Motor Industry Legal Services

Our clients include

  • Jardine Motors Group
  • Greenhous Group Ltd
  • Renault Retail Group UK
  • Hartwell Plc
  • Eastern Holdings
  • Benfield Motor Group
  • Allen Ford
and over 1,000 other franchised and independent dealers.

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MILS have formed an alliance to deliver full legal support to RMIF members. 

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News
A case on costs against lying litigants
Tuesday, 29 December 2009

In the case of Dunedin Canmore Housing Association v Donaldson, the Claimant brought proceedings for breach of a Compromise Agreement as (she said) she had not been in breach of a confidentiality clause.

Read more...
 
Unfair dismissal and unlawful age discrimination
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
In Tower Hamlets v Wooster, the employee brought a claim of unfair dismissal and unlawful age discrimination.
Read more...
 
TUPE transfers
Tuesday, 01 December 2009
As those of you who have been involved in TUPE transfers will understand only too well, TUPE acts to preserve terms and conditions of employees through a transfer of a business and stops the new employer making changes to employees’ contracts, unless for certain statutory reasons.
Read more...
 
Government Proposals for transferrable maternity leave
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
The Government has announced a consultation on allowing mothers to transfer some of their maternity leave entitlement to the father.
Read more...
 
ECJ decision looking at the Working Time Directive
Tuesday, 03 November 2009

In Pereda v Madrid Movilidad SA - the Claimant was a driver who suffered an accident at work before commencement of his annual leave.

Read more...
 
Claim for unsatisfactory quality of a vehicle settles saving our client over £12,000
Tuesday, 13 October 2009

MILS have assisted a client in a long running claim for unsatisfactory quality of a vehicle brought against them by a customer.

Read more...
 
Motor Industry Client saves over £40,000 as MILS defends Disability Discrimination claim
Thursday, 08 October 2009

MILS Motor Industry Lawyers have successfully defended a claim against a major client for disability discrimination, saving that client over £40,000.

Read more...
 
New National Minimum Wage rates announced
Tuesday, 06 October 2009

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) historically increases every autumn.

Read more...
 
Client saves over £18,000 after long standing legal claim is settled
Tuesday, 29 September 2009

MILS have successfully negotiated the settlement of a long standing legal claim relating to refund of deposits on vehicles, saving our client over £18,000 in legal fee's. 

Read more...
 
Government Consultation on Tips and Sick Notes
Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Since the National Minimum Wage Act came into force in the 1990s, it has been legal for employers to use devices such as service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges to count towards payment of the national minimum wage in certain circumstances.

Read more...
 
House of Lords decision on the issues relating to long term sick leave
Wednesday, 09 September 2009
Earlier this year the European Court of Justice ruled that employees should continue to accrue statutory holiday whilst off sick.
Read more...
 
Clarification on the law of victimisation in discrimination claims
Wednesday, 26 August 2009

And a warning to any employer who may be considering retribution against a successful Claimant by way of non payment of a Tribunal award.

Read more...
 
Swine Flu - Latest Advice for Employers
Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Only those residents of the UK with their heads firmly in the sand would not have noticed the recent news regarding swine flu.

Read more...
 
Reinstatement of an Employee after dismissal
Friday, 31 July 2009

Reinstatement is a potential remedy for a Claimant employee at an Employment Tribunal.

Read more...
 
Serious Fraud Office investigates MG Rover
Monday, 06 July 2009

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating whether the demise of MG Rover in 2005 should result in criminal prosecution.

Read more...
 
RMIF Legal Bulletin - June 2009
Monday, 22 June 2009

MILS lawyers defended a motor dealer client in the County Court against a claimant who argued that our client was liable for finance they had defaulted on in respect of a vehicle.

Read more...
 
Sobering reminder for employers seeking to cut costs by outsourcing work.
Monday, 01 June 2009

The TUPE Regulations act to protect employees rights during certain transfers of businesses or parts of businesses.

Read more...
 
Are workers on long term sick entitled to holiday pay accrual?
Monday, 18 May 2009

There has been an ongoing dispute in employment law about whether or not workers on long term sick are entitled to holiday pay accrual for the periods they are off work.

Read more...
 
New ACAS code of practice replaces Statutory Dispute Resolution Procedures
Friday, 08 May 2009

From 6 April 2009 the much criticised Statutory Dispute Resolution Procedures has been on the way out.

Read more...
 
Update on Flexible Working
Monday, 27 April 2009

If any of us were in doubt as to the Government’s commitment to their campaign to support family friendly culture in business, then those doubts should be put aside now.

Read more...
 
The consequences of the European Court of Justice decision known as the Heyday Challenge
Monday, 20 April 2009
The ECJ has effectively found that the Government has not breached the Directive.

Read more...
 
Length of service in a redundancy selection policy could be considered a 'benefit'
Friday, 20 March 2009
In Rolls Royce PLC v Unite the Union the High Court has held that giving credit for length of service in a redundancy selection policy could be considered a 'benefit' under Reg 32 of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006.

Read more...
 
Claims for passed holiday pay
Monday, 09 March 2009
In the case of Berta v Hummus Brothers Ltd [Employment Appeal Tribunal], an employee brought a claim against his employer for holiday pay which he alleged was outstanding.

Read more...
 
The obligation on employers with regard to the effect of a proposed TUPE transfer
Wednesday, 25 February 2009

A recent case has considered the scope of the obligation on employers to inform and consult affected employees with regard to the effect of a proposed TUPE transfer.

Read more...
 
Tribunal rates and limits of compensation increase as of Feb 1st
Sunday, 01 February 2009

Tribunal rates and limits of compensation have increased, with effect from today.

Read more...
 
Holiday rights for the long-term sick
Thursday, 15 January 2009

The European Court of Justice have ruled that a worker on sick leave accrues annual leave whilst absent.

Read more...
 
RMIF Legal Bulletin for Automotive Insight readers
Monday, 01 December 2008

RMIF’s lawyers, Motor Industry Legal Services (MILS), have been asked to provide Automotive Insight readers with a summary of recent cases.

Read more...
 
Important case for employees with Learning Disabilities
Tuesday, 04 November 2008

Employers must consider each job individually and look at whether the duties carried out in that job can be done by someone who is not of a specific religion or belief.

Read more...
 
Employment Appeal Tribunal will assist motor industry employers defending victimisation claims
Tuesday, 28 October 2008

The clarification of the law by the Employment Appeal Tribunal will no doubt assist motor industry employers defending claims relating to victimisation brought by Claimants who can be shown to be acting maliciously.

Read more...
 
Important development relating to disability discrimination and the Disability Discrimination Act
Tuesday, 21 October 2008

The most important development in recent months is that the law relating to disability discrimination and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has been thrown back into turmoil following the House of Lords decision in London Borough of Lewisham v Malcolm.

Read more...
 
Ford Focus - 'Used Car of the Year'
Tuesday, 14 October 2008

The country's most popular new car, the Ford Focus, has held on to its coveted 'Used Car of the Year' title in the Auto Express Glass's Guide Used Car Honours 2008.

Read More about the Ford Focus

Read more...
 
Johnson v Edwardian International Hotels Ltd
Tuesday, 07 October 2008
An unusual Tribunal case where the Claimant had argued that his dismissal was procured by the Jehovah witnesses with help of the Prime Minister.
Read more...
 
Consultation paper on the extension of the right to request flexible working
Tuesday, 07 October 2008

The Government has published its first consultation paper on the extension of the right to request flexible working.

Read more...
 
Credit crunch rattles car dealers
Wednesday, 01 October 2008

The financial turmoil in America is creating a two-tier system among US car dealers according to a report in Automotive News Europe.

Read more about car dealers

Read more...
 
Garage saves thousands and wins unfair dismissal claim
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Motor Lawyers successfully defended a claim for unfair dismissal, saving a garage thousands in damages and over £7,000 in Legal Fee's.
Read more...
 
An important change in maternity law is approaching.
Tuesday, 23 September 2008

From the 5th October 2008 the distinction between ordinary and additional maternity leave is to be removed.

Read more...
 
National minimum wage increase from the 1st October 2008
Thursday, 18 September 2008

Don’t forget that the national minimum wage is subject to its yearly increase from the 1st October 2008. The rate for a normal adult worker aged 22 will be £5.73 per hour.

 
Employers who wish to employ foreign workers must apply for a sponsor licence
Tuesday, 09 September 2008

The UK Border Agency has launched an advertising campaign urging employers who wish to employ foreign workers from outside of the EEA or Switzerland to apply for a sponsor licence by 1 October 2008.

Read more...
 
Terrogate Market Ltd v Harris
Wednesday, 03 September 2008
The Court of Appeal has held that a Claimant who had raised a grievance with the employee following her dismissal could rely on the extension of time provisions of the Employment Act 2002.
Read more...
 
Nicholls v Coryn Tech Ltd and Others
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Respondent threatens the Claimant using unpleasant and intimidating language outside the lifts of the Southampton Employment Tribunal.
Read more...
 
Unfair dismissal?
Tuesday, 05 August 2008
The Court of Appeal has ruled that 2 employees who had been wrongly characterised in law as self employed, were not precluded from claiming unfair dismissal (for which you need to be an employee) by doctrine of illegality.
Read more...
 
Motor Dealers worried about economic downturn
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Motor Dealers across the UK are voicing their concerns as the economic downturn has eroded confidence in the motor retail sector.
Read more...
 
Dealer group Vertu Motors reports sales rise
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Vertu Motors has reported double-digit growth in like-for-like new and used car sales in the four months ended June this year.
Read more...
 
Cowan v Rentokil
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
An Employment Tribunal has erred in limiting compensation for unfair dismissal to the date on which the Claimant commenced new employment. 
Read more...
 
Wilkinson v Springwell Engineering Ltd
Wednesday, 25 June 2008

A teenager was dismissed from employment because she was too young for the job.

Read more...
 
Dealers: improve the service you receive from manufacturers
Friday, 02 May 2008
Dealers can improve the service they receive from their manufacturer partners by anonymously giving their views on them through the latest Dealer Attitude Survey from Sewells Information and Research.
Read more...
 
Dealership awarded £2000 when customer failed to take possession of a vehicle
Monday, 28 April 2008
Failure to take possession of a vehicle
Read more...
 
New Lamborghini - unfit for purpose case goes to High Court
Monday, 14 April 2008
MILS acted for a Motor Retailer client in a High Court case involving a new Lamborghini.
Read more...
 
New measures and rates.
Sunday, 06 April 2008

We wish to remind our clients that changes to the following areas are now in force:

Read more...
 
Sexual Discrimination claim thrown out
Monday, 03 March 2008
Motor Law Solicitors, MILS, have successfully defeated a claim of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Read more...
 
Immigration Fines
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 comes into force on 29 February 2008 with potential fines for employers of up to £10,000.
 
Claim resolved for alleged defective vehicle
Tuesday, 05 February 2008

MILS Motor lawyers have secured a successful settlement for one of the UK's first and leading second-hand car supermarkets.

Read more...
 
Employers warned not to ignore mental health issues
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Statistics show that one in four employees experiences stress, anxiety, depression and other forms of mental ill-health in any given year, yet employers are largely unaware of this and are therefore unable to manage it effectively.
Read more...
 
Car supermarket challenges costs bill
Sunday, 27 January 2008

MILS helped one of the UK's largest car supermarkets challenge a substantial costs bill awarded against them following a piece of litigation in the Watford County Court.

Read more...
 
Successful settlement for Volvo Dealership
Thursday, 17 January 2008
A franchised Volvo dealer in Newcastle is at least £7,000 better off thanks to MILS.
Read more...
 
MILS save Used Car Dealership over £7,500
Wednesday, 09 January 2008

A claim for non payment of an agreed discount on supplied vehicles was settled by a MILS Barrister saving a multi franchise new and used car dealer for Ford, Citroën, Skoda, Mazda and Toyota in the region of£5,000.

Legal fee's (if paying) would have been in the region of £2,500 resulting in a total saving of £7,500 because of membership of the MILS scheme.

Read more...
 
General Motors appoints independent dealer
Tuesday, 08 January 2008
An Independent motor dealership based in Manchester has been appointed by General Motors as dealer to its Cadillac and Corvette retail network.
Read more...
 
Car Dealerships warning
Tuesday, 08 January 2008

According to the information services company Experian, the number of Motor industry businesses going bust fell by 22.3 per cent in 2007.

Read more...
 
Sex discrimination is grounds for constructive dismissal claim
Monday, 31 December 2007

The Employment Appeals Tribunal has held that direct and indirect sex discrimination can provide grounds for a claim of constructive dismissal.

Read more...
 
15% increase in Employment Tribunal cases
Tuesday, 04 December 2007
The number of cases brought to employment tribunals has risen 15% in a year - from 115,039 the previous year to 132,577.
Read more...
 
MILS saves dealership over £7,000
Friday, 30 November 2007

MILS lawyers have successfully defended a finance agreement claim on behalf of a dealership saving them over £7,000.

Read more...
 
Fatal Accident - new law makes it easier to prosecute
Wednesday, 28 November 2007

The new Corporate Manslaughter & Corporate Homicide Bill will become law in April 08 and will apply to any "organisation" as well as any type of trading business.

Read more...
 
National Minimum Wage Increase
Tuesday, 13 November 2007

The national minimum wage has increased to £5.52 for workers aged 22 and over; £4.60 for workers aged 18-21; and £3.40 for workers aged 16-17.

 
Dismissals by Third Party Pressure
Thursday, 08 November 2007

The EAT has reminded employers that dismissals resulting from the pressure of a third party (such as one of the employer's clients) may be fair but only where the employer has considered whether the proposed dismissal would cause injustice to the employee; and
where there would be injustice, whether any steps could be taken to alleviate the injustice (for example, assigning the employee to work for another client).

 
Breach of contract claim successfully defended at Employment Tribunal
Monday, 05 November 2007
MILS successfully defended Citygate Automotive Ltd against claims for breach of contract, saving the company in the region of £3,500 in legal fee's.
Read more...
 
Reduction in road casualties
Wednesday, 31 October 2007

The number of people killed in road accidents in Great Britain fell last year by 1% as part of a 5% overall reduction in road casualties.

Read more...
 
Car makers cleared in Global Warming lawsuit
Thursday, 25 October 2007

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the state of California demanding compensation from six carmakers for their contribution to global warming.

Read more...
 
Major Motor Retailer successfully defends Age Discrimination and Unfair Dismissal claim
Monday, 22 October 2007

A claim of age discrimination and unfair dismissal in the Cardiff Employment Tribunal has been successfully defended by MILS on behalf of a major motor retailer, Carshops Ltd.

Read more...
 
Tax incentives for speed limiters
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
The Commission for Integrated Transport is recommending the fitment of speed limiters to company cars.
Read more...
 
A new Mini?
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Mini enthusiast website Motoring File has reported that BMW is working on a smaller Mini.
Read more...
 
MILS case creates new employment law precedent for grievance procedures
Tuesday, 09 October 2007

MILS have recently been involved in a very important case involving the interpretation of the new statutory grievance procedures.

Read more...
 
Verbal warning is acceptable
Friday, 05 October 2007

The EAT has confirmed that an employer's obligation under the statutory dismissal and disciplinary procedure to notify an employee of his right to appeal does not mean that the notification must be made in writing. 

Read more...
 
Changes to the Working Time Regulations come into force 1st October
Sunday, 30 September 2007

The draft Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007 come into force today increasing the statutory minimum holiday entitlement from 4 weeks to 5.6 weeks to ensure annual leave for the eight public holidays, as well as the statutory 4 weeks.

Read more...
 
Drivers 'need psychometric tests'
Saturday, 29 September 2007

Psychological assessments should become part of the UK driving test, a road safety expert has urged.

Read more...
 
Motor finance fraud squad is formed
Thursday, 20 September 2007

The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Finance & Leasing Association have joined forces to create a new crack police team that will investigate frauds against motor finance companies.

Read more...
 
'Green' is not an issue for lady car buyers
Wednesday, 12 September 2007

A report by the SMMT suggests that much work has to be done to convince motorists to become greener. 

Read more...
 
Sales of upper-medium cars
Tuesday, 04 September 2007

Sales of upper-medium cars are being cannibalised across Europe's largest new car markets by the emerging niche family car segments.

Read more...
 
Falling residuals, more write-offs, less bodywork
Monday, 27 August 2007

The UK market for body repairs has fallen in real terms for the fifth year running since its peak in 2001.

Read more...
 
April pre-registrations top 450
Sunday, 19 August 2007

A total of 452 cars were pre-registered in the UK by manufacturers in April.

 

Read more...
 
Contracts - Extending probationary periods
Monday, 13 August 2007
We encourage employers to carefully monitor the performance of employees during their probationary period and to take prompt steps to address any concerns.

Read more...
 
Hazardous waste
Tuesday, 07 August 2007
We continue to warn members that those who fail to comply with the directives could face heavy fines.  We would consequently urge members who are unsure of their position to seek clarification from the Environment Agency.

 
The General Product Safety Directive
Monday, 30 July 2007
We have continued to monitor the effects upon members of The General Product Safety Directive, which came into force across the UK late last year, following the adoption of new European regulations governing product recalls.

Read more...
 
Part-time worker's claim for Bank Holidays
Sunday, 22 July 2007
A part-time worker has the right not to be treated less favourably than a comparable full-time worker and is entitled to receive a proportion of the pay or any other benefits that the full time worker receives, pro-rata - calculated in accordance with the number of weekly hours that the part-time worker works, in comparison to the full-time worker.


 
Used Car Cloning
Monday, 16 July 2007
We continue to mark a steady rise in the number of enquiries from members regarding incidents of used car “cloning” which, according to the national crime statistics, is the fastest growing car crime in the UK, and represents a significant potential loss to members who find themselves inadvertently having made the wrong purchase.

Read more...
 
Consumer Rights and The Sale of Goods
Sunday, 08 July 2007
Consumer rights have greatly increased through a major reversal of consumer protection law, and we continue to register an increase in the number of complaints against members, which we are partly attributing to the legislation.

Read more...
 
Smoking ban takes effect on the 1st July
Saturday, 30 June 2007
From today virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England will become smoke free.

Read more...
 
MILS wins substantial court case for Landrover Dealer
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
MILS has successfully defended a claim involving an alleged defective Landover Freelander, securing a large costs payment for our Client (a franchised Landrover dealer).
Read more...
 
MILS forms alliance with the RMIF
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) and Motor Industry Legal Services (MILS), the leading UK industry law firm, have formed a strategic alliance to deliver full legal support to RMIF members.
Read more...
 
Warranty Company sued
Wednesday, 13 June 2007

A claim brought by our Client against a warranty company at Court for unpaid warranty claims resulted in a successful settlement.
 

Read more...
 
Age discrimination regulations
Wednesday, 06 June 2007
Members need to take great care in dealing with employment issues and we would continue to encourage Members to contact their  appointed lawyers on all employment matters, however trivial they might at first be considered.

Read more...
 
Disability Discrimination Act 2005
Sunday, 03 June 2007
Some of the changes to disability rights introduced in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 took effect from December last year.

Read more...
 
New Maternity and Paternity regulations
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Members should be aware of measures and regulations from The Work and Families Bill.

Read more...
 
Misrepresentation case thrown out of court
Thursday, 24 May 2007

A MILS Client has been awarded £7,303.45 after a customer alleged that Kent Auto Panels Dealership had misrepresented the specification of a vehicle sold to him.
 

Read more...
 
PLC Motor Company defends personal injury claim, saving thousands
Wednesday, 09 May 2007

A woman, who alleged that she had suffered personal injury when her seatbelt had failed because of works our client had carried out to her vehicle, has had her case struck out of Court for lack of causation.
 

Read more...
 

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News

A case on costs against lying litigants

In the case of Dunedin Canmore Housing Association v Donaldson, the Claimant brought proceedings for breach of a Compromise Agreement as (she said) she had not been in breach of a confidentiality clause.

Read more

Unfair dismissal and unlawful age discrimination

In Tower Hamlets v Wooster, the employee brought a claim of unfair dismissal and unlawful age discrimination.

Read more