News

A Birmingham businessman who bought a three-bedroom house from the city council for £395,000 inadvertently acquired a primary school because of a paperwork error, The Daily Mail reports. Sukhjit Bains, 50, bought the property at auction in 2013, but his solicitor used a TR1 form that transferr

Our weekly round-up of human rights stories from around the world. ‘Hitting the right nail’: Refugee rescue group defiant as Greece targets it

European class action risk is intensifying, with the cumulative value of claims reaching record levels and filings rebounding after a one-year dip, according to CMS’s European Class Action Report 2026. The number of class actions filed across Europe increased to 107 in 2025, from 99 in 2024. A

While average property prices rose for the period July-September, a fall in sales and listings indicates caution across the market, according to the latest ESPC House Price Report. Looking back, the period of July-September 2025 was busy for the market, with many buyers and homeowners believing the

Scotland’s planned sexual offences court has neither a delivery timetable nor allocated funding, MSPs have been told, more than a year after legislation establishing it was passed. Malcolm Graham, chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS), told Holyrood’s Public

Burges Salmon has advised LRO Hospitality, a hospitality investment platform and joint venture between L+R and Dutch pension investor PGGM, on the acquisition of Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh. The transaction sees LRO Hospitality add another hotel to its portfolio, aligning closely with its invest

Walkers, cyclists, campers, land managers and outdoor businesses are among those being asked to share their views on how Scotland's access rights are working, more than 20 years after the Scottish Outdoor Access Code was introduced. In a new inquiry, the Rural Affairs Committee is exploring how well

Westminster's Justice Committee has welcomed the UK government's scrapping of plans for juryless trials in England and Wales. It warned, however, that ministers must demonstrate that the plan to expand capacity in the magistrates’ courts is deliverable and meets demand.

Police in North Carolina have urged motorists to put safety first after officers stopped two men travelling down a road on what they described as “an actual couch”. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said the incident was “certainly a first”, after officers spotted t

President of the Supreme Court, Lord Reed of Allermuir, is to deliver a valedictory lecture marking the 150th anniversary of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876. This special address is an opportunity to recognise Lord Reed’s exceptional contribution to the law and his dedication to public ser

Gillespie Macandrew has announced three senior appointments with the arrival of Chris Devlin and Douglas Roberts, as partners in planning and corporate respectively, and Nikki Robertson as head of finance.  The appointments take the firm's partnership to a record 30 partners and come as Gillesp

Edinburgh-based VMH Solicitors has acquired Falkirk based Orme Law. Kevin McLuskey, director at VMH Solicitors, said: "This acquisition is an exciting step forward for VMH Solicitors and reflects our ambition to continue growing a Scottish legal practice built around exceptional client service.

Caroline Smith has joined Weightmans as a partner in the family team in Glasgow. Previously of MTM Law, a niche family law practice, Ms Smith has specialised in family law throughout a 30-year career, advising separating married and unmarried clients on relationship breakdown both on finance and chi

Hamiltons Law Accountants was named the winner of Excellence in Support Services at the 2026 Scottish Legal Awards last month, recognising the specialist legal accountancy support that it provides to law firms across Scotland.

The Crown Office has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death of Stephen Wilson. The 40-year-old, a self-employed roofer, died on 16 January 2024 from injuries suffered after a fall at a property in Dumbarton on 14 January.