THE FORCE MAJEURE MAY BE WITH YOU

A new free easy-to-navigate online guide for businesses and individuals to consult over concerns or challenges that they face in the light of the coronavirus pandemic has been launched.

Businesses are being challenged in ways that they will never have envisaged, in relation to their employees, suppliers and customers during the coronavirus outbreak and national law firm Clarke Willmott which has an office in Manchester, has set up an online hub to provide support.

Individuals are also being impacted by the changes with everything from moving house or writing a Will to having fertility treatment subject to disruption.

Martin Palmer, Director of Business Development and Marketing, at Clarke Willmott said: “We appreciate that businesses are being bombarded with information and are having to take critical decisions quickly.

“Our COVID-19 hub was set up to cut through the noise so that business owners can quickly and easily find the answers that they need in the area of business they are working on.

“For years people have been happily signing contracts that mention “force majeure” – those unforeseeable circumstances that may prevent someone fulfilling their obligations. But most people never believed they would become relevant. It is almost inevitable that the current situation will mean people having to use those previously little-known clauses.

“Most people had never heard the word furlough until a few weeks ago, and certainly wouldn’t have discussed such a thing with their staff. Now businesses are navigating their way through this very tricky new status with employees.

“There is also information for individuals that answer some of the most common questions about their legal standing in these difficult times.”

The Clarke Willmott Covid-19 hub is designed to support with self-help advice for the majority of circumstances that may arise as a result of the Government instructions to businesses and restrictions on everyday life announced in recent weeks.

It also contains links through to specialist experts within the Clarke Willmott team and ways to seek further clarification by telephone or email if it is needed or to book a consultation.

It is simple to navigate and people do not have to enter any details about themselves to find the information they need but there is a facility to sign up for free short email updates on specific areas of interest as the Covid-19 situation continues to develop.

The hub can be found on the first page of the Clarke Willmott website: www.clarkewillmott.com.

Clarke Willmott LLP is a top tier national law firm with seven offices across the country in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.