News

Digby Brown Solicitors is representing victims of listeria poisoning, who are raising civil actions against supermarkets. The firm is investigating cases from across the central belt after members of the public suffered illnesses after eating contaminated foods.

The licensed trade in Scotland is facing an almighty hangover caused by the legal requirement to renew personal licences which are required for pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants, writes Audrey Ferrie. First introduced by the Scottish government in 2009, a named Premises Manager must hold a pe

Scottish housing market activity continues to grow in contrast to a slowdown in the rest of the UK, according to a new report. Fresh sales across the UK declined for the 16th month in a row compared to growth in Scotland since January, the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors survey found

The Home Office has agreed to pay out £50,000 to a man who was unlawfully detained and separated from his daughter for three months, while she remained in care and at imminent risk of adoption.AJS was detained under immigration powers and separated from his three-year-old daught

UK government plans to reform the courts service fail to address any of the “serious problems” facing the justice system, according to one QC. The Times reports that Lord Pannick criticised the Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill at its committee stage this

Lawyers representing eight long-term detainees at Guantánamo Bay argued in federal court yesterday that the US government cannot continue to detain the prisoners there indefinitely, immune to judicial review. The mass habeas corpus motion, filed on the men’s behalf by Reprieve, the Cent

Writing a textbook is not an easy endeavour. Not only is it regarded by the broader academic community as belonging to the lower ranks of the hierarchy of publications academics are supposed to aspire to (the single-authored monograph being the ultimate status symbol), but in these REF driven times,

The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed an appeal by HMRC in a case in which it refused a company’s claim for repayment of VAT output tax, overturning a judgment of the Inner House of the Court of Session. The Supreme Court unanimously allows HMRC’s appeal. Lord Hodge gives the lead ju

Brodies reports that in its financial year to 30 April 2018 revenues grew to £68.59 million, from £66.68 million in 2016/17. Profits before partner distributions also increased, up 3.5 per cent or £1.1 million, to £32.86 million, compared to £31.73 million the previous

Facebook broke the law during the Brexit referendum – by failing to safeguard people’s information after the data of 87 million people was harvested – and could be fined £500,000 for two breaches of data protection legislation, the Information Commissioner's Office 

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) has urged the Polish government to halt the "ongoing purges" in the judiciary.Antonín Mokrý, president of the CCBE, issued a statement yesterday calling the situation in Poland "alarming".He endorsed an ear

Break notices are precarious enough, but some recent cases have suggested that there are occasions when actual receipt of a break notice has to be demonstrated for it to be effective. That can create a significant hurdle for the sender, writes Matt Farrell. In Gateway Assets Limited v C.V. Panels Li

An ‘easy read’ version of the Victims’ Code for Scotland has been launched to help victims with communications difficulties understand their rights. The Scottish government has also awarded £50,000 to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) to develop a sp

Orkney solicitor Serena Sutherland has earned the votes of her Highlands and Islands colleagues to become the newest member of the Law Society of Scotland Council. She won the seat over three of her solicitor colleagues and will represent the views and interests of legal professionals in the Dingwal