News

UK government plans to appoint the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as sole regulator for anti-money laundering (AML) across the UK have been criticised as a backward step in tackling economic crime by the Law Society of Scotland. In its response to an HM Treasury consultation, the Law Society has

Lithuania's parliament has voted to give a cat the power to sack the head of the country's national broadcaster. Opposition MPs succeeded in passing the so-called "cat amendment" this week in protest of controversial government-backed reforms.

Blackadders LLP is to donate £34,000 to Maggie’s Centres across Scotland after a year of fundraising for the cancer support network. The firm adopted Maggie’s as its charity of the year for 2025 and Blackadders’ teams from every office took part in a series of events and chal

The parents of a Scottish teenager who died after being targeted by an Instagram sextortion gang have launched a wrongful death lawsuit against Meta in the US. Murray Dowey, 16, died at his family home in Dunblane in December 2023 after being deceived into sharing intimate images with an Instagram a

A man linked to serious organised crime has been jailed over a money laundering plot worth almost £12 million. Ronald Russell, 47, of Linwood, Renfrewshire, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison at the High Court in Glasgow after admitting his role in the scheme. Russell tried t

A woman who kept more than 20 dogs and puppies in squalid conditions inside stables and farm outhouses has been fined a total of £1,975 and banned from keeping dogs for three years. Several dogs belonging to Jamie-Lee Harper, 36, were matted and dirty and left to sleep on concrete floors in da

Scotland’s housing market recorded a notable annual increase in October 2025, with the average property price rising to £192,000, up 3.3 per cent compared to October 2024.

Immediate action will be taken to address any harms or risks identified in the first part of an inspectorate-led review of responses to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE), the Scottish government has said. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth announced to Holyrood that the first par

Human rights campaigners have expressed disappointment after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the disclosure of evidence in a Troubles-related inquest could be blocked on national security grounds. Judges yesterday handed down their unanimous judgment in a case concerning a decision by a coroner to d

Addleshaw Goddard has announced the high-growth technology businesses selected for its 2025 AG Elevate programme. Three of this year’s cohort of 10 are based in Scotland.

A law to establish a new offence of dog theft, despite the fact it is already an offence at common law, has been passed at Holyrood. The Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill, was passed by 119 votes to two.

A lawyer is suing US tax authorities for refusing to recognise her dog as a dependent like a child. Amanda Reynolds, who specialises in civil litigation insurance defence, has filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York – naming her eight-year-old golden retriever, Finnegan Mary Reynol

A judge-led initiative involving, Police Scotland, the Crown Office, defence solicitors, victims organisations and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service, has been extended to provide swifter justice in cases involving charges of shoplifting. Summary Case Management, which will have been rolled ou

Lindsays has relocated to a new office in Perth.  Its 30-strong Perth-based team this week completed a move into a modern space on Whitefriars Street.

The Tumbling Lassie Appeal, founded by members of the Faculty of Advocates in 2015, has raised over £70,000 this year as it celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Tumbling Lassie “Diamond Ball” was held at Prestonfield Stables on 8 November. The evening featured a performance of the