Blog
Private prosecutions – A route to justice for the charity sector
Sophie Tang
26 May 2021
You gotta’ have faith…in ADR
My previous blog examined whether Kenny Goss, the ex-partner of George Michael, may be entitled to a provision from the late singer’s estate, notwithstanding the fact that their relationship had broken down in 2009 (seven years prior to Mr Michael’s death). It was reported at the time that Mr Goss was seeking an award of £15,000 per month on the basis that Mr Michael had been financially maintaining Mr Goss at the time of his death. Pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, Mr Goss made an application for reasonable financial provision from Mr Michael’s estate because he had not been left anything in the singer’s will.
21 May 2021
The Court confirms the Legal Costs Principle in Shareholder Disputes
In the case of KOZA LTD and HAMDI IPEK –v- KOZA ALTIN IŞLETMELERI AS [2021] EWHC 786 (Ch), Mr Justice Trower awarded an injunction restraining Mr Ipek, Koza Ltd (“KL”)’s sole director, from causing KL to use its funds to pay legal costs in the litigation, which was in reality a shareholder dispute between Mr Ipek and Koza Altin Işletmeleri AS (“KAI”). The decision upholds the ‘legal costs principle’ in company disputes, which provides that a company’s money should not be spent on disputes between shareholders.
14 May 2021
Ignorance is bliss? Not for directors!
In the recent case of TMG Brokers Ltd (In Liquidation) (also known as: Baker v Staines) the High Court held a director of a company to be jointly and severally liable for payments made by his co-director out of the company’s bank account which were made without proper authority and amounted to disguised distributions of capital. The fact that he had placed trust in the other director for the company's financial affairs did not excuse him from performing his duties.
27 April 2021
Inheritance claims by adult children
In recent years the courts have seen a significant number of claims under the 1975 Act bought by adult children. This week it has been widely reported that the two adult daughters of Tony Shearer, a high profile banker and finance governor of a well-known public school, have failed in their attempt to bring a claim against their late father’s £2.2 million estate. Mr Shearer made no provision in his estate for his daughters leaving the majority of his wealth to his second wife.
16 April 2021
Civil Fraud Quarterly Round-Up: Q1 2021
A Civil Fraud quarterly round-up (1st quarter 2021)
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Claims against banks
- Costs Law
- Court of Protection Disputes
- Cross-border litigation
- Defamation, privacy & reputation
- Fraud
- Restructuring & Insolvency
- Intellectual property claims
- Legal updates
- Litigation process
- Professional negligence
- Shareholder and Boardroom Disputes
- Wills, trusts and inheritance disputes