News

The creation of a single regulatory body for solicitors risks weakening public protection, increasing costs for those who pay for legal services and is a "surprising" suggestion to be made without consulting lawyers, the Law Society of Scotland has said. The report of the independent review of legal

Lawyers have sought clarification on the Scottish government's redress scheme for victims of abuse in care, announced yesterday by Deputy First Minister John Swinney. Mr Swinney confirmed the Scottish government accepts the main recommendations put forward by the InterAction Action Plan Review

BTO Solicitors LLP has been reappointed to NFU Mutual’s revised legal panel following an extensive competitive tender process. BTO is one of four firms to have secured a place on the panel which previously comprised seven legal firms. The win closely follows BTO’s successful reappointmen

The number of Scottish firms failing in the third quarter of 2018 was down by 5.3 per cent during the third quarter of 2018 according to analysis of the latest figures by accountants and business advisers French Duncan LLP. The latest Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) figures show that 232 Scottish fir

Val Surgenor examines the recent Morrison's case from south of the border. Last week, the Court of Appeal considered Wm Morrison Supermarket Plc’s (“Morrison’s”) appeal against the earlier High Court decision which held them liable for a data breach which was the result of a

Professor Hector MacQueen is to deliver the Juridical Review Lecture next month, entitled "Joe Thomson and Contract Law in Scotland", reflecting on the influence of the late Professor Joe Thomson. The lecture will take place in the City Chambers, Edinburgh on Wednesday 14 November at 6pm and will be

The Guildry of Dundee has elected Scott Williamson, chairman of Blackadders, as the new Lord Dean of Guild. Mr Williamson is well known in the city and is also involved with a number of other local organisations including the Dundee and Angus Battalion of the Boys Brigade, TS Duncan, the local

Publisher Picador has announced another book from the anonymous author of The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken. The as-yet-untitled new book promises to “reveal the stupidity, malice and incompetence behind many of the biggest legal stories of recent years” with p

Armed robbers who stole more than £500,000 of luxury watches from a hotel have been jailed. Richard Fleming, Liam Richardson and a third man were armed with a handgun, a machete and a hammer when they raided the Mappin & Webb store at the Gleneagles Hotel in June last year.

A coven of witches have cast a hex on US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh aimed at "exposing [the judge] for what he truly is". The bizarre ritual, which has made international headlines, was organised by Catland Books, an occult bookstore in New York.

A homeless man who was evicted for rent arrears has successfully argued that a decision to the effect that he was “intentionally homeless” was “unlawful” - but his legal challenge was dismissed because he raised the action against the wrong party. A judge in the Court of

A new protocol launches today on recording and broadcasting hearings in Scotland’s Supreme Courts and on tweeting from all courts. The document enables journalists to apply to record and broadcast certain types of case from the High Court and from the Court of Session.

Scotland has made limited progress in improving the situations of women and minorities according to a report of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to be published this week. The report will warn that women are still less likely to be employed than men and that those who do work earn les

The top UK law firms have seen their profit margins shrink for a fourth consecutive year, according to new research by PwC. The PwC Law Firms' Survey 2018 reports that profit margins at the top 10 firms have fallen to 36.6 per cent, down from 36.9 per cent in 2017 and 40 per cent in 2

David Hoey looks at a recent English employment case that revolved around personal liability. Personal liability is not that common in employment law. It is possible, for example, to sue the person who unlawfully discriminates an employee directly (in addition to the employer). Can an individual emp