News

Freeths has expanded into Scotland with the opening of a new office in Glasgow and the appointment of two partners, its first base outside of England. The newly appointed partners, Paul Ockrim and Nick Taylor, formerly of Addleshaw Goddard, will lead the Scottish venture, headquartered at Atlantic Q

Morton Fraser has reported its highest-ever annual revenue, of £25.7 million, an increase of eight per cent year on year, and an increase of 25 per cent over the last two years. A bonus of six per cent of annual salary has been announced and, as in previous years, this will be paid to all staf

Darren Murdoch has been elected as the new president of the Scottish Law Agents Society. The society elected Mr Murdoch, of Waddell and Mackintosh, Troon, to the office at its annual general meeting and thanked outgoing president, John Stirling, for his years of service during times made especially

Solicitors have voted to approve an increase to the practising certificate (PC) fee. A resolution on the recommended fee for 2023/24 was passed at the Law Society’s annual general meeting, with a PC fee of £731.25 confirmed.

A man who was convicted of assaulting another man with his own machete in a struggle outside his flat has lost an appeal against the conviction in the High Court of Justiciary. Counsel for appellant Ryan Platt argued that the trial judge had misdirected the jury in telling them that the defence main

The senior lawyer for the public inquiry into hospitals in Scotland has resigned. Counsel to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry Alastair Duncan KC left his role on Friday along with junior Victoria Arnott. Both are members of Axiom Advocates.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has made a reference to the High Court of Justiciary in a bid to expand the evidential value of 'distress' in rape cases. A seven-judge panel will decide whether or not to overturn the 1997 case of Smith v Lees, in which a bench of five decided that the distress of a co

Around 30 kilograms of a suspicious white powder rained down on the French countryside after a tourist plane was intercepted by a fighter jet. The fighter jet was dramatically mobilised after the plane entered restricted airspace in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant, CBS reports.

North Koreans risk capital punishment for imitating South Korean accents and phrases following the introduction of a new law to combat South Korea's growing linguistic influence on its communist neighbour. The Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act seeks to "purify" the Korean dialect.

Arnot Manderson Advocates has welcomed Clara Smeaton, Neil Morrison and Eilish Lindsay to the stable following their admission to the Faculty of Advocates in calling ceremonies held today. This follows directly on from the success of three recent Better The Devil You Know seminars where the trio imp

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) notes the conclusion of the fatal accident inquiry into the death of John Norman Murray on Lewis. The inquiry considered what steps could be taken to prevent further deaths in similar circumstances and was held following a specialist investigati

Richard Templeton has become the newest member of Compass Chambers. Before calling to the bar, he practised in reparation for 11 years at Clyde & Co. He has experience of high value and complex claims, primarily involving serious life-changing injuries and fatalities.

Plans have been submitted for a new "modern, fit-for-purpose" prison to replace HMP Barlinnie. The new HMP Glasgow will be built on the site of the former Provan Gas Works on Royston Road in the north-east of the city.

Themis Advocates has welcomed its newest members, Bilaal Shabbir and Kristian Whitaker. Prior to calling to the bar, Mr Shabbir was head of Court of Session litigation at a boutique litigation firm in Edinburgh. As a solicitor, he had a significant and varied judicial review practice encompassing im

Optimum Advocates has welcomed Deirdre Flanigan to the stable today. She calls to the bar as a recipient of the Scottish Council for Law Reporting and as a Lord Hope Scholar. Prior to calling, she spent seven years as a solicitor and has significant advocacy experience in the sheriff courts across S