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Bayerische Motoren Werke is known by one and all as BMW and their roundel symbol is recognised worldwide. Unsurprisingly, it is also a trade mark. So when a non-franchised garage put the logo and BMW acronym outside its premises, BMW took action . It...

It is inevitable that those in receipt of court orders often consider them to be unjust – but that is never an excuse for failing to obey them. The High Court made that point in imposing a suspended prison sentence on a recalcitrant divorcee who took...

In an important decision , the Court of Appeal has underlined that tax avoidance schemes may be strictly in accordance with legislation – but still be ineffective. The case involved a university which made an ultimately abortive attempt to save itself...

It is a comfort to consumers that those who advise the public on money matters are tightly regulated and can be swiftly shut down if they fail to come up to scratch. Exactly that happened in one case involving a small 'debt adjusting' and counselling...

A recent case illustrates the risks landlords take if they refurbish tenanted buildings without taking sufficient account of the potential impact on their tenants. Almost all commercial leases include a provision that tenants are entitled to occupy their...

When a person can no longer manage their own financial affairs, these will be managed either by their attorney (if a power of attorney has been made) or by their deputy if an application has been made via the Court of Protection in the absence of a power of...

Few businesses have the emotional ties that characterise a family farming business and it is no wonder therefore that families often take considerable steps to prevent a family farm from being broken up. When a father and son who farmed in partnership...

Whilst remaining profitable is the top concern for family business owners, recent research published by Close Brothers Asset Management shows that four out of the top ten worries of those surveyed are related to succession planning, with provision for later...

People often complain about the length of time it takes to complete property deals. However, one Court of Appeal case , in which a contract for sale was signed on the spot after only brief consideration, strikingly shows why property purchase is a serious...

Large international corporations are well known for flexing their financial muscles and attempting to browbeat smaller companies into submission when they are in dispute. Such seemed to be the case when a comedy club owner took on 20th Century Fox over...