Listen Without Prejudice | A Podcast from Bishop & Sewell

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Charlie Davidson, Senior Associate in the Property team, is joined by Andrew Kavanagh, Partner in the Corporate team, to explore the realities of commercial lending, from bridging finance to personal guarantees, debentures and enforcement risk. While many borrowers are familiar with high street mortgages and regulated lending products, this conversation...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Andrew Kavanagh, Partner in the corporate team at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Charles Wilson, Solicitor in the team, to explore one of the most important and often misunderstood aspects of mergers and acquisitions: how the purchase price is structured. When buying or selling a business, it’s easy to focus on valuation. But as Andrew and Charles ex...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Mark Chick, Partner in Bishop & Sewell’s Landlord & Tenant team, is joined by Chris Macartney to explore a critical question for leaseholders: what happens if your landlord simply doesn’t respond to your notice? Focusing on Section 13 (freehold purchase) and Section 42 (lease extension) notices, Mark and Chris break down the legal implications o...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Charles Wilson, Solicitor in the Corporate & Commercial team at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Andrew Kavanagh, Partner in the team, to share their top three contract tips for startups and growing businesses. When you’re launching a new venture, cash flow is tight and every pound counts. Investing in legal advice can feel like a luxury, but as Ch...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Mark Chick, Partner in Bishop & Sewell’s Landlord & Tenant team, is joined by Chris Macartney to explore one of the more complex and niche areas of property law: leasehold enfranchisement within the Crown Estate. While most leaseholders benefit from statutory rights under leasehold reform legislation, the Crown Estate sits outside of this framew...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Charles Jamieson, Partner in Bishop & Sewell’s Dispute Resolution team, sits down with Senal Patel, Partner in the firm’s Commercial Property team, to unpack the crucial early stages of commercial lease negotiations. The discussion focuses on the importance of heads of terms, the initial framework that shapes the lease agreement and can significantl...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Charlie Davidson, Senior Associate in the Property team, is joined by Mark Chick, Head of Landlord & Tenant at Bishop & Sewell, to explore what happens when leaseholders want to buy their freehold but are already in dispute with their landlord over service charges. For many leaseholders, dissatisfaction with service charge management is a key mo...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Nicholas Barlow, Head of the Private Client team at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Luke Jenkins, Associate in the team, to explore the fundamentals of lifetime gifting and the key inheritance tax allowances and reliefs available to individuals and families. The conversation provides a practical refresher on commonly used exemptions, from the annual £...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Mark Chick, Partner at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Chris Macartney, Partner in the Landlord and Tenant team, to break down one of the most talked-about property announcements of recent months: the government’s draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill and its proposals to cap and ultimately extinguish ground rents. The draft legislation proposes...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Nicholas Barlow, Head of the Private Client team at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Ben Williamson, Senior Associate, to unpack one of the most important and often underestimated legal roles: being an executor. Acting as an executor can be an onerous responsibility, particularly when it begins at a time of grief. Nicholas and Ben guide listeners throu...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Karen Bright (Head of Litigation) is joined by Farzana Rahman (Associate Solicitor, Residential Property) for a practical discussion on some of the most common, and costly, issues that affect leaseholders, landlords, and buyers of leasehold property. From management packs and managing agents to service charge disputes, cladding, lease variations, and pr...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Nicholas Barlow, Head of Private Client at Bishop and Sewell, and Luke Jenkins tackle one of the most common questions in inheritance tax planning: can you give your home away to your children whilst still living in it? The conversation reveals why this seemingly simple solution rarely works as intended. The hosts explain the concept of "gift with reser...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Chris Macartney (Partner, Landlord & Tenant) sits down with Mark Chick (Partner, Head of Landlord & Tenant) to review progress one year on from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LAFRA) and assess whether the government is keeping its promises. Following Matthew Pennycook’s November 2024 ministerial statement, eight major consultations...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Andrew Kavanagh (Partner, Corporate & Commercial) and Charles Wilson (Solicitor, Corporate & Commercial) break down the Football Governance Act 2025, now law, and what the creation of an Independent Football Regulator could mean for club licensing, finances, sponsorships, and timelines.  They explore fresh findings from the Fair Game Index on ho...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Charlie Davidson, Senior Associate at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Sean Randall, widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading experts on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). Together, they delve into one of the most talked-about and often misunderstood areas of property law and taxation. The conversation begins with the Angela Rayner stamp duty controversy,...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Senior Associate Charlie Davidson is joined by Mark Chick, Senior Partner and leading leasehold law expert at Bishop & Sewell, for an in-depth discussion on one of the most significant shake-ups to property law in decades: the Leasehold Reform Act 2024. Although the Act was passed with cross-party support, many of its key provisions remain dormant,...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Nicholas Barlow, Head of the Private Client Team at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Ben Williamson, Senior Associate, to explore the many ways trusts can be used within wills to provide protection, clarity, and peace of mind for families. Whether you're a parent concerned about safeguarding your children's inheritance, part of a blended family navigat...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Nicholas Barlow, Head of the Private Client Team at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Ben Williamson, Senior Associate, to shed light on one of the lesser-known — but highly effective — inheritance tax exemptions: normal expenditure out of income. Nicholas and Ben break down how this exemption works, why it’s often overlooked, and how it can be a powerf...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Nicholas Barlow, Head of the Private Client Team at Bishop & Sewell, sits down with Ben Williamson, Senior Associate, to unravel the complexities of family trusts. Together, they explore how trusts can be a powerful tool for safeguarding family wealth, protecting vulnerable beneficiaries, and achieving long-term estate planning goals. From second ho...

In this insightful episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Senior Partner Mark Chick is joined by Nicholas Barlow, Head of the Private Client Team at Bishop & Sewell, to explore what it truly means to be an executor of a will — a role that is often misunderstood and frequently underestimated. They unpack the legal obligations, financial liabilities, and personal dynamics involved in administering...

When it comes to buying the freehold of a building, one of the biggest hurdles is figuring out how to fund it and getting all the leaseholders on the same page. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t worry—this episode’s here to simplify things. Mark Chick, Senior Partner at Bishop & Sewell, and Chris Macartney, Head of the Landlord and Tenant Department, share their knowledge to make t...

Share of freehold ownership often leads to confusion, so if you’ve been scratching your head over it, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a topic that comes up frequently between homeowners and prospective buyers, with many unsure of what it really means and how it affects ownership. In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Charlie Davidson, Senior Associate in the Property Department, and Mark...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, corporate partners Andrew Kavanagh and David Little take us through the ins and outs of selling a business — from initial planning to post-sale pitfalls. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or considering an exit for the first time, this conversation is packed with practical insights, cautionary tales, and essential legal know-how. Andrew and David b...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, corporate partners Andrew Kavanagh and David Little guide first-time business buyers through the key legal and financial considerations when purchasing a company. With practical insights drawn from real-world experience, they explore the fundamental differences between share and asset purchases, the importance of early financial due diligence, and the s...

In this episode of Listen Without Prejudice, Thom Wilkinson, Head of Residential Property Team at Bishop & Sewell, is joined by Karen Bright, Head of Litigation, for a comprehensive discussion on the hidden pitfalls of property transactions. From holding deposits and disclosure obligations to service charge caps and incomplete transactions, Thom and Karen explore real-world issues buyers and s...