB to sell 10.4 percent ITV stake to end long-running legal battle
8th February 2010
U.K. Pay-TV group British Sky Broadcasting PLC (BSkyB) has confirmed that it is bowing out of its long-running attempt to keep a 17.9% stake in broadcaster ITV PLC (ITV.LN) which... Read more
Record number of people declared insolvent in 2009
5th February 2010
Figures released by the Insolvency Service show that a record number of people in England and Wales were declared insolvent during 2009. 134,142 people went bankrupt, sought debt relief, or... Read more
Equality Bill 'needed to improve wages of female workers'
3rd February 2010
The government's Equality Bill offers an important opportunity to improve the standards of pay among the UK's female workers, according to one expert.Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union... Read more
Kraft takes control of Cadbury
3rd February 2010
The American food group Kraft were finally able to confirm yesterday that they had secured 71.73% of Cadbury shares, giving it control over the 189 year old British chocolate making... Read more
UK economy officially out of recession
26th January 2010
Despite a weaker than expected growth in the UK economy over the last quarter of 2009, the 0.1% increase was sufficient to lift the economy out of recession after 6... Read more
Financial distress to increase for businesses during recession
19th January 2010
Begbies Traynor, have today released their latest Red Flag alert which is a monitor of early warning signs of company distress, and will make for uncomfortable reading among UK business... Read more
FSB calls for solution to adverse weather as UK economy loses ?600m a day
14th January 2010
The recent bad weather is estimated to have cost the UK economy approximately £600million a day because of forced closures of businesses, lack of consumers on the street, many staff... Read more
Employment minister concern of losing money to help N.I. businesses
16th December 2009
Sir Reg Empey has voiced his concerns that less money will be made available to help Northern Ireland businesses as a result of the need to cut as much as... Read more
Chancellor accused of giving to small businesses and then taking back
10th December 2009
The Federation of Small Businesses in Britain has accused Chancellor Alistair Darling of 'giving with one hand and taking away with the other' by deferring the increase in corporation tax... Read more
New service launched by Wilson Nesbitt a first for Northern Ireland
1st December 2009
In a first for Northern Ireland, Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors of Belfast have launched their new business law guide and document builder website. People visiting www.wilsonnesbittonline.co.uk will have free access to... Read more
Northern Ireland economy recovering slower than rest of UK
1st December 2009
Recent emerging reports have suggested that the Northern Ireland economy will take longer to recover than the rest of the UK, with the First Trust Bank's December economic and business... Read more
Northern Ireland 'set to emerge from recession'
14th September 2009
Businesses in Northern Ireland could emerge from the economic strain of the recession very soon, a new study has revealed. According to Ulster Bank's latest Purchase Managers Index survey, over... Read more
UK business confidence 'on the rise'
9th September 2009
Businesses across the UK are becoming increasingly confident about their future, new figures have revealed.The study by Lloyds TSB found that firms are now more confident than at any time... Read more
Talk of green shoots 'exaggerated'
8th September 2009
Talk of green shoots in the UK economy have been exaggerated, according to one expert who has suggested 'boom conditions' will not be seen for several years.According to Michael Baxter,... Read more
NI businesses 'lead way on green issues'
2nd September 2009
Small businesses from across Northern Ireland have boosted their environmental credentials in recent months, new research has suggested.The study by NetRegs.gov.uk found that the number of firms attempting to improve... Read more
NI firms 'in better position than southern rivals'
14th August 2009
Companies in Northern Ireland are currently in a better position than their counterparts over the border, a new study has suggested.According to the research by InterTradeIreland, 72 per cent of... Read more
Credit availability 'improving for businesses'
11th August 2009
New research has suggested that firms across the UK and Northern Ireland are finding it easier to obtain credit for the first time this year.The study by the Confederation of... Read more
FSB takes local trade campaign to Downing Street
13th July 2009
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has handed over a petition calling for more support for local firms to Downing Street, it has been revealed.As part of its Keep Trade... Read more
Belfast property deal close, developer says
3rd July 2009
A deal to buy the former Stinson Seafood property in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is close, it has been reported.Village Soup reports that developer Arthur House has almost sealed a deal... Read more
Outlook improving for SMEs
1st July 2009
New research has revealed that small businesses in the UK and Northern Ireland are slowly beginning to recover from the effects of the economic downturn.The study by the Federation of... Read more
Outlook improving for SMEs
1st July 2009
New research has revealed that small businesses in the UK and Northern Ireland are slowly beginning to recover from the effects of the economic downturn.The study by the Federation of... Read more
Take advantage of low rates to repay more
4th June 2009
Businesses and people in Northern Ireland can continue enjoying the historically low interest rates following the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee's decision to leave the official borrowing rate at... Read more
Take advantage of low rates to repay more
4th June 2009
Businesses and people in Northern Ireland can continue enjoying the historically low interest rates following the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee's decision to leave the official borrowing rate at... Read more
Credit crunch easing grip on businesses, CBI says
2nd June 2009
Businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are beginning to feel less pressure from the downturn, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has stated... Read more
Credit crunch easing grip on businesses, CBI says
2nd June 2009
Businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are beginning to feel less pressure from the downturn, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has stated... Read more
HSE announces health and safety changes
9th April 2009
Businesses and solicitors in Northern Ireland may want to take note of new changes that have been introduced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in a bid to reduce... Read more
HSE announces health and safety changes
9th April 2009
Businesses and solicitors in Northern Ireland may want to take note of new changes that have been introduced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in a bid to reduce... Read more
Hope for building industry as affordability increases
5th March 2009
There may be a glimmer of hope for Northern Ireland businesses involved in the house building sector as property affordability continues to improve for people across the country.Jobs have been... Read more
Business investment to 'really suffer'
4th March 2009
Business investment in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is declining and is one of the areas that will "really suffer", according to the Centre for Economics and... Read more
Government urged to review planning law
26th February 2009
Construction jobs in Northern Ireland can be protected and firms helped to survive the downturn if the government extends planning permissions that are about to expire, it has been argued.The... Read more
Private rented sector needs more government intervention
20th February 2009
Commercial property investors in Northern Ireland with rental properties and individuals operating in the buy-to-let sector need more government measures if the sector is to stay afloat, it has been... Read more
Repossessions and liquidations set to rise in 2009
19th February 2009
Demand for the services of solicitors in Belfast and the rest of the UK is likely to rise in coming months as a potential rise in repossessions, liquidations and unemployment... Read more
NI homeowners get 'breathing space' due to SVR reduction
12th February 2009
Lenders have reduced their standard variable rates (SVR) thereby giving some "breathing space" to homeowners in Northern Ireland (NI) and the rest of the UK, it has been argued.According to... Read more
Credit crunch 'to worsen' in next three months
9th February 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may want to brace themselves for more demand for their services following revelations that the credit crunch is set to worsen over the next three months.The... Read more
NatWest and RBS to provide funds for businesses
6th February 2009
NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have come to the rescue of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland by announcing that they will provide an additional... Read more
Seek advice before indulging in property raffles
3rd February 2009
First-time buyers in Northern Ireland wishing to take advantage of property raffles to get bargains on properties being sold by desperate sellers are advised to seek the opinion of their... Read more
Government move to benefit house builders
20th January 2009
Construction firms in Northern Ireland stand to benefit from the credit guarantee scheme announced by the government this week, especially if the move is backed by more measures to rekindle... Read more
Property auctions 'a great place to buy'
19th January 2009
Property investors with a deposit and mortgage in place can get themselves good bargains if they take advantage of property auctions, though it may be advisable to seek the opinions... Read more
Solicitors important when buying property
16th January 2009
Enlisting the services of a solicitor is vital for anyone wishing to purchase property in Northern Ireland and even more important when buying in a foreign land, an expert has... Read more
Further rate cuts 'may not benefit the economy'
13th January 2009
The government has been called upon to adopt other measures to prevent the property market from sliding into further decline as house prices continue to tumble across the country.According to... Read more
NI businesses show low confidence for economy
5th January 2009
Redundancy fears have been raised in Northern Ireland by new data, which shows that the credit crunch is tightening its hold on the province and one in four employers may... Read more
Rent protection insurance recommended for buy-to-lets
5th January 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland with clients in the buy-to-let sector may want to advise them to "really consider" taking out rent protection insurance, which is vital in the current environment.According... Read more
FSA descends on NI mortgage broker
10th December 2008
In news that may be of interest to solicitors in Belfast, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has frozen the assets of a Northern Ireland-based mortgage broker.This follows the discovery by... Read more
Business confidence continues to 'break survey records'
17th November 2008
Businesses in Northern Ireland may be consulting their solicitors about future prospects following revelations that business confidence in the UK hit a new low in October.According to the latest Lloyds... Read more
Manufacturing firms raise red flag
3rd November 2008
Some manufacturing firms in Northern Ireland have reportedly been forced to get rid of almost a third of their workforce in a bid to survive the ongoing financial instability, reports... Read more
Half a million businesses threatened
31st October 2008
The credit crunch continues to wreak havoc across the nation and approximately 470,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are now in a position of no longer being able to... Read more
Troubled businesses on the rise as crunch bites
20th October 2008
New figures have revealed that the number of troubled British businesses has risen significantly since the beginning of the year, as a result of the financial turmoil.According to data from... Read more
Economists warn of recession in the UK
20th October 2008
In news that may be of interest to solicitors in Northern Ireland, many businesses across the nation are in for a rough time as the UK economy is said to... Read more
Charter airline ceases operations
9th September 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may be interested to hear that tour operators in the country have made moves to find new flights for people affected by the cessation of trading... Read more
First legal advice phone line introduced in Ireland
14th August 2008
Ireland's first legal advice phone service has been launched in Dublin.The new service will be available in Eire and Northern Ireland and will provide legal advice from qualified solicitors. Legal... Read more
Legal concerns over religious symbols at school
31st July 2008
Concerns are being raised that religious symbols will increasingly be the subject of high profile court cases in Ireland and the UK. A number instances of legal battles over the... Read more
Good planning 'essential in avoiding commercial disputes'
1st July 2008
Drawing up clear contracts is essential to avoid commercial disputes in the technology industry, according to a contract lawyer.Writing in the Yorkshire Post, Andrew Dyson said that both parties in... Read more
Cross-border e-commerce set to improve
20th June 2008
The EU's consumer commissioner has proposed new regulation which would make it easier for businesses to operate online across the borders of member states.While around 150 million EU citizens purchase... Read more
UBM moves to 'more favourable Irish tax regime'
29th April 2008
Global business media company United Business Media (UBM) has said it plans to move its tax base to Ireland in order to make the most of the more favourable tax... Read more
'Too much red tape for NI family businesses'
25th April 2008
Some seven in ten of Northern Ireland's family business owners want the government to reduce red tape and tax burdens on their firms, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).The Derry Journal reports... Read more
Hazard industries 'must tackle safety'
21st February 2008
Solicitors could be called in if major hazard businesses in Belfast and Northern Ireland do not tighten up safety measures to reduce the risk of accidents.The Health & Safety Executive... Read more
Bridging loans 'aid quick property purchase'
21st February 2008
If homebuyers in Belfast and Northern Ireland whose finances are stretched were to take out a bridging loan, it could mean less people being pursued by solicitors for debt.However, bridging... Read more
IHT 'generous' to small businesses
18th February 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are often asked to write up wills for small business owners indicating that the family firm will be left to another member.As solicitors will... Read more
Media mogul in tax cut plea
7th February 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland will be awaiting the response to a fresh plea to cut corporation tax in the province.As solicitors will know, corporation tax currently stands at... Read more
Fine increased for negligent nightclub
6th February 2008
Solicitors for Belfast City Council have ensured that a nightclub which was negligent about Northern Ireland's safety laws has been duly penalised. Originally solicitors managed to convince a Northern Ireland... Read more
Landlords 'put off selling by logistics'
4th February 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are unlikely to see landlords selling their property despite a slowdown in the housing market, experts have claimed.According to PropertyHawk website, solicitors in Belfast... Read more
Minister admits to contractor slur
31st January 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland have secured damages for a contractor after SDLP minister Thomas Burns admitted he had libelled the firm.Not only did solicitors win damages for Eastwood, but also... Read more
Jury members 'are not peasants'
25th January 2008
A solicitor has spoken out for all of the profession in Belfast and Northern Ireland by voicing concerns that juries are sometimes treated like idiots.In Belfast's Court of Appeal a... Read more
'No panic' over commercial property slump
23rd January 2008
Accountants and solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may have seen investors in commercial property funds trying to withdraw their money, but experts warn against panic selling.While solicitors in Belfast... Read more
Nipsa probes government settlement
23rd January 2008
While solicitors in Northern Ireland have resolved a government court case, trade union Nipsa is angry that there has not been more transparency about the settlement. The Department of Finance... Read more
Freedom of the press challenged
21st January 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland and the rest of the western world will be paying close attention to an appeal case which could have massive implications on the freedom of the... Read more
CLA offers £100k for copyright whistleblowers
18th January 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may see more clients concerned about licensing and copyright infringements after the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) has offered those who inform on people breaching... Read more
£8m estate up for sale
18th January 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland will have to wait to find out who the buyers of an historic Ulster estate are, as it goes up for sale this week - but... Read more
Sainsbury's in Curley's takeover
17th January 2008
Northern Ireland solicitors have helped Sainsbury's take over part of Belfast-based Curley's in a multi-million pound deal between the two supermarkets. The Kennedy family, which founded what is now the... Read more
Stability the hallmark of New Year property
4th January 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland will be likely to see more first-time buyers as well as commercial property investors securing their dream deal, as experts claim that prices in 2008's market... Read more
NI sees more businesses collapse
3rd January 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland have had to help more companies go into liquidation or collapse last year, according to a new report.A study by Experian found that 25.4 per cent... Read more
Tougher penalties for bad employers
19th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland should see fewer claims from employees after a new employment bill has been published to ensure bosses are fairer.Even if businesses do exploit or... Read more
Belfast professionals attract landlords
13th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may be surprised to note a drop off in young professionals buying homes as the state of the housing market forces many to rent.While... Read more
Businesses 'should document everything' to avoid claims
12th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may be able to defend more businesses against professional negligence claims if only firms documented all the advice they give.Northern Ireland solicitors are best... Read more
Commercial mortgage 'not only option'
6th December 2007
Small businesses buying a commercial property in Northern Ireland should visit their solicitors for advice on funding, as a commercial mortgage is not the only answer, experts have claimed.Northern Ireland... Read more
Half of firms miss tax deadlines
5th December 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland will have to ensure that clients adhere to tax deadlines, after a report by the Public Accounts Committee (Pac) revealed that only 60 per cent of... Read more
NI suits Trump to a tee
4th December 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland could be securing a commercial property deal for tycoon Donald Trump after he suggested he might want to build a golf resort in the province.So far... Read more
PM not backtracking on NI tax
4th December 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland will have to continue to advise businesses over their tax obligations after the prime minister suggested the government would not change its mind with regard to... Read more
Chancellor urged over capital gains tax plans
30th November 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may face having to tell small businesses that they will have to pay more capital gains tax after if Alistair Darling's proposals are made law.MP Lady... Read more
Intellectual property difficult for SMEs
29th November 2007
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland may have to visit solicitors more often than larger firms for getting into bother over intellectual property.People setting up a small... Read more
South Belfast 'saturated' with HMOs
27th November 2007
Solicitors dealing with house purchasers in south Belfast are more likely to be dealing with commercial landlords than people buying to get onto the property ladder after it has been... Read more
Belfast development wins award
23rd November 2007
Solicitors in Belfast may find the happiest homebuyers in the city in those who have invested in Malone Square.Northern Ireland development and construction firm, the McGinnis Group, has won the... Read more
Subbies owed thousands by haulage firm
23rd November 2007
Northern Ireland solicitors may see an increasing number of sub-contractors coming to them for legal advice after Reid Transport has gone into administration, owing them tens of thousands of pounds.The... Read more
Event planner deeply in debt
22nd November 2007
Solicitors could become involved in the affairs of the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) after the company revealed it has debts of around £1 million.Only a week after organising Rally... Read more
Buy-to-let 'not as doomed' as thought
21st November 2007
Northern Ireland solicitors who worried that landlords would be put off purchasing property due to some analysts predicting a gloomy future for the buy-to-let market may have their fears allayed... Read more
Commercial disputes led by emotion
29th October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may see clients involved in commercial disputes become as bitter as some of the divorce clients they have seen, after new research reveals that around half... Read more
NI countryside open for property developers?
26th October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland have seen many commercial property developers unsure of where they stand as regards building in the countryside due to restrictive legislation; and although the PPS 14... Read more
Armagh tax-dodgers fined millions
26th October 2007
There was no way that even the best solicitors in Northern Ireland could have prevented a pair of hoteliers being fined £2.2 million between them after a Belfast court heard... Read more
Capital gains tax blighting business
22nd October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland are likely to see more entrepreneurs investing in commercial property and fewer people prepared to start up their own small businesses, if the government does not... Read more
Buy-to-let investors 'must be mad'
17th October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland could see fewer buy-to-let investors, unless they are very wealthy, as the interest rate precludes landlords making a decent profit, experts warn.According to Firstrung, landlords in... Read more
Property developer tempts buyers with free car
16th October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland will have noticed a big drop in the number of people buying property in the province, and it appears that property developers are feeling the squeeze... Read more
Advice 'essential' for commercial property minnows
15th October 2007
Advice 'essential' for commercial property minnowsFor small businesses thinking of renting commercial property in Northern Ireland, advice from solicitors is one of the most important things to obtain, the Royal... Read more
Quarry firm fined for disclosure failures
15th October 2007
A quarrying company has been found guilty of failing to report the ill-health of an employee as well as breaching health and safety regulations.The law requires employers to report industrial... Read more
More HMOs have to be registered
12th October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may have to help out landlords facing prosecution if they do not to register their properties with the Housing Executive. The Housing Executive (HE) has announced... Read more
NI mortgage lending tails off
11th October 2007
The number of new mortgages being taken out in Northern Ireland has dropped quite dramatically the BBC reports, which points to the final cooling of the housing market. According to... Read more
Record-breaking rent good news for landlords
3rd October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland are likely to see more landlords needing legal advice on commercial property as spiralling house prices in the province have forced more people to rent.Belfast solicitors... Read more
Full steam ahead for Titanic development
3rd October 2007
The largest property development ever to be built in Northern Ireland has been given the green light today as part of an expansion scheme in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.Three million square... Read more
Lack of education on dispute avoidance revealed
2nd October 2007
Although 58 per cent of senior managers worry about how a commercial dispute will affect staff morale, law firm Nabarro has found that 30 per cent of firms in Britain... Read more
Solicitors doubles negligence claims
28th September 2007
Law firm Eversheds is facing a new claim of professional negligence, after already being sued for £20 million for the same reason by Nationwide Building Society over mortgage fraud.The latest... Read more
Property developers lend buyers a hand
28th September 2007
Commercial property developers in Northern Ireland have offered to pay stamp duty and mortgage costs for first-time buyers, as an attempt to get them onto the property ladder.According to the... Read more
Property developers lend buyers a hand
28th September 2007
Commercial property developers in Northern Ireland have offered to pay stamp duty and mortgage costs for first-time buyers, as an attempt to get them onto the property ladder.According to the... Read more
Rev Paisley urges business tax cuts
26th September 2007
The Reverend Ian Paisley has added his voice to the growing number of people who are urging the government to cut corporation tax in Northern Ireland, according to the Belfast... Read more
Rev Paisley urges business tax cuts
26th September 2007
The Reverend Ian Paisley has added his voice to the growing number of people who are urging the government to cut corporation tax in Northern Ireland, according to the Belfast... Read more
Buy-to-let gaining strength
24th September 2007
Given the fact that property prices in Northern Ireland have continued to remain high, solicitors are more likely to see commercial property investors than new buyers for conveyancing services.According to... Read more
Buy-to-let gaining strength
24th September 2007
Given the fact that property prices in Northern Ireland have continued to remain high, solicitors are more likely to see commercial property investors than new buyers for conveyancing services.According to... Read more
Buy-to-let mortgages safe as houses
20th September 2007
Commercial investors in buy-to-let property in Britain and Northern Ireland should not be affected by a drop in tenant numbers, despite the housing market continuing to cool, experts have said.According... Read more
Buy-to-let mortgages safe as houses
20th September 2007
Commercial investors in buy-to-let property in Britain and Northern Ireland should not be affected by a drop in tenant numbers, despite the housing market continuing to cool, experts have said.According... Read more
Belfast attracts record investment
18th September 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland are particularly likely to see investors in commercial property in Belfast for services, as a new survey reveals that only London attracts more foreign investment of... Read more
Law firm hit by lawsuit
10th September 2007
City legal practice Charles Russell has been served with court papers by pop record producer Mike Stock, who is suing the firm for professional negligence.The law firm will face a... Read more
Land law could cripple countryside
7th September 2007
Following a consultation, a review into the rural planning law PPS 14 concerning building limits in Northern Ireland's countryside will be published shortly. The findings of the review could be... Read more
Civil servants rapped for online abuse
4th September 2007
Civil servants in Northern Ireland could face solicitors for libel charges if they do not stop posting offensive comments on Wikipedia, the Belfast Telegraph reports.Warnings have been have been sent... Read more
Rate rises push up repossessions
3rd September 2007
The number of repossessions in Britain and Northern Ireland has increased by 32 per cent since April, according to a new report.The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has revealed... Read more
Belfast rents on the rise
28th August 2007
While new buyers in Northern Ireland are being squeezed out of the housing market due to overinflated house prices, commercial landlords have been able to push up rents as youngsters... Read more
Hoff makes off with libel compensation
28th August 2007
Baywatch actor David Hasselhoff has been awarded a "substantial", yet undisclosed, amount of compensation after his solicitors successfully sued a magazine for libel.An article in the version of OK! Magazine... Read more
Ad agencies' legal dispute continues
7th August 2007
The dispute between An Agency Called England (AACE) and marketing consultants Fuse 8 group is set to see court in November for a five-day hearing if negotiations can not be... Read more
Marine wins compensation for murder mislabelling
31st July 2007
A marine has been awarded an undisclosed amount in damages after the Herald Express mistakenly published a picture of him linking him to a murder trial.The photo of Sergeant Gareth... Read more
Directors' fear of litigation increases
27th July 2007
Research by Eversheds has shown that most executives fear solicitors, with 70 per cent of directors in Britain and Northern Ireland claiming they are more likely to be prosecuted than... Read more
NI commercial property market controlled locally
24th July 2007
Solicitors in Belfast are more likely to see clients who come from Northern Ireland for commercial property transactions, as local people are pushing out foreign investors. Northern Irish chartered surveyors... Read more
Business non-compliance could be taxing
23rd July 2007
Businesses in Britain and Northern Ireland could lose millions and face tax investigations if they do not comply with new Managed Service Companies (MSCs) legislation, Global Compliance Limited warns.With the... Read more
Victory for firms in tax case
20th July 2007
Many hundreds of companies in Britain and Northern Ireland will be able to claim compensation from HM Revenue & Customs after a landmark tax ruling following 12 years of litigation.The... Read more
Middle classes 'admit petty' crimes
25th June 2007
While solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland often have to deal with cases where a tradesman has been negligent or where a business has been found wanting, they may not... Read more
Photographer ruled as unprofessional
19th June 2007
Freelance photographer David Hoffman has failed to win his business dispute against MP George Galloway, after he refused to pay for blurry pictures.Mr Galloway failed to pay Mr Hoffman his... Read more
Dissolution to solve selling distress
8th June 2007
Proposals to change the law could result in easier transactions for people who want to sell their apartment in a development where the facilities management has a poor track record.Until... Read more
In hot water over bricks and mortar
8th June 2007
Howard Kennedy solicitors is facing a professional negligence claim after its property department allegedly misinformed Secured Property Finance (SPF) about commercial property loans.The £1.7 million negligence claim was filed in... Read more
'Dodgy' ladders to be ditched
6th June 2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it will use a 'ladder exchange' scheme to replace 4,000 'dodgy' ladders from workplaces across Britain and Northern Ireland.This news could... Read more
Arctic case leaves HMRC cold
6th June 2007
Solicitors will be keeping a close watch on the case of Arctic Systems v HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), as thousands of small businesses could be billed for extra tax... Read more
More laws than ever during Blair years
4th June 2007
Solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland will have had their work cut out for them over the past decade as statistics show that Tony Blair has passed a record number... Read more
Solicitors used for smooth Boots acquisition
4th June 2007
Solicitors are being used to mediate between private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and pension fund trustees of Boots to ensure that the takeover of Alliance Boots goes through... Read more
iSoft considering legal action after CSC bid block
1st June 2007
iSoft bosses have already visited solicitors for advice after US software supplier CSC attempted to block its sale to Australian firm IBA.A £233 million deal was agreed between the NHS... Read more
O'Loan says corporation tax unlikely to be cut
31st May 2007
SDLP North Antrim MLA Declan O'Loan says that Sir David Varney and the Treasury are likely to block proposals to cut corporation tax in Northern Ireland, as they seem to... Read more
Music companies win record copyright payout
31st May 2007
CD Wow has had to pay £35 million in damages to members of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), constituting the largest copyright payout in Britain, Northern Ireland and the rest... Read more
NI homebuyers offered fewer mortgages
30th May 2007
Despite the thriving housing market in Northern Ireland, where prices are still rocketing and demand is high, people in Northern Ireland have less choice when it comes to mortgages, research... Read more
Banking on a hotel boom
29th May 2007
Solicitors could see more people looking to seal deals on buying hotels in the near future, as the Ulster Bank has predicted a major boom in the tourism industry in... Read more
DWP appeals to employers to prioritise the disabled
25th May 2007
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister, Lord McKenzie, has called on employers to take responsibility to help disabled people achieve social inclusion.He appealed for managers to ensure the... Read more
Keira Knightley accepts £3,000 for libel over anorexia
24th May 2007
Actress Keira Knightley has accepted a £3,000 settlement from the Daily Mail for libellous claims in the newspaper that said she was hiding an eating disorder.Ms Knightley filed the libel... Read more
Daily Mail libel battle begins
22nd May 2007
Journalist Rebecca Hardy appears to be in hot water as former TV executive Mike Hollingsworth's High Court libel case kicks off against the Daily Mail after Ms Hardy alleged that... Read more
Claimants would do better to settle with solicitors
22nd May 2007
Astronomical court costs in recent cases have led law experts to advocate the use of solicitors as a cheaper way to sort out legal disputes.After a judgment in April 2006... Read more
Businesses warned to insure against Corporate Manslaughter Bill
21st May 2007
Businesses should be aware that they face big bills and trips to the solicitors if they do not prepare for the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Bill.The bill should be... Read more
Fishermen haul tax help
21st May 2007
Share fishermen across Britain and Northern Ireland are being offered the chance to join a tailor-made scheme to help them with self-assessment.After a survey from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)... Read more
Watford's woes cemented with libel
18th May 2007
Watford Football Club has announced that it will sue the Watford Observer for publishing an article, which could have been potentially libellous without giving club directors a right to reply.Steve... Read more
Schools, contractors and councils warned of asbestos risk
17th May 2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found it necessary to alert local authorities, schools and contractors to the dangers of disturbing asbestos, following a case involving all three groups... Read more
Empty commercial property afforded less tax relief
17th May 2007
Businesses that leave commercial properties empty will no longer enjoy the rate of tax relief that they previously did due to new government legislation. Currently disused commercial premises across Northern... Read more
Calls to extend copyright laws
17th May 2007
The government has been urged to extend the copyright laws that apply in Britain and Northern Ireland.MPs have suggested that the current laws should be extended so as to ensure... Read more
Landlords not in touch with tenants
16th May 2007
Landlords not in touch with tenantsCommercial property investors in Northern Ireland should be more aware of the needs of their tenants, according to new research.A study by Birmingham Midshires has... Read more
Skills shortage 'threatens NI businesses'
16th May 2007
It has been suggested that a skills shortage in Northern Ireland is putting serious pressure on the region's businesses.According to Wilfred Mitchell of the Federation of Small Businesses, the lack... Read more
Businesses not as safe as they think
16th May 2007
Although 80 per cent of businesses in Britain and Northern Ireland claim to have at least a reasonable business continuity plan in place, document management and imaging company Version One... Read more
DJ war ends in settlement
15th May 2007
A legal case between two rival radio stations in Northern Ireland has been negotiated by solicitors at the last minute, rather than face judgement by a jury.The battle began when... Read more
Landlords see rents as 'stable'
11th May 2007
A new report has found that landlords in Britain and Northern Ireland are seeing stable rental values.Research carried out by Paragon Mortgages has found that over 50 per cent of... Read more
KFC threatens to sue small pub
10th May 2007
A small country pub in the Pennines has received a letter from solicitors on behalf of fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken, claiming that the landlord had breached one of... Read more
'Offensive' online comments battle ends
9th May 2007
Solicitors specialising in internet laws may be expecting a statement from the Law Commission, after a defendant in a libel case has asked for clearer laws on the internet, following... Read more
Fraudsters increasingly hit in the pocket
30th April 2007
The £14 billion that fraud costs Britain and Northern Ireland is increasingly being recouped through hefty fines and seizing assets, with jail sentences taking a back seat in such cases.Speaking... Read more
Ministers bicker over muddled tax issues
23rd April 2007
While secretary of state, Peter Hain, warned against potentially negative consequences of a corporation tax for Northern Ireland, Sir George Quigley, chairman of the Industrial Task Force, rallied behind his... Read more
New punishments for business tax irregularities
17th April 2007
Businesses across Britain and Northern Ireland are being warned to visit their solicitors to ensure their books are in order as new stricter penalties are being brought in for tax... Read more
FSA investigates banks' retaliation against complaining customers
7th March 2007
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been forced to step in after two financial service providers shut down accounts of customers who complained about potentially illicit lending fees.Involving two of... Read more
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