Our excellent and lovely team of property law experts have been shortlisted for this year’s ESTAs.
They have worked tremendously hard during a very difficult period, which is reflected in their glowing testimonials and reviews, and the extraordinary demand for their services.
View ESTA’s official shortlist for 2021 here.
Lewis Nedas law welcomes Asal Nath, solicitor, to the Company/Commercial and litigation departments.
Please see her profile here.
Lewis Nedas Law have once again been listed in The Times Best Law Firms 2021.
Read the full article here.
Lewis Nedas Law are delighted that they have been highly ranked as a Leading law firm by the Legal 500 2021.
Particular congratulations to Unan Choudhury officially ranked for the first time and Keith Wood.
Visit the Legal 500 site here to find out all of Lewis Nedas Law’s 2021 Legal 500 rankings.
As technology continues to evolve, our reliance on it has only become more apparent. A clear example of this would be the current COVID 19 pandemic, which caused courts to find a new way in which to continue proceedings. Thus, the use of remote hearings. Remote hearings have now become common practice within the UK and some believe that the courts will be using this method for the foreseeable future, as restrictions are in place and social distancing regulations are enforced and do not seem to be lifted any time soon.
Though a temporary solution to the current problem, caused by the pandemic. It can be viewed as both advantageous and problematic for many reasons.
For this method of practice to be successful, a tremendous preparation and communication between the parties in question must be done before the court. In addition to this, everything during the court case must run smoothly. The technology does not always work and it is very tiring to stare at other parties on a screen whilst concentrating on evidence for days at a time. Court cases are daunting enough without this technology to deal with. Witnesses lose focus. The margin of error can be significantly larger because every nuance of expressions and movements is picked up.
Technology can and will fail. Mobile networks and Wi-Fi can stop working in the middle of a trial as well as hardware issues which were not an issue when checked previously. Lastly, it can be hard to find a place which is suitable for a remote hearing, as it needs to be a place that is free of distractions as well as being secluded. A place like this is needed, as important and confidential information will be presented throughout the court hearing and as such must not be visible or audible for those not involved.
On the one hand whilst there are many problems with remote hearings, there are huge positives. These hearings are preventing/minimising the chances of becoming ill due to the pandemic. The environment in a court can be stressful for those involved (more so in this current pandemic). As such, it could good for their mental health/wellbeing for them to be in a place in which is more comfortable and familiar to them. Reducing the stress and the cost of travel is a huge advantage not only for witnesses and advocates but for the environment. Advocates are able to attend two hearings per day and some of the court case backlog has been reduced.
In addition to this, using remote hearing have been very beneficial for areas in law such as Dispute and Resolution Arbitration. This is because it is very often for cases to be solved in preliminary hearings and the case itself does not require as many people involved, as a criminal or family hearing. Furthermore, commercial law hearing such are favoured over face to face, as the parties in question can adjust their schedules better. Thus, cases can be gone through faster, as there is no travelling, and such is easier to plan. Lastly, in cases where it is unadvised for the parties to be in the same room (due to it being unsafe for one of the parties or that it is unnecessary for them to be present), remote hearings would be the best way, as it will allow for courts and all parties in question the safest and more efficient way of getting through cases.
Hybrid hearings where some of the parties and the Judge attend court and some attend remotely have addressed issues of fairness and have worked very well in general.
Although, there are many different views on this topic (both negative and positive). It is likely that remote hearings may be common in the future once the technology is improved.
Our family law team has over 35 years of successful experience dealing with such issues. Mr Avadis has attended as many as 5 remote and hybrid hearings per week since lockdown commenced. Together with the rest of our team, he is ideally placed to advise you about what will happen if there is a remote hearing in your case and ensure you experience the same with the minimum of stress.
We can offer an initial fixed fee consultation for £360 ( based upon an hourly rate of £300.00+ vat per hr) to review your case and advise you as to the available remedies. Contact Lewis Nedas law on 02073872032 or use our online enquiry form.
We are delighted to announce that Naziana Mehdy is now a Partner within the practice. She works within both our conveyancing and commercial departments.
Together with specialist Firearms barrister Nick Doherty, our in-house firearms licensing law expert Laura Saunsbury is co-author of the Firearms Law Handbook, an approachable guide for both lawyers and the layman alike. The eighth edition was published in August 2019 by Wildy Simmonds & Hill Publishing. and has been substantially updated and expanded since it was last published in 2011. The new edition has been very well received, with it being endorsed by a number of the national shooting organisations and also adopted by various police forces in England and Wales as the recommended text for their firearms licensing officers. The book has received some excellent reviews, both in legal circles and in specialist shooting publications.
Most recently it was reviewed in the Law Society Gazette on 5th March 2020 and recommended as;
“an indispensable companion to a complex and wide-ranging field of law”.
The book has also received the following seals of approval;
“The only book you need on British firearms law. I recommend it to everyone in the Gun Trade and to firearms owners in general.”
The Vintage Gun Journal, November 2019
“An invaluable guide for shooters and clubs nationwide”
On Target, journal of the National Smallbore Rifle Association, p. 36 Winter 2019 issue
“The book is well laid out and written in a friendly and easy to read style. I recommend it for anyone with a need for detailed knowledge of this complex subject.”
Sporting Gun Magazine, p. 84 January 2020 issue.
“ densely packed with pearls of wisdom … The authors have succeeded in their aim to comprehensively set out an intricate area of law for both lawyers and non-lawyers; it is a compulsory read for the responsible firearm owner and a handy foundation for practitioners.”
The Advocate, Journal of the LCCSA (London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association) p. 9 October 2019 issue
The book is available to purchase online from the publishers, or on Amazon, where it has also received a number of very positive reader reviews.
View our latest article on legal advice for Businesses and Employers on the Government Covid-19 Business Support Package here.
Please note that despite these unprecedented times we will continue to offer a first-class legal advisory and representation service to both our new, prospective and existing clients.
We are very much open for business, and there will always be available staff to assist you.
Thankfully we are able to work remotely, using the latest technology and with the assistance of our cybersecurity and technology specialists, AMERIS, we will continue to offer a responsive, secure service without disruption or delay.
We have also sought to protect our talented, hardworking and loyal staff, following both Government and Public Health England recommendations, have implemented measures so that they are able to work from home, or on a shift basis ( for those who have to come into the office )invoking social distancing recommendations.
Coronavirus advice:
We have highly regarded specialist lawyers working within the following areas :
For existing clients contact your solicitor directly on their individual emails initially
For new or prospective clients please use our enquiry form.
Otherwise, contact our office number 0207 387 2032.
We do have an emergency out of hours service but that is to assist those who have been arrested for criminal offences.
We are here to help you with your legal issue.
The Directors and staff
Our new Oxford office is now at :
209 Barns Rd
Oxford OX4 3UT
Our new East London office is now at :
3 Kempton Rd
London E6 2LD
More details available on our contact page.