Features

Changes in lending practices have seen RSLs move away from their traditionally cautious approach to managing interest rate fluctuations to explore more complex options, writes Derek Hogg. Scottish registered social landlords (RSLs) can be a cautious breed. Indeed, when it comes to exposure

Putting aside the well worn fact that remembrance of things past can be delusional and misleading – madeleine cake dipped in tea, long hot summers on the beach when one was ten, definitely more butterflies and, for sure, much more succulent strawberries, first kiss etc. etc. - we should interr

Sarah Cooper outlines changes that landlords and tenants should expect in the Housing (Scotland) Bill. It has been a busy year on the housing front in Scotland. In early Spring, we saw the temporary measures protecting tenants from rent increases and evictions relating to the Cost-of-Living cri

Rachel Munro is a senior associate in the real estate team at Shoosmiths in Scotland. She is shortlisted for the Rising Star, Residential category in the Inspiring Women in Property Awards 2024 and for the Real Estate Rising Star of the Year category at the Legal 500 Scotland Awards. Here, she offer

Willie Park reflects on the value of some key legislation. On 1 October it will be 50 years since the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 came into force and it continues to provide a globally-recognised framework for managing health and safety risk – even as that risk evolves with the oper

Eighty years have elapsed since the heady days of August 1944 when Paris, the City of Light – and to many, a beacon of light in the pre-war days – liberated itself from the ignominy, shame and cruelty of Nazi tyranny.

Benjamin Bestgen pours forth on law and wine. It is fair to say that the British enjoy wine. Not only is the UK the fifth largest wine consumer globally. It is also the home of internationally acclaimed wine education and industry organisations like the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and the Insti

William McParland highlights a recent employment case which shines light on risky workplace practices. Indirect discrimination, in the employment context, is an interesting concept. It is, by its very nature, often hidden in employer practices and behaviours – referred to in section 19 Equalit

Susannah Donaldson considers how a new government will impact efforts to close the gender pay gap. In light of the shifting legal landscape and market trends, both under the new Labour government in UK and across the EU, employers will face ever more onerous pay gap reporting duties across different

Graham Ogilvy reviews a newly-released book which reveals the history of the headquarters of the world revolution. This ground-breaking new book by Irish historian Maurice Casey tells the story of Wexford woman May O’Callaghan and of the friendships and love affairs of her comrades who lived a

Karen Little takes a look at what the Morphe Cosmetics case demonstrates about the the pros and cons of pre-pack sales. The recent news about viral beauty brand Morphe Cosmetics entering into administration through a pre-pack sale will no doubt have caught the attention of insolvency practitioners a

Employment lawyer Graham Millar urges the new UK government to tread carefully as it embarks on major employment law reforms. The new government is already beginning to shift the dial on a number of key issues facing the economy. Among its election pledges, Labour promised to “make work pay&rd

Many lawyers dream of writing a book in their retirement but well-known legal figure Ken Swinton has done just that and spoke to Graham Ogilvy about his new book, St Bernard’s Crescent: A History. Congratulations, Ken, on writing such a detailed and fascinating account. Can you outline the sco

Kate Ross, a trainee solicitor at BTO, considers the implications of a case where a main contractor and subcontractor were invited to notify the adjudicator of any "clerical or typographical errors". McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd v LJJ Ltd [2024] EWHC 1032 (TCC) concerned the enforcement of a decis

Benjamin Bestgen looks at the law and cultural perceptions surrounding suicide. The recent case of Irish citizen Tori Towey’s arrest for being drunk and having attempted suicide in the United Arab Emirates made international headlines. Media reports suggest that she was suffering domestic viol