RWK Goodman Directors’ Briefing

Lawyers from RWK Goodman’s commercial and private client teams have compiled this latest briefing to make directors aware of new issues which may have a bearing on their business or personal plans.

Poor energy efficiency could seriously hinder property lettings

From 1 April 2018, commercial property landlords will be prohibited from granting a new tenancy or extending or renewing an existing tenancy if the EPC rating of the property is below band “E”. The energy efficiency rules are set to get even stricter from 1 April 2023, when landlords will be unable to continue to let a commercial property if the EPC rating is below this band. Landlords will need to consider whether the terms of the lease allow them to pass the liability or cost of the works down to the tenant. But it is not just landlords who will be affected by the new regulations. Tenants will be equally concerned to assess whether the terms of the lease will oblige them to carry out the works or to meet the costs where the works are carried out by the landlord.

To find out more and explore your options, contact our Commercial Property team at [email protected]

When divorce becomes a business affair

Many directors and shareholders of companies, particularly SMEs, are advised by accountants to ‘employ’ their spouses in order to be tax efficient through either the payment of dividends or PAYE. This works well when the marriage is successful but employers need to be aware that when a marriage is dissolved, the spouse has been legally employed by the business and is still entitled to payment at the same level of remuneration as before. It can be very tricky to buy a spouse out of a business in which he or she has never had any real interest, particularly when shares have been transferred to them.  Careful thought needs to be given to the tax advantages, weighed up against the consequences of divorce.

For a confidential discussion of this or any other aspect of divorce, please contact our Family team at [email protected]

Resolving boardroom disputes without court intervention

Disputes can cause huge tensions in the boardroom, and we have been advising a growing number of companies and individuals who wish to negotiate the way forward with a director or shareholder or their own exit from the business. With careful management, disputes can be resolved and an amicable agreement reached without recourse to litigation which can be expensive and time consuming. Whatever the nature of the dispute, it is important to explore all of the options available. We can assist and even mediate if necessary to preserve the financial and personal interests of both shareholders and directors.

For more information, please contact our Dispute Resolution team at [email protected]

Counting down to the Apprenticeship Levy

With less than three months until the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy on 6th April, liable businesses may wish to give some thought as to how they may be able to use their contribution to best effect.  All UK employers with an annual pay bill exceeding £3 million will qualify to pay the levy, irrespective of whether they currently engage apprentices. The levy will amount to 0.5% of the total pay bill minus an allowance of £15,000. It will be payable monthly via PAYE and employers must declare any levy liability to HMRC by April.

To find out more about how your business might be affected, please contact our Employment team at [email protected]

Are non-voting directors a good idea?

We have recently been asked about the best way to deal with people who wish to attend board meetings in an advisory capacity only i.e. without having conduct of the company’s day to day business. Typically each director has one vote at a board meeting, and while there is no legal restriction which prevents a company from appointing non-voting directors (by including wording in its articles of association) we would not recommend this approach. Directors have significant statutory duties, and decisions taken by a board are collective (even when voting against or abstaining on a proposal). A better solution is for these individuals to attend board meetings as observers, who have notice of and the right to attend board meetings, but no voting rights.

To discuss your business issues, please contact our Corporate team at [email protected]

Directors urged to share good governance practices with charities

Following the public collapse of the charity Kids Company last year, the Institute of Directors has held up the private sector as a worthy example of good governance that charities should emulate. Directors, who are also directors or trustees of charities and not-for-profit organisations, are being urged to share their experiences of good business practice and help avoid another Kids Company-style scandal.

If you are unsure whether your charity is governed as effectively as it should be, then we can help with a review of the charity’s existing governing document and key processes. Please contact our Charities team for more information at [email protected]