HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has introduced new procedures for civil fraud investigations.  The new Contractual Disclosure Facility (CDF) was launched on 31 January 2012, which follows consultation with interested parties during Autumn 2011.  The new procedures will see HMRC writing to taxpayers to inform them that they are suspected of…

Six per cent is not a large proportion of the whole – to achieve this result in a SAT or other examination would be disappointing but in the context of kick-starting economic growth it appears to be a vital statistic. The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts or “Nesta“,…

Delegates at Cintra HR and Payroll Services first ever National User Conference on Thursday 2nd February heard how Government planned changes to pensions and Real Time Information tax collection will affect all employers in the UK over the next few years.  Starting with the UK’s largest employers, from October onwards new…

There are a number of factors your business should consider if you are thinking of settling a commercial dispute. A settlement gives your business certainty and closure, and avoids the anxiety of having to wait for a judgment from court and the uncertainty about that outcome. Reaching a settlement avoids the expense…

Commercial law firm Muckle LLP have dismissed last year’s forecast retrenchment and downturn in the region by facilitating a healthy amount of deals.The Corporate Finance Team have recently announced deal statistics for the 2011 calendar year, which reveal mid market private equity became much more active in the region.At the…

I was thinking about my mate Jonny from school the other day. Jonny had been born with a condition that meant he couldn’t straight his legs. Do you remember when two people would pick their football team at playtime. Who did I always want to pick first. It was Jonny. Why?…

When The Tipster was a lad his Saturday morning treat was to wander down to the Market Place in Durham and have a visit to the Emporium that was Woolworths. It was the shop that seemed to sell everything from bags of pick and mix to snow goggles to electric…

Dickinson Dees has played an instrumental part in an €180 million sale of Attends Healthcare to Domtar Corporation.The Newcastle based firm acted for the management of Attends Healthcare, which is represented in more than 20 countries, and has a world renowned manufacturing facility in Sweden.  Private equity house 3i funded…

Business should consider the law before sacking or making staff redundant, or risk facing costly and embarrassing employment tribunals. According to Michael Slade, managing director of Bibby Consulting & Support, businesses should take heed of the recent Woolworths case, where over 24,000 former employees have been awarded up to £67.8…