We are keen to help you stay compliant with ever-changing employment laws and HR best practices. Here are three key legal updates every employer should know this month — plus how we can help you respond confidently and effectively. Minimum Wage Increase – Effective April 1st The National Minimum and Living Wage rates increased on…

Pursuing legal action can be a significant step—emotionally, logistically, and financially. Whether you’re challenging an unfair dismissal, raising a negligence claim against an employer, or seeking damages for personal injury, the costs of legal advice and representation can feel overwhelming. At DSM Legal, we believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to justice, and that’s why…

For care home fees, the government takes a look at your assets, for example, your property, savings and valuable items. This determines how much you should contribute before the government provides financial assistance. Using a will is a great way to mitigate against this and there are steps you can take to successfully to do…

From 1 April 2025, millions of workers across the UK will see their pay increase as the new National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates come into effect. These changes will impact both employers and employees, making it essential to understand what the new rates are, who is entitled to them, and what they…

On 26 October 2024, a major legal change came into force that affecting all UK employers—the Worker Protection Act 2023. This new law introduces a proactive duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Unlike previous legislation, which focused on responding to incidents, this new duty requires employers to…

Redundancy is one of the most difficult decisions a business can face. Whether due to financial pressures, restructuring, or changes in market demand, reducing staff is never just about numbers—it’s about people. A poorly managed redundancy process can damage employee morale, tarnish an organisation’s reputation, and even lead to costly legal disputes. However, when handled…

DSM Legal Solicitors was instructed by Birchwood Community High School at the Inquest into the death of Brianna Ghey. Counsel Ms Elizabeth-Dudley Jones of Deans Court Chambers was briefed by DSM Legal to represent the School at the Inquest. After a three day hearing in which the Senior Coroner of Cheshire reviewed all the evidence,…

A complaint of sexual harassment against one employee by another employee can be alarming for an employer as well as time-consuming to deal with, especially if you do not have an in-house HR department. With or without HR assistance sexual harassment allegations must be taken seriously.  Unfortunately, sexual harassment is a significant problem in the…

As a professional woman navigating the complexities of the corporate world, you understand the importance of standing up for your rights and protecting your interests. However, if you find yourself subjected to harassment or inappropriate conduct in the workplace, seeking legal advice is paramount to safeguarding your well-being. DSM Legal, based in Warrington, Cheshire, is…

In an ever-changing world, it’s crucial to plan ahead, especially when it comes to managing your affairs in the event of incapacity.   Physical or mental incapacity can happen to anybody at any time, whether because of an illness, such as a stroke, an accident or a condition, such as dementia. In the event that you…

In a recent development, The Hut Group, headquartered at Omega South in Warrington, has announced that 688 of its employees based in Warrington are now “at risk” of redundancy. This unsettling news has left many individuals uncertain about their future job security and financial stability. In times like these, it becomes crucial for affected employees…

Warrington is a town in the county of Cheshire in the northwest of England. It is located equidistant between the cities of Manchester and Liverpool and is approximately 16 miles east of Liverpool and 19 miles west of Manchester. The town has a population of approximately 210,000 people, making it the largest town in Cheshire.…

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? (LPA) A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a document which enables the donor (the person who takes out the LPA), to authorise someone else (the ‘attorney’) to manage their affairs. This can be for reasons of ill-heath or inability to manage one’s affairs due to other reasons,…

5 tips to make a successful accident claim 1. Make a careful note of the time, date and location of the accident This may seem obvious and in some circumstances it is straightforward. However, it is surprising how many people do not know the date that their accident occurred, especially if some time has elapsed since…

We can provide redundancy advice If you are being made redundant.  We are Warrington based solicitors but provide redundancy advice throughout the North West.  Sometimes,  a business as a whole will be forced to close, or perhaps they are just closing some of their branches.  In other situations it may be the company is reducing…

Can I Avoid Paying Care Home Fees? At some point in your life, you will start thinking about who is going to look after you in your older years, i.e. the need for care. With this comes the impact of the cost of a care home and whether the very roof over your head could…

In most cases, yes, if your Will has been properly signed and witnessed, you had mental capacity when you made and signed the Will, and you were not subject to any undue influence.  You have the right to leave your estate to anybody you like. Still, in some circumstances, a claim can be made on your…

Avoid Easy Mistakes with your Will Making a Will is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. It ensures that your wishes are carried out after you die, and it can also help reduce conflict and stress for those you leave behind. However, making a mistake with your Will…

The precise definition of redundancy is to be found in section 139 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, but basically if any of the following situations apply it is a redundancy:- An actual or intended closure of the whole business; An actual or intended closure of the business at a particular workplace; A reduction (or…

Are you considering taking out a Lasting Power of Attorney? It is important to obtain legal advice if you thinking of setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney. Most of us tend not to think too deeply about the future when it comes to the legal side of our health or wellbeing. It’s important, however,…

We tend to avoid thinking too much about a time when we will not be here. Making sure your estate and assets are given to your loved ones according to your wishes, however, is something that we should all consider sooner rather than later. What is a Will? A will is an official, legally binding…

The Coronavirus pandemic and its fallout was not something that any of us could have foreseen just a few short months ago. It has certainly reminded us all of the importance of planning for the unexpected. One quick, easy and relatively inexpensive way to safeguard your assets for your family in the future is to have…

Free Will Consultation Warrington We provide free initial Will consultations by telephone.   The process is very straightforward and during the call we will be able to advise on the best options for you.    We will discuss what is involved in making a Will and what the cost will be. One of the most common…

Thousands of people are involved in motor vehicle accidents each year; many of them are pedestrians.  Injuries sustained by pedestrians can range from minor injuries to life-changing and even life-threatening ones.   If you have been hit by a car and it was the driver’s fault, you may be able to make a claim for compensation.…

Although we live in one of the most tightly regulated countries in respect of health and safety at work, accidents at work do still happen.  The Health and Safety Executive1 released the following figures for 2018/19: – 4 million working people suffering from a work-related illness 2,526 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2017)…

As we grow older, our thoughts naturally turn to important things like making a Will and preparing for the future.  We don’t know exactly when or even if our health might fail or what challenges we are likely to face in our later years, such as the possibility of becoming physically immobile or unable to…

We expect to go to work and be safe. While some professions such as construction have inherent dangers associated with them, most of us don’t get up in the morning thinking that we might be in hospital by the end of the day. Accidents at work are more common than people think, however.   Employers have…

When you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered from a personal injury, it can be difficult to know where to turn to next. DSM Legal are personal injury compensation solicitors based in Warrington and our team is on hand right now to provide all the friendly advice you need. Have you been…

It’s often one of those things that we tend to put off. However, a Will is one of the most important documents you will ever have drafted. The process is generally straightforward and the best time to write a Will is the present! While there are plenty of Will writing services available, it pays to…

Most of us will only call on a solicitor or legal team a few times during our lifetime. That might be to help, for example, in buying a home. You may have a problem at work you want legal advice for. Or you could be unlucky enough to suffer an accident and want help in…