Opinion

As the saying goes, the devil is in the detail. It is tempting to be cautiously optimistic, with the recent Scottish company insolvency figures released by the Insolvency Service showing a 23 per cent reduction in August 2026 compared to August 2025, writes Stuart Clubb. Following a period of elevat

Jonathan Barne KC of Axiom Advocates outlines the key points of the co-insurance defence and its potential consequences. Beware. It lurks. Ill-defined. Morphing. Misunderstood. But, potentially, very dangerous to the unwary. The co-insurance defence.

On any view, a single death on Scotland’s roads is one death too many. However, is the way we measure the success or otherwise of road safety policies correct and should we only look at the number of fatalities and/or serious injuries? For example, in 2023 there were 27 motorcycling fatalities

A good understanding of “informed consent” helps patients play an active role in decisions about their medical treatment, writes Claudia Preiss. Historically, there has been a paternalistic approach to deciding patient care; the medical professional makes the treatment decisions on behal

The UK government has published its response to a consultation on improving access to flexible working, confirming that it will introduce significant reforms designed to strengthen employees’ ability to secure flexible working arrangements, writes Dr Anne Sammon. The reforms will also work to

The government has confirmed it will extend “day one” employee bereavement and pregnancy loss rights from next April. The changes will give more people a legal right to take time off work after suffering a bereavement or pregnancy loss in another shake-up to employment rights, writes Dr

Twenty years ago, the Scottish Parliament passed the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. At the time, it was a major step forward in animal protection law, writes The Animal Law Foundation. The Act prohibits causing animals unnecessary suffering. It also places a positive duty on those re

A new Scottish government paper has put fresh evidence and practical proposals behind the argument that an immigration system designed around UK-wide averages cannot adequately respond to Scotland’s economy, geography or communities, writes Kelly Hardman. If the next phase of UK politics is ge

The UK’s onshore wind fleet – one of the country’s greatest energy success stories – is approaching a critical juncture. Recent discussions featuring developers, consultants, energy analysts and legal practitioners at industry showcases have underlined the growing case for re

Two decisions handed down within a month of each other have brought the permission stage in Scottish group proceedings into much sharper focus, write Mark Gibson and Paola Sproul. In McKenzie v Covidien LP [2026] CSOH 48, Lady Haldane granted both permission to bring group proceedings and authorisat

This week the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland celebrates ‘Interntional Right to Know Day’.  Protecting and strengthening the right to official information in Scotland should be a priority, both as a defensive as well as proactive measure to address fake news and prov

Julie Scott-Gilroy and Lauren McLaughlin of MFMac – co-sponsors of the Scottish Construction Summit 2026 on 22 October – share what the construction industry should know when progressing works under a construction contract. Notices are an important part of contract administration in cons

AI-powered fraud is exposing Scottish businesses to increasingly sophisticated deepfake scams that can bypass traditional cybersecurity defences, writes James McGachie. A director joins a video call with the chief financial officer and several senior colleagues. An urgent series of transfers is requ

In an extended article for Scottish Legal News, Dean of Faculty Roddy Dunlop KC warns that corroboration has now been effectively abolished in the wake of HM Advocate v PK. For centuries, the requirement of corroboration has been regarded as one of the cardinal principles of the criminal law of Scot

UK companies should urgently check that directors and people with significant control (PSCs) have completed identity verification steps required for each of their roles as the Companies House transition period enters its final months, writes Gary Gray. New identity verification requirements to help