Business Regulations and Compliance

We can assist with a wide range of issues including police investigations, drafting effective policies and procedures and court representation.

Specialist business regulations and compliance services

Our team of specialist lawyers can assist with all business regulations and compliance issues including:

• bribery;
• competition;
• consumer protection/Trading Standards;
• data protection/freedom of information;
• driver defence;
• environmental health;
• Financial Conduct Authority issues;
• food hygiene and safety;
• health and safety (including fire safety);
• inquests;
• licensing;
• money laundering;
• GDPR; and
• planning enforcement.

Driver defence

If you or your company are charged with a motoring offence, our clear and practical advice, combined with transparent costs will reduce the stress involved in this challenging situation. 

Our areas of expertise include:

• careless driving/driving without due care;
• dangerous driving;
• defending VOSA prosecutions;
• drink driving;
• driving disqualification;
• driving without insurance;
• failing to stop/provide driver details;
• mobile telephone use;
• special reasons/exceptional hardship arguments;
• Speeding; and
• unsafe loads and vehicle defects.

We will ensure you fully understand what to expect in the run up to court and during the hearing, what happens with sentencing and whether you have a defence or have good reasons to avoid penalty points or prevent/reduce the length of a driving disqualification.

Costs for dealing with driving offences and alcohol licences

Motoring offences

In relation to summary only motoring offences the costs in respect of a one hearing guilty plea at the magistrates court will vary between £1250 – £1500 plus VAT (currently 20%) and expenses. The price will vary depending upon the location of the court, be it Southampton or a court that involves travel in excess of 30 minutes each way. Likely disbursements are at £0.45 per mile from Southampton. The basis of this charge is our hourly rate of £370 per hour  (plus VAT).

Service Information

The services include an initial meeting of up to one hour, representation at court and pleading mitigation, of a time not to exceed one hour waiting and hearing time. The work will be carried out at partner level by a qualified solicitor with 20 plus years’ experience. In the event of a not guilty plea, costs will be tailored to the individual and detailed accordingly.

Alcohol licences – Applications business premises

The total cost for this will be £1500 plus VAT (currently 20%) and disbursements. This is based on an hourly charge of £305 per hour plus VAT and includes drafting of an operating schedule, preparing application for new premises licence and application for designated premises supervisor, to include if necessary, application for a personal licence.

Service Information

Disbursements to be paid are the licensing fee, (variable depending upon the rateable value of the premises), an advertisement fee in the local press, at present around £200 plus VAT, currently 20%) and the application fee in respect of a personal licence.

This is on the basis that the application is granted in full without the need for a hearing in front of the licensing sub-committee, or a subsequent appeal to the magistrates court.

A typical time scale from receipt of instructions and plans to grant of a licence is 6 – 8 weeks. Work is undertaken at partner level with 20 plus years of experience.

Should the matter go to a contested hearing in front of the local council licensing sub-committee, then the price in respect of that matter will be discussed.

GDPR & Data Protection

Most businesses come into contact with personal data. Breaches of data protection legislation are usually the result of poor data protection policies. Putting the right policies and procedures in place will help protect your reputation.

Health and Safety

The key to good risk management is a ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach. The benefits are enormous and go straight to the bottom line. And if things do go wrong, we are here to steer and support you with practical, strategic advice.

How we can help:

• Review and draft health and safety policies.
• Policies for staff handbooks.
• Accident reporting.
• Advice after an accident and investigation procedures including dealing with staff and the media.
• Help with interviews under caution.
• Appeals against prohibition notices or invoices issued under HSE costs recovery scheme.
• Defending your prosecution.

In-House Counsel

Our team of experienced lawyers is well-equipped to support you in various ways. Whether you require advice on a specific issue, additional resources due to capacity constraints, or a second opinion, we are here to help. Explore our legal counsel page for more information and details on our schedule of seminars, specifically designed for in-house counsel.

How we work with you

Whilst based in the South of England, Paris Smith acts for businesses and families throughout the UK. Technology has enabled us to provide a high level of service to our clients whether they are local to our offices or not. Our advice can be given in many ways:

• Over the telephone
• Via video conferencing
• In face to face meetings

We will talk through how you would like to be contacted and the best ways for us to meet in our early conversations with you.