Opinion

What is admissible in evidence in our ongoing trial of the past? The Arab slave trade? Modern slavery across Asia? Or are rules and consistency passé? Does Lady Justice need scales or will the sword suffice? Edinburgh Council, for example, remains coy about its plaque in Abercromby Place that

Very few of you will have tuned into the Roberton Report a couple of years ago. Even fewer will be aware that the Scottish government (after a lengthy and entirely understandable delay) is only now consulting on its recommendations. Even fewer will respond to the consultation. Why should you? How co

The way we work continues to evolve following the Covid-19 pandemic and clients are now expecting more than just sound legal advice from their full-service law firm. As a result, there has been an increase in demand for legal project managers, writes Amy Ferguson. Legal project management is the app

As COP26 draws to a close today and Glasgow bids farewell to international leaders, business leaders and global environmental campaigners, we have to hope that the commitments made over the last two weeks will be delivered in full (or exceeded) and to the agreed timescales, writes David Young. More

As Sheryl Crow crooned, in her wispy-voice, there are three things James Bond cares for: martinis, girls and guns. But today, I question, after an almost sixty-year career of indulging liberally in all three, why Bond is still employed as a Double-O MI6 spy. This blog contains zero No Time To Die sp

In The Times today, Jamie Greene, the Scottish Conservatives’ shadow justice secretary criticises the new guidelines on sentencing which state that those under 25 should be spared jail, wherever possible. I do not have a problem with that suggestion, but only if the public can be assured that

At almost the half-way point in my presidential year, my term in office at the Law Society of Scotland continues to be shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic. The past 18 months have undoubtedly been among the most challenging any of us have ever faced. However, despite the difficulties, the legal professi

In a recent decision that will be of considerable interest to insolvency practitioners, the English High Court dismissed a challenge to a liquidator's decision to assign causes of action originally vested in an insolvent company to a specialist insolvency litigation financing company, writes An

The week, in addition to being the second week of COP26, is also International Mediation Awareness Week, and events across the world are taking place in an effort to raise awareness of the power of mediation to resolve conflict. That power is something not lost on those working on the fringes of the

In March 2020, I wrote about the rising tide of climate change litigation and how the courts were being used by activists as an alternative to traditional protest activities. The trends we were beginning to see have continued unabated over the last 18 months. As of October 2021, almost 1,900 climate

Businesses are watching closely the outcomes of COP26 because decisions made will have a profound impact on their future, affecting what kind of activity will be possible, what kind of finance (if any) will be available, and changing the value of assets currently held. Following Wednesday’s an

Emma Barclay has been promoted to partner within the corporate team at BTO Solicitors LLP. Ms Barclay, who joined BTO as a trainee solicitor in 2012, has focused on corporate law throughout her career. A valued team member, she has progressed through the ranks in less than a decade and will play a k

Martin Sinclair, partner at Mackinnons, reflects on the career of retiring colleague Denis Yule and wishes him well for the future. After 50 years of distinguished legal service within the profession, Denis Yule, solicitor with Mackinnons Solicitors LLP has decided to fully retire.

Rebecca Barrass takes a look at Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners v McLaughlin & Harvey Limited. A recent appeal hearing before the Inner House of the Court of Session has confirmed that in circumstances where parties have a contractual agreement to use an alternative dispute resolution mechanis

David Flint, Balfour and Manson litigation partner, retired at the end of last month. Here he looks back at his 40-year career in legal practice. I think I was the last of the apprentice generation starting with Guild and Guild WS in Rutland Square Edinburgh in 1979. Even before I was qualified, I w