Lucy Roberts: We are SO proud of our Lucy!! She completed the London Marathon yesterday in 4hrs 46 mins and reached the half way point in 2hrs 14 mins. Overall she came 3706 out 6276 women runners. Full details to follow as to the total amount raised by Lucy for Refuge, but for now Lucy, we salute you!

Marie Hilditch: The good news just doesn't stop.
Marie has just had the results of her final ILEX exam, in Conveyancing, which she has passed with Distinction.
She has now completed the academic side of the ILEX qualification and is working towards becoming a Fellow of the Institute.
Again, well done Marie

Claire Hickman: Claire has today received notification that she has passed the exam she sat in January - Unit 14 Wills and Succession - part of her Ilex examinations.
Well done Claire

Jane Wilson: Jane Wilson, Senior Partner, presented a workshop on Domestic Abuse at the 24th National Conference of Resolution in Leeds. Jane chairs the resolution Domestic Abuse committee and spoke on the impact of domestic abuse and how to recognise when someone has been subjected to abuse.
In his keynote speech at the Conference, the Rt. Hon. Sir Nicholas Wall, the President of the Family Division, said ' I see that the workshop specifically referred to "screening" and to the identification and securing of evidence. Nobody should be under any illusions about either the difficulty or importance of this task, and I pay tribute to the pioneering work done by Resolution in this field.'

Steven Coles: Steven summarises the budget as follows:
The spirit of George Osborne’s 2012 budget could be summed up using his own statement - "This country borrowed its way into trouble. Now we're going to earn our way out."
The main changes are summarised as follows:
Personal taxes
• Personal tax allowance – the threshold at which workers start paying income tax – will rise to £9,205 in April 2013, up £1,100 from £8,105 n April 2012.
• Top 50p tax rate will be cut to 45p from April 2013.
• Clampdown on tax avoidance and evasion.
• A new 7% stamp duty tax on properties over £2m.
Business taxes
• Corporation tax will be cut to 24% in April, having already been cut to 26% from 28%.
• Corporation tax will be 22% by 2014. This is the "biggest sustained reduction in business tax rates for a generation".
• Above-the-line R&D tax credit from next year, as demanded by business groups.
Child benefit
• Child benefit to be partly removed from households where at least one person earns over £50,000 – softened from previous plans.
Pensions
• Plans to save £5bn by freezing age-related allowances for half Britain's pensioners
• State pension age to be automatically reviewed to ensure it keeps up with growing longevity.
• Simplification of tax system for pensioners.
• Single-tier state pension to be introduced – estimated to be £140.
Business
• Enterprise finance guarantee to be expanded.
• Wants to double UK exports to £1 trillion this decade.
• Michael Heseltine to conduct review on how government can work better with private sector economic development
Cigarettes, alcohol and gambling
• Plan to tax online gambling based on location of the gambler, not the company.
• Duty on all tobacco products will rise by 5% above inflation, with 37p on a packet of cigarettes from 6pm.
• No changes to duty rates set out by previous government. That means beer duty rises by 2% plus inflation, adding around 10p to the cost of a pint.
Fuel and vehicles
• No changes to fuel duty plans already set out.
• Vehicle excise duty to rise by inflation, but frozen for road hauliers.
Energy
• Package of tax changes to be introduced to ensure make the most from oil and gas extraction.

Give Steven or the Commercial Team a call if you need help with this.

Gaynor Butler: Gaynor has now returned from her cruise, her suitcase burgeoning with £ notes. She also tells us she won another £125 from one armed bandits.
She did share in her good fortune. (Sadly of the cake variety and not £ notes) Nevertheless, nice cake. Thanks Gaynor and well done.

Kay Masters: On Sunday 18 March Kay did her first off road 10K race at Cholmondeley, completing the course in 55 mins 3 secs. Wow!

Gaynor Butler: Since we reported Gaynor Butler's Bingo windfall we have been inundated with 'begging' letters. She is unable to cope. Sonia Rickard has therefore now been appointed as her personal secretary to deal with these and any further requests for 'loose change' should please be addressed for the personal attention of Miss Rickard. Thank you

Gaynor Butler: Gaynor has txted from her Cruise Ship in the Carribean to say that she has scooped £900 in a bingo win. Well done Gaynor!
She doesn't say whether she will be sharing it amongst her colleagues, nor whethr she'll be bringing in treats on her return. We have to wait and see!

Eoin Murphy: Eoin Murphy, one of our Trainee Solicitors, has also had an article published in the speclialist Family Solicitor's Review (Resolution). The following is an extract:
"Due to the complex emotions involved, the client will almost always have a moment of doubt. It is at this time you need compassion and understanding.
It is easy when you are not emotionally involved to say 'what are you talking about - they hit you', but you must not. You must talk through the situation
with the client, explaining that being at the court may seem extreme but the abuse/violence they have suffered is unacceptable"

Well done Eoin