In this month's round-up, we explain the advantages of mediation and how it can help to resolve workplace disputes quickly and cost-effectively; an update on various Private Members' Bills that are currently going through Parliament; and a case update featuring a long running disability discrimination case.

This month's update reports on the three Private Members' Bills that have received Royal Assent; recent government guidance issued on ethnicity pay gap reporting; a review of the current whistleblowing framework; the proposed creation of a new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent fraud within the Economic Crime and Transparency Bill; and a two case updates, one dealing with a discrimination claim, and the other, holiday pay.

Farmers, as the custodians of much of the country’s natural assets, are by definition the main providers of investment opportunities for enhancing natural capital. Although the government is investing via ELM schemes, it acknowledges that it cannot afford to bank roll all the environmental work that needs to be done to reverse the level of habitat loss to which it is committed and is relying on private investment to plug the financial gap.

In this article, Martin Oliver, Partner in our Contentious Probate team explains the issues surrounding dementia and the problems that can arise for those drafting wills.

The process of dealing with the death of a loved one is usually talked about in emotional terms, and understandably so. But it is also a hugely complex logistical and administrative task that most people are unaware of.

It is well known that any litigation is expensive and contesting a will is no different. If anything, inheritance claims can be more expensive than other forms of litigation due to the nature of the claim and the amount of work and investigation involved.

Where the deceased left a will the grant of representation is known as a grant of probate and where the deceased died intestate (did not leave a will) the grant of representation is known as a grant of letters of administration.

There are many reasons why you might like to become a trustee of a charity: positive support for a good cause, putting a particular skill set or experience to good use, or remaining active in the community.

The law on the revocation of wills has recently been in the spotlight, with the case of Blyth v Sykes. Here we explore the relatively narrow circumstances in which a copy of a will can be admitted when the original document cannot be located without explanation.

Jean Clitheroe had three children, Debra, Susan and John. On 19 December 2009, Debra sadly died of cancer. Jean was, understandably, deeply affected by Debra's illness and death and as Jean put it, "took to her bed" from the day of Debra's death in late 2009. Jean remained bedridden until her death on 11 September 2017.