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301 Reviews
  • A Ali

    Versuslaw especially Anita Craig helped so kindly from 2018 for pia delay flight claim which was showing possible but Ms Anita Craig proved it again that versus law can do it. Thank you will use again and recommend 100percent.

  • R Nabi

    We have just completed on a buy and sell having used Versus Law for both sides of the transaction.
    Versus Law have been immense throughout, with the Conveyancer looking after our ‘purchase’ working hand in hand with his colleagues to keep us informed of how the ‘sell’ was progressing too.
    Amazing bunch of people. There should be more firms providing this high level of service.

  • B Keane

    Very professional and up to the task
    I found versus law straight forward and very helpful.

  • K Boon

    i recently completed on a property and was guided really well by Katrina and Lisa. Ive never purchased a property before so really didn’t know what was involved. It was easy and seamless no stress at all followed by a price that was so much cheaper than other quotes I’d had

  • M Rehman

    Having had my PIA flight delayed for over 5 hours.. Anita Craig of versus law solicitors was a great help. Every step was made easy for me to understand and I will definitely be recommending yourselves to family and friends.

  • J Nugent

    They made the whole process of my injury claim
    simple and straight forward, They even managed to get
    me my compensation before Christmas which I wasn’t expecting, A big thanks to Kulbinder Mehay

  • Steven P

    Excellent work, thank you.

  • Liz

    Nicola Nolan and Natalie Moylan are an excellent conveyancing team. We have used them more than once and recommend them to friends and family (who were also impressed). This time they were involved in us buying a property in Wales and kept us informed all the way through, even with covid restrictions causing problems. They are friendly, efficient and get the job done in a no-nonsense way which is what you need. They take the stress out of conveyancing for you. Very impressed and would recommend to anyone and everyone.

  • Gem

    I was selling my home which had a complicated title and versus law was recommended to me. Natalie Moylan handled my case from start to finish and I couldn’t ask for anyone better! There were no obstacles that couldn’t be overcome and in a very fast turn around too. The sale completed in no time at all. Natalie was timely, professional and friendly and an absolute pleasure to have on my side. I would strongly recommend Versus law to anyone.

  • Bonnie

    I have used the services of Nicola Nolan at Versus Law twice this year and was instantly put at ease and very impressed with the help received and the outcome achieved. Would recommend without hesitation

  • Daniel

    I called to get some documents certified, the ladies on reception were so helpful. I am very happy with the service I received and will use Versus Law again.

  • M

    Dealt with my flight claim hassle free and super quick, I was continuously updated every step of the way and overall really pleased with the outcome. A personal thank you to Anita as she couldn’t have made it easier for me and saw through any problems I had!

  • Richard

    I purchased my first home in February, and used Versus as my solicitor. I dealt with Natalie Moylan from start to finish, who was excellent throughout. The purchase ended up being delayed and resulted in a quite hectic finish, but Natalie remained calm and professional at all times, whilst providing a very high quality of work. My thanks to Natalie and her team, for making a long purchase so much easier!

  • C Savage

    We were selling our house (through Nick) and buying a house (through Natalie) and I can honestly say these are the best solicitors we’ve ever used (we had always used ones in London previously). They both kept us informed on a regular basis as to how things were progressing which I really valued and they were quick to respond to any queries I asked. They were professional, efficient, helpful and really nice to deal with. We were recommended Versus through local friends that have used them previously and I would definitely recommend Versus to anyone else asking me for a recommendation.
    Thanks again Natalie and Nick.

  • J Percy

    We used Nicola Nolan for our purchase/transfer of ownership. She was excellent from start to finish. We were fully informed of the process throughout and she was always friendly, approachable and very professional at all times. Would definitely recommend her at Versus Law. Thank you again

  • J Guntren

    Amazing law firm for conveyancing!! My wife and I made an offer on a house 24th September and we were moved in by 20th December. It should also be noted that we were selling my wife’s apartment at the same time (also using Versus), further complicating everything. Thanks to Natalie, everything was done in a very efficient manner and she was very understanding of our situation.

  • P Godfrey

    Many thanks to Anita and all the staff at Versuslaw, they made my flight compensation claim for delay a breeze. I would highly recommend them

  • G Ryder

    The service and advise that we received from Versuslaw was exceptional. We had numerous issues with the house that we were buying and the team at Versus law guided us through the process whilst always looking out for our best interest.They were always prompt in responding to any question that we had and would update us on a regular basis. Thanks again to Nicola, Nick and Francine

  • Mark

    Excellent, professional and friendly work from Nick, Nicola and Natalie. They were flexible and very helpful in pushing along the sale despite several hurdles. Would definitely use again in future and would recommend others do so too

  • C Keen

    Absolutely superb service from Nicola Nolan. Highly trust and recommend. Honest attention to detail.

  • V Griffith

    We would like to say a big heartfelt thank you to Saqib Kazam versuslaw
    Once he took our case in for Holiday compensation He kept us up to date with every thing explaining every step he took this was not an easy case but he got us an excellent result a kind polite very professional young man. Highly recommend

  • J Williams

    From the moment we rung Versus Law and spoke to the receptionist on the phone to the moment we completed on our first home, Versus Law were excellent. Our solicitor was Tom and not only did he keep us updated every step of the way but he was very professional, efficient, offered valuable advice and made the process of buying a house stress free. We couldn’t recommend Versus Law enough and we just wanted to say a huge thank you to Tom and the team. Joe and Kara

  • S Foster

    Sarah handled my claim quickly and efficiently. It made the whole process easy and stress free. She was very professional and kept me informed every step. I would highly recommend Versuslaw.

  • H Cooper

    We would highly recommend Versus law, especially Nick Wintrip (selling) and Nicola Nolan (buying). They both kept us up to date throughout the whole process. They were easy to get hold of and were very prompt to answer any questions/email. We would have no hesitation in recommending Versus law for conveyancing.

  • I Asaf

    Fantastic service, very helpful and kept me informed at every stage

  • M Long

    From start to finish Versus Law have been professional and helpful. Tom Reid was always available to talk to us and gave us updates regularly meaning we did not have to constantly chase up matters. We are very happy by the service and would recommend to anyone looking for a reliable solicitor.

  • Jill T

    Excellent service. I was kept informed every step of the way. Natalie Moylan and Renee Burke were a pleasure to work with. Highly professional but with a personal touch. They both went above and beyond!

  • Danielle

    Excellent service from start to finish from Nicola and Natalie! Super responsive to emails and all my questions as a first time single buyer. Natalie and Nicola make a great team and are so approachable. Definitely recommend them for property related legal services.

  • Frankie

    Really happy with my experience using versus law, from start to finish they put my mind at ease as I wasn’t buying a house in the normal way, it was through a family divorce and there were time scales and dead lines to meet, versus law managed to conker my mortgage and speed things up to avoid any extra costs, nicola was always there to ease my mind when I had any concerns as things do get stressful whilst purchasing a property, the ladies on the reception we also a delight and couldn’t do more to make you feel comfortable in any situation, if you are thinking of using versus law to assist you through your mortgage then look no further as these guys couldn’t have done more for me, I couldn’t have been happier with my experience

  • Matt W

    Nicola Nolan’s conveyancing service has always been excellent, I have used them several times in the last 5 years. In particular for my business I have found their relationship and understanding of Paragon Bank to be very useful. I would highly recommend.

  • Kay

    Excellent decision to go with Versus Law! Nick Wintrip handled the very stressful job of our house sale with professionalism, calmness and a good sense of humour. We did everything via email, phone and post, and he was always quick in responding and keeping me updated every step of the way. Very competitively priced too. I would highly recommend Versus Law without the slightest hesitation.

  • O Li

    Thomas Reid dealt with the sale and purchase of our properties. He was a pleasure to work with – very quick to respond to queries and very efficient in his work. As a result, the process went very smoothly with minimal delays. I would highly recommend competitively priced Versus Law and especially the professionalism of Thomas Reid.

  • Mr RS

    Natalie Moylan dealt with the sale and purchase on my behalf. The whole process was very well handled with constant updates. The first solicitors I’ve used that’s responds within to an email within an hour! Would 100% use again!!!

  • Mrs LC

    Recently dealt with Nick Wintrip at Versus law when selling my property. Found him to be professional, quick and thorough. Process went smoothly and I was well informed throughout the process. I received regular updates and all enquiries were dealt with efficiently. Nick made the whole process of selling my home stress free and a happy one! Your the best Nick – thank you again 🙂
    Will highly recommend Versus Law Solicitors. They are the best

  • Jaxx

    Would recommend Versus Law for conveyancing; Nick and Natalie we’re our team with Nick the main contact, thank you Nick and Natalie for making the conveyancing experience as stress free as possible.

  • Paula

    Great experience working with Versus Law. Excellent level of professionalism from Thomas Reid who provided clear, precise information. Highly recommended from my side. Thanks to Tom and the team.

  • D

    Fantastic experience with Natalie and her colleagues. Email updates throughout the home buying process, estimates of how long it would take to get her work completed and local knowledge which speeded up the process. 100% recommended.

  • R Napier

    Really good and really helpful got things sorted alot quicker than anticipated very cooperative

  • Wetherill

    What an outstanding team they turned my purchase around within the set time frame and very professional at all times.
    They went above and beyond reassured myself throughout the process.
    As being a first time buyer I felt this was most important I would recommend them highly.

  • Nasir

    Versus Law dealt with my house sale from start to finish in a most professional manner. A friendly, professional, competent team who get the job done within the time parameters. I highly recommend this firm.

  • Colin and Yvonne

    Absolutely brilliant service as always.
    This is the third time using Versuslaw and they never fail to impress. Natalie and Nicola are real diamonds and you really get the sense that they actually care about you.

    We actually live in London, but continued to use them for our London property because of our previous experience with them.
    Thank you guys, would highly recommend you to anyone.

  • B Man

    Excellent service!!! We are really happy with the service VersusLaw provided to us. Being first time buyer, we dint have much idea about the whole process and had lots of questions. They have given proper and clear response on time to everything we have requested. For us, one of the property got cancelled in between the process because the owner decided to not to sell that property few days after accepting our offer. Though there were searches and procedures done already for that property VersusLaw did not ask Fee for that purchase as they understood the difficult situation we were in. When we found our next property, we had no doubt whom to contact. We are really happy and totally satisfied by the service Nicola, Natalie and their team offered. We will highly recommend your service to anyone,

  • Ross Grant

    Today I have completed on the purchase of my very first apartment, and it just wouldn’t have been possible without the INCREDIBLE knowledge, guidance and GENUINE care of Nicola, Natalie, and the entire Versus Law team.

    This purchase was far from straightforward, with lots of potential pitfalls – all navigated with professionalism, patience and an impeccable attention to detail by Nicola.

    Nic went well above and beyond the call of duty to look into some extremely complex accounts and repair budgets to the apartment block in question – something I would have completely overlooked.

    As a result, with her guidance, I managed to negotiate a £2,000 reduction in asking price – something I’m sure other solicitors would have let slip through the net.

    That’s a genuine £2000 saving – a lot of money for a first-time buyer.

    You get a real sense that these guys actually CARE – they make you feel more like a friend, than a client – and don’t leave a stone unturned when it comes to conveyancing. If there is anything to uncover on a property, trust me, Nicola will find it!

    In essence, Versus Law made what could have been a rather stressful situation, easy and straightforward.

    Communications and response times were brilliant, with daily updates coming via phone and email – and I never felt rushed by anyone when I had queries.

    I honestly cannot recommend Versus Law enough.

    I’m going to pick up the keys to my apartment now – and won’t be using anyone other than these guys for all future property purchases/ sales.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH Versus Law – I’ll be raising a glass of champagne to you all at the housewarming! 🙂

  • CW

    Great service provided by Nicola and her team.
    Always communicating with updates for the completion of my property.
    Would highly recommend

  • Jackie

    I used Versus Law to buy my first house. Had no idea how it worked but I must say that the conveyancing team held my hand all the way through. On the day of completion there was a delay and they stayed in office late to ensure it went through so I wasn’t waiting over the weekend. It was an absolute pleasure to deal with Versus Law and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. It was nice to speak to people who I felt cared for me and put my interests first at all times. Thank you so much for your help

  • Andy

    Versus were great to deal with when they provided the conveyancing for my house purchase. I was able to complete the process without needing to physically travel to their offices and my solicitor was always available for any questions when I was completing all the paperwork. Everyone was very friendly to speak to.

  • T Baguley

    Fantastic conveyancing service from Nicola and Natalie, they kept on top of everything from start to finish and were always available whenever we had questions. I’d be happy to recommend them to anyone.

  • David JC

    Very impressed with every aspect of Versus Law, from service they provide to the attitude of the staff. Always called back when they said they would and had a laugh with them too. Will definately use again (if I need to).

  • Mrs Morris

    I would recommend Versus Law to anyone, particularly Nick Wintrip, who looked after us extremely well. They are very efficient and communicated with us fully at all times. We were able to contact them by phone and e mail and did not need to rely on letter going back and forth. Nick is really friendly too and put us at ease throughout the end to end sales process. Thank you.

  • Tanita

    Nicola and Natalie did a wonderful job. They were friendly and patient. Answered my many many questions and got the job done very efficiently. I am highly impressed and would definitely recommend them.

0161 249 5087 Enquire Today
Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

Looking for a solicitor?


Searching for solicitors in the Manchester area? Wherever you see the name Versus Law, you can be sure you’ll get a friendly accessible lawyer, expert legal advice, and a refreshing level of customer service.  We’re fast, efficient and prefer straight talking to legal jargon.

We have one primary motivator: to make sure that all civil disputes are resolved in a satisfactory manner. Respected across the Manchester region – and throughout the UK – for our tenacity and dedication to clients, we can help you resolve disputes arising from contractual disagreements, personal injury, medical negligence, contradictory landlord and tenant opinions and commercial disputes, to name but a few.

If you find yourself faced with civil litigation, it’s paramount that you seek a solicitor who can make sure that a solution is achieved. This is precisely what Versus Law can achieve for you.

Ethical and focused, we have successfully settled hundreds of civil litigation cases across a broad range of legal matters. Irrespective of your situation and the circumstances that have brought you to consider litigation as an option, our diligent solicitors in Manchester have the acumen and experience to help you.

We are highly rated on google reviews and Trust Pilot and we are here to support you. See a snippet of the excellent reviews left by our lovely clients.

Exceptional – I was recommended Versus Law by a family member and they did not disappoint. Nicola has been fantastic throughout the whole process of purchasing our first home. Nicola made us feel at ease and reassured when things got confusing and difficult. I have already recommended her and the firm to many of my friends. Thank you so much!!! – Alsyia Booth

Fast, efficient and impeccable service. The employees are professional and always willing to assist. I have used this firm for a number of years for various legal needs and have had my best interest at heart. – M Wasim

Great experience. Lovely professional staff. Very helpful. Recommended! – A Bashir

 

Contact Us

At Versus Law, we’re proud to assist clients throughout Manchester – and across the UK – with our practiced litigation service. With an unsurpassed reputation, we can help you. To receive a FREE consultation, contact us today on 0845 555 0606 or email us at info@versuslaw.co.uk. If you prefer, you can complete our contact form here.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

Making A Successful Business Interruption Insurance Claim


For those businesses who did have business interruption insurance included as part of their policy most would or are naturally thinking of making a claim following the impact of the pandemic.

Although making a claim may seem straight forward many have struggled to get a pay out from their insurer. In this blog we would like to highlight things to do to make claiming easier and increase your chances of a positive outcome.

 

Tip One – Pay close attention to the wording of individual policies.

Paying attention to the detail within individual policies is essential. Our expert legal advisers based in Manchester can provide businesses with valuable support around analysing their policies and weigh up the chances of making a successful claim. One important factor to keep in mind is whether the policy classifies COVID-19 as a “notifiable disease”. Policies without this wording are more likely to lead to unsuccessful claim outcomes.

Tip Two  – Gather information periodically

Once you have established that there are grounds to make a claim on your insurance it is important to start collecting the right supporting evidence. Insurance brokers and accountants can help to gather documents in relation to your finances and predictions in relation to ongoing profits/ losses and expenses. Ensure that you take account and keep a record of your finances at regular intervals so that if you decide to make a claim in the future your documents are already prepared and comprehensive.

Tip Three – Get familiar with your insurer’s claims process

When collating documents in relation to your claim the key is to provide the information that is required. It may seem tempting to give your insurer as much as possible to support your claim however this additional information will either be disregarded or may provide information to the insurer that will impact the outcome of your claim negatively.

Tip Four – Follow your insurance policy guidelines

Paying close attention to the correct formatting and timings provided as part of the claims process is also key – by adhering to the stated process to the letter, businesses can avoid becoming tripped up as claims move through the system.

If you have submitted a claim and it was rejected there are still a number of options which your businesses can take. If you feel your insurer has reached the wrong decision, you are part way through making a claim or just about to begin our expert team can help.

We have a team of specialist dispute resolution lawyers based in Manchester and can evaluate your policy and take legal action against your insurer if they are withholding payments that should be made.

We operate on a no win/no fee basis so you have nothing to lose.  If we are successful, we will deduct an agreed percentage (up to but no more than 25%) from any damages recovered.

Fill out our form to sign up with us and start the process by clicking here.

Got more questions? Check out our FAQ’s on the link above or call us on 0161 249 5087.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

First Time Buyer Perks


Before discussing the perks of being a first time buyer let’s establish what one actually is. It is not always straightforward but generally you should meet the criteria set out below:

– You’ve never owned a home previously, either in the UK or abroad

– You only own, or have owned, a commercial property – such as a shop, restaurant, or salon that has no living space attached to it (such as a pub with upstairs accommodation).

– You’ve never owned a home previously, anywhere in the world, and are looking to purchase a buy-to-let home.

 

Buying your first home, conveyancing,

Buying your first home is exciting and worrying all at the same time especially amidst a pandemic. It may have taken a long time to save up the money for a deposit and factor in all the extra costs involved in relation to conveyancing, surveys and of course decoration but it’s not all a financial drain. Here are several reasons why being a first time buyer is not only a momentous achievement, it is an advantage.

No More Rent

Buying your first home means you will move from paying someone else’s mortgage to paying your own. Although in some ways this may be daunting if all goes well you will have something to show for the payments at the end.

The Better Buyer

As a first time buyer your offer on your dream home is likely to be more favourable to a seller given that the process is speedier. Once your offer has been accepted on a property, you’re ready to move in. There is no waiting around for your own home to sell and you don’t need to wait on anyone else on your side of the chain to get on with the process.

Money, Money, Money

From government schemes such as Help to Buy to exemptions in relation to Stamp Duty there are many ways in which buying a home can be significantly cheaper for a first time buyer.

Getting The Keys

If you have found your dream home and itching to move in get in touch with us. We are a law firm based in Manchester with more than 10 years’ experience as award-winning residential conveyancing  solicitors. Our thorough residential conveyancing services include the following:

  • Full legal support when buying or selling a residential property, including Buy to Let and other investments
  • Handling or mortgage transfer
  • Equity Release Schemes
  • Legal guidance on Buy to Let Schemes
  • Legal guidance on Right to Buy Schemes
  • Shariah finance
  • Sound legal advice on lease and freehold properties
  • Buying or selling a property at auction
  • Purchasing a new build

Interested in learning more about why Versus Law has built a standout reputation as one of the most conscientious and trustworthy residential conveyancing solicitors in Manchester? Contact us today on 0161 249 5087 or email us at property@versuslaw.co.uk for your FREE consultation. If you prefer, you can complete our contact form here. For a free no obligation quote use our conveyancing calculator by clicking here.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

The Cost Of Conveyancing


Picking a property may take some time but it definitely is the fun part of house buying. Once the offer is accepted, it is time to line up conveyancing solicitors in Manchester or the surrounding areas and start handing over money for numerous fees.

Before you begin Versus Law would like to give you an overview of what buying a house really costs so that you are not left surprised and able to financially plan ahead before you find your dream home.

Anticipating these expenses will give you a better idea of how much you need to save, and what mortgage you can afford.

Here are the main costs excluding your mortgage and deposit payments that come part and parcel of buying a home.

Here’s a quick summary of key expenses:

Expense Typical Amount Due:
Arrangement fee £1,000
Booking fee £100-£250
CHAPS / transfer fee £25-£50
Buildings insurance check £25
Mortgage valuation £150-£1,500
Legal/Conveyancing fee £850-£2000
Land registry and searches £250-£300
Higher lending charge 1.5% of the mortgage
Broker fee Can be either free, a fixed rate, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the mortgage
Stamp duty Depends on the property price – you’ll pay between 0%-12% of this to the Government. First-time buyers may be exempt or get a discount.

Why are there so many costs?!

 

You may feel overwhelmed if you were not aware of the above fees / costs related to purchasing a home. At Versus Law we make buying a home simple and transparent and help you to understand the process. Use our handy conveyancing calculator to work out how much your dream home will cost you.

 

Our free conveyancing calculator allows you to get an accurate estimate of our legal fees and the additional costs you may encounter when buying or selling a property. Once you have generated your quote you can instruct us online, print it out, email it or give us a call to discuss it further.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

Can I not deal with this myself?


Yes you can but most business owners are focussed on overseeing their business activities as the country opens up again.  Insurance claims can be complex and extremely time consuming, especially if your insurer raises arguments.  We can help by taking the hassle out of the process and analysing legally what your position is.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

What will it cost me?


You will not have to pay any up front costs, unlike many other law firms or claims companies that charge an upfront fee.  We work on a no win/no fee basis and we only charge our agreed fees and expenses if the claim is successful.  Our fees will only be a percentage of the money we recover for you.  It is in our interest to ensure that you receive the proper level of damages and we only get paid if we recover damages for you.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

My insurer has put forward a settlement offer but I am not happy with it. Can I instruct you to check the figures and negotiate with the insurer for a better payout?


Yes, we can look at your options and see if there are any heads of claim that have been missed or have not been accurately presented.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

My insurer has declined to deal with the claim. Can you still help me?


Many insurers are declining to deal with business claims and are relying on technical arguments to avoid paying out.  We can definitely assist you if this happens.  We will carefully consider all of the wording in line with the guidance issued by the Supreme Court.  Our specialist team will then counter any legal arguments that have been put forward and argue that the losses should be paid.  To assist us, we will intrust accounting professionals to value the claim if necessary.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

Business Interruption Insurance Claims


Many businesses in particular small businesses do not get Business Interruption Insurance as they wrongly  assume that losses can be effectively covered by other insurances such as buildings and contents policies. Whilst these policies can assist in correcting any damage brought on by, for instance, a fire or a flood, they do not handle consequential losses that flow from such events as the current pandemic.

Over the last year many businesses have had to close their doors on command of the government and although furlough has been in place the loss of actual sales and left many businesses incurring substantial losses. Many are finding that these losses are not covered by their current policies.

If you or your organization has had the insight to take out Business Interruption insurance, you may still find some trouble in effectively making a claim.

Will my claim be covered?

It will be crucial for anybody claiming from a business interruption policy that they can show what the reason for their loss was. This perhaps sounds simpler than it is.

It will be important to inspect the wording of the policy to ensure that it covers ‘losses brought on by government (or other public authority) restrictions arising from an incident of a notifiable human illness’. Many policies will have wording that is similar or to that result.

If your company is non-retail, insurance companies might decline to pay out on this basis. Companies must inspect the duration for which their insurance claim relates as this may also affect the ability to claim.

Services that have actually suffered losses due to the fact that their properties have been infected should likewise beware about declaring this as the reason for their losses. Insurance providers are most likely to argue that the business would have likely suffered a financial loss regardless due to the pandemics impact.

How will mitigation of loss effect my claim?

Mitigation is most likely to be a point of contention in many business interruption claims. Businesses will constantly have a task to do what they can to minimise their losses, whether or not their service interruption policy specifically says they should.

It is worth noting that a lot of policies do discuss mitigation as a term of the policy. An organisation is likely to lose its right to claim altogether if it fails to take ‘reasonable’ or ‘all practicable’ steps (depending on the phrasing in the policy) to minimise its losses.

For those businesses that could remain open, insurance providers may, in many cases, claim that a failure to adjust resulted in greater losses. Maybe the biggest point of contention however will be surrounding the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (aka the furlough scheme). Insurance companies might be able to argue that a business claiming under its interruption policy did not approach the pandemic in a productive way either by failing to use reserves or by using too much before claiming hence preventing their ability to recover from the impact of any loss.

What other circumstances could effect my policy?

It is usual for Business Interruption policies to consist of a provision that allows insurance companies to lower the amount paid if there is a market trend that would have impacted business irrespective of the occurrence of the insured event i.e. COVID-19.

Whilst the majority of companies will be able to point to COVID-19 as the result of any recession in their sector, it is worth noting that changes in the financial market, weather and other factors such as a price drop in oil, gold etc may be reasons for a drop in income which your insurer may attribute to a proportion of your losses.

Just how much could I be granted?

If you pursue a claim and your insurer accepts that you are due a pay out there still may be disparity with how much you have lost and how much your insurer is willing to pay out. The policy itself will usually go into some information as to how awards are calculated. Common pitfalls here are:

– A failure to offer sufficient evidence of the losses suffered (typically an outcome of bad record-keeping).

A limitation on the indemnity duration (most policies will just indemnify businesses for as much as 24 months after the occasion whereas the impact of COVID-19 will certainly be felt for a lot longer), and your policy is likely to have a liability limitation, i.e. a limitation on the amount that the insurer will pay.

Given the above it is clear that even if you possess Business Interruption Insurance making a claim may be difficult. If your claim has been unsuccessful  and you disagree with the outcome contact Versus Law today.

We operate on a no win/no fee basis so you have nothing to lose.  If we are successful, we will deduct an agreed percentage (up to but no more than 25%) from any damages recovered.

Fill out our business interruption contact form to see if you’re eligible to make a claim for compensation.

Got more questions? Check out our FAQ’s in the link or call us on 0161 249 5087.

Contact Versus Law

If you want to know more about our services feel free to give us a call or use the contact form.

5 employment law changes which come into effect in April 2021


Here’s everything you need to know.

Minimum wage rates

From 1 April 2021, national minimum wage rates will increase.

The new hourly rates are as follows:

  • Young workers rate for workers aged 16–17 – £4.62
  • Development rates for workers aged 18–20 – £6.56
  • Apprentices under 19, or over 19 and in first year of the apprenticeship – £4.30.
  • Workers aged 21-22 – £8.36
  • Workers aged 23 and over (National Living Wage) – £8.91
    The National Living Wage (NLW) threshold is being lowered to include all those aged 23 and over. Currently, the NLW is payable only to people who are aged 25 and over.

    Employment tribunal compensation awards and rates

    Employment tribunal compensation rates will go up from 6 April 2021. As of this date, the maximum week’s pay for redundancy pay purposes will increase from £538 to £544. Statutory guarantee pay will remain at £30.

    These new figures align maximum statutory redundancy pay, as well as unfair dismissal basic award pay to £16,320.

    The maximum amount of additional award for unfair dismissal, for employees who have employers who fail to follow tribunal instruction will rise to £28,288.

    Statutory Sick Pay

    Employers are liable for the payment of statutory sick pay (SSP) to eligible employees. The current rate is £95.85 per week, but this will increase to £96.35 from 6 April 2021.

    The lower earnings limit for eligibility for statutory payments will remain at £120 per week.

    Family leave

    The weekly rates of statutory family leave – which includes maternity and paternity leave will rise from £151.20 per week to £151.97 per week from 4th April 2021.

    IR35

    The IR35 legislation is put in place to ensure contractors are paying the appropriate amount of tax. This also changes for some private sector businesses.

    At present, most contractors are required to determine their own status as an employee or contractor. From 6th April 2021 this liability will pass to medium and large-sector clients.

    Here at Versus Law, we understand how complicated employment law can be and we are here to help employees and employers get fair deals. Every member of our legal team is armed with the knowledge and expertise to overcome the hurdles of employer’s settlement negotiations and when necessary, to take matters to a Tribunal if you are an employee. For help with your employment law issue fill in our online enquiry form or call 0161 413 2093 for a free initial consultation.