Stronachs appoints new partnerMark Brady

Published 23 January 2015

Fergus Thomson joins Terra Firma Chambers

Published 23 January 2015

Scottish government said no decision made on controversial prison plans

The Scottish government has said a decision has not yet been made on the planned women’s prison in Greenock.

Published 23 January 2015

Edinburgh lawyer who helps others walk wins Robert Burns Humanitarian Award 2015

Published 23 January 2015

High Court judge to determine whether Lockerbie appeal may be made

A High Court judge is to be asked whether the families of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing can launch an appeal to get the conviction of Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi overturned.

Published 23 January 2015

Faculty warns MSPs ending automatic early release will affect certain cases

Ending the automatic early release of prisoners will affect cases where a judge is considering a non-mandatory life sentence, the Faculty of Advocates has told MSPs.

Published 23 January 2015

33 per cent of prisoners recommended for parole in 2013-14

The Parole Board for Scotland has published its Annual Report 2013-14 today.

Published 23 January 2015

Law Society welcomes draft bill on transfer of powers

Following yesterday’s publication by the UK government of a draft bill for the  transfer of powers from Westminster to Holyrood Alistair Morris, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “We welcome the publication of the draft clauses and are pleased to see that they take into account the Smith Commission recommendations.

Published 23 January 2015

Unhappy client cannot re-raise damages action against former solicitors after lawyer settled claim on his behalf

A disgruntled client who sued his former solicitors for damages but learned that a lawyer acting on his behalf had settled the action without his authority has failed in an appeal against a decision to absolve his former solicitors from further proceedings.

Published 23 January 2015

England: judges criticise plans to raise legal fees by up to 622 per cent

Top judges have said that plans to increase fees for those wanting to bring lawsuits in the commercial court by up to 622 per cent could damage businesses and also endanger London’s position as a global centre for litigation.

Published 22 January 2015

Protected food name status launched for unique Scottish barley

An application for protected food status has been launched for a Scottish barley .

Published 22 January 2015

Blog: Would it be worth raising a small claim action in Scotland for £15.95?

Gus Macaulay (pictured) discusses the prospect of raising a small claims action in Scotland for a very small sum following the recent news story from England of a parent making a claim against another over their child’s failure to attend a birthday party.

Published 22 January 2015

Faculty calls for new tax tribunals to have sharper guiding principle

The Faculty of Advocates has called for new Scottish tax tribunals to be given a “brief but powerful” overriding objective.

Published 22 January 2015

Trump makes second application for judicial review of windfarm project

Donald Trump has renewed his legal challenge against an offshore windfarm he claims is destroying his attempts to build a golf resort in the north east.

Published 22 January 2015

50 per cent of homeowners to pay no tax under new rates

Finance Secretary John Swinney (pictured) has, as expected, set out new rates for the land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT), a move forced upon him by UK chancellor George Osborne, whose changes to UK stamp duty undercut Mr Swinney's initial proposals.

Published 22 January 2015