US-based private equity house Lime Rock Partners has succeeded in its case against oil and gas businessman, Robert Kidd in what is understood to be the single biggest damages claim in Scottish legal history. In March 2024, after having heard weeks of evidence, the commercial judge (Lord Tyre) found
Appointments
See all articlesJen McCormick has been appointed as a partner at Ashurst. One of 20 new partners, Ms McCormick, who is based in Glasgow, is the regional head of the firm's advance solutions practice for EMEA and the US. She is a finance lawyer by background with experience in banking, restructuring and insolvency.
Dentons has announced the promotion of two new partners in Scotland. Edinburgh-based Kirsty McBirnie and Glasgow-based Lorna Henderson, both in the corporate lending & real estate finance practice, will join the Dentons partnership on 1 May.
Levy & McRae has announced the appointment of Malcolm Cannon as its new COO. Mr Cannon joins the firm with a wealth of experience in both industry and in the legal sector.
Experienced commercial and banking lawyer Jamie Apted has joined Aberdein Considine as a partner. Mr Apted, who will be based in the firm’s Caddell House offices on Glasgow’s Waterloo Street, joins from the London Metal Exchange, having previously worked at the Financial Ombudsman Servic
Law Society of Scotland executive director Kevin Lang has been appointed as its interim chief executive. Currently executive director of external relations at the Law Society, he will take up the interim post when Diane McGiffen steps down from Monday, 28 April.
Harper Macleod has announced the appointment of two new partners to its family law team. Jane Blackwood and Linda Walker bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their new positions within the firm. They both have accreditations from the Law Society of Scotland in family law and family mediatio
Legal Aid
See all articlesLawyers have accused the Scottish government of intentionally delaying action on legal aid until after next year's Holyrood election. The Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) said the profession was being treated with contempt as it confirmed it will escalate its boycott of the government's su
Family members involved in deaths in custody fatal accident inquiries (FAI) are to have immediate, free access to legal aid support and advice. Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed that she is using existing ministerial powers to remove means-testing for legal aid in such cases, so that from
Defence solicitors are to boycott the Scottish government’s new Summary Case Management scheme in protest over legal aid fees. In the face of the Scottish government’s continued refusal to engage in meaningful talks with the profession, the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) "has
Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has today launched a new call for views into civil legal assistance, covering civil legal aid and advice and assistance for civil issues, and grant funding for advice organisations. The call for views is part of a new inquiry whic
Lawyers have threatened to boycott the Scottish government's new swifter justice scheme unless legal aid fees are increased. Members of the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) will not take part in summary cases heard as part of the new Summary Case Management (SCM) initiative.
Universities
See all articlesA new Scots Law degree will start at the University of West of Scotland’s (UWS) Paisley campus in September 2025. The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme is a four-year degree with the potential to be undertaken part-time over a six-year period and is fully accredited by the Law Society of Scotla
The University of Glasgow hosted the Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation Competition (BMICCC) earlier this month.
The University of Glasgow’s GO Justice Centre is a key partner in a new research centre led by the University of Liverpool. The Centre for People’s Justice (CPJ) is a coalition of 45 organisations from community, business, philanthropic, cultural, artistic, charitable, legal, government
On 28 March University of Strathclyde Mediation Clinic held its 5th Annual Conference, “Growing mediation, your practice and beyond.” The online event was a great success, attracting over 70 delegates from across the UK and overseas. It featured an array of leaders in the field of mediat
Professor Abbe Brown is among the new fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) recognised as outstanding individuals whose contributions are shaping society in Scotland and beyond. The professor of intellectual property law at the University of Aberdeen is among the 2025 cohort celebrating le
And Finally
See all articlesThe demolition of a building known as "Britain's biggest man cave" has cost around £220,000 in taxpayers' money.
An accountant has lost a £700,000 court claim against developers after refusing to complete the purchase of a £1.5 million flat in south London's Aykon London One tower, nicknamed the 'Versace Tower' for its fashion house-designed interiors. Mi Suk Park, 54, paid a £381,000 deposit
A legislature has passed a bill dubbed by its detractors as the “Let Politicians Lie Act". The Missouri Legislature passed Senate Bill 22, which allows politicians to rewrite ballot summary language up to three times, even after courts have ruled it unlawful.
A bus driver with 29 years of service has lost a retirement package worth £63,800 because he stole £5 in passenger fares. The man was sacked by Kyoto City in Japan after he was caught stealing the paltry sum of ¥1,000 in 2022.
Police who pulled over a car going more than 100mph discovered the passenger was a bride late for her own wedding. Body cam footage released by police in Port St. Lucie, Florida shows the short conversation which followed the police pulling over the car, which was well over the 45mph speed limit.