The race to secure a place in the annual Two Castles Run is under starter’s orders.

The event, which has not been run since the beginning of the pandemic, is now scheduled for Sunday June 12 and organisers Kenilworth Rotary say they are now open for applications.

Rotary president Philip Southwell, who also chairs the planning team, said that all those who were successful in registering for the cancelled 2020 run were being given first choice to enter this year.

Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins have again agreed to be the headline sponsor, which will be the 15th time they have sponsored the run. Senior partner David Lester said: “The charities supported by the runners have been hard hit by the pandemic with most of their main fundraising events cancelled, so it is even more important this year that as many people as possible dig deep to sponsor the individual runners.

“The Two Castles is a hugely popular event, which we are delighted to be giving our support to once again,” he said. The firm will also be entering a team of some 30 runners and will be providing a water station at the finish.

Other sponsors include Hawkesford estate agents, with offices in Warwick and    Leamington.

The 10k race is run between the castles at Warwick and Kenilworth and more than 4,000 runners take part each year. Organised jointly by Kenilworth Rotary and Leamington Spa Cycling and Athletics Club, staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers, it raises more than £100,000 for local and national charities.

Mr Southwell said: “The race attracts people of all abilities from near and far. Each year we have far more people who want to take part than we have places for, which proves just how popular the run is. It is a hugely enjoyable event and a perfect way to raise substantial sums of money for charity. We are so grateful to Blythe Liggins for their continuing support and generous sponsorship.”

To apply for a place, simply go to www.twocastlesrun.org.uk or follow the link on the Two Castles Facebook page.

Caption : David Lester (right), senior partner at Blythe Liggins, with Kenilworth Rotary president, Philip Southwell and Claire Kirwan, a Blythe Liggins partner and head of personal injury and clinical negligence.

Solicitors at a leading Leamington Spa law firm are urging landlords and tenants of commercial properties to work together in the wake of forfeiture restrictions lifting this March.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 was introduced at the height of the pandemic to provide a host of protective measures including to tenants who were not able to pay rent.

The provisions in the act meant that landlords were unable to forfeit or obtain possession of commercial leases for unpaid rent, are restricted in forcing tenants into any form of insolvency and are restricted in enforcing the terms of leases by way of commercial rent arrears recovery.

These rules are set to end next month and Jagdeep Sandher, head of dispute resolution at Rugby Road-based Blythe Liggins, says there are several issues that will remain once those restrictions come to an end.

He said: “It’s no secret that the pandemic created a knock-on effect with so many tenants and landlords around the country, regardless of how big or small they are.

“So many businesses were affected by the forced closures and had seriously impacted tenants’ ability to pay rents.

“As we slowly emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and the economy returns to a semblance of normality, it is important that tenants and landlords understand and work together to reach amicable and workable solutions.

“In June last year, the government announced a plan for intended ringfencing of rent arrears that were accrued during the pandemic and for a scheme of mandatory arbitration, essentially as a way of ensuring that the pain of the pandemic is shared between landlords and tenants alike. As such, it’s anticipated the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill will become law by March 25, when the other restrictions come to an end.”

Jagdeep said the act has been massively beneficial in helping keep tenants afloat, but landlords and tenants now need to work together to ensure amicable partnerships continue and properties around the country aren’t left empty.

“It must be noted that any arrears which don’t fall within the ringfenced scheme can be enforced in the normal way. The mandatory arbitration will be binding on the tenant and landlord, so both should act reasonably during the discussions as the outcome of any arbitration may not be as favourable as a negotiated settlement,” he added.

Caption: Jagdeep Sandher, Head of Dispute Resolution at Blythe Liggins in Leamington.

A Leamington Spa solicitors which has gathered a staggering £888,000 in will pledges for Cancer Research is appealing to the public to help it reach £1 million.

Blythe Liggins gives advice and support to people writing or updating a will and through its partnership with Cancer Research, it is now just £112,000 short of reaching £1 million in legacy pledges.

The Rugby Road-based firm is encouraging members of the public to consider leaving a gift to the charity, which funds around a third of its research in this way.

Blythe Liggins has offered the free will service to people in Leamington and the surrounding area for more than 20 years and many choose to leave a gift to Cancer Research when they use the service.

Kayleigh Mullins, who is part of Blythe Liggins’ wills and probate team, said: “Gifts in wills to Cancer Research help fund a third of its life-saving research and we are extremely grateful to everyone who makes the kind offer of a gift in their own will.

“There are amazing projects going on locally and it is great that we can support them. At the University of Warwick, Dr Steve Royle is looking at how our cells divide in minute detail. He’s using powerful microscopes to study the structure and function of molecules involved in this process.

“Having a better understanding of this could lead to new ways to stop cancer forming and to the development of new treatments for cancer, that work by stopping cancer cells dividing.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Cancer Research and the figure of £888,000 pledged to date is truly remarkable. However, we’d love to reach that magic million mark and any gift in a will, no matter how small, will help us along that road.”

For more information on leaving a pledge to Cancer Research in your will, contact Blythe Liggins on 01926 831231 or visit www.blytheliggins.co.uk.

 

A teenager inspired by her mum’s vital work at Warwick Hospital is the deserving winner of our NHS Christmas card competition.

Together with Leamington law firm Blythe Liggins, we asked Courier and Weekly News readers to design a Christmas ‘thank you’ card for NHS workers and join us in making a donation to NHS Charities Together.

Now the festive season is over, we’re delighted to announce Ellie Wall, 18, from Radford Semele, as our winner. She was presented with her prize of £100 by Blythe Liggins senior partner David Lester at the firm’s Edmund House headquarters last week.

Ellie’s mum Debbie works for the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and seeing the impact of the pandemic on a loved one was the driving force behind her entry.

She is planning to use the prize money for driving lessons, which were hugely interrupted during the pandemic.

Ellie said: “I think the competition is a great idea. The NHS has been under so much pressure and has saved thousands of people’s lives during the pandemic, so it’s our time to say thank you.

“I have seen the stress of frontline workers and heard about the difficult situations my mum has dealt with at work. It must have been a traumatic time for all the staff and I don’t think everyone fully understands what all NHS staff have been through.

“So I would just like to thank you for this lovely idea because it will touch all their hearts and help them all know how grateful we are for their hard work!”

David added: “When we launched this competition, we wanted to ask readers to reflect on the amazing work carried out by NHS staff and other frontline workers, and to consider the sacrifices they have all made during the pandemic.

“Ellie has a very personal connection to this and she is a very worthy winner. Many congratulations to her, on behalf of us all at Blythe Liggins.”

Anyone wanting to make a donation to NHS Charities Together can visit www.nhscharitiestogether/donate.

For more information on Blythe Liggins, call 01926 831231 or visit www.blytheliggins.co.uk.

Resolution started a campaign for the introduction of a no-fault divorce law more than 30 years ago and many involved in the family justice system have been fighting for it ever since. The successful end of the campaign last year meant 2021 was a big year for family law practitioners.

The current law dates back to 1973 and the main argument was that it was outdated, a point of view which has finally been listened to.

Everything will change on April 6 when the new legislation comes into force, incorporating Section 1 of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 into the current law.

Up until now, couples have had to be separated for two years with each other’s consent, or five years without, failing which they would need to blame the other in order to apply for a divorce. The blame could be assigned through adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion.

Now, we have a situation where a couple can approach a court on a joint basis and not blame each other, which will remove the position of Petitioner/Respondent. The intention is that it will assign no blame on either party, with both parties being referred to as the applicants and on an equal footing. Equally, one party to the marriage only can apply for a ‘Divorce Order without blaming the other party, on the basis that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, removing this culture of blame.

The response to the change in the law has really surprised and puzzled me so far this year.

Indeed, we always see a wave of new divorce applications in January. People often think ‘This is it. I am going to do it now’. They may have put it off, perhaps if there are children involved or if there are considerable financial implications, and they eventually take the plunge in the new year.

I expected to see lots of people wait until April but I’ve found the opposite – we are still seeing that the January wave and trends haven’t changed. Most of my clients have said they want to do it now. Only two or three were happy to postpone it until April.

When the change does come in, I think it will be easier for both clients and family law practitioners. We’re not going to need to think about blame and fighting for costs. And from a practical perspective, it’s going to allow clients and practitioners alike to focus on the important issues: the welfare of the children of the family and a fair division of the assets.

Legal professionals are really welcoming the change for the reason that couples will no longer be fighting for no real benefit. This will enable us to focus on the important issues and deal with them as amicably and cost-effectively as possible.

When it comes to issues such as children and money, people find it hard to separate the divorce process from the other issues, for example if one party is accusing the other of unreasonable behaviour. Emotions run high, making it difficult for them to focus on what is important.

Now, we should have a situation where no party is blaming the other and we are all working together. There should be fewer disputes and costs in respect of the divorce are likely to be equal on both sides, so it’s much easier on a human level.

Historically, the party making the application also faces the burden of legal costs, although a claim for costs is available within the divorce suit. So, removing that issue benefits everyone. What is really important in a divorce, in my view, is the wellbeing of a couple’s children and resolving their financial issues.

As legal practitioners, we are so used to dealing with the law as it is. I have been practicing family law since 2007 and campaigners have been trying to change the legislation before I even started practicing. It will be a big change for me, like everyone else, but I don’t anticipate that it will make our practice too different. The main thing will be focusing more energy on children and financial remedies and less energy on the actual basis for the divorce.

I think with less litigation and removing the ‘s/he said, s/he said’ element of the process, we are much more likely to achieve a positive result. I hope that it will result in a less negative experience overall, and I think it should be good for practitioners because, hopefully, when people see a family solicitor, they will associate less negativity with this part of the process.

Sophia Mellor, Prinicpal Associate in the Family Department.

A specialist in international family law, recognised in this year’s Legal 500, has joined Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins.

Louise Hunt had previously spent eight years with leading UK law firm Mills & Reeve, where she gained considerable experience in dealing with complex matrimonial matters. She also developed a specialist interest in international cases, particularly those involving the relocation of children outside of the UK’s jurisdiction.

Brought up in Stratford, Louise attended The Kingsley School in Leamington and then Stratford Grammar School for Girls before reading history and politics at Birmingham University. She then passed her legal practice examination at Birmingham Law School before becoming fully qualified in 2014.

Louise said: “I am very excited about joining Blythe Liggins where I will be covering all aspects of family law, including divorce, property and financial issues, children and pre-nuptial agreements.”

 

David Lester, senior partner at Blythe Liggins, said: “Louise has a formidable record in family law with one of the leading firms in the country and we are very excited about her joining us. Her knowledge of international family law will be invaluable.”

 

In this year’s Legal 500 she was described as being ‘an excellent solicitor, robust and fair, extremely efficient and thorough, great with clients and easy to communicate with’.

Louise married Dr Ian Hunt, a paediatrician at University Hospital Coventry, in July and the couple now live at Hatton Park, near Warwick, with Benji, their border collie.

 

CAPTION: Family lawyer Louise Hunt with David Lester, senior partner with Blythe Liggins.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a paralegal to join our leading Dispute Resolution team. The right candidate will be degree educated (and potentially have passed the LPC), with ideally a minimum of 12 months’ experience in civil litigation.

For the full job specification and further details, please email your CV to jms@blytheliggins.co.uk.

A leading Warwickshire law firm has welcomed a Legal 500 recommended lawyer as its new head of dispute resolution.

Jag Sandher has joined Blythe Liggins in Leamington after relocating from Berkshire, where he was the Head of Litigation for a well-respected regional firm and brings with him a wealth of experience, including successes in the High Court.

The father-of-two, who was born and raised in Coventry, has handled a number of high-profile cases during his career and is looking forward to bringing his expertise to the firm.

He said: “I’m delighted to join the expert team at Blythe Liggins and excited by my new role as the Head of Dispute Resolution. Blythe Liggins have an excellent client base and I look forward to assisting them to resolve their disputes, whether through the Courts or by alternative dispute resolution.

“The work is very varied, which means my case load can differ from one day to the next, and that’s one of the attractions and challenges of the role. I am also incredibly fortunate that I have inherited a very experienced team of litigators with a wealth of knowledge.

“The other bonus for me is being back in the Midlands. It really does feel like ‘coming home’ as I’m originally from Coventry and now I’ll be raising my family in the area, too.”

Among Jag’s previous cases was the successful resolution of a £4 million construction dispute centred on the purchase of a part-built development in South London.

He explained: “My client was in the process of purchasing the site but a dispute broke out in respect of a misrepresentation by the vendor about the way in which the foundations of the building had been constructed.”

“There was also a dispute in respect of a collateral contract where the vendor was required to continue works on site whilst the due diligence and legal work continued.

“Ultimately, the claim was settled following our disclosure of circa 3,000 pages of documents and drawings. It was an excellent result and one which pitted me against a large city firm.”

David Lester, senior partner at Blythe Liggins, said: “We’re all delighted to welcome Jag. He joins us with a hugely impressive CV and our clients will be able to benefit from his many years of experience and expertise in dispute resolution.”

Blythe Liggins is a full service firm of solicitors which also specialises in corporate and commercial law, sports law, charity, personal injury and medical negligence, property, family law, employment, wills, probate and mediation.

Two long-serving leading lights at Leamington law firm Blythe Liggins will be leaving later this month.

Richard Thornton, joint senior partner and head of dispute resolution, and Andrew Brooks, executive partner and head of family law, have decided to retire after jointly notching up almost 80 years with the firm.

Richard, who attended Warwick School, joined the firm in 1978, became a partner in 1984 and has been joint senior partner since 2008.  He qualified as a mediator in 2011 and is a passionate believer in the benefits of mediation.

Richard said: “I have worked with many excellent colleagues and have stayed rather longer than I could have imagined in 1978!  The firm has made two excellent appointments to the litigation and family departments and I am certain Blythe Liggins will go from strength to strength.”

Outside of work he has been secretary of Leamington Cricket Club, served on the committee of Warwick Boat Club, played real tennis at Moreton Morrell Tennis Court Club and recently retired as chairman of the Old Warwickian Trust, which provides bursaries to Warwick School. He is also a past chairman of the St Mary’s Hall charity in Warwick.

Andrew joined Blythe Liggins in 1987, having spent the previous three years travelling throughout the Far East and Australasia, including a stint working on a prawn fishing boat off Australia.

He was made a partner in 1991 and has spent the last 30 years heading the family law department specialising in divorce, finance and property matters.

“My philosophy has always been to look for reasonable, pragmatic and fair solutions and not for those problems that can and often do unnecessarily prevent a settlement from being reached. My approach is to try and reach a settlement without going to court,” he said.

Away from work he has run in London Marathons and several local Two Castles runs; an event sponsored by Blythe Liggins for almost 20 years. He is also a member of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club and is a keen sailor of dinghies and small boats.

“I will be finishing where I began – travelling,” he said. “I still have the wanderlust and will be setting off this autumn in a motorhome travelling around France, Spain, Morocco and the southern Sahara,” he said.

Joint senior partner David Lester, who will become overall senior partner, said both men had played an immense part in creating the ethos of the firm and building it into one of the highest regarded legal practices in the region.

CAPTION: Andrew Brooks and Richard Thornton

The Owen-George Cup for real tennis, played for at Moreton Morrell Tennis Court Club, has been won by Tom Lewis for the third time.

Tom, a former pupil at Warwick School who played cricket for Ashorne and lifted the trophy in 2013 and 2015, beat fellow club member Doug Holden.

The cup was presented by Richard Thornton, joint senior partner of Blythe Liggins Solicitors, who sponsor the event. It is named after Roland Owen-George, who together with His Honour James Blythe, founded Blythe Owen-George & Co solicitors in 1952, from which Blythe Liggins was formed in 1988.

“It’s a great honour for us to sponsor this event, marking the contribution made to this wonderful court by one of our founders,” said Mr Thornton.

Club chairman Simon Hobson said: “This tournament should have been held in March but we were forced to postpone it by lockdown so we are very pleased that we have been able to hold it at all this year and grateful to Blythe Liggins for their continued sponsorship and support of real tennis at Moreton Morrell.”

 

CAPTION: Blythe Liggins joint senior partner Richard Thornton presents the Owen-George Cup to Tom Lewis.