1. Home
  2. Solicitors in Brighton

Solicitors in Brighton

High quality legal advice with friendly service, our solicitors in Brighton and the surrounding area are here to help you.  With QualitySolicitors you’re always our primary concern, so we work quickly and efficiently on your behalf with courtesy and professionalism at all times.  We’d welcome your call if you want to chat through things to see if we’re right for you; feel free to call our offices directly or use our national freephone number 08082747557.

Business Services

We specialize in construction disputes and litigation. We are the first port of call for builders and other professions involved in the construction industry in Brighton and Sussex.

Our experience in this specialist area enables us to swiftly and accurately assess the risks and issues in a dispute. We will then explain your options in plain English and advise on the best way to proceed. We can act on your behalf in negotiations and, where possible, will bring disputes to a close without the need for formal court proceedings.

We aim to resolve disputes as efficiently as possible and on the best possible terms, understanding that often the longer they go on, the more they will escalate and the more they will cost. We will always provide an initial consultation free of charge and clearly explain the expenses anticipated so that you can budget accordingly. We also believe that prevention is better than cure, and we can assist in safeguarding your business from disputes by drafting your terms and conditions of business and reviewing contracts already in use. For a free initial consultation, and to speak with one of our experts, call 08082747557.

Whatever the size of your business, be it a large national company, independent business, partnership or sole trader, it is important to make sure that you are running your business correctly and have the right legal documents in place to deal with compliance and governance.

Whilst most business owners are alert to the need to file their annual return and annual accounts, many are not clear about other legal documents they may need to run their business. No matter what your company does or what legal structure it has, there will always be some form of documentation required whenever it takes any action.

This could be a simple board minute or a specific form to be filed, or a combination of other documents, but are you clear on what you need and when? When you start a business, just as in any established business, it is important to have the correct legal documents in place. Start as you mean to go on – ensure that your business is run properly and efficiently. If your business is well established, it is well known that the law changes and therefore, so must you. If you are a director of a company, are you clear on what you are legally responsible for?

Maintaining your statutory records and meeting your legal obligations to Companies House such as filing your annual return and accounts on time are part of the continued success of your business. Failure to comply can have serious consequences including having your company struck off and for directors, it can mean being disqualified from acting in that capacity for up to 15 years. In addition, you need to be certain that the correct information is being provided to both the directors and the company’s shareholders (where applicable) at the appropriate times. In particular when arranging board meetings or annual general meetings with shareholders, it is more than simply arranging a time and date.

Whether your business is large or small, you need to ensure that you are complying with any regulatory requirements surrounding the conduct of such meetings, including giving the appropriate amount of notice to those entitled to attend, drafting an appropriate agenda, circulating supporting papers and notices in advance of the meeting, and preparing minutes of the meeting to record decisions made and action to be taken.

At QualitySolicitors our aim is to make sure that you know what the law expects of you. We want you to be confident that you have the right legal documents in place for whatever you choose to do with your business. We want you to be confident that you are meeting your legal obligations. We can help you take the stress out of this important part of running your business. Working with our specialist team of solicitors, we will take care of the legal matters to leave you to focus on the running and developing your business.

We offer a range of combined services packages which have been designed to assist our clients and bring together core services at a reduced rate. For those clients who require ad hoc assistance or simply want assistance with one or two items, we also offer a range of individual services which can be selected on an as needed basis or combined to provide a tailored package to meet your clients’ needs.

The packages are designed to give clients the flexibility to decide on the level of assistance they require as we recognise that some companies may require more assistance than others. All packages include any related filings which may be needed at Companies House. Individual Services+ All of our individual services can be provided easily and effectively by our corporate team. For those taking up a basic or intermediate combined package, we are able to offer a discount on the fees payable for some of our individual services where these are not included within the package taken up by your business.

In addition, all filings at Companies House are processed electronically through the e-filing portal (wherever possible) for which we will register your company if not already in hand. This will give your company greater protection from unauthorised third parties making filings against the company and ensures that documents can be filed accurately and on time with a same day acknowledgement from Companies House. Combined Services+ Our combined services offer clients the opportunity to take advantage of a number of our services at a discounted rate on an annual basis. Packages are provided on a fixed annual fee, payable in advance, exclusive of any filing fees at Companies House.

Statutory Records+ A company’s statutory books are a company’s most important documents. The records essentially tell the story of the company from the date it is set up to the date it is shut down and is an important record of everything that happens during its lifetime. Responsibility for the maintenance of the company’s statutory books and records is often something which is overlooked within a business. This can be a time-consuming task, and we recognise that, with the best intentions, sometimes key documents go astray or records are not updated, but failure to keep the registers up to date can incur financial penalties of up to £5,000.

A company’s statutory books are a company’s most important documents. The records essentially tell the story of the company from the date it is set up to the date it is shut down and is an important record of everything that happens during its lifetime.

Responsibility for the maintenance of the company’s statutory books and records is often something which is overlooked within a business. This can be a time-consuming task, and we recognise that, with the best intentions, sometimes key documents go astray or records are not updated, but failure to keep the registers up to date can incur financial penalties of up to £5,000.

One of the most important administrative tasks for a business is making sure that its records are up to date. It can be difficult to keep accurate records without careful attention to detail and a solid understanding of the legal requirements. QualitySolicitors works with companies of varying sizes and types to help them keep their records in order, and through the use of our specialist secure software, we can keep your records in electronic form with instant access by us and by you at any time of the day.

If you have lost your company’s statutory records, whilst inconvenient, particularly if you are thinking of selling your business, we can help you to reconstitute the records from the registers maintained at Companies House. If your business is well established, it may be that your records are not up to date. Often long, retired directors may not have had their retirement confirmed at Companies House or discrepancies arise in relation to shares that have been transferred but not properly recorded in your statutory books. You may discover that a mistake has been made in the past which needs to be corrected, such as an incorrectly referenced issue or transfer of shares, which can lead to incorrect annual returns being filed.

At QualitySolicitors, we recognise that the administration of a company can be an onerous and time-consuming process. Our aim is to make sure that you know where your records are and that they are up to date. We want you to be confident that your records correctly reflect the company’s history. And if there are any issues, we will deal with those as they arise and get your records back on track, whether this is correcting anomalies or reconstituting your records from incorporation.

QualitySolicitors is the first port of call for many successful businesses across Brighton, Hove and Sussex. To find out how one of our specialist team of solicitors can support your administrative needs, call us on 08082747557.

Whether you are seeking help with a general partnership, a limited partnership, or a limited liability partnership, QualitySolicitors are able to deal with all your partnership requirements and will work with you to ensure you receive the advice you need when you need it. Our experience with partnership matters means we can help you to understand the legal position which applies to your partnership.

Most partnerships (unlike limited liability partnerships) are governed by 19th-century legislation.  Without a formal partnership agreement, the business will be subject to the Partnership Act 1890.  Without a good understanding of this legislation, it is all too easy to overlook a key provision, and this can lead to expensive, unwieldy and unexpected outcomes, e.g. when a partner wishes to leave the partnership or the partner wish to expel a partner.

Whether you require initial advice on setting up a new partnership, drawing up an agreement of formalised terms agreed between partners, or varying an existing agreement, e.g. in light of a change in the business’ direction or changes in the partners themselves, we are here to help.  We are also experienced in dealing with more specialised or regulated partnership arrangements, including those relating to GP practices and other medical partnerships.

In all cases, we will work with you to ensure you have the right structure and documents in place for your business needs.  Any agreement we produce will reflect both the partners’ wishes and the legal framework.  Just as importantly, the agreement will be in straightforward language and will actually work for your business.  A well-drawn-up partnership agreement reduces the chances of disagreement between partners and governs the management of the business and the departure of partners.  Not all businesses are the same, and therefore, not all partnership agreements are the same.

It is important to review your agreement on a regular basis as your business grows and develops to ensure that the documents continue to reflect the partners’ wishes. We can offer advice on planning for the future of the partnership through the growth of the business and appointment of new partners, and help to structure your partnership to avoid future problems as far as possible, including those involving the expulsion or removal of a partner or the dissolution of the partnership by working with you to draw up a strategy that minimises the potential of litigation and documents your plans for the business in order to reduce costs and time away from the business.

QualitySolicitors is the first port of call for many successful businesses across Brighton, Hove and Sussex. To find out how one of our specialist team of solicitors can support your partnership needs, call us on 08082747557.

 

Personal Services

We can represent you if you have a claim or are defending a claim brought against you. Our experience of acting for either side provides you with expert awareness of any tactics the opposing party may use against you.

Our litigation team are all very approachable and passionate about what they do, advising you on the best course of action and strategy to take for your individual circumstances as everyone is different. We will always keep in touch and update you on your case, which leaves you to get back to your daily routine.

We have dealt with a range of different litigation cases and, in doing so, have developed a diverse set of skills to assist you in your dispute, some of which include:

  • Consumer Rights & Debt Recovery - Our team have experience of dealing with all types of consumer credit and debt litigation arising out of regulated credit agreements in the County Courts, High Court and the Court of Appeal
     
  • Professional Negligence - Professionals have a duty of care to their client, if this is not provided and results in you suffering damages or losses, you may have a claim against them. Our team has experience dealing with negligence claims against a wide range of professionals
     
  • Personal Injury - We can deal with a range of different Personal Injury cases, including Public Liability Claims, Life-Changing Injuries, Road Traffic Collisions and Work Place Injuries
     
  • Landlord & Tenant - We have experience acting for both landlords and tenants in a wide range of disputes
     
  • Contested Wills and Inheritance Claims - If you have a dispute relating to the estate of a loved one, whether they had a will in place or not, we can advise and assist you with the best way forward in resolving your matter
     
  • General Litigation - If your matter does not fall under any of the above headings, but you have a dispute with another party please contact us to see if we can help
     

The process of litigation can often seem daunting, but we assure you that we will always do as much as possible to ensure you have a full understanding of the proceedings surrounding your case. We understand how complex the law can sometimes seem and pride ourselves in our ability to put it into context for you.

If you would like to get in touch with one of our litigation solicitors, then give us a call on 08082747557. It would be great to hear from you and we wish you all the best in resolving your dispute.

Disputes are never pleasant. When two parties have a disagreement, it can often result in damaging behaviour and allegations. If you have a dispute that needs resolving we have extensive experience in this area to help you reach a solution that avoids undue unpleasantness, unnecessary costs and prolonged anxiety and worry.

Disputes can arise for any number of reasons and we can assist with a wide variety of areas, such as:

  • Boundary disputes with your neighbour.
  • Issues with the quality of workmanship carried out on your property. 
  • Challenging the non-payment of an invoice.
  • Disputes over the terms of a contract.


At the outset, we advise you on what the likely costs may be of pursuing your matter. We promise to keep you updated on throughout so that there are no surprises when your dispute is resolved. Our lawyers will negotiate on your behalf, provide you with a variety of options, and then try to resolve your disagreement as quickly as we can. We may also be able to mediate with the other side. Your lawyer will discuss the best approach with you, and you can then decide which tactic is best for you.

We offer a 45 minute Ask the Legal Expert appointment for £99 where we can discuss the matter with you and advise you on the best way forward. Once we know what your dispute is, our aim is to reach a quick and successful resolution. Call us on 08082747557 today to find out more.
 

Services for Landlords
As a landlord, your property is your business and if you have an issue with your tenant we will work with you to achieve a fast and cost effective solution. For example, we can help if your tenant has stopped paying rent, has caused damage to the property or if you want to gain possession.

Services for Tenants
As a tenant your home is where you relax with family and friends. If something happens which disrupts your enjoyment we are able to draw on extensive experience of advising tenants in Brighton to help you resolve any problems you have. We can advise you on your landlord’s obligations and assist in claims relating to unlawful eviction and disrepair.

Contact us
If you would like to get in touch with us regarding a landlord or tenant dispute then please do not hesitate to do so. Our Litigation team are always happy to assist and advise you based on your individual circumstances and will keep you updated throughout each step of the process. 

Mediation is a flexible process conducted confidentially in which a neutral person actively assists parties in working towards a negotiated agreement of a dispute or difference, with the parties in ultimate control of the decision to settle and the terms of resolution.

2015 saw a very substantial increase in Court fees, impeding access to justice. Court issue fees can be anything up to £10,000. The Courts have repeatedly confirmed their approval of mediation, by actively encouraging mediation as well as imposing sanctions in some cases where parties, unreasonably, refuse to mediate.

Why mediate?

It’s often said that a successful mediation gives a ‘win-win’ result, whereas resolving a dispute through the traditional Court system; you are merely obtaining a yes/no result. However, in mediation, you achieve this 'win-win' result as you are able to agree the terms on things that often mean quite a lot, like, for example, an apology. Mediation can therefore be seen as having a much wider scope and is all-encompassing.

Mediation is very economic and priced using fixed fees, so what you’re quoted is what you will pay.

Mediation can offer:

  1. Confidentiality: there is no strict need for any disclosure of settlement to the wider public, unless the parties agree to do so. A Court judgment is a public document and can be extremely damaging for the losing party (and sometimes all parties)
  2. A constructive and non-adversarial process allowing parties to maintain and/or repair working relationships
  3. A legally binding agreement

Even where settlement is not achieved, mediation helps the parties to focus on their further steps. It also encourages the other side to come to the negotiation table despite potential reluctance.

Do you have a Northern Rock (NRAM) ‘Together’ mortgage/loan?

If so, we believe we can get financial compensation for you.

Pre-qualifying questions:

  • Are you a Northern Rock Asset Management (NRAM) ‘Together’ mortgage/loan customer?
  • Was the loan element over £25,000?
  • Were you informed that the loan was regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974?

If the answer is ‘Yes’ to all three questions, we may be able to seek financial compensation for you.

How to proceed and what is involved:

If your answers to the Prequalifying Questions above were ‘yes’, we invite you to please complete this more detailed questionnaire to give us the information we would need to take your case forward.

All information you provide in the questionnaire will remain confidential.

Please note that completing the questionnaire does not mean you have to instruct the firm, nor that we are bound to accept instructions from you. It simply puts us in a position to discuss our funding options with you to enable you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed.

Should you instruct us and we are unsuccessful in taking your case forward, there will be no fee for our services.

The legal explanation:

The Court of Appeal decision in NRAM Plc v McAdam & Anor [2015] EWCA Civ 751 (bailii link here) has left a bad taste in the mouth of many NRAM customers. It was held that loan contracts over £25,000 were not regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (‘CCA’) and did therefore not benefit from the protections afforded by the CCA. Many NRAM ‘Together’ customers were misinformed by NRAM and told that the loan would be regulated under the CCA, when in fact it was not. Almost all the paperwork for loans over £25,000 represented that the loans were regulated by CCA.

In the McAdam case, the Court ruled that NRAM had misrepresented the position to its customers. At paragraph 57 of the judgment it is stated by the Court of Appeal:

“in our view the relevant statements on any basis amounted to a representation by NRAM that the loan agreement was an agreement regulated by the 1974 [Consumer Credit] Act and that the borrowers were entitled to the protections afforded by the Act to borrowers under such regulated agreements.”

At QualitySolicitors we consistently provide clear and concise legal advice when you are going through a divorce or separation, we understand how complicated the process can be and our approachable solicitors will always keep you informed every step of the way.

Regardless of your situation and how you wish to approach it, QualitySolicitors can provide you with the relevant information on all the options available to you. We have a wealth of experience in dealing with all types of relationships and can help you find the solution which is not only best for you, but your family and those closest.

Our solicitors understand the enormity of what you are going through and look to reduce any unnecessary stress by dealing with your concerns in the most practical, amicable way possible. Contact us on 08082747557 today to find out more.

Arbitration is a new form of dispute resolution. It is in effect a private court that sits where and when you want and can provide a binding agreement that in turn can be used to obtain a court order. Applications that may take Brighton family court months to resolve can be decided in weeks.

You can arbitrate on financial matters whether you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting. Issues involving children, however, cannot be arbitrated and, if necessary, must use the court process.

Arbitration can be a more cost effective method than making an application to Brighton family court and is certainly much more flexible. You can agree with your ex-partner; which are the issues to be ruled on, the speed with which the work is to be undertaken and the evidence required. You can request an arbitrator of your choice and the arbitration can take place at a location near you in Brighton or Hove.

The solicitors here at QualitySolicitors can assist in finding you an arbitrator close to Brighton & Hove and then in the preparation and presentation of your case.

If you are in dispute about financial matters with your partner and need a decision but want to have control over how, where and when it is made then Arbitration may well be the solution for you.

For more information, please go to the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators website at www. ifla.org.uk. Like all methods of alternative dispute resolution arbitration will not suit every case this is where our solicitors can really help identify which process is right for you. Call us on 08082747557 today to find out more.

Your local legal experts


Why QualitySolicitors?

With QualitySolicitors your first initial assessment is free, so you can call us without worrying about being charged for a call you might not have actually needed to make. And because we place our clients are at the heart of everything we do, we make these five customer service promises to make sure you'll feel properly looked after.

This is why, in the first instance, most people looking for legal help in relation to a 'Home And Property' call QualitySolicitors for a Free Initial Assessment over the phone before requesting our Ask the Legal Expert service; which is an introductory 45-minute face-to-face consultation for £99.


Expert legal advice you can rely on,
get in touch today


Please let us know you are not a robot

Popular locations