News

A recent decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union may impact on the Supreme Court when they consider the (in)famous Uber employment status case in July 2020, writes David Walker. After being probably the highest profile aspect of employment law in 2017/18, the profile of cases relati

British judges could be asked to rule on cases brought under controversial new national security legislation imposed on Hong Kong this week, a senior Hong Kong judge has said. There are 14 non-permanent foreign judges on the bench in Hong Kong, 10 of whom are from the UK – including Lord Reed,

Global experts in law and human rights have contributed to a new online publication about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19, Law and Human Rights: Essex Dialogues, published today by the University of Essex, includes expert analysis on issues including emergency powers legislation, healt

A recent study conducted on behalf of the Legal Services Agency seeks to examine the valuation of compensation awards in the two years following the introduction of the Letting Agent Code of Practice. LSA volunteers and Glasgow School of Law graduates Alice Dalkin, Caitlin Perring&nbs

Have you missed out on advocacy experience as a result of COVID-19? The Scottish Young Lawyers' Association (SYLA) is hosting a moot aimed at trainee solicitors. There will be 20 places available for current trainees giving them an opportunity to practice their remote advocacy skills. The moot will

An e-bike advert has been banned on the basis that it creates "a climate of anxiety" around the car industry. The TV advert shows the reflection of gridlocked streets and factory chimneys in a car's bodywork, which melts away to reveal Dutch company Van Moof's new e-bike.

The long-awaited Supreme Court judgment in Villiers v Villiers [2020] UKSC 30 has been handed down this morning. SKO's Rachael Kelsey has acted for the successful respondent, Mrs Villiers, since 2014 and gives a short summary of the 74-page decision. What was it about?

It is no surprise that one of the prime aims of China’s new national security law aimed at suppressing Hong Kong’s democracy movement published yesterday is the abolition of trial by jury. The elimination of the right to trial by one’s peers is always one of the first targets of au

The Outer House of the Court of Session has continued a case involving a dispute based on the sale of a castle in Berwickshire and accompanying barony to allow the parties a proof before answer. Richard Syred and another purchased Ayton Castle, together with the Dignity of the Barony

Addleshaw Goddard has announced a new leadership role for David Kirchin who has been appointed head of Scotland for the firm, combining that additional responsibility with his advisory role as a corporate partner. Mr Kirchin succeeds Malcolm McPherson who has retired from the partnership, but remain

Thorntons has continued to encourage its private client team to pursue training and development, as three more solicitors have recently passed their Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) exams. Chris Gardiner, Stuart Mackie and Lisa Hainey are the latest to complete the STEP qualification

Lawyers’ associations from around the world, including the Faculty of Advocates, have issued a 'call for action' in support of the vital role of an independent legal profession in the rule of law. The call for action has been directed at UN member states on the 30th anniversary of the adoption

Benjamin Bestgen gives us the truth about methods of lie detection. See his last jurisprudential primer here. Last month, I sketched out some definition problems we encounter when considering what a lie is. I also noted that humans are bad lie detectors. Research tells us that even supposed experts

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that a private hospital group and seven consultant ophthalmologists broke competition law by taking part in illegal price-fixing. Following an investigation by the CMA, Spire Healthcare Limited and Spire Healthcare Group plc has admitted tha

In its recent judgment in Gladman v Scottish Ministers, the Court of Session set out its interpretation of how Scottish planning policy applies a tilted balance to planning decision making in Scotland. Terra Firma Chambers’ James Findlay QC and Craig Whelton of Burges Salmon acted for Gladman