News

Members of Westwater Advocates have been awarded an impressive 23 individual recommendations in 8 categories in the newly published 2019 edition of the Chambers Directory and a further 31 Tier 1 Ranking in 9 of the 13 categories in the Legal 500, published last week following a brief delay. The Cham

Watermans Legal has appointed Jacquie Sandison as property sales consultant. Ms Sandison will be based in the firm’s Leith office and has over two decades of experience advising on property sales in both Edinburgh and London. In her new role, she will be responsible for enhancing the estate ag

The Scottish Human Rights Commission has today published a new report into models of incorporating international human rights standards into law, authored by Dr Katie Boyle, associate professor of law at the University of Stirling. The report, Models of Incorporation and Justiciability for Economic,

Referring to the upcoming consultation on smacking, a recent newspaper headline declared: “Scots parents will face jail for smacking their children under new laws unveiled at Holyrood.” Somehow I don’t think so.

A solicitor who failed to pay advocates thousands of pounds in legal aid money has been struck off the roll. Jeremy Cram, 38, retained sums paid to him by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) meant for advocates. He also instructed them to carry out work for which he had no legal aid funding and fail

A cheesemaker's produce has been ruled safe to eat by a judge. Humphrey Errington, 74, previously succeeded in a legal case against South Lanarkshire Council, which wanted his cheese declared unsafe for consumption.

The Co-op has announced a partnership with McClure Solicitors, which will see the law firm offer Co-op clients fixed fee prices, as well as a guarantee to beat competitor quotes on succession services. Matt Howells, managing director of Co-op’s legal services and life business, said: “I

British broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has reached a confidential settlement with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over an abandoned investigation into sex abuse allegations against him. Mr Gambaccini was arrested in 2013 as part of Operation Yewtree, the investigation into

Terra Firma Chambers will host its 9th Annual Local Government Conference on Wednesday 28th November 2018, in Edinburgh. Chaired by James Findlay QC, this half-day conference will feature a range of talks in areas of particular interest to local authorities and those affected by their decisions, inc

Netflix is facing a lawsuit from The Satanic Temple over its alleged use of a copyrighted design of an evil deity. The Satanist organisation claims that the production team behind Netflix's new show, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, used a copyrighted statue of Baphomet as set dressing.

A couple who are suing the former owners of their home for damages over an alleged misrepresentation that they had no experience of flooding at the property have been granted a full hearing after the sellers’ appeal was refused. The Sheriff Appeal Court upheld a decision of the sheriff that cl

Holyrood’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee is launching a call for views on proposed changes that would remove the defence of "reasonable chastisement" from Scots law. Without this legal defence, parents and guardians would not be able to physically punish their children.

This week the Supreme Court handed down a judgement in the case of Dooneen v Mond, upholding the judgments of the Inner House and the Lord Ordinary (the late Lord Jones) before it. The claimants were therefore successful before all three courts. So what was their claim about? Cat Maclean and Fr

The Edinburgh office of Shoosmiths has announced three new appointments within its real estate, litigation and employment teams. With 18 years of legal expertise in real estate and property, including the past eight as a PSL in real estate, Mandy Soppitt has joined Shoosmiths as a PSL for the growin

Axiom Advocates is delighted to announce another outstanding set of rankings in the Chambers UK Bar Guide. Axiom members have obtained a substantial 118 individual rankings in the 2019 edition with the set also being ranked band 1 in a total of 12 practice areas. It is also noted that