Jacqueline Barr featured in the Yorkshire Post (Property People)

What are the prospects for the property sector in Yorkshire and Humber? With the phasing out of Direct Payments by the Government and the phased introduction of a new system that rewards farmers for improvement of the environment, landscapes across the country are set to be enhanced through agricultural policy. The farming industry will be changing the way it farms and it is vital that farmers have time to adapt to the new land management requirements. What is the best project you have been involved in? Ware & Kay have a large and diverse client base and so I have been involved in many interesting projects from complex restructuring of farming businesses to the sale and purchase of large landholdings. No two property transactions are the same and each comes with its own quirks which keep…

Johanne Spittle featured in Yorkshire Post (Property People)

What are the prospects for the property sector in Yorkshire and Humber? There will inevitably be some readjustment in the property sector post Covid as individuals and businesses make permanent changes to the way they live and work. As the property sector adapts to these changes, I am optimistic that our region is ideally placed to take advantage of new opportunities that will emerge such as the growth in online shopping and the demand in the logistics sector. What is the best project you have been involved in? As a property litigator my projects tend to be based on things going wrong for other people, I think ‘best project’ might be a misdescription! I have been involved in some fascinating cases; one of the most rewarding was a dispute over the design of a landmark sustainable…

Meet the Boss Johanne Spittle – Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Johanne Spittle is the Head of Dispute Resolution. She graduated in law from the University of Sheffield in 1983 and became a solicitor in 1986. She has lived in North Yorkshire since 1990 joining the firm in 2019. What job would you like to have other than your own? I am fascinated by the property related disputes that I deal with, particularly having to piece together what happened to land hundreds of years ago; it is a bit like having to solve a historical whodunit and so maybe in another life I would be a historical detective or a crime writer!   Greatest achievement? Combining being a partner in a law firm with three children and retaining a sense of humour was definitely an achievement. But most recently it was sitting and passing an exam in…

New appointment further strengthens Pearsons & Ward Solicitors Family Department

Pearsons & Ward Solicitors are delighted to announce the appointment of experienced Paralegal Rachel Newsome to their Family Department. Rachel is the latest appointment for Pearsons & Ward, now part of Ware & Kay Solicitors Ltd which also has offices in York & Wetherby.  Rachel will be based at the Malton office and serve clients across Ryedale and East Yorkshire. Rachel started her career in the legal profession in 1996 in West Yorkshire moving to Ryedale in 2009 before commencing work at Pearsons & Ward as a Paralegal in 2012, having completed the Central Law Training Specialist Paralegal Qualification in Family Law.  She then left in 2016 to gain experience with another local firm before starting a family and is now returning to work.  She advises and has in-depth experience of the Divorce process, in relation…

Diversification and Farm Business Tenancies

Farmers are having to diversify part of the farm in these current times to stay financially afloat. This will likely increase due to the decline in subsidies. So how do Tenant farmers go about trying to diversify and what does this mean for Landlords? If you are a tenant farmer and you wish to diversify the farm or part of it to a non-farming activity e.g. Glamping pods, B&B, Farm Shop etc. it is likely you will need to obtain your Landlord’s consent to do so. Agricultural tenancies usually permit the tenant to use the Holding for agricultural purposes only and may contain restrictions against taking out any part of the holding from agricultural use. Tenants may choose to ignore the tenancy agreement and pursue diversification in any event, but should be warned that the Landlord…

Working from home: wellbeing and mental health of employees

While some people are enjoying working from home, this is not the case for everyone and the negative impacts over several months are taking a toll on some employees. ‘Employers are unsure of their responsibilities for mental health and how to deal with performance issues when the boundary between home and work has become blurred,’ says Gillian Reid, Head of Employment with Ware & Kay. ‘They want to know how best to support their employees’ wellbeing while keeping the business on track in difficult times. This includes knowing what questions you can ask, how to address mental health issues, and how to be fair in disciplinary procedures.’ Potential problems arising from homeworking Homeworking brings a different set of pressures to those in the workplace; a lack of boundaries between home and work, and difficulties in switching…

Our offices will be open for pre-arranged appointments from 2nd December – we are here to help

All our offices will be open for pre-arranged appointments from 2nd December where a telephone meeting is not possible. Contact us as normal by phone or email to arrange a meeting to discuss your matter but please bear in mind that many of our staff continue to work from home so we can only see you if you have pre-arranged an appointment. Our main priority at this time is to maintain a safe environment for our staff and visitors to our offices so we ask that you assist us with this by following the guidelines set out below. Covid-19 Workplace Risk Assessments We have carried out a Health and Safety Risk Assessment at each of our offices to ensure that we have appropriate arrangements in place. These include: Pre-arranged appointments with at least 30 minutes…

Ware & Kay Christmas and New Year opening times

We would like to send you our best wishes for the festive season and a safe and healthy 2021. We look forward to working with you and continuing to deliver the best possible service. Christmas and New Year opening times Our offices will be closed from 4.00 pm on Wednesday 23rd December and will reopen at 9.00 am on Monday 4th January 2021. If you would like to contact us outside of these hours please use our contact form and someone will get back to you on the next business day. Best wishes The Ware & Kay Team

A NEW AGRICULTURAL SOLICITOR FOR WARE & KAY

Ware & Kay is delighted to announce the appointment of experienced solicitor Jacqueline Barr to lead their Agricultural team in Malton. Jacqueline is the latest appointment for our Malton office, which trades under the name of Pearsons & Ward Solicitors and serves clients across North, East and West Yorkshire. Jacqueline is a specialist agricultural solicitor with a wealth of knowledge in this sector as well as commercial property and will be acting for clients within the farming community. In her new role, Jacqueline will build on its work with farmers, landowners and the rural community to keep them one step ahead.  She will advise on the full range and variety of transactions affecting rural clients, for example, sales & purchases of farms and bare land, tenancies, rights of way and option agreements, diversification interests, landowner…

Make a Will Month October, 2020

Making a Will and letting your family and friends know your wishes is vital, and it can be a lot more affordable than you think. Once again, we are offering you the opportunity to have a Will written in exchange for a donation to the Hospice. We are giving our time free of charge. Getting married or divorced, having a child, becoming grandparents or buying a house, can all be reasons to think about getting your affairs in order and making your wishes known. To take part, simply do the following: Contact us during Make a Will Month and we will arrange an appointment. Numbers are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. Write your Wills. There is no obligation to leave a legacy to the Hospice, but if you do they would be…