Search: David J Black

Two cornerstones of the land and rural business law team at Thorntons in Arbroath have retired following a combined  82 years’ service. Partner George Dunlop and associate David Dundas each marked their retirement from Thorntons this month.

Collection rates of fines issued by both sheriff and JP courts have increased to 90 per cent, according to a new report. The fortieth Quarterly Fines Report, published by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) shows that 90 per cent of the value of Sheriff Court fines and JP Court fin

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Italy: Charities to be fined €5,500 for every migrant rescued from the Mediterranean Sea

Euan Smith, partner and corporate immigration specialist at Pinsent Masons, writes on a new Scottish-German initiative backed by the firm. The first Scottish-German Business Exchange Conference (SGBEC) was attended by high-profile business executives, civil servants and politicians and laid the foun

The Scottish government has confirmed it will bring forward legislation to provide for a second referendum on Scottish independence. The framework bill will set out the rules of principles for any referendum and will allow for the government to proceed to a vote on independence following the transfe

The former leader of the Scottish Labour Party who was accused of defamation over a newspaper article in which she described a social media comment published online by a pro-independence blogger as “homophobic” has successfully defended a legal action against her. Stuart Campbell, publis

Couples in England and Wales will be able to go through "no-fault" divorces faster under new government proposals. New legislation representing the biggest overhaul of divorce laws in the jurisdiction in 50 years will be presented to MPs "as soon as parliamentary time allows".

A law student who lied that she was a "sex slave" for a senior government lawyer could be jailed after she was convicted of stalking yesterday. Sana Musharraf, 33, a Muslim, said she was afraid she would be killed by Islamists if they learned she lost her virginity to Jason Whiston, 52, deputy direc

The UK Supreme Court will sit in Wales for the first time in July 2019. The court will sit in the Ty Hywel building in the National Assembly in Cardiff for four days of hearings from 22-25 July 2019, whilst the Assembly is in recess.

Adventurer Bear Grylls is facing a fine of up to €2,500 after he caught, killed, gutted and boiled a frog for a television show. Grylls, 44, was accused by officials in Bulgaria, where the show was filmed, of violating local laws protecting flora and fauna.

The UK government has announced a new package of workplace reforms it calls the "largest upgrade in workers' rights in over a generation". The announcement takes forward 51 of the 53 recommendations made last summer by the Taylor Review, led by Matthew Taylor, CEO of the Royal Society of Arts and fo

Elaine Motion, executive chairman at Balfour+Manson, writes on the significance of language in the Article 50 case currently before the courts. Language is critical in politics and the law, not least in the unfolding political and legal machinations of the Brexit process.

In response to a blog in SLN yesterday giving the author's opinions on a recent damages case that followed a criminal rape case, three solicitors have responded with their criticisms. On reading the inflammatory and often inaccurate blog piece entitled ‘Blog: Do civil rape cases mark ‘de

Dr Stuart Waiton looks at the issue of rape being examined in the civil court following vindication of an accused at trial. Men in Scotland are now at risk of being branded ‘rapist’ for political and ideological reasons, following the Stephen Coxen case. Coxen was tried for the

The criminal bar is "ready" if the promises the UK government made to it this year over revised fee rates for Crown Court work are not honoured, the head of their body has said. Carmelite Chambers' Chris Henley QC, 51, the new chairman of the 4,000-member Criminal Bar Association (CBA), to