News

President of the Supreme Court, Lord Reed has announced his intention to retire from the court on 10 January 2027.  Lord Reed became a Supreme Court justice in February 2012. He became deputy president in June 2018 and then president in January 2020. 

Westwater Advocates has welcomed Linzi McQuade to the stable. Ms McQuade called to the bar in 2024 and, having established a busy practice in both criminal and civil work with Optimum Advocates, is now looking to concentrate on civil work.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has updated its guidance on international transfers of personal information, making it quicker for businesses to understand and comply with the transfer rules under UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).   The updated guidance sets out ke

The International Bar Association (IBA) has condemned Iran for breaches of its obligations under international law, following an intensifying state crackdown on nationwide protests.  The suppression has resulted in thousands of deaths and a near-total shutdown of internet and telecommunications

Sam Jones has joined Shepherd and Wedderburn and will be based in the firm’s Aberdeen office.

Thorntons has appointed two new construction law partners in Aberdeen. Jennifer Young and Sarah Stuart join from Ledingham Chalmers, where Ms Young has been both chair and managing partner and Ms Stuart has been a partner for almost 20 years.

Alan Roughead has joined Kerr Stirling as a partner. Mr Roughead joins the firm from Thorntons, where he was a partner in the firm's private client team.

A bill that would recognise certain digital assets as property in the eyes of the law has been supported by a Holyrood committee.  In a report out today, the Economy and Fair Work committee recommends the Scottish Parliament agrees the general principles of the Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill. T

Our weekly round-up of human rights stories from around the world. ‘Shoot to Kill’: Accounts of Brutal Crackdown Emerge From Iran

MFMac is strengthening its licensing team with the arrival of director Lynn Simpson. Ms Simpson joins from TLT LLP and brings specialism across the full range of licensable activities, such as alcohol, short-term letting, and gambling licence applications. With 17 years’ experience advising re

Severe overcrowding, resource constraints and workforce pressures are exacerbating issues related to substance misuse in Scotland’s prisons, say the Criminal Justice Committee. The committee’s inquiry looked at how substances enter Scotland’s prison estate, the impact of substances

A high-tech facial recognition system introduced by the mayor of São Paulo has led to his own sister's identification and arrest for an alleged crime. The introduction of the "Smart Sampa" system was one of the key policy achievements of Ricardo Nunes' administration, which has run the city s

The Law Society of Scotland has announced that Sarah Drummond is being appointed the organisation’s first ever general counsel. Sarah Drummond has been appointed as general counsel of the Law Society of Scotland.

Two former nuns and a retired support worker have been convicted of abusing vulnerable young people at children’s homes more than 40 years ago. Carol Buirds, 75, Eileen McElhinney, 78, and Dorothy Kane, 68, were found guilty of subjecting multiple victims to cruel and unnatural treatment betwe

Changes to improve, simplify and clarify the legislative framework for the children’s care system to benefit children in care, their families and the workforce that support them will be considered by an independent, expert-led review. The review, to be led by Professor Kenneth Norrie, a leadin