News

Melissa Rutherford, a criminal defence solicitor and specialist in trauma-informed practice, is to address the next meeting of Disabling Barriers Scotland. The group, founded by Tom McGovern and Fraser Mackay, is open to support from all who have an interest in making the Scottish legal sector more

Banking lawyer Grant Docherty has been appointed as head of Shakespeare Martineau's Edinburgh office. Mr Docherty joined the firm in 2022 as a consultant and was later promoted to partner. He heads its banking practice in Scotland, having more than 32 years' experience in the banking sector.

Morton Fraser has been appointed to road safety charity Brake's National Road Victim Service in Scotland. Under the 12-month partnership, Morton Fraser will join the National Road Victim Service's Scottish legal panel, along with two other firms, in providing crucial legal support and advice to road

The Law Society of Scotland has signed up to an international declaration on protecting the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession. The move follows the organisation’s warnings about new proposals to reform regulation of legal services, which could see unprecedented direct inte

Lawyers have underscored the escalating risks that companies face for failing to adequately safeguard children's data. Video games companies, social media platforms and companies using facial recognition technology have all recently come under fire from data protection regulators across Europe for n

Commercial law firm MacRoberts has strengthened its corporate finance and employment practices with the promotion of two new partners. Bonar Mercer specialises in corporate law, focusing on transactional work including mergers, acquisitions and investments. He advises on transactions across numerous

A man who embezzled £170,000 from a deceased woman who had hired him as a financial advisor and later appointed him executor of her estate has lost a High Court appeal against his conviction.  Gordon Couch, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for embezzling funds from the

Portugal has approved new legislation allowing for assisted dying and euthanasia in limited circumstances. The bill was approved by parliamentarians from the governing Socialist Party and its centre-left allies in spite of serious opposition from the country's conservative president, who had vetoed

Plans to hold young offenders under the age of 18 in secure care rather than young offender institutes (YOIs) will require additional resources, a Holyrood committee has warned. There are significantly higher costs associated with holding young people in secure care rather than YOIs, the criminal ju

Burness Paull has appointed Mark Kirke as a partner in its construction and projects team as the firm seeks to address increasing client demand and to seize opportunities in a sector witnessing substantial investment. Mr Kirke, who is dual-qualified in English and Scots law and recognised as a

An armed robber allegedly confused staff at a Subway sandwich shop by demanding they hand over "all the bread". Chicago man Abail Bekele, 20, is accused of robbing two Subway restaurants while on bail for another robbery, CWBChicago reports.

The English barristers' regulator has been asked to discipline Home Secretary Suella Braverman for expressing "racist sentiments and discriminatory narratives". Nine legal and faith organisations have complained to the Bar Standards Board (BSB) about Ms Braverman, who is a qualified barrister but ha

A former judge of the Supreme Court has expressed concern about the compatibility of Scottish government proposals for juryless rape trials with the independence of the judiciary. Lord Hope of Craighead has said he is "very uneasy" with clause 40 of the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotlan

Lawyers will compete for the Brodie Cup next week at the Royal Faculty's inter-firm golf tournament, with today the final day for registrations. The competition will take place at Pollok Golf Club on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 May.

Glasgow’s Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar is to preside over the final of a prestigious student mooting competition. The event at the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow next Wednesday 24 May will see teams from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and City of Glasgow College battle it out ag