News

The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed the Scottish government's announcement of a three per cent uplift in the legal aid rates but said simplifying the legal aid system and implementing evidence-based review system for fees remain major priorities. The Scottish government’s response to the

In 1987 mobile ‘phones were the preserve of stockbrokers, laptop computers an idea on Tomorrow’s World, video conferencing a Star Trek fantasy, and fax machines a modern mystery. In those primitive times, advocates depended on a Filofax, phone cards, and their clerk. And so it was on 1 J

The litigation and recoveries team in the Edinburgh office of UK law firm Shoosmiths last night celebrated being named Debt Recovery Team of the Year for the third consecutive year at the Law Awards of Scotland 2018. Rod Macphail, partner and head of the litigation and recoveries team in Scotland, s

Ross Caldwell comments on the demotion of floating charge holders that will follow the reinstatement of Crown preference in 2020. Amidst all the hype attending the recent Budget about the £20bn windfall which befell the Exchequer and was thereafter shovelled towards the NHS, one could be forgi

DWF has secured an appointment to the UK government's Crown Commercial Service (CCS) legal framework panel. The CCS brings together policy, advice and direct buying to provide commercial services to the public sector. DWF has been appointed to a new three-year panel that will deliver legal advice to

Pictured (L-R): Eric McQueen, Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle, Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael and Jeff Hedley A topping out ceremony was held on the site of Scotland’s first purpose-built justice centre in Inverness yesterday.

A woman who emerged from the settlements of one of Africa’s largest cities to help in the fight to rewrite her country’s constitution has been named the first winner of the Scottish Bar International Human Rights Award. Salome Nduta, 47, from Nairobi, Kenya, “stood out from the cro

Lawyers at Blackadders have kicked off the festive season a day early with their annual Christmas video.

A man who had a heart attack after reading a false missile alert has taken legal action. James Sean Shields claimed the warning was a factor contributing to his medical emergency, while his girlfriend, Brenda Reichel, joined the suit on the basis she suffered emotional upset.

Solicitors and advocates providing people with advice and representation through the legal aid scheme in Scotland will receive a three per cent increase in fees. The increase, to take effect next April, was announced as part of the Scottish government’s wider response to Martyn Evans’s i

A sole practitioner who failed to pay counsel for work done in relation to a number of cases has been struck off the solicitors’ roll. Jeremy Cram instructed three advocates but came up with various excuses to avoid paying them and then refused to engage with the Dean of Faculty and the Law So

Ronnie Renucci QC has been elected president of the Scottish Criminal Bar Association, succeeding Claire Mitchell and promising to continue her "excellent" work during his tenure. Mr Renucci, of Black Chambers, told Scottish Legal News: "I am delighted and honoured to have been elected to the p

Law At Work (LAW) has achieved a record 35 per cent increase in group turnover and a significant rise in profits in the last financial year. LAW’s accounts for the year to 31 May 2018 show revenues rose to £3.36m, a 35 per cent year-on-year increase, enabling the firm to post EBITDA

TLT has appointed clean energy specialist Pamela Sealey as an associate in Scotland as part of its UK-wide real estate group and multi-disciplinary clean energy sector team. Ms Sealey joins from the energy and natural resources team at Shepherd & Wedderburn, where she completed a year's sec

Jonathan Brown looks at how Roman concepts in Scots law accommodate modern offences.  ‘Revenge porn’ has captured a lot of media attention in recent years – small wonder, as smartphones now allow anyone to create and share such content quickly and easily.