In one of Scotland’s first court cases on the legality of covert monitoring of employees in the workplace, the pursuer, a leading firm of immigration law advisors, conducted extensive surveillance to expose an alleged client-poaching ring amongst its senior in-house solicitor, the first defend
Appointments
See all articlesSusie Lind, partner in the Edinburgh office of international law firm CMS, has been appointed as chair of Scottish Renewables. Ms Lind – who joined the law firm last November – succeeds Adam Morrison, the UK country manager for Ocean Winds, who served in the role from 2021.
NewLaw Scotland LLP has become part of Jones Whyte, bringing around 3,000 clients and more than 30 solicitors, paralegals and support staff. Paula McMillan and Laura McGee join Jones Whyte as partners as part of the deal, which will enhance the firm's practice in the areas of clinical negligence, pe
Holmes Mackillop Solicitors has appointed John Di Paola, former legal counsel – vice president at Barclays, to its litigation team. A graduate of the Universities of Cambridge and Glasgow, Mr Di Paola brings over a decade of dispute resolution experience to the firm’s litigation team, he
Debbie McIlwraith Cameron joined Lindsays this week, strengthening the specialist support provided to charities and voluntary organisations of all kinds and sizes across Scotland. Based in Lindsays’ Edinburgh offices, she was previously senior associate with Turcan Connell, where she had been
Murgitroyd has today announced the appointment of Barry Moore as managing director of its patent practice. Mr Moore joined Murgitroyd in 2021 following the acquisition of Hanna Moore & Curley, the firm he co-founded and helped build into a respected patents practice. A chartered physicist, Europ
Brodies LLP has added to its corporate crime practice with the appointment of new partner Neil Hay. Mr Hay is recognised for his expertise in criminal law and financial crime where he provides strategic legal advice and specialist court representation for individuals, companies and organisations und
Universities
See all articlesThe University of Aberdeen Mooting Society will host the finals of the Main Faculty Moot on 19 March. This year’s competition will be judged by Michael D Anderson KC, a graduate of the university and an experienced criminal advocate who was called to the bar in 2006 and took silk in 2022. 
Scottish academics have contributed to a new collection celebrating women in legal history, launched at Queens’ College, Cambridge. Published by Bloomsbury, Celebrating Women in Legal History: Making and Shaping a Discipline champions the work of women in legal history and their contributions
A dispute between the University of St Andrews and its rector, Stella Maris, has been brought to a conclusion by Lord Keen of Elie KC. Ms Maris will resume her position on the University Court of the University of St Andrews after agreeing to provide an undertaking that she is "bound by collective r
The Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law (AUCEL) held a seminar on contemporary developments in International Energy Law last month.
Work by Edinburgh Law School postdoctoral research fellow Dr Jacob Fredrickson has helped inform a theatrical production staging at the historic Old Bailey this March. Justice? Trial and Error will transform Court No 1 in the Old Bailey into a live performance space from 15–19 March 2026, draw
Legal Aid
See all articlesSolicitors who provide legal aid will receive a 13 per cent increase in fees from September this year. The fees hike is part of a wider package of support including also funding for up to 40 legal aid traineeship places and digital support to help firms purchase devices to assist trainees in their w
The Law Society of Scotland is seeking urgent clarification from the Scottish government on why legal aid has again been ignored in the final budget before this year’s Holyrood election. Finance Secretary Shona Robinson announced the 2026-27 budget in the Scottish Parliament on 13 January 2026
The Scottish government is pausing it’s proposed changes to legal aid for adults with legal incapacity (AWI) cases, following an intervention by Govan Law Centre. Last month, GLC wrote to the Holyrood's Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee to recommend rejection of a draft Scottish statut
The Law Society of Scotland has warned that proposed changes to legal aid fees for cases related to adults with incapacity (AWI) would further exacerbate the shortage of solicitors for such work. The warning is contained in a submission by the Law Society on potential changes to legal aid regulation
Laura Simpson and Christine McKellar of Govan Law Centre raise the alarm over proposed changes to legal aid for adults with incapacity in Scotland. It is no secret that Scotland’s legal aid system is in urgent need of reform. With the increase in legal aid deserts caused by an ever-diminishing
And Finally
See all articlesThe head priest and dean of a 150-year-old church has been charged with shoplifting a four-figure sum's worth of trading cards. The Very Rev Aidan Smith, dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh, is alleged to have stolen 27 packs of baseballs cards from a Walmart.
An Australian court has reversed pop singer Katy Perry's triumph over fashion designer Katie Perry in a trademark dispute. Katie Perry initially won when she sued the singer for trademark infringement in 2023 – but the ruling was overturned on appeal in 2024.
A judge has ruled against a couple who tried to reclaim a small area of land by planting a garden gnome on it. The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) ruled last week on a years-long dispute between neighbours in Surrey.
Antisocial air passengers who play music from their smartphones out loud now face being banned from a world-leading airline. United Airlines, by some rankings the world's biggest airline, has revised its contract of carriage to require passengers to use headphones when listening to a device, CBS New
A man has been arrested for drug driving in the middle of his driving test. Merseyside Police in England said officers pulled over the 26-year-old after spotting a defective brake light.










