Former Partner at Hodge Jones and Allen Simone McGrath joined Osbornes in January 2007
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Cocktails & Counsel at Gilgamesh
Osbornes Family Department threw a bash at Gilgamesh on a rainy night in August. Despite the weather, the party attracted the brightest rising stars in the family law world. Guests dined on sumptuous canapés and enjoyed the DJ as the drinks flowed. Rumour has it that it was the event of the summer.
Home information packs (HIPs) – watch this space
The 1 June deadline has now come and gone and we are still no closer to knowing when or if HIPs will be introduced.
At the 11th hour the government announced that the introduction of HIPs would be delayed from 1 June to 1 August.
In a statement made by the government it stated that the following changes would be implemented:
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to be introduced on 1 August with HIPs on a phased basis.
- HIPs and EPCs will be required for the sale of houses with four or more bedrooms from 1 August. All other residential properties will be phased in once there are sufficient numbers of energy assessors to produce the EPCs.
- Until the end of the year the seller can market the property as soon as the HIP is applied for, instead of waiting until the HIP is received.
- EPCs, for the time being, can be up to 12 months old when the property is marketed for sale.
The changes to the regulations clearly reduce the number of properties affected on 1 August. We can only watch and wait to see if the government will continue with the much watered down HIP or if there will be a further last-minute back down.
Even with the decision regarding HIPs so uncertain, Osbornes is still intending to be a HIP provider through searchflow in association with the Law Society.
On the Madonna adoption case, Naomi Angell, specialist in international adoption law, was quoted in the Evening Standard on the relevant law “the law is there to make sure the adoption is done correctly…it is…about making sure parents are suitable to adopt”.
The new Adoption and Children Act 2002 states that a person who is habitually resident in the UK, who is either bringing a child into the UK for the purposes of adoption, or within six months of a recognised foreign adoption Order, must comply with the adoption regulation. These regulations require a prospective adoptive family to obtain an advance home study report, from a British adoption agency or a voluntary adoption agency licensed to do intercountry adoption work. The home study must then be certificated by the Central Government Department, the Department for Education and Skills (DFES) and sent to the foreign country. The purpose of the report is to assess whether a family are suitable to adopt a child from abroad, and to help them understand the special challenges of bringing up a child who they have adopted from abroad. Failure to comply with the regulations may be a criminal offence. From the press reports, it is not clear exactly what preparation Madonna and her husband have made in advance of adopting the baby, but the regulations apply to everyone whether they are an A list celebrity or not.
Former partner at Hodge Jones and Allen joins Osbornes
Former Partner at Hodge Jones and Allen Simone McGrath joined Osbornes in January 2007. Simone specialises in all aspects of private and public law children work. She has particular expertise in domestic and international Child Abduction. She is recognised as a Leader in her field in both Chambers and Partners Directory (2007),where she is noted as being "someone you can trust", and Legal 500.
In 2004 Simone was appointed as a Deputy District Judge, South Eastern Circuit.
In 2005 the Black Solicitors Network presented Simone with "Outstanding Lawyer of the Year" award.
OSBORNES SOLICITORS ON THE MOVE
Long established Camden Firm moving to Pratt St NW1
Osbornes has been a feature on Parkway for more than thirty years but over the last five years the firm has doubled in both size and turnover. More space is needed for both employees and clients and so the firm is re-locating to newly refurbished offices at Livery House, 9 Pratt Street London NW1.
Osbornes was first established in 1973 and now has more than 50 staff, making it one of the largest and most successful law firms in North London. The new offices will reflect this; with more than 11000sqft and covering five floors (one newly constructed with views over the City and West End), there will be plenty of room to enable clients to be seen in privacy and comfort and for further anticipated expansion.
Osbornes’ expertise is wide ranging and focuses on Family Law alongside International Adoption and Child Abduction work together with Personal Injury, Residential and Commercial Property transactions, Property and Probate Litigation, Licensing, Housing, Wills, Trusts and Estates. The firm also has trained mediators who can help in the early resolution of disputes.
Osbornes’ reputation stems from working in specialist teams. Lawyers work for private individuals, small businesses, larger companies, banks, government institutions and housing associations, dealing with cases ranging from road traffic accident claims, property sales and purchases, divorce and property disputes to wills and tax planning.
For further information on Osbornes visit www.osbornes.net
June 2006: Head of Osbornes Property Litigation Department Guy Osborn is made a Partner of the firm
Family Partner Mark Freedman appeared live on Sky TV News debating the effect of the government's decision to overhaul the Child Support Agency.
