April was a busy month for the Commercial and Litigation Department with a host of successes for clients with a range of concerns;

1. A 48 hour emergency injunction; Ian Coupland received instructions early on Friday 21 April 2017 stating that our Tenant client had attended his bespoke tailoring business premises that morning to find that the locks had been changed by his Landlord and that his 10 year lease had been forfeit. Together with the assistance of Annabelle Pantling and all within a very tense period of 48 hours, Ian prioritised and successfully obtained an urgent injunction at the Central London County Court which allowed our Tenant client back into his property just in time to obtain a bespoke suit required by a customer for his wedding the following day (!). Relief from forfeiture was subsequently granted, and our client is now back in his premises and trading as usual.
2. New instruction by a client under investigation by the FCA; Ian Coupland and Adam Creasey have been working together to assist a client whose business practices are being scrupulously considered by the Financial Conduct Authority. Elements of Director disqualification are to be considered, together with third parties and their own business practices which add further complexity to a long history of behaviour currently falling into question.
3. A fairly compensated but unfairly treated employee; Adam Creasey has obtained a commendable result for an Employee client who was dismissed after 20 years of service for his Employer, without reason. After a year of working diligently for our Employee client, Adam successfully brought this claim to its Tribunal Hearing on 12 April 2017, where our client was awarded in excess of £20,000.00 in recognition of the unfair treatment and incorrect procedures followed by his Employer in dismissing him so abruptly without reason. Our client has now obtained subsequent employment with a new Employer and is incredibly pleased with the result Adam achieved for him after his many years of previous service.
4. Major business restructure; Ian Coupland has been proactively advising our Commercial client in a major restructure of his business interests, under section 110 Insolvency Act 1986 in relation to the voluntary winding up of our client’s company.
5. Reaching settlements; Adam Creasey has assisting an reaching an out of court settlement for a client who stood before a £20,000.00 claim and further Counterclaim, had the deal not been made in the final hours before preparing for a forthcoming hearing. Adam skilfully negotiated with the Claimant in order to obtain a brilliant result for our client and avoid the need to increase costs or spend more time on ongoing court proceedings.