News

When a defect becomes apparent in a building or structure, how long does the owner have to make a claim? Kathryn Kelly explains more. In Scotland, defects claims have to be made within five years. Time starts to run when loss, injury and damage occurs (section 11(1) of the Prescription and Limi

On Thursday 2 July, the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland will host a webinar to discuss the risks and opportunities for effective participation posed by the recent expansion in use of remote hearings in Scotland’s courts and tribunals. The webinar follows on from the commission

Mediator John Sturrock QC has published a collection of articles and blog posts he has written in recent years, containing reflections on mediation, negotiation, politics and other topics, including the current pandemic. International mediator and author, Ken Cloke, said of A Mediator's Musings: &ld

Coronavirus has had a significant impact on construction projects in terms of delay as well as direct and indirect costs and Claire Logue says it is uncertain how these will be dealt with by the courts. As the Rolling Stones wisely advise us, "You can't always get what you want… but if you tr

Terra Firma is pleased to announce the next in its 2020 Vision series of webinars: 2020 Vision: Bringing Clarity to Planning Law, will be broadcast on Zoom at 11am on Monday 29 June 2020. James Findlay QC and Alasdair Burnet will provide an update on recent case law from the Supreme Court, the Inner

The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) is holding an online event this Friday to highlight some of the practical applications of the ideas found in two concept notes on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial contracts. These argued amongst other measures for a

A lawyer who responded to a misconduct investigation with "BOOM SHAKALAKA" was rightfully suspended, a court has found. Massachusetts attorney Ilya Liviz was suspended in April 2019 after failing to respond to requests for information during an investigation into alleged professional misconduct.

The High Court of Justiciary has ruled that the incorporation of a firearm into a dual-purpose object does not mean that it cannot be regarded as “disguised as another object” under section 5(1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968. The first Lord Advocate’s Reference&n

A new member’s bill aims to make it easier to hold large companies and their senior managers liable for workplace fatalities. The proposed legislation would change the law in Scotland by creating two new offences – causing the death of a person recklessly, or by gross negligence. Both of

Morton Fraser has launched an online fixed-price mediation service for employment disputes. The firm hosted the launch of Scottish Mediation's 'Mediation Charter' at its offices earlier this year and sees this as a natural step in raising the profile of mediation in Scotland.

The Scottish Law Agents Society (SLAS) has passed a motion of no confidence in the budget of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC). SLAS held its annual general meeting on 18 June using Zoom video conferencing.

The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) has conducted its first ever virtual hearing session in a planning appeal. At stake was the scale and extent of education contributions that could be required from housing development in Edinburgh.

A Scottish solicitor has warned the country’s construction industry will face major long-term difficulties without some form of government intervention. Roddy Cormack, accredited specialist in construction law at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, is calling on the government to come to an

RSB Lindsays is optimistic that housing demand will return to pre-lockdown levels once business resumes. The firm expects some 600 home viewings in Dundee when the Scottish government allows the market to reopen.

The chief executive of Hong Kong would be able to appoint judges to hear national security cases under a law proposed by Beijing, The Times reports.