Business Property Relief is changing in 2026 – What business owners need to know
From 6 April 2026, the rules for Business Property Relief (BPR) will change. For many business owners this could alter
My name is Michael Callaghan. I am a part-time Consultant at Tees Law working in the Litigation department in Chelmsford. I qualified as a solicitor in November 1992 at a top ten law firm in the City of London. I have worked in Dispute Resolution (aka Litigation) since that time. I have worked for large provincial firms since I qualified, and I first became a Partner in 2001. My working days at Tees will probably vary but I would plan to be in the office on weekdays other than Wednesday afternoons and Fridays.
I have been a qualified notary public since 2019 and I operate my own notarial business in Essex. There are only 600 notaries in the country and we deal with international legal work. I am also a qualified mediator with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution so I am able to mediate disputes within the UK.
I joined Tees as a consultant in October 2022.
I have dealt with most aspects of litigation work over the past 30 years but I particularly specialise in property litigation. I can assist in resolving disputes by bringing a wealth of experience to a case together with numerous contacts in various professions that I have built up over the years. I aim to bring to any dispute the commercial acumen to see what the dispute involves and its importance to the client, the tenacity to drive the litigation forward to conclusion, the ability to select the way forward that would be the most productive for the client and the contacts to ensure that the client’s position was fully protected and advanced.
I would pride myself on providing clear-sighted and commercial legal advice to clients. It is a bold statement to make and it can be difficult to justify. However, the reviews obtained on my notarial website (www.essexnotary.com) set out the skills that I try to bring to resolve any legal problem, legal or notarial. I believe that “people buy services from people”. The recommendations and reviews are the best evidence.
I have been a member of the Property Litigation Association since its inception. I am currently the Treasurer of the Mid Essex Law Society, having served on the Committee since 2001 and served 2 terms as past president.
Michael Callaghan provided clear and transparent communication throughout our case. He was accessible and promptly responded to our queries. I felt confident when he managed our case, he effectively navigated our complex legal issues and provided creative solutions.
On the social side I enjoy time with my family, reading, theatre, cinema, golf and football (both the US and UK varieties). I am married to Rebecca (who is also a solicitor at Tees Law working on contentious probate litigation) and we have 2 children; Jessica who works in publishing for a large US firm in London and Joseph who will sit his “A” levels next year with a view to then reading Biology at University.
“Michael Callaghan is top draw, a very experienced litigator who will always be thoroughly prepared and willing to fight a client’s cause to achieve the best outcome possible.” Legal 500 2025, South East – Dispute resolution – Commercial litigation: Essex
From 6 April 2026, the rules for Business Property Relief (BPR) will change. For many business owners this could alter
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