Wrigley Claydon Solicitors

Category: News

  • Multi-million pound legal battle for estranged husband and wife behind tiger charity

    Multi-million pound legal battle for estranged husband and wife behind tiger charity

    Chinese conservationist Li Quan and estranged husband Stuart Bray, a banker from America, who founded a charity called Save Chinese Tigers before their marriage broke down have returned to court for another round of litigation in their multi-million-pound legal fight.

    For three years, they have been embroiled in a legal battle. Ms Li claims that Mr Bray used a £50 million offshore trust set up to fund a shelter for South China tigers to hide his money. In turn, Mr Bray maintains he has committed his cash to saving endangered animals and is virtually penniless.

    The couple initially fought at a hearing in the High Court in London and Ms Li complained about a ruling by Judge Sir Paul Coleridge.

    She argued that money put into the Save China’s Tigers charity was used to fund the couple’s “personal lives” but Mr Bray disagreed.

    The Judge ruled in Mr Bray’s favour, calling her an “unreliable” source, but Ms Li complained that there was a “lack of detail” in the ruling and called for a review.

    Two appeal judges last year agreed that the Judge’s ruling should be reconsidered.

    The latest hearing, at the Court of Appeal in London, is due to end later this week.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make the difficult process of divorce or separation a little easier. We are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for family advice or want to know how to start divorce proceedings then please call 0161 785 3521 to speak to Terri Pickup in our Family Department or email tp@wrigleyclaydon.com.
  • 20 year-long bitter neighbour dispute could see pensioner face criminal trial

    20 year-long bitter neighbour dispute could see pensioner face criminal trial

    A pensioner is to face a criminal trial for ‘illegally digging up some soil’ as part of a bitter neighbour dispute that has lasted nearly 20 years.

    Valerie Vivian was allegedly spotted digging up soil laid by her neighbours in a jointly-owned communal garden in Somerset.

    Her neighbours had laid the soil over a gravel path she had allegedly put down in a ‘land-grab’ without planning permission, which goes back to a planning dispute that started in 2001.

    Vivian’s neighbours previously accused her of planting around 300 50ft leylandii trees on her land to block their views in ‘an act of revenge’ after they opposed her application to build on the land.

    Mrs Vivian has applied six times to build four houses on private land she bought in 1996 but each time has been refused.

    The council denied the application after opposition from neighbours who were worried a development would block their views of Solisbury Hill.

    Neighbours accused her of blackmail after she promised to remove the wall of trees if they backed her planning application, but they refused to do so.

    The council says they cannot act as homes in the street get plenty of sunlight and homeowners do not have a legal right to a view of Solisbury Hill.

    However, after years of arguing, there are rumours that residents plan to take the law into their own hands and cut the trees down themselves.

    If you find yourself in a neighbour dispute then call Shalish Mehta in our civil and commercial litigation department on 0161 785 3534 or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com. We can advise you on the appropriate course of action and assist with any legal documents or proceedings that may occur.

    How important is it you to have good relations with your neighbours?

  • Construction dispute against rogue traders

    Two rogue traders in charge of building firms which carried out tens of thousands of pounds of shoddy work face prison after they admitted a catalogue of reckless trading offences.

    Jonathan Jones and Rebecca Dack pleaded guilty to crimes against customers who were charged more than £50,000 for building work.

    It was said they “failed to adequately undertake building works”, while in one they failed to provide a cost breakdown.

    Jonathan Jones told a woman he needed a £1,450 deposit to build a new wall at her home, he told another woman he needed £1,200 to build a patio, and told a man he needed £4,300 to construct a driveway, as well as promising refunds of £1,200 and £300 for cancelled works.

    Rebecca Dack told one customer a contract could not be terminated within the cancellation period as £800 had been spent on materials.

    If you have received a shoddy service from a builder or contractor then you may have a right of action under the Consumer Rights Act. The Act states that the work must be completed with reasonable care and skill be completed within a reasonable time, unless a specific time is agreed and use materials that are of satisfactory quality and fit for their purpose.

    We can help you obtain the result that you deserve.

    If you feel you have consumer issue and need some legal advice then please speak to our construction dispute solicitor Shalish Mehta, our civil and commercial litigation solicitor. Please call us on 0161 785 3534 or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Read more about Construction Disputes.

  • Can an ex spouse ask for more years after a divorce settlement?

    Glen Briers built a £30million sports and street-wear business incorporating brands Lambretta and Vision Streetwear.

    When he split from Nicola Briers, his wife of 18 years in 2002, the business was turning over £1million a year.

    When they divorced Mr Briers gave his wife £150,000 to pay off the mortgage and she kept the £700,000 family home.

    She also got a £10,000-a- year salary, plus child maintenance but he kept the business and is now said to be worth £10million.

    After her relationship with her new partner broke down, Mrs Briers went to court asking for more from Mr Briers.

    In 2015, Judge Rogers declared Mr Briers ‘a liar’ who resorted to ‘deception’ in trying to play down his wealth and therefore Mrs Briers was entitled to more.

    The court found that Mr Brier’s failure to honestly disclose his assets meant that his ex-wife had never given her informed consent to the deal.

    Mr Briers then challenged the judge’s decision at the Court of Appeal, insisting that his ex-wife should get only a £500,000 lump sum.

    He argued that the success of his business since the split was all down to his hard work and that it was far too late for his ex-wife to go back on their ‘clean break’.

    But three senior judges have now thrown out his complaints and ordered him to pay the full £2.7 million.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively and fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier

    If you are looking for family advice then please call our Oldham family solicitors on 0161 785 3521 to speak to Corinne Bailey-Brown in our Family Department or email cb@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Tell us if you think it is fair that the ex-wife was able to go back to court to ask for more money.

  • Tragic case of PC Paul Briggs highlights the need for Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney

    Tragic case of PC Paul Briggs highlights the need for Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney

    The recent case of ‘right to die’ policeman Paul Briggs, highlights the need for people of all ages to have in place a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney.

    PC Briggs, 43, was involved in a head-on collision on his motorcycle on his way to work for Merseyside Police in July 2015. He suffered several serious injuries including a bleed on the brain and five fractures to his spine. He had been “minimally conscious” in a coma since the accident.

    His wife, Lindsey Briggs, fought on her husband’s behalf for his right to be allowed to die. Although no formal, written “living will” had been made by Mr Briggs about what should happen to him in such circumstances, Mrs Briggs believed her husband would want to be allowed to die. Mrs Briggs applied to the Court of Protection – where judges consider matters concerning people who lack mental capacity and the ability to make decisions for themselves – for her husband to stop receiving life-support treatment. Doctors at The Walton Centre in Liverpool opposed to withdrawing treatment, however Mr Justice Charles ruled in Mrs Briggs’ favour in November 2016 after a yearlong battle through the courts.

    Mr Briggs was transferred to a hospice in December to receive palliative care and died on 21st January 2017.

    Had Mr Briggs had a Lasting Power of Attorney for his Health and Welfare in which he had given his wife the authority to refuse life sustaining treatment on his behalf, the application, delays, upset and, in her opinion, loss of dignity and possible prolonged suffering, would not have been necessary.

    Partner and head of Trusts, Wills, Probate and Powers of Attorney at Wrigley Claydon, Rachel Damianou comments, “Mr Briggs was young and such a scenario would clearly not have ever crossed his mind but the case highlights the fact that Lasting Powers of Attorney are not just for the elderly.”

    Lindsey Briggs has said she hopes her husband’s story will help other families facing similar dilemmas by highlighting the importance of making “advanced decisions” or Lasting Power of Attorney. She added, “A document, a statement of his wishes would have been totally non-negotiable. But Paul didn’t have one. Who does? You think as a wife you’ll be able to speak for your husband, be their voice. It’s shocking to find that you can’t.”

    For further advice on appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney please speak to our experienced probate department on 0161 624 6811.

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  • Will dispute solicitor

    A former judge and her husband who forged a dead man’s will in order to obtain two country cottages which they then converted into a £325,000 home were jailed for six months each earlier today.

    Margaret and Alan Hampshire made it appear as though Martin Blanche had left his house to an elderly cousin of Mrs Hampshire’s on whose behalf she held power of attorney.

    The court had heard how Mr Blanche was a ‘simple man’ who it was thought couldn’t read or write and it was widely considered by those who knew him that it was therefore unlikely he would have written a will.

    The Hampshires claimed they had found a will written by Mr Blanche who they had never even met, as they cleared out his cluttered home after his death.

    Mrs Hampshire, who had previously worked as a solicitor specialising in wills and probate, then transferred the property and another property that her cousin and Mr Blanche had jointly owned to her daughter, before she and her husband knocked through and developed the two homes into one large cottage.

    They initially denied the offences, but pleaded guilty to a string of charges including forgery, fraud and theft part-way through a trial at Nottingham Crown Court last month.

    Judge Gregory Dickinson QC told them: ‘It is a statement of the obvious that forging a will for whatever reason is very serious”.

    A confiscation will take place next year to determine if the pair will have to pay back any proceeds from their crimes.

    Wills and Probate disputes can be very complex and require expert legal guidance to resolve matters as fairly as possible.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier, whether you are bringing a claim or you are on the receiving end. We are experienced in this field and have won complex cases for our clients.

    As it is an emotional time we deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for a Will dispute solicitor please contact us. Call 0161 785 3534 to speak to Shalish Mehta, in our civil and commercial litigation department or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.

  • Remaining friends after a split – our separation solicitors wonder is it possible?

    The actor Laurence Fox, who earlier this year divorced actress Billie Piper, has split with model Vogue Williams, the ex-wife of former Westlife singer Brian McFadden.

    This is the actor’s first festive period he spends without his two sons.

    The actor said, “We’re just really great mates. We have always just been good mates before [meeting on] Bear Grylls: Mission Survive and we continue to be really great mates”.

    These are sentiments that many of our clients express however a breakdown of a relationship can be a very emotional time.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier. We are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for family advice then please call our separation solicitors on 0161 785 3521 to speak to Corinne Bailey-Brown in our Family Department or email cb@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Tell us if you think it is possible to remain friends after a split.

  • Singer Sia calls time on her marriage

    Grammy awards nominated singer Sia, whose songs include Cheap Thrills and Chandelier has announced her divorce from husband Erik Anders Lang. Sia, whose full name is Sia Kate Isobelle Furler married her husband at her home in California in August 2014.

    Her statement read ‘After much soul searching and consideration we have made the decision to separate as a couple. We are, however, dedicated to remaining friends. There will be no further comment.’

    These are sentiments that many of our clients express however a breakdown of a relationship can be a very emotional time.

    At Wrigley Claydon, we fight on your behalf to make this difficult time a little easier. We are experienced family lawyers and can assist you with the legal aspects of any family situation in which you may find yourself. We deal with our cases sensitively.

    If you are looking for separation solicitors Oldham law firm Wrigley Claydon Solicitors can help. Please call 0161 785 3521 to speak to Corinne Bailey-Brown in our Family Department or email cb@wrigleyclaydon.com.

    Tell us if you think it is possible to remain friends after a divorce.

  • Anti-harrassment injunction issued in right-of-way neighbour dispute

    Anti-harrassment injunction issued in right-of-way neighbour dispute

    A farmer has been criticised by a Judge for harassing his neighbours in a right of way dispute.

    Peter Robinson insisted on driving his tractor at a snail’s pace along a track leading up to his farm in County Durham. He put in more than a dozen speed bumps in a bid to make life as “inconvenient as possible” for his neighbours.

    The farmer would “jump out” on visitors as they drove along the track, accusing them of speeding and asking them their business.

    When Mr Bramwell repaired a pothole on the track, Mr Robinson removed the filling and turned it back into a hole.

    The neighbours had a right of way over the farmer’s land in order to gain access to their property but the farmer accused them of trespassing and making “excessive use” of the right of way. But the couple said the farmer was unlawfully interfering with their right of way and issued proceedings at Newcastle County Court.

    Now the Judge has issued the farmer with an anti-harassment injunction and ordered him to pay his neighbours damages of £4800.00 for the “substantial inconvenience, anxiety and distress” he caused them and also legal costs bills that are likely to dwarf that sum.

    The Judge further said: “It would have been far better if it could have been resolved amicably”. But all attempts at mediation had failed before the dispute made its way to court.

    If you find yourself in dispute with your neighbours then call Shalish Mehta in our civil and commercial litigation department on 0161 785 3534 or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com. We can advise you on the appropriate course of action and assist with any legal documents or proceedings that may occur.

    How important is it you to have good relations with your neighbours?

  • Success for our Debt Recovery Solicitors

    Success for our Debt Recovery Solicitors

    We acted for a commercial landlord who sued his tenant for unpaid rent and service charges. We successfully obtained a Judgment in the sum of £90,000 and costs following a trial in the County Court.

    Running a business can be difficult in this today’s economic climate and with the uncertainties following Brexit.

    It can be doubly difficulty and frustrating if customers fail to pay on time or in full when a payment is due.

    Using Wrigley Claydon as your Debt Recovery solicitors is a cost effective way of recovering debts. We are experienced in Commercial Debt Collection and Consumer Debt Collection as well as providing a complete and personal debt recovery service.

    If you are looking for to recover monies owed to you then please contact us. Call 0161 785 3534 to speak to Shalish Mehta in our Debt Recovery Department or email sm@wrigleyclaydon.com.