Happenings in Hampshire Pictured: (left to right) Henry, Kirsten & Andrew.
Southampton Law firm urges local Tattoo parlours to use comprehensive client consent forms to protect against threat of lawsuits. Specialist employment law firm Moore Blatch, which has its main office based in Southampton, is urging Tattoo parlours in the local area to use comprehensive consent forms to protect themselves against possible litigation brought against them by disgruntled customers. Moore Blatch is warning local tattooists to get signed disclaimers from their customers before proceeding with any work. Known risks, such as scarring, blood poisoning, localised infection and allergic reation, should all be outlined on the form. In addition, Moore Blatch believes there should be specific warnings that by having a tattoo you may impair or prevent employment in certain occupations. As an employment law specialist, Moore Blatch believes that a consent form should include the following warnings for those looking to get a Tattoo: • “I am aware that under the current law of England and Wales an employer can require me to cover up a tattoo whilst at work, refuse to hire me because I have a tattoo, or dismiss me for getting a tattoo”. Although one in five Britons now has a tattoo*, under UK law employers are currently permitted to:
THREE TRAINEE SOLICITORS JOIN PARIS SMITH Paris Smith is delighted to welcome three new trainee solicitors to the firm, Henry Barker, Kirsten Wilkins and Andrew Willshire. They'll spend the next two years completing training contracts before qualifying as solicitors. All three have connections to the area and have made the choice to work in Southampton. Henry is starting his training in commercial property, Kirsten in the family department
and Andrew in dispute resolution. This will be an exciting and informative time for them as they develop their experience and start applying their legal knowledge to real-life situations. Sarah Passemard, training partners, says: “At Paris Smith, we're proud of our strong commitment to recruiting trainee solicitors and to ensure they receive the very best that private practice has to offer. Our aim always is to retain our trainees - we see them as the future of the firm, and part of our continued success."
PLANNING IS KING Kristina King, a Chartered Town Planner, has recently joined the Paris Smith Planning Team.
1. Refuse to hire someone because they have a tattoo; 2. Require employees to cover up any visible tattoos whilst at work; and 3. Dismiss an employee for getting a tattoo. Katherine Maxwell, partner and head of employment law at Moore Blatch Solicitors, commented: “The law can sometimes be ambiguous regarding tattoos. We have seen an increasing number of cases where both employers and employees have sought advice about issues relating to tattoos and employment. We believe that, if tattoo parlour owners include these clauses on the disclaimer form, people may be less likely to underestimate the impact that having a tattoo can have on their current or future employment.”
Kristina advises clients on all aspects of Prior to joining Paris Smith Kristina planning from general permitted completed a Spatial Planning development rights and site feasibility Masters at Oxford Brookes studies through to securing planning University whilst working at permissions. She has significant Hampshire County Council where experience at handling educational she worked for eight years within developments such as new primary Planning Policy and the schools, large secondary school Development Management Team. expansions, new floodlit sports pitches Within the Development and children's homes as well as waste Management Team Kristina led on developments such as waste water major developments within the treatment work upgrades, new anaerobic education, health care, minerals digestion and pyrolysis plants. and waste sectors. Pictured: Kristina King
Hampshire Legal
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