News

Three unmarried adults in a polyamorous relationship have been legally recognised as the parents of a child. The mother of the child did not know which of the two men was the biological father, a court in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador was told.

A party to an arbitration which was seeking to challenge an arbitrator’s award on the basis of an alleged “legal error” has had an application for leave to appeal against the decision refused. A judge in the Court of Session refused the application after ruling that the t

The death has been announced of T Gordon Coutts QC, a former Faculty of Advocates office-bearer and one of the leading counsel of his generation. He was 86. Born and educated in Aberdeen, Mr Coutts was admitted to Faculty in 1959, and took silk in 1973.

The value of major fraud cases going through the Scottish courts has declined, according to the latest data from KPMG’s Fraud Barometer, which analyses alleged fraud worth more than £100,000. Four cases were heard in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Paisley in the first half of 2019, down from nin

Trustpilot, a platform for companies to build trust with consumers, has announced the appointment of Carolyn Jameson as chief legal and policy officer. Ms Jameson will report to Trustpilot founder and CEO Peter Holten Mühlmann and be part of the executive leadership team.

Edinburgh-based private client firm Murray Beith Murray has announced the appointment of Bill Meldrum as a partner. Mr Meldrum, previously an associate with the firm, became a partner in its property group on 5 August.

A judicial review of Glasgow City Council's homelessness strategy is unlikely to result in meaningful change, solicitors have said. Shelter Scotland is preparing to take the city's council to court unless it ends the practice of “unlawfully” denying homeless people temporary accommodatio

International law firm Kennedys has announced the appointment of its first global managing partner. English lawyer Suzanne Liversidge takes up the role and will alongside recently re-elected senior partner Nick Thomas on the strategic and operational management of the firm's 37 offices.

Age Scotland, in partnership with Solicitors for Older People Scotland (SOPS), has launched a new, free accident claim helpline which seeks to give elderly people in Scotland a fairer service when it comes to making a personal injury claim. The new freephone helpline aims to ensure that elderly peop

Law students at Strathclyde University made a presentation on the work of the law clinic to judges from Thailand.

The Edinburgh Tax Network, in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Taxation and Terra Firma Chambers, will present a seminar entitled “CGT for UK land and the TCGA 1992 Part 1 re-write” on Thursday 19th September 2019 at the Mackenzie Building, Old Assembly Close, Edinburgh. The s

A prominent lawyer has admitted his career is over after pleading guilty to bigamy and forgery of divorce documents. James Morton, 59, faked a divorce certificate in order to marry an employee of his firm – while secretly carrying on a relationship with both women.

A motorist found guilty of “dangerous driving” after overtaking a camper van before slamming on the brakes and forcing the other driver to perform an “emergency stop” has failed in an appeal against his conviction. Mark McLaughlin claimed that the sheriff had erred in ho

The steps needed to bring land back into productive use and prevent future sites from being abandoned have been published in a new report. The Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce, set up last year by the Scottish Land Commission and SEPA, has today published a statement of intent and the measures req

Police Scotland has recorded more than 400 crimes since a new domestic abuse law was introduced. Under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act, "coercive and controlling behaviours" is a criminal offence.