Arist LEGAL

Insights

Short notes on matters we see regularly.

General commentary, not legal advice for any specific situation. If something below sounds close to your circumstances, get in touch before relying on it.

Corporate & Commercial

March 2026

Why family businesses still skip shareholder agreements

A shareholder agreement drafted at incorporation is cheaper than one negotiated mid-dispute. We see the gap most often in second-generation family businesses.

Litigation & Disputes

February 2026

Defamation or malicious falsehood: which claim fits

The two claims overlap but require different proof. A false statement about a business's products may sit outside standard defamation entirely.

Family Law

January 2026

Pre-nuptial agreements where one party owns a business

A minority shareholding brought into a marriage needs specific drafting, not a template pre-nup, if it's to hold up on later challenge.

Property

December 2025

Dilapidations claims: what landlords get wrong

A schedule of dilapidations served without a supporting surveyor's report is the most common reason these claims stall at negotiation.

Employment

November 2025

Why a settlement agreement needs independent sign-off

Employees sometimes ask whether the sign-off requirement can be skipped to save cost. It cannot: without it the agreement isn't binding.