Opinion

Despite the construction industry recording fewer deaths than in 2023/24, the sector’s persistently high numbers highlight the ongoing danger it presents, write Vikki Watt and Stacey Fox.

Eoin Jackson analyses the ICJ's landmark climate change opinion. On Wednesday this week, the International court of Justice (ICJ) released its landmark Advisory Opinion on states' obligations in respect of climate change. An Advisory Opinion is a non-binding opinion provided by the ICJ which clarifi

John Sturrock KC commends a new book on the great Neil MacCormick. “But have you ever cycled across The Meadows?” In those days, cycleways had not yet been marked out in Edinburgh’s central green space and it was still forbidden to cycle there. “Yes, but…” Too la

Andrew Stevenson suggests the courts stick to English amid the passing of new language legislation. I always struggled to understand my great auntie Gertie. Born before the First World War in working class Aberdeen, not merely did she speak with a strong accent, with curious intonation, she deployed

Following a BBC Panorama investigation, ESPC CEO Paul Hilton highlights the ethical advantages of working with solicitor estate agents in Scotland. A Panorama investigation south of the border revealed unscrupulous practices by some estate agents in England, raising serious concerns for home buyers

As AI systems embed themselves in everyday legal workflows, they begin to absorb not just what we produce, but how we think. Dr Corsino San Miguel sets out a strategy for protecting the judgment that defines a law firm’s identity. Imagine a chef using an AI assistant to make sandwiches.

Andrew McConnell and Victoria Hayward of Beale & Co examine a recent court judgment on prescription. Prescription remains a very hot topic and in this article we look at the Court of Session’s approach to the application of section 6(4) and the evidence relied upon by Greater Glasgow Healt

There is just over a week until changes to the immigration rules take effect, writes Ashley Fleming. The Home Office has announced immigration rule changes, effective from 22 July 2025, which implement proposals set out in the Immigration White Paper. Approximately 180 occupation codes will be remov

Anderson Strathern partner Robin Turnbull examines the potential impact on rural businesses of the UK government's employment law reforms. In rural Scotland, where around 84 per cent of businesses describe themselves as family-owned, the line between employee and family member can often blur. From f

As we have seen reported over the recent months, the Employment Rights Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, will arguably bring about the greatest changes to employment law in a generation. The latest announcement is the fact that the UK government plans to ban the use of non-disclosur

Even after the Act of Union in 1707, Scotland and England maintained separate and distinct legal traditions. Over the centuries that have passed since, Scots law and English law have evolved differently, writes Thomas Mitchell. Their stark differences are most prevalent when it comes to the assessme

Ella Welsby discusses the Supreme Court decision in the English appeal of Standish v Standish. A long awaited Supreme Court judgment was published this week and reaffirmed that an asset being in your name on divorce does not automatically mean it will be eligible for division.

Employee ownership is surging in popularity across the UK, and particularly in Scotland. In this article, Douglas Roberts reflects on an increasingly sophisticated and diverse market. The Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is a special type of discretionary trust established by the Finance Act 2014 for

It is an ideal moment to pause and reflect on what has been an intriguing and evolving year for the property market across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders, writes ESPC CEO Paul Hilton. At the close of 2024, the market was buoyant. Activity levels were high, and we saw strong momentum c

In civil disputes, the outcome of court proceedings will often hinge on key evidence that is in the possession of the respondent party, write Philip Knight, Jack Mullen and Hannah Johnston. If this evidence has the potential to reveal wrongdoing, pursuing parties may naturally worry that giving noti