News

Burges Salmon’s corporate finance team has advised the majority shareholders of market-leading UK timber producer BSW Timber on its sale to private equity firm Endless. With its headquarters located in Earlston, BSW is the UK’s largest integrated forestry and sawmilling business, with ei

Pinsent Masons has been crowned Scottish 'Diversity Champion' for a second year by equality campaign charity Stonewall. Construction sector specialist and senior associate Craig Macphee collected the award on behalf of colleagues at a celebration dinner at the Virgin Money Banking Hall in Glasgow la

Huda al-Sarari has been named as the 2020 winner of the Martin Ennals Award for her work exposing a network of secret prisons in Yemen. The award recognises the work of outstanding human rights defenders. Since 2015, UAE-backed Yemeni security forces have carried out thousands of human rights violat

A collection of ancient marble statues controversially held by the British Museum may be given back to Greece as part of a Brexit trade deal. The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, have been in Britain for over 200 years despite repeated attempts to repatriate them to Greece.

When Pinsent Masons was last night crowned Stonewall Scotland’s Workplace Diversity Champion for the second year running, it was in no small part down to the work done by senior associate Craig Macphee. Indeed, with the construction sector specialist promoting the firm’s LGBT inclusion w

The Upper Tribunal for Scotland refused an appeal against a decision of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber), which had rejected the tenant’s claim after finding that he requested the arrangement.  ‘Pre-payment agreement’

Issues have been identified by the Faculty of Advocates in a planned new system to allow complainers in sexual offence cases to refer themselves for forensic examination. The Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Bill transfers responsibility for examination and rete

A photographer who said his reputation has been damaged in a fight over a nude photoshoot at a castle in Aberdeenshire has failed in an attempt to take the case to the Supreme Court. Howard Kennedy had wanted to sue the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) for up to £50,000 after claiming stateme

No low-skilled workers will be awarded visas from January 2021 under the UK's proposed post-Brexit immigration system, unveiled today by Home Secretary Priti Patel. The points-based system will see applicants assigned points based on specific skills, qualifications, salaries or professions, and visa

Andrew Stevenson has been appointed secretary of the Scottish Law Agents Society and will take up the role later this month. Mr Stevenson, a solicitor advocate and former president of the Glasgow Bar Association, told SLN: "I am delighted to be taking on the role as secretary and look forward to see

Sarah Alexander discusses the case of Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd v HS Barrier Coatings Ltd [2019] CSOH 110 and its impact on what an adjudicator needs to do if they use other people (like a QS) when preparing their decision. In December 2019, Scottish Construction Now published an article by Ki

The International Bar Association (IBA) has published a model statute aimed at helping citizens launch legal challenges against governments for failing to take action over climate change. The Model Statute for Proceedings Challenging Government Failure to Act on Climate Change was launched in London

Some of Scotland’s most experienced lawyers working in the field of EU citizens rights will be speaking at a seminar in Edinburgh next month. The seminar aims to provide lawyers and others with essential training and updates about the rights that EU citizens in Scotland now have after Brexit.

A 60-year-old pigeon fancier has been fined for shooting and killing a sparrowhawk. Duncan Cowan, from Cowie in Stirlingshire was fined £450 after pleading guilty to a charge under section 1(1)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 at Stirling Sheriff Court.

The climate emergency has risen to the top of the UK’s political agenda in recent years, with green issues set to become one of the biggest political hot potatoes of the decade. Last year, the UK legislated for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This was recommended by the Committee on