News

The Scottish government has proposed a range of positive justice sector reforms in its 2024-25 Programme for government, but has failed to recognise the urgent need for investment in access to justice and legal aid, according to the Law Society of Scotland. The programme, unveiled by First Minster J

Barristers in England and Wales will be required to "act in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion" under a proposed revision to the profession's rules. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is consulting on a proposed change to Core Duty 8, which currently says barristers "must not discrimin

Ampersand’s James McConnell KC and Usman Tariq KC have taken silk. Mr McConnell has a practice that mainly focusses on clinical negligence. He is also frequently instructed in inquiries with a medical element. He acts for pursuers and defenders in roughly equal proportions. He is Band 1 ranked

A rapist who sexually abused young girls over the course of two decades has been jailed. Derek Lamond was found guilty of 10 charges on August 7 following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Desmond Cheyne, Colin Edward and Scott McAlpine have been elevated to the rank and dignity of King’s Counsel. Mr Cheyne called to the bar in 1986. He has a wide-ranging practice but is best known for his expertise in financial provision on divorce, cases involving children and criminal cases i

A rise in steroid drugs found in Scottish prisons has been uncovered in a study led by the University of Dundee. Researchers at the University’s Leverhulme Research Centre of Forensic Science (LRCFS), part of the School of Science and Engineering, made the discovery while working in collaborat

Compass Chambers has announced the appointments of new silks Craig Murray KC and David Nicolson KC. Mr Murray has busy personal injury practices in both Scotland and England. He is also regularly instructed in medical negligence actions and commercial disputes and he recently returned to practice fo

Twenty-three new King’s Counsel have been appointed by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of First Minister John Swinney. The new King’s Counsel appointees are: Desmond Cheyne, Marie Clark, Colin Edward, Edith Forrest, William Frain-Bell, Scott McAlpine, Ross McClelland, James Mc

Acre, a mortgage intermediaries platform, is launching a Scottish conveyancing panel with Smoove. The collaboration between Acre and conveyancing platform Smoove will give brokers and homeowners access to a panel of 10 firms.

Terra Firma Chambers has announced that William Frain-Bell has been appointed King’s Counsel by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of First Minister John Swinney. Bill called to the bar in Scotland in 1999 before calling to the English bar in 2000. He has acted as counsel in a broad ra

Sweden's self-declared "Queen of Trash" is facing the country's biggest-ever environmental crime prosecution. Bella Nilsson, chief executive of now-defunct waste management business NMT Think Pink, is accused along with 11 others of dumping or burying 200,000 tonnes of waste between 2015 and 2020, t

A former Dundee solicitor has been ordered to pay a woman £4,000 in compensation after being struck off earlier this year. Alan Baillie, 66, was ordered to pay Lorraine Ludman in the wake of a case over a land ownership dispute in Argyll.

BTO LLP has welcomed its latest trainees.

With weeks to go before new legal obligations are imposed on employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent the sexual harassment of employees through the Worker Protection Act 2023, HR teams are being urged to prepare for the changes. Employment law specialists at Aberdein Considine wi

An electrician who admitted secretly filming more than a dozen people in private situations over the course of a decade has been jailed. James Denholm, 34, pleaded guilty to multiple charges including voyeurism and stalking at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on July 22.