News

The high-profile legal battle over a Belfast bakery's refusal to bake a cake with a message in support of same-sex marriage will continue at the European Court of Human Rights, lawyers have announced. The UK Supreme Court ruled last year that Ashers Baking Company's refusal was not discriminatory on

The growth of girls’ and women’s football in Scotland has received a significant boost thanks to a new partnership between the Scottish FA and Shoosmiths. The four-year deal will see the firm help to develop a number of different aspects of the girls’ and women’s game in Scot

Actor Steve Coogan, who plays the famous TV character Alan Partridge, convinced a court to spare him from a lengthy driving ban because of the impact it would have on his show. Mr Coogan, 53, told Crawley Magistrates' Court that a six-month driving ban would force him to cancel a new series because

An ex-music teacher who was convicted of historic sex crimes against his former students has had an appeal against conviction and sentence refused. William Wright appealed against a conviction for indecent assault at the Appeal Court of the High Court of Justiciary, sitting in Glasgow.

Burness Paull has reported a rise in turnover for its financial year ending 31 July 2019, posting an annual income of £58.5 million – up two per cent from £57.6m in 2017/18. Profit at the firm was £22m, down eight per cent from £23.8m. Burness Paull chair Peter Lawson s

Thorntons LLP has promoted 11 solicitors this month. The promotions have been made across the firm’s Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Fife and Angus offices with seven senior solicitors promoted to associate and four solicitors to senior solicitor.

Brodies LLP has appointed an oil & gas specialist Adam Brooks to support clients operating in the energy industry in the Highlands. Mr Brooks joins the firm as an associate and will be based in the firm’s Dingwall office. With over six years’ in-house experience, working for oil and

Three advocates have been appointed standing junior counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland.Mark Mohammed, Graham R Middleton and Jacqueline Fordyce were all appointed this week. Mr Mohammed, of Terra Firma Chambers, has been instructed in a range of planning, property, commercial, construction

Balfour and Manson, the firm leading the legal fight to prevent the suspension of debate in the UK Parliament on a no-deal Brexit, has welcomed the news that there will be a full court hearing on the issue. More than 75 politicians - including new Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and SNP MP Joanna Cherry Q

A recent decision by the Inner House of the Court of Session held that Scottish courts have the ability to grant protective orders against an employer’s assets even where claims have been brought against them in an Employment Tribunal, write Eleanor Mannion and Laurie Anderson. The Case

The latest statistics from the UK government's House Price Index (HPI) show that the average price of a property in Scotland in June 2019 was £151,891 – an increase of 1.3 per cent on June in the previous year. Comparing with the previous month, house prices in Scotland rose by 0.7 per c

A new property court similar to the Scottish system should be established in England and Wales to deal with the proposed scrapping of section 21 repossessions, according to a property management firm. Apropos by DJ Alexander believes that the rest of the UK needs the equivalent of the First-tier Tri

The Scottish government has paid over £500,000 in legal expenses to Alex Salmond over its botched inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment made against him. It admitted breaching its own guidelines after the former first minister took the government to court over how it dealt with the acc

The anonymous blogger known as the Secret Barrister has accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of "conning the public" on criminal justice. In a lengthy blog post, the lawyer responded to Mr Johnson's recent high-profile announcement of a review of sentencing policy, investment of £2.5 billion i

A gay lawyer in Tunisia is standing for election as the country's president. Mounir Baatour, 48, who leads a group called Shams, which seeks decriminalisation of homosexuality in the country, has officially applied for a place on the ballot ahead of the election on September 15.