Category: Latest Post

This Friday 27^th January Kulbir Conner ( Head of Conveyancing solicitor ) and Laaibah Bhatti ( digital marketing apprentice) attended the business networking event.

We are proud to announce that we have been a member of BNI for over 20 years and are still going strong.

BNI is an organisation set up for business professionals who help each other grow their businesses. Each week, in thousands of communities across the globe, members meet with other trusted business leaders to build and nurture lasting relationships and pass qualified business referrals.

This was a great opportunity to get together and commemorate the last 25 years of business networking.

Laaibah gave a speech on how greatly she appreciated the support of all her fellow colleagues as a Digital Marketing Apprentice at Aston Bond!

We would like to share with you some snippets…

The variety of terms used in employment law can be confusing. When it comes to unfair and wrongful dismissal, many people are unaware of the difference. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there are clear distinctions.

The most common misconception is that unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal are the same thing, but this is not the case. 

Unlike unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal focuses on a clear, contractual breach.   Most commonly it is used if, for instance, your employer has not paid you the correct amount of notice in accordance with your contract.   You also do not need a qualifying period to make a wrongful dismissal claim (unlike a basic claim of unfair dismissal which in most cases has a prerequisite of 2 years’ employment).

In many cases, employees are eligible to apply for unfair and wrongful dismissal cases in tandem.  This is one of the reasons why it is recommended to seek professional legal advice prior to issuing proceedings.

To prove unfair dismissal, you must be able to determine whether the employer has in fact behaved in a manner that is deemed legally as unfair.  Unfair dismissal claims can be more complicated and not quite as straight-forward as a wrongful dismissal claim. 

If you need some guidance on understanding the difference between unfair and wrongful dismissal, Ilinca Mardarescu (Head of Employment) at Aston Bond is happy to help!

Contact her on imardarescu@astonbond.co.uk or 01753 486 777.

Going through a legal process can be complicated. Whether that is buying a house, writing a will or even working through a divorce, legal advice will help you understand the process better and do everything necessary according to the law. Finding the best solutions for families or drafting legal agreements related to large investments such as properties can be handled by your very own solicitor.

Here are some of the key benefits of using a solicitor…

1. They are up to date with all new legal updates

Laws are constantly changing. Without the insights of a solicitor who is fully up to date with these changes, you could end up with an agreement that falls short of the requirements of the law.

2. Makes the process quicker and easier and avoids errors

Legal processes can be very complicated and if you don’t understand the terminology, or don’t fully understand your obligations, this can hold things up or even leave you at risk in the future. Having an experienced solicitor to guide you through everything will ensure that there are no errors and the whole process is much smoother, faster, and easier.

3. Years of experience from your solicitor

Solicitors spend years building up their knowledge and experience and go through extensive training so that they can make even the most complicated legal procedures seem easy and straightforward. They deal with these legal processes every single day, so they know exactly how to proceed and how to get the best results.

4. Get advice as and when you need it

A solicitor will be available whenever you require advice. Using their wealth of experience and their years of training, they can provide you with the relevant guidance to help achieve your required outcome. Legal advice is not just about getting the right paperwork in place, it is about protecting you and your family for the future, which is one of the most important reasons to use a solicitor.

Whenever you require the expert, helpful advice of a solicitor, Aston Bond would be happy to assist you, using our decades of experience across all legal matters.
If you would like to make an enquiry, call us on  +44 (0)1753 486 777

The snowy and icy conditions means a heavy cost to employers in staff absences. With staff arriving later than usual, or even unable to make it into the office, the accumulated loss of labour has a substantial impact on businesses.

Employers must ensure they are clear and consistent about their policy regarding staff absences due to poor weather conditions as well as ensuring that they have a duty of care towards their employees. Employers forcing employees to travel into work in dangerous conditions, under the threat of pay being deducted could be breaching a duty of care.

Have disaster recovery plans in place to ensure that key personnel are always contactable, whether remotely or not, and make provision for people who genuinely cannot make it in to work from home.

It would also be wise to make it clear what happens should children’s school close leaving working parents with no childcare.  A clear policy helps staff know what to expect and what to do in such situations. 

Ultimately, employers need to be sensible and pragmatic; it is most probably the case that employees are as frustrated by the snow as their employers! It is crucial to always put your employee’s safety first.

At Aston Bond, we understand that these harsh weather conditions could leave many employees hesitant to travel into work and places a great strain on employers. If you would like some advice and support during this colder spell then our very own employment solicitor Ilinca Mardarescu is happy to help.

Please contact her on imardarescu@astonbond.co.uk

The festive season has finally arrived!

Here at Aston Bond, we came together and got in the Christmas spirit at our very own Christmas party.

Here are a few snippets from the night…

Here at Aston Bond Christmas is our favourite time of the year! We love the chance to decorate reception and get into the festive spirit.

We would like to share with you some snaps from our very own Christmas Jumper day…

Over this past week I have had the pleasure of getting an insight into the busy yet fascinating legal world here in Aston Bond.

On my first day I was given a tour around the office and was introduced to the team. Everyone was extremely welcoming, and it was clear from the start that they all had a great relationship with each other. This created a positive atmosphere allowing me to be able to learn without the fear of judgement from mistakes. As a result, asking questions was very easy and I was provided with lots of very beneficial advice about getting into this field. My questions were always met with clear, helpful answers.

During my time here, I was given the tasks of drafting letters to clients, filling documents, and reading through old case files. Filing the documents was a crucial task for my learning here, it allowed me to really memorise and understand which documents are needed for certain requests from clients. These files were mostly Wills, LPAs and Deeds related, which is a part of law I hadn’t much knowledge on prior to this experience.

Learning about new areas of law has been my favourite part of this week. Having the opportunity of reading through different case files has been extremely helpful in giving me an indication of the type of law I might want to explore later in my career. Looking through a case regarding employment law and learning how that is handled from initial contact with the client to the ruling in court which I could then compare to the file of a property being sold and how that comes together has been fascinating.

Drafting letters gave me an insight into the language and structure needed to give clients clarity in their matters. I have picked up a handful of phrases used when interacting with the clients and anyone involved in the matter.

Overall, this experience has been crucial in my decision of pursuing law in the future, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. I would like to thank the team here at Aston bond for making this such a positive and useful experience.

Written by Bella Cooper

Here at Aston Bond, Halloween is one of our favourite events of the year!

Our team came together this Halloween to dress up in their scary costumes. The variety of costumes were fantastic, and we are proud of everyone who participated!

Congratulations to Nicola Darby for winning the ‘best dressed’ award as well as the ‘ Quiz winner’ award.

We want to share with you some of our best snaps –

What do they do?

The SRA regulate all solicitors and law firms in England and Wales.

1. They ensure that all solicitors are competent in upholding the law.

2.  Make sure that solicitors and law firms meet the high standards set upon them.

3. The SRA works to build public trust and confidence in solicitors and law firms alike.

4. Steps in to assist in matters such as retrieving client documents and money if a law firm were to suddenly shut down.

5. Acts against solicitors and firms who do not follow the rules.

SRA Code of Conduct

The code of conduct describes the standards and business controls the SRA and public expect from firms. These aim to create and maintain the right services to clients. A failure to meet the standards may lead to the SRA taking regulatory action against the firm itself as an entity.  These sort of actions can, and often do, lead to large fines against firms which are found wanting.

Section 1 of the code of Conduct states ‘maintaining trust and acting fairly’ is of paramount important.   

The SRA Principles set out the standard by which all solicitors are expected to act. They make clear solicitors must act;

1. In a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law, and the proper administration of justice.
2. In a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.
3. With independence
4. With honesty
5. With integrity
6. In a way that encourages equality, diversity, and inclusion
7. In the best interests of each client.

At Aston Bond we take pride in our profession and ensure all our solicitors stand with us to uphold each and every one of the Principles. 

How does the SRA principles apply to us as a firm?

We always uphold the constitutional principle of the law, and the proper administration of justice.   We support the SRA’s functions and work hard to support charities which work with the more vulnerable of our society by providing access to justice. 

We understand that it’s crucial to uphold the public trust and confidence through the legal services that we provide.

All services at Aston Bond are carried out with honesty and integrity and we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations, each and every time.