The Irwin Mitchell Podcast

Our host, Lewis Quarmby speaks to Royal Air Force veteran, Carl Austin-Behan, about his lived experience of the ban on LGBT personnel in the armed forces. They were joined by Peter Gibson, Chief Executive of Fighting With Pride, and Sarah Jones from our employee network IM Equal. On 12 December 2024, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme made recognition payments available to those who served in the Armed Forces between 27 July 1967 and 11 January 2000 and were affected by the ban. The deadline for applications is 12 December 2026. If you don’t apply in time you’ll lose your right to a payment under the scheme. Together our guests discussed:The impact of the LGBT ban and the support that’s available to those who were affected by it.Whether the Financial Recognition Scheme goes far enough.The potential pitfalls of making an application under the scheme and the importance of seeking legal advice.Where to get support to make an application, including support for elderly claimants and those who lack capacity.Drawing on their personal experiences, they shared touching stories and lots of useful information to help those seeking to apply for a recognition payment. The discussion contains references to themes that some individuals may find distressing. If you were impacted by the ban, our expert Military team is here to help you navigate the Financial Recognition Scheme. Further support and resources are available from the LGBT+ Veterans charity, Fighting With Pride.

A lack of resources for local planning authorities, supply chain issues, and a rise in land values has crippled the development and planning sector.This has resulted in the lowest level of planning applications and completions in a decade.But with the government determined to get Britain building again – including its pledge to chase down the 1.5 million shortfall in new homes – it’s also an exciting time for the sector.   Join legal experts Claire Petricca-Riding, Nicola Gooch and Pamela Chesterman as they look back over developments from the last 12 months and outline key priorities for 2025.

One of the toughest realisations that comes with a divorce is that you’re not going to be able to see your children every day. New routines can be challenging, but co-operation and communication can make the adjustment much easier for your family, creating a long-term foundation of trust and security.Host Zahra Pabani is joined by family law partner and mediator Phillip Rhodes; former leading BBC journalist and now family mediator Joanna Gosling; and finally, coach and founder of The Co-Parent Way Marcie Shaoul. They discuss: The key elements of a successful co-parenting plan How to navigate differences in parenting styleEnsuring children feel loved and secure during a divorceThe support available to help parents reach an agreement.

Have you got a plan in place for your pension? Are you confident it will look after you and your family once you finish working?  In this podcast, Zahra Pabani is joined by partners Rose Macfarlane and Phillip Rhodes, and Edward Tomlinson, Head of Financial Planning at Irwin Mitchell. They explain the different options available for your pension and share their best tips for maximising your cash for the future.They discuss:How to plan realistically while the economy remains uncertainHow to deal with pensions in the event of a divorceWhy it’s important to consider your pension as part of your estate planningThe new government’s approach to pensions, and how you can respond to itWhy legal advice is so important when it comes to planning for your pension.

Whether you’ve moved into a leadership role or to a completely different industry, career changes can be challenging and rewarding at the same time.  In our latest podcast, partner Zahra Pabani is joined by recently retired High Court Judge Sir Nicholas Francis; Lesley Spencer, Business and Executive coach; and our newly appointed Head of Family Law, Clare Wiseman. They share their stories of career progression and provide top tips on how you can manage your next steps.  They discuss:How to develop the skills needed to reach the next level of your careerHow the conversation around work/life balance has developed in recent yearsThe challenges of leadership and how to manage themWhere to find motivation and inspiration for your career. 

To mark Armed Forces Day, our military injury partner and former Army Lawyer, Andrew Buckham, hosted a special edition of the Irwin Mitchell Podcast.We were pleased to welcome a panel of specialists, including James Cameron of Mission Motorsport, Rob Kelly from Bootnecks in2 Business, and Tony Radford of The Royal Marines Charity. They shared insights and advice on the challenges faced by veterans and the 14,000 service members* who leave the Armed Forces each year, covering:• The issues people face when transitioning to civilian life, and the impact on their families• The availability of support networks• Veteran strengths as employees• Retention of veteran employees and workplace education.Drawing on their personal experiences, they shared touching stories and humorous anecdotes.If you need expert legal and financial advice after an injury sustained in the Armed Forces, our team is here to help. Further support and resources for serving personnel and veterans are available at Mission Motorsport, Bootnecks in2 Business, and The Royal Marines Charity. *Career Transition Partnership website referenced at 5:52 by Andrew Buckham.

In our latest podcast we're talking family disputes and the divorce process. Whether you're halfway through, figuring out your finances, or coming to the end of the process, you want to surround yourself with a team that can support you.Family law expert Zahra Pabani, is joined Rhiannon Ford, a Divorce Consultant and Coach, John Cunliffe from our financial planning team and family law partner, Marie Kilgallen to discuss why it's important to take the right advice.They discuss:The support available during and after a financial settlementThe role of a divorce coachSupport available after proceedingsTaking financial advice before divorce.

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to divorce, and each separation will take a different path, but how do you decide the best approach to take?When a marriage comes to an end, every choice can feel overwhelming, particularly if children are involved. Whether it's mediation or court, knowing the options that are available to you from the outset can avoid additional cost and time, and ultimately provide better outcomes.Coming together to consider the benefits and drawbacks of each are Zahra Pabani, Clare Wiseman and Claire Filer, Partners in our family law team, and Laura Heaton, Barrister from 29 Bedford Row Chambers. In the podcast they discuss:Navigating the international implications of the divorce processThe increase in alternative dispute resolution methodsThe options available to separating couplesBenefits of court vs mediation cases.

To mark World Cancer Day, our International Serious Injury partner Cheryl Palmer-Hughes explores what happened at Camp LeJeune between 1953 and 1987 and the recent changes in legislation that now allow for claims to be brought.She’s joined by Andrew Buckham, our military injury partner, Mike Doyle, partner at US law firm Doyle Dennis LLP, and Joe House, a veteran who was based at the training facility. Together they discuss: • The toxic water contamination• The link to cancer and other serious illnesses• The impact on those stationed there• How changes in US legislation made it possible for those affected to make a claim• How legal support could help you or someone you know.Joe also gives a personal insight into his family’s experience at Camp LeJeune and how it’s sadly changed their life. He’s wants to share his story and encourage others to seek answers. Supporting the Armed Forces and VeteransBritish service personnel and civilian workers were exposed to contaminated water at the camp between 1953 and 1987. This increased their risks of developing cancer or other serious illnesses. The deadline to submit a claim is 10 August 2024. We’re here to help you make a claim for any illnesses caused by your time at Camp LeJeune. Visit our website to find out more.

Join our financial planning experts Edward Tomlinson, Head of the Financial Planning team, and Lewis Giaramita, Head of Investments, as they provide an insight into the past 12 months in the investment markets, and what this means for the next year.The information given and opinions expressed are subject to change and should not be interpreted as investment advice. All data is sourced by IM Asset Management Limited unless otherwise stated. All financial and wealth management services are provided by IM Asset Management Limited. This commentary is intended for advisers and experienced investors only.Performance is based on net total return, income and capital appreciation over this period. Cumulative returns show the rolling performance of each time period and include the compounding effects of the returns from one time period on the next, whereas discrete performance shows the returns for each time period separately. Prices are calculated NAV to NAV. Past performance is not a guide to the future and it may not be repeated. Source: Bloomberg and where stated.

In this episode, our residential property expert, Jeremy Raj, welcomes National Trading Standards Estate & Letting Agency (NTSELAT) Policy and Information Manager, Emma Cooke, and the chair of the Home Buying and Selling Group, Kate Faulkner OBE.Following the recent release of parts B and C to the material information rules, our specialist panel analyses their effect on the property sector.With the overall aim of improving the information available to consumers, the regulations will impact everyone involved in buying or letting a property.Listen to the podcast to discover: The importance of having clear information available for consumers, so there’s no hidden surprisesHow the media can help the property industry create a more informed consumer, and address the potential teething issues of introducing these regulationsWhat the new regulations mean and how they’ll be implemented, especially on the online portalsAnd more.If you'd like to read the documents mentioned in the episode you can find them below:Guide for Sellers and Landlords – https://bit.ly/47YrsVIGuide for Buyers and Tenants - https://bit.ly/3uYRxoV

From dealing with a dispute over a loved one’s estate to going through the process of contesting a Will, our panel of experts sit down to discuss the importance of our counselling and coaching service.In this episode of the Irwin Mitchell Podcast, host and family law Partner, Zahra Pabani is joined by Client Counsellor, Vicky Lambert, Associate Solicitor, Nicola Hawkins and Solicitor, Elliot Booth. During the episode, the panel covers a range of topics including:The value of having an in-house counselling and coaching service available to clients during a legal disputeThe difference between counselling and coachingHow counselling can be an integral part of a legal journey, allowing clients to properly process a range of emotions including griefHow the service compliments our legal experts, allowing them to focus on getting the best outcome possible.