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So you’ve sent your kids to the grandparents and you have dinner reservations at eight. You’re about to leave your house, but before you do you set your burglar alarm. That way you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your house is protected whilst you’re out. But are you commit...
A break clause is a provision in a lease enabling the landlord or tenant to end the lease prior to the expiry of the contractual term. Tony Coates, head of commercial property at Birchall Blackburn Law, explains why great care needs to be taken when attempting to exercise a...
After a serious accident, the physical injuries are just one part of the aftermath. You may have sustained only minor injuries, or you may have fully recovered from serious ones. You may have witnessed the fatal accident of your loved one or you may be struggling to help som...
The old wives tale of putting butter on your cat’s paws to stop them returning to the old house is unfortunately not true. The logic behind the myth was that by the cat licking off the butter from their paws, they would remove the scent of the old house, and prevent th...
A new independent café bar has opened in Southport town centre this week, breathing new life into a vacant shop unit in Bold Street. Kokomo has been launched by Southport resident Adam Lunt who has swapped a career in marketing and business development to focus on the new ve...
Birchall Blackburn Law has made a double appointment to its serious injury team in the region. Leanne Tattam and Robert Jones have both joined the firm as associate solicitors from CFG Law. Leanne and Robert join Birchall Blackburn Law two months after it appointed Quentin U...
Birchall Blackburn Law has gained a new solicitor after one of its trainees became qualified. Amy Worthington has been offered a permanent position at Birchall Blackburn Law after completing a two-year training contract with the firm. After gaining experience in a number of...
April is Birchall Blackburn Law’s ‘make a Will month’ to help raise money for Queenscourt Hospice. For the past few years, Birchall Blackburn Law has been supporting the hospice, and last year the campaign raised an impressive £17,702 (including gift aid). This contributed t...
It is the fear of many that when they receive the results of the survey on their dream home, that there are going to be major things wrong. One of these potential nightmare items that could appear on a survey is asbestos. But if asbestos is found in the property you want to...
You’ve promised you’ll go on a countryside adventure with the kids and lo and behold – it’s raining again. Not to worry, you’ve got your wellies on and you’re ready to go…but there’s just one problem. Is it illegal for me to drive with wellies on – and what...
It’s moving day. Boxes are piled high, the removal men and women are already loading the van, and everything is labelled. You think you’ve remembered everything, except you haven’t. There’s one very important thing you’ve forgotten: the dog. Dogs can sense their owners...
It was a full house at the Senior Road Users Workshop yesterday (Wednesday 7th March). The event gave elderly drivers information on everything “you need to know about staying safe and independent whilst driving”. The event was held at Flyde Rugby Club as part of Lancashire’...
Regional city house prices make fast gains on the Capital While London’s property market is stalling the UK’s northern and midland’s cities have seen major growth in house prices, according to Hometrack. Immediately following the 2007-2008 financial crisis, London and Southe...
If you have been injured in an accident and it impacts on your daily life, then you need to know what steps to take next. Head of personal injury at Birchall Blackburn Law, Quentin Underhill, looks at the questions frequently asked by people looking to get their life back on...
Birchall Blackburn Law has appointed experienced lawyer Quentin Underhill to lead its serious injury team in the region. Quentin, a specialist in serious and catastrophic injury cases, joins from Cheshire-based CFG Law where he was a partner. His previous experience also inc...
Going through a divorce can be a difficult and confusing time. Gillian Graveson, family law partner at Birchall Blackburn Law looks at how alternative dispute resolution can make the process easier. It’s very rare for couples to find themselves going through a straightforwar...
A partnership of local organisations that’s helped make South Ribble a ‘dementia-friendly borough’ has named a local solicitor as its new chair person. The South Ribble Dementia Action Alliance (SRDAA) has appointed Anna-Marie Knipe, a lawyer with Birchall Blackburn Law, to...
A recent report shows that seven in ten divorcing couples don’t consider pensions during the divorce process. Partner and expert in family law at Birchall Blackburn Law, Gillian Graveson explores. Research carried out by Scottish Widows has shown that more than half of marr...
Have you been advised to make a Lasting Power of Attorney, but don’t know what one is or why you would ever need one? Here, Anna-Marie Knipe, partner and expert in private client services for the elderly at Preston-based law firm Birchall Blackburn Law answers some frequentl...
Our office front doors won’t be open between Christmas and the New Year, but many of our staff will be working throughout the Christmas period and will be happy to help you. Happy Christmas!...
Cathy MacCracken, partner at Birchall Blackburn Law, discusses what the firm has done to create a dementia friendly workplace. We understand how daunting it can be for people to visit a solicitor’s office for the first time, so to come when you have had a life-changing diagn...
Kristina Smith, private client partner at Birchall Blackburn Law and STEP appointed practitioner, looks at what digital assets are and how people can include them in their will. What are my digital assets? Like many people, you probably spend a chunk of your time online, lo...
Following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement, the media has speculated on whether they will sign a prenuptial agreement. Partner and expert in family law at Birchall Blackburn Law, Gillian Graveson explains why you may consider entering a prenuptial agreement. Getti...
Gillian Graveson, partner and expert in family law services at Birchall Blackburn Law, looks at how people buying a house or living together can protect their investment. We’re lending my son and his girlfriend money for their house deposit; what happens if they split up? T...
Claims by a senior judge that the ‘power of attorney’ system is open to abuse should not put people off making them, according a North West lawyer. Kristina Smith, a partner at Birchall Blackburn Law, says that if the right legal advice is taken, the risk of family members o...
As national Alzheimer’s awareness month comes to an end Anna-Marie Knipe, partner and expert in private client services at Birchall Blackburn Law, looks at what your role would be if you were named in a Lasting Power of Attorney. What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? A Las...
Birchall Blackburn Law has been recognised for its outstanding customer service by the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry. Birchall Blackburn Law have been shortlisted by the ESTAS in the national, regional and individual conveyancer categories. The...
Sepsis, a rare but potentially fatal infection, is not being diagnosed and treated by some NHS hospitals within the recommended time, according to figures from 104 NHS trusts. BBC Panorama has seen the data that suggests one in four hospitals is failing to give antibiotics t...
Birchall Blackburn Law has won a prestigious conveyancing award which celebrates excellence in client care. The Modern Law Conveyancing Awards have recognised Birchall Blackburn Law as the Conveyancing Firm of the Year- North of England. The awards identify those who have ac...
The new climbing season starts in earnest for members of the GB Paraclimbing Team this month. Before they hop over to Imst in Austria for the first IFSC international competition of the season (July 8-9), we grabbed five minutes with members of the team to talk about the sea...
The new climbing season starts in earnest for members of the GB Paraclimbing Team this month. Before they jetted off for Imst in Austria for the first IFSC international competition of the season (July 8-9), we grabbed five minutes with members of the team to talk about the...
The new climbing season starts in earnest for members of the GB Paraclimbing Team this month. Before they packed their bags and set off for Imst in Austria for the first IFSC international competition of the season (July 8-9), we grabbed five minutes with members of the team...
A team of asbestos and asbestosis lawyers have raised more than £550 for cancer charity Maggie’s by finishing the Essar Chester Half marathon earlier this month. Stuart Hughes, from the National Asbestos Helpline, a service offered by Birchall Blackburn Law, ran the race in...
North West law firm, Birchall Blackburn Law, has announced five senior promotions across the region. Three associates have been promoted to partner. They are Andrea Fairweather of the Residential Property team in Manchester, Chris Bolton of the Personal Injury team in Presto...
Dragons will be racing across the choppy waters of West Kirby Mariner Lake this Saturday May 20 to raise money for a vital head injury charity in Wirral. Headway Wirral is holding its fifth Dragon Boat Festival with nearly 20 motley crews from local businesses, organisation,...
People in Lancashire living with dementia can now access an expert list of legal advisors A nationwide list of solicitors has been launched by Alzheimer’s Research UK to help people locate local lawyers who have experience of working with those living with dementia and their...
GB Paraclimber and catastrophic head injury survivor, Dave Bowes, tells us how friends and the climbing community help him cope. It is typical for survivors of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to experience social isolation and loneliness due to life changing symptoms, which o...
Birchall Blackburn Law conveyancers are setting high standards when it comes to putting client needs first. The team, who deal with a whole variety of conveyancing transactions across the UK and Europe are based in the company’s offices in Manchester, Southport, Chest...
Parents can be prosecuted for taking children out of school for holidays Birchall Blackburn Law expert says parents could be prosecuted on an unprecedented scale following a Supreme Court ruling over term time holidays. The Supreme Court has ruled that parents who take their...
Law firm outlines commitment to create dementia friendly community Birchall Blackburn Law has shown its commitment to raising awareness of dementia after becoming a founding member of an action group. As a member of the South Ribble Dementia Action Alliance, the solicitors f...
We were privileged to be recently invited to the British Lung Foundation (BLF) mesothelioma research up-date to members of its Mesothelioma Patron Scheme. Hosted by the BLF’s CEO Dr Penny Woods, we heard news from Nathan Bennett, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Ian Jarrol...
Birchall Blackburn Law backs hospice’s Will making campaign Birchall Blackburn Law’s Southport Office is backing Queenscourt Hospice’s ‘Make A Will Month’ this April. The firm has pledged to waive its will-writing fees in return for a donation to the town’s hospice and is al...
Law firm’s support gives hospice funds a boost A Lancashire hospice’s funds have been boosted by more than £6,500 following support from law firm Birchall Blackburn Law. The firm teamed up with St Catherine’s Hospice in Lostock Hall, near Preston, for its annual Wills Week,...
Despite the fact that mesothelioma will be responsible for 60,000 UK deaths over the next 30 years research into the deadly lung cancer is underfunded. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable type of chest cancer caused by exposure to asbestos dust and...
Birchall Blackburn Law has reported a 13 per cent increase in turnover, following a year of investing in its people and resources. The firm, which has offices in Manchester, Chester, Preston, Chorley, Leyland and Morecambe has surpassed turnover of more than £16m in t...
A group of parents are calling for FIFA to limit under 17s from heading the ball in a lawsuit filed against the governing body this year. The US group of parents argue that FIFA hasn’t done enough to protect young players from the medical risks of repeatedly heading the ball...
North West law firm, Birchall Blackburn Law, has promoted a long-serving residential property manager at its Manchester office to Partner. Rachel Buckley, from Failsworth, joined the company as a legal assistant when she was 16. She has a wealth of experience in property and...
Kate Allatt almost died in 2010 when she suffered a severe brain stem stroke. After her coma she woke up completely locked in. She could hear and see everything around her but was completely paralysed. Her fight back was against all the odds and medical opinion. Here, at an...
Financial affairs warning ahead of digital divorce plans Divorcing online could lead to an increase in ex-spouses making financial claims many years later – unless affairs are properly addressed, a family law expert said today. Gill Graveson, partner at Birchall Black...
Happy Christmas from all our staff at Manchester, Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Chester, Morecambe and Southport. Our office front doors won’t be open between Christmas and the New Year, but many of our staff will be working throughout the Christmas period and will be hap...
A conveyancer at Morecambe-based Birchall Blackburn Law is celebrating after achieving licensed status. Rose Metcalfe, 24, from Heysham, has completed a qualification under the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) programme. The Lancaster University graduate joined Bircha...
A family law expert has reported an increase in the number of cohabitation disputes arising, as more people choose to live together but remain unmarried. Gill Graveson, partner at Birchall Blackburn Law and head of family law for the firm’s seven offices, spoke of the increa...
A website created to help ease the suffering of people bereaved by the sudden death of a loved-one has received essential funding thanks to the support of Birchall Blackburn Law. The initiative, suddendeath.org, provides an online platform for sharing best practice, resource...
A residential property law expert said housing measures announced in Wednesday’s Autumn Statement are exactly what the housing market needs. Chancellor Philip Hammond announced a £2.3bn housing infrastructure fund to help provide 100,000 new homes in high-demand areas and a...
With news that six people die of the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma every day in England and Wales, this year’s flagship National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses (NLCFN) Conference had a timely focus on the aggressive lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a terminal lung cancer ca...
A law firm is today reminding people about the need for specialist legal advice when creating a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), following a national investigation into ‘DIY’ methods. Birchall Blackburn Law, which has seven offices across the North West, has joined a...
New figures have highlighted the appeal of using housing wealth to help fund later life and it’s becoming a more ‘accessible’ option to people, a residential property law expert said today. The Equity Release Council, which Birchall Blackburn Law is a member of, revealed tha...
A specialist lawyer who is passionate about supporting people with dementia and improving understanding of the condition has been named a ‘Dementia Friends Champion’. Kristina Smith, of Birchall Blackburn Law, has joined a nationwide drive by the Alzheimer’s Society to crea...
A Manchester based law firm has strengthened its serious and catastrophic injury team with the appointment of Emma Clarke. Emma, originally from Sheffield, joins the team at Birchall Blackburn Law as an Assistant Solicitor at its Manchester office. The 28-year-old, graduated...
Two daredevils from Birchall Blackburn Law will take ‘shop till you drop’ to a whole new level when they abseil down Manchester’s Trafford Centre’s clock tower next month. Dianne Yates, Partner and Head of the Serious and Catastrophic Injury Department at Birchall Blac...
A specialist solicitor has been named as a Dementia Friends Champion – as part of a nationwide initiative to improve understanding of the condition and create four million Dementia Friends by 2020. Rebecca Minto, of Preston-based Birchall Blackburn Law, specialises in all as...
A leading law firm has been shortlisted for three awards at this year’s Lancashire Business Awards. Birchall Blackburn Law, which has offices in locations including Manchester, Preston, Chorley, Leyland and Morecambe, has been nominated for the legal firm of the year award a...
Campaigners, sufferers and their families have expressed their frustration following the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold a judgement that means many asbestos lung cancer victims will only recover a fraction of the compensation they are owed. Asbestos specialist solicito...
A Morecambe lawyer has bolstered her specialist Wills and probate expertise after securing a prestigious industry qualification. Kristina Smith (pictured), who is partner at Victoria Street-based Birchall Blackburn Law, has obtained the Diploma in Trusts and Estates from the...
Secret industry documents have revealed that the world’s biggest asbestos factory ran a smear campaign in the 1980s against journalists and campaigners who were trying to expose the deadly consequences of breathing in asbestos dust. An exclusive report, by Dean Kirby for The...
The annual Wills Week at St.Catherine’s Hospice returns on November 9th and Birchall Blackburn Law have already made a head start with appointments booking up fast! During Wills Week Birchall Blackburn Law are waiving their will-writing fees in return for a donation to...
Major risk to cyclists in Manchester. There are reports of injuries as people come off their bikes on the tram tracks, particularly at the Cemetery Road Metrolink stop. If you have fallen and injured yourself on a cycling route which goes over the tram tracks we’d lik...
In the case of Sinclair v Joyner [2015] the vulnerable road user was Mrs Sinclair who was riding her bicycle down a country lane. The Defendant, Mrs Joyner was travelling on the opposite side of the road. Although some of the facts were disputed the court found that Mrs Sinc...
Birchall Blackburn Law has launched their search for the next generation of talent to join their growing team through the launch of training contracts. The company, named as one of Britain’s most inspiring businesses, of...
According to research, nurses and other medical staff risk spreading hospital-acquired infections – such as MRSA – because they are washing their uniforms at home in water that is not hot enough to kill off certain bacteria. Researches from De Montford University, in Leicest...
Growth in housing market prompts launch of apprenticeship programme with Manchester Metropolitan University A high-growth Manchester law firm is also looking to attract youngsters aspiring for a career in law through a new apprenticeship scheme with Manchester Metropolitan U...
Birchall Blackburn Law identified in London Stock Exchange’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ Birchall Blackburn Law has been recognised as one of London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. The report is a celebration of the UK’s fastest-growing and most d...
Whether you’re buying your first home or adding to your portfolio, it’s an exciting time. To protect your home through to retirement and beyond, here are two important tools you can rely on. Tools that are more far reaching than insurance, security, or the other usual suspec...
Stuart Duffield and Lindsay Cavanagh lived in a beautiful 18th Century barn conversion but in April 2013, the unthinkable happened. A drunk driver ploughed his vehicle into the side of their home at high speed and the damage to the house was so severe that it needed to be su...
Is it illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day? It has been claimed that the act of eating a mince pie on Christmas Day is illegal. Festive celebrations, including mince pies and Christmas puddings, were reportedly banned in Oliver Cromwell’s England as part of effor...
The Supreme Court is the highest Court in the UK, and the last domestic court that civil complainants can appeal to. Manchester Law Society invited its president, Lord Neuberger, to talk about the role of the civil trial judge. Theresa Fenton, Insolvency and Litigation spec...
Despite love in the air this Valentine’s Day month, the Law Society is urging couples to get a pre-nup agreement for their pets. Legal experts say Valentines sweethearts should prepare for the worst, or risk losing their pets to a disgruntled partner. 1 in 4 divorces involv...
New legislation came into force on 17 July 2014 in Jersey, making it compulsory for children under 14 to wear a cycling helmet. It is the first place in the British Isles enact such a law. The proposal was first made in 2010 by Deputy Andrew Green MBE, the Minister for Hous...
Radical changes for young drivers as 5 people a day died on UK roads last year. The road safety debate rages on – such an emotive issue because it impacts each one of us. Powerful advertising, innovative road layouts and alterations to the driving test pop up in the media r...
Leading Leyland law firm Birchall Blackburn Law has underlined its commitment to the local community by supporting the town’s swimming gala event for the fourth year running. The 40th Leyland Barracudas Annual Swim Gala, organised by the Leyland Barracudas Swimming Club, saw...
More people than ever before are cohabiting. But do you know which rights you do and don’t have, as an unmarried couple? Marriage rates are at their lowest since the ‘80s and more people than ever are perfectly happy cohabiting, instead. However, unmarried couples are often...
Did you know that in some parts of the world it is illegal to go out of your house if you are not wearing underwear? The world is full of amazing laws that might seem quite strange to some of us. According to dumblaws.com it is illegal in Thailand to leave your house if you...
The unforeseen gap in financial plans during retirement By today’s standards, the UK population generally enjoys greater health and mobility, well into their later years. Plus, the Office for National Statistics predicts that by 2035, the number of people aged 85 and over wi...
With children out ‘trick or treating’ and enjoying firework displays, it’s not only a time for fun but a time for safety awareness. Sadly, serious accidents can happen at this time of year and the focus is on the long-lasting impact of brain injury sustained by head trauma....
Six of our UK offices worked together to raise over £850 (and counting) for Macmillan Cancer Support this month. Firstly, thank-you so much to all who donated and got involved. Your generosity means there’s extra money in the pot for the vast support Macmillan provide for pe...
Not long ago, the Court of Protection featured heavily in the press, branded as a ‘secret court.’ It was at this crucial time that Rosemary Johns, Associate Solicitor at Birchall Blackburn Law, began to develop and strengthen legal practice. Specifically, the way...
Although scientists are likely to be some way off finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there appears to be a major breakthrough in early detection of the condition by a simple blood test. This low cost test could identify those people who may be at risk of developing Alz...
Peers in the House of Lords were given the first chance to debate Lord Saatchi’s Medical Innovation bill. The proposals are pioneered by Lord Saatchi, who tragically lost his wife to cancer. The bill, should it become law, will allow doctors to try new treatments or drugs on...
Asbestos-related illnesses still dominate the Industrial Disease cases we see. Our team were interested to read about one such case involving Marks & Spencer and a Shop-floor Supervisor – not a role considered ‘high risk’ for asbestos exposure. Janice Allen,...
Helen Bradley and her team attended Manchester Action Mesothelioma Day on Friday 4th July 2014. Despite the inclement Manchester weather, hundreds gathered to remember those who lost their lives to mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer most commonly affecting the lining of t...
This Friday, 4th July 2014, BBLaw’s Helen Bradley, the Industrial Disease team and I will be attending the Action Mesothelioma Day. At 12.30pm there will be a release of sponsored doves outside Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square, followed by a public meeting at 1pm where...
It seems that not a week goes by without a heart-breaking news story about the mistreatment, abuse or neglect of elderly people in residential care homes. I’m a working mum so I carefully researched local nurseries, before selecting the one that I felt would best look afte...
The Independent has recently reported that there are now even more reasons to learn a new language. Not only will it improve your holiday experiences and widen your choice of destinations but it can also delay the onset of dementia. Bilingual adults suffer the onset of demen...
It is no laughing matter…comedian Caroline Aherne supports launch of Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership in Manchester. On Thursday 26th June 2014, comedian Caroline Aherne spoke to over 170 cancer patients, health care professionals and carers at an event at Mancheste...
We are delighted to see that Michael Lees, Campaigner and one of the founders of Asbestos in Schools Group, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Michael’s wife Gina, who was a nursery school teacher, died of mesothelioma (an incurable form of...
NHS England announced recently that twenty GP collaborations have been awarded funds to run one-year pilot schemes for extended GP opening hours. The aim of the schemes is to transform primary services and improve patient’s experiences. This scheme is particularly relevant a...
Lawyers from the Industrial Disease teams at Birchall Blackburn Law will be attending this year’s Action Mesothelioma Day in Manchester on 04 July 2014. Each year in Manchester, and cities across the country, people join together to raise awareness of mesothelioma, remember...
Did you spot Cathy MacCracken in PS’s In Your Gift article? The article was first published in the May edition of PS, the magazine of Law Society’s Private Client Section. You can read the article by Sue Davison by clicking this link or at at www.probatese...
Research has shown that between 10 & 20% of those who suffer a traumatic brain injury go on to develop epilepsy, but can this be avoided? A team of researchers from the University of California think that it can. They have made an exciting discovery, which will potential...
Unmarried partners in long-term relationship have had their rights improved after the death of a par...
Mesh implants that are currently used to treat pelvic organ prolapse should be banned in England, sa...
What do you do if you suspect poor medical care or medical negligence? The vast majority of people t...
Sepsis, a rare but potentially fatal infection, is not being diagnosed and treated by some NHS hospi...
More than 709,000 patient medical notes have been left to build-up in a warehouse and it is feared t...