Michelle Ward

Industry Update: Reduced Probate Application Waiting Times Exciting news in the probate industry! The waiting time for probate applications has significantly decreased again. According to HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the average timeline from submission to grant issue has improved from 11.3 weeks to 10.2 weeks. April marked the shortest waiting time since March of last year when it stood at 10.8 weeks. This improvement brings the current average down to 10.2 weeks, the quickest turnaround we've seen in a while. The waiting time is the shortest number of weeks seen for a while. As of recent, the waiting time seemed to keep going up – resulting in a new waiting time record of 15.8 weeks which sparked concerns within the industry. The data also highlights the growing trend toward digital applications. Of the 28,356 total grants issued in April, 23,706 were digital, indicating the increasing popularity of digitization. For non-stopped applications, the average wait was 4.9 weeks, down from 6.1 weeks in March. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e3hsxTYt If you're going through probate, our team at Lifetime Solicitors is here to help make the process smoother. Contact us today for expert assistance and support.

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I find the Up and Running/Deckers object infringement Judgment a bit strange. I don't have any reason to think that it is incorrect from a legal perspective, although please do comment if you think otherwise. But from an economic perspective, it is hard to see how the behaviour in question (preventing the resale of a certain brand of trainer on a discount website) could possibly have any material effect on competition in any relevant market. Are we really saying that it is a valuable use of legal/court/authority time and resources to police the choices to whom individual firms supply? And if not, should the selective distribution rules have some safe harbour thresholds? I suppose I am really questioning why this issue should be considered an object restriction. (No disclosure, I am not involved.) https://lnkd.in/eEXK4tE5

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Important lessons on signage and prescriptive rights following the recent decision in Nicholson and anr v Hale and anr [2024]UKUT 153 (LC).

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Patent Box tax relief has never been more generous for claimant companies, however, HMRC’s updated guidance is essential reading to ensure compliance. #TaxRelief #IntellectualProperty #PatentBox #YesTax https://lnkd.in/efQ8AQTE

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This as one standout line,....The regulations may make provisions regarding the granting of a licence in England, including provisions which mean a licensing authority could not grant a licence to a premises in a particular area (for example, proximity to a school), or limiting the number of licences within a particular area. #licensing #vaping #smoking

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Problems submitting factual accuracy comments to #CQC? 🟢 We submitted a factual accuracy via CQC’s web portal on 1 August. 🟢 Fast forward to late September - CQC asked us to resubmit via webform/portal (whatever they are calling that function now). The reason - it had got “stuck” in the system and CQC could not move it to the next stage. We pointed out unfair additional cost and burden on our client. 🟢 We had also sent to CQC by email at time of submitting due to previous problems with submissions going missing - we asked CQC to use that version 🟢 CQC said it needed to be re-uploaded to the webform/portal - needs to be in the system to move it to the next stage, otherwise CQC can’t publish report 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🟢 We attempt to resubmit online - original content still showing in text boxes but had to re-upload evidence… ….but then when reaching the end, it would not respond when we tried to submit it! Additional time and cost wasted (for us and provider) 🟢 Now CQC seems to be recognising problems with portal and has now confirmed that submissions by email CAN be accepted in exceptional circumstances (although we are also being told the IT problem is fixed). Who else is having problems submitting factual accuracy comments? #CQC #factualaccuracy #CQCinspectionreport #CQCSAF #singleassessmentframework #healthandsocialcare #healthcarelaw #CQCsolicitors #carehome #supportedliving #homecare

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Sometimes we all have difficulties with clients that just don’t understand your particular services. As a professional investigator and process server I encounter this quite reguarly. This short article gives you an idea ….. https://lnkd.in/ezZAigC5

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Roll-up, roll-up, get your "The Invincibles" branded cash registers here..... Jens Lehman and the rest of Arsenal's 2003/4 "Invincibles" team have bought a UK TM for the mark THE INVINCIBLES: https://lnkd.in/e2E5ywm4. They plan to exploit it to generate an income for the squad (and staff). Some of what the mark covers makes sense, for example clothing, downloadable videos, downloadable virtual goods etc. I'm not sure the world needs "The Invincibles" cash registers though. Particularly, given how tight The Invincibles back 5 were... not getting much change out of those cash registers..... https://lnkd.in/exZkRen6

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Launching on 5th August: NEW INSIGHTS Gain greater case status clarity with our upgraded WUPA file. Know about any changes made to a Winding-Up Petition case by HM Courts, and see any new status as it becomes available. Find out more or request a sample file at: https://lnkd.in/eGydWx7X #DataExperts #DataIntelligence #CompaniesHouse #WindingUpPetitionApplications #ContinuousProductImprovement #DataInsights

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The publicity around Meghan's American Riviera Orchard trade mark is a useful reminder that it is good practice to file trade marks before launch, and that specification objections are a normal (and often relatively minor) step in the process. You can read my brief thoughts here: https://lnkd.in/eyrrUpt7 #trademarks #ip #wipo #AmericanRivieraOrchard

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Conflicting marks and acting quickly – we look at the ICE v ICE case and what this means for brand owners. The ICE v ICE case was the first IP case in which the Court of Appeal departed from assimilated CJEU case law. Brand owners will need to take a slightly different approach in the UK than in the EU when protecting and enforcing trade marks. Leanne Gulliver and Hannah Edwards unpack the key features of this notable case. Our IP experts recently hosted a webinar series providing practical tips on how to protect, exploit or enhance your IP. Listen to the recordings here > https://lnkd.in/g9gPp_5D #IP #Trademarks #IntellectualProperty

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Very interesting that we have already had our first C1 grades. There was much talk about whether we would see any at all, so it's certainly positive that we have had two of them in the first wave of inspections. Of course a C1 grade does not mean perfection, but it is notable that the judgments make specific reference to 1) up-to-date records of the condition of homes, 2) effective communication about timings for repairs and 3) effective tenant engagement and influence structures. Those are undoubtedly the central issues to the consumer standards compliance. #ukhousing #socialhousing https://lnkd.in/g64YsDJT

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Are you a keen list maker? I am! Ben Wootton is not such a fan... either way, there are always jobs that fall to the bottom of the to-do list for most people. We often find our client's privacy notices somewhere further down their pile. Check out our blog for some good reasons to bring it up the list, and do let us know if we can help. #DataProtection #StayUpdated

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Download Dye & Durham UK latest e-book for an easy-to-use guide on managing the business side of your law firm. Inside you’ll find: 🎯key industry insight about how other law firms operate 🎯breakdown of the benefits of practice management systems 🎯potential pitfalls if you don't have one Get your free copy: https://bit.ly/3ZJfZYG

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When building a new brand, it is easy to be sidetracked from protecting your intellectual property at the outset. A trade mark is a very important asset and protecting it is crucial for brand protection, enforcement and monetisation purposes. In this guide, Ben Travers, Partner and Bethany Wheeler-Fowler, Associate consider five key considerations when creating and protecting a new brand name. Find out more: https://loom.ly/1r259gQ

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DEFRA Publish illustrative base fees for extended producer responsibility packaging levy: DEFRA have published lower, median and upper cost estimates for 8 packaging materials covered by the extended producer responsibility levy from 2025/6. The published ‘Illustrative’ figures are to be revised, potentially taking into account the autumn statement in September. #sustainability

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