Features

Autocracy, Inc is a small book, with a dark paper cover, that sets out in disturbing detail the attacks, overt and covert, by autocrats everywhere on liberal democracies and open societies. The concept of autocracy is where one person governs with all the power, and that is defined by the author as

Last November was another significant point in Jen Paton’s career trajectory. The Edinburgh-based legal director in Shoosmiths’ corporate division had been named Corporate Rising Star of the Year at the influential Legal 500 Scotland Awards held in the city. For Ms Paton it was an opport

Richard McMeeken and Robin Mackintosh discuss an important new delict case. On 28 January 2025, Lord Clark issued his opinion in Biffa Waste Services Limited v Scottish Ministers. Biffa contends that the Scottish government owed it (and failed to uphold) a duty of care in respect of its positio

I read with interest the article on the Scottish Law Agents Society survey run by Darren Murdoch. I will not be responding as I have not been in practice for almost 30 years – an era when regulation was a very different thing – and came off the roll over a decade ago. No locus? No skin i

John Sturrock KC explains how Scotland's outgoing senior judges were instrumental in the creation of the Faculty’s training programme three decades ago. This week marks the retirement of Scotland’s two most senior judges, Lord Carloway, the Lord President, and Lady Dorrian, the Lord Just

A recent decision in the Sheriff Appeal Court (Appeal by Smaira Bilal Saleem in the cause Euro Parks Limited v Smaira Bilal Saleem), highlights important considerations regarding judicial expenses, writes Frances Lombardi. This case serves as a reminder of how the court evaluates the actions of both

Many of the earlier books on famous crimes may require to be revisited, and this comprehensive new book by Halle Rubenhold demonstrates why. A standard description of the events of and around Dr Crippen’s activities constituted "one of the most infamous murders of the twentieth century".

Aldi, known for making products that are “like brands, only cheaper”, has been held to infringe Thatchers' trademark in respect of its lookalike cloudy lemon cider product, writes Geoff Steward. Last week, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales found in favour of Thatchers, who had bro

Jude Copeland examines a ruling on procedural issues in the UK's first major copyright battle over generative AI technology. On 14 January 2025, Mrs Justice Joanna Smith DBE delivered a reserved judgment in Getty Images (US) Inc and Ors v Stability AI Ltd [2025] EWHC 38 (Ch), offering a glimpse into

The start of a new year usually involves making predictions about what the coming year may bring. So what might the Scottish litigation landscape look like over the coming 12 months? Nicola Ross lays out her predictions. There are several high profile judicial review cases currently before the Scott

Today's Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Its theme is “For a Better Future”, in support of which it has been requested that people raise awareness of those murdered. This article focuses on raising

‘County lines’ is a sub-genre, but not a lesser one, of the lucrative business involving controlled drugs. It is constituted by goods being moved from across police and other domestic boundaries. The transportation is sometimes (although not always) by children, vulnerable people or othe

A very important lesson for those embroiled in disputes – and for their lawyers, too – popped up last week in the postscript of Lord Cubie's judgment in Hafthorsdotir v Eyvindsson, writes Bobby Murray. In short (and at the risk of some slight oversimplification), a husband had litigated

Dr Morag Kerr, secretary-depute of Justice for Megrahi, replies to Ronnie Clancy KC's recent articles on Lockerbie and argues that despite the slur of 'conspiracy theorist' used by the UK and Scottish governments, the Crown Office, the SSCRC and the Americans, Mr Megrahi still suffered a miscarriage

Bankability is key in the world of infrastructure and energy investment, as it indicates whether or not a risk is acceptable to third party lenders who are generally considered to be cautious by nature, writes Gillian Frew. But the growing complexity caused by energy transition technologies and regu