Stephens Scown LLP has announced its sponsorship of the Devon International Trade Forum (DITF) event on 10 September 2013, aimed at providing practical advice on exporting for local businesses.
The event, which is being held at the Innovation Centre at Exeter University, starts at 5.30pm, with presentations beginning at 6.45pm and ending at around 8.30pm.
A variety of South West businesses have been invited to speak at the event which has a distinctly international flavour. Ben Travers, Head of Intellectual Property and IT Law at Stephens Scown, is one of the speakers,...
Research released by the National Office of Statistics has uncovered that only 6% of divorcing couples consider pensions within their settlement, emphasising the frightening financial state many people find themselves post-divorce.
The Prudential agree, adding that 40 per cent of those planning to retire in 2013 have been divorced. In general they are less likely to have private pensions, more likely to retire with debts, and less likely to believe they are financially well prepared for retirement.
Top South West divorce lawyer, Liz Allen, explains: “There are so many...
In a ruling delivered on 13 June, the Supreme Court issued a judgement which may affect a number of high value divorces in the South West, and is welcomed by a leading Westcountry family lawyer for its fairness and common sense.
The case, Petrodel v Prest, showed that the husband purchased properties in London through various offshore companies, yet the Court of Appeal rejected the wife’s claims to have these properties transferred to her as part of her divorce settlement, due to the English law principle that a company has its own legal personality.
Leading South West solicitors, Stephens Scown LLP, recently acted for Cornish Orchards in a £3.8 million deal between them and London-based Fuller’s Brewery, taking just five weeks to complete this complex acquisition.
Announced by Michael Turner, Chairman of Fuller’s, as part of their full year results for 2012/13, the acquisition of Cornish Orchards is part of the good news message, which includes a 7% increase in revenue (to £271.5 million) for Fuller’s.
Not only is this good news for Fuller’s and their customers, but very much so for Cornish Orchards’ former owners,...
In her speech yesterday in Parliament, the Queen announced a number of changes to the Immigration Bill, aiming to "ensure that this country attracts people who will contribute, and deter those who will not." These changes could have implications for South West businesses and landlords, not just immigrants themselves.
One of the announced proposed changes to the Immigration Bill is that landlords will have to check the immigration status of prospective tenants before granting them a tenancy agreement – and if they don’t they will potentially have to pay a hefty fine.
A trainee solicitor at Stephens Scown LLP has been awarded the esteemed Sir George Fowler Prize in 2012 by the Devon and Somerset Law Society at their recent AGM in Exeter.
Beth Johnson was awarded the prize after gaining the highest grade on the Legal Practice Course within Devon and Somerset. She successfully completed this course at the University of Plymouth.
Beth joined Stephens Scown as a paralegal in June 2012, and commenced as a trainee solicitor in April 2013. She is currently seated within the family law team in Exeter and will experience another two specialisms,...
Businesses will have a chance to find out more about the current planning system and its impact on energy projects at the latest Exeter Energy Exchange, which takes place on 23 May. The event is being organised by leading South West law firm Stephens Scown and renewable energy consultancy Granted Ltd, and will also look at methods of project planning. Speakers will include Chris Tofts, a specialist planning solicitor at Stephens Scown, Mike Chapman, Senior Project Manager for Renewable Energy at Granted Consultancy and Sonya Bedford, Head of Renewable Energy at Stephens Scown. Sonya said...
For the first time, the biggest employers in the South West will have to measure and then report on how they pay men and women. A local HR expert is advising all local businesses – large and small - to review the way they set their pay rates.
By Spring 2018, organisations that employ 250 or more people will be obliged to publish annual data on the gender pay gap within their workforce. Although the information does not need to be published until next year, the data reported will be based on a snapshot date from last week - 5 April 2017.
A new law that will presume that both parents will play a role in the life of their child should help to ensure that a child’s welfare continues to be at the heart of the legal system, according to one of the region’s leading family lawyers.
The new law, which comes into force this week, aims to encourage parents to be more focussed on their children’s needs following separation and clarify the court’s approach. What it does not do is give parents new “rights” or a 50/50 division of a child’s time.
The Family Court will be required to presume each parent’s involvement in a...
South West legal firm Stephens Scown LLP has cemented its position as one of the leading firms in Devon and Cornwall, with the announcement of the independent legal guide Chambers & Partners 2014, which has awarded the firm more top rankings than ever before.
This news comes on top of Stephens Scown hitting its six month targets, with employees being rewarded for their hard work. Income for the firm has grown by 7% in the period of October 2012 to October 2013, enabling partners to award employees a bonus pay-out of £85,000.
