Robert Shiels enjoys a new book on the age-old practice of wine fraud. This modest but interesting study of the murky side of wine-making gives an insight as to the old trade practices and the weakness of the system within which the business has been conducted.
Features
Laura Patriche and Lauren McFarlane write about the IP issues around music sampling. Music sampling is a practice which involves artists digitally incorporating segments of existing sound recordings into new compositions. Some modern examples include Drake’s Hotline Bling of 2015 which sa
The Court of Session (Outer House) recently issued an opinion on unfair prejudice, in the case of Adrian Richard Hawkins OBE and Othman Akbar Rafay, petitioners, writes Lorna MacFarlane. The petitioners sought an order under sections 994 and 996 of the Companies Act 2006 confirming that the aff
Now that the dust has not settled on the Horizon scandal in Scotland as it relates to convictions of sub-postmasters, it is useful to recall what the lord advocate said in the Scottish Parliament on 16 January, writes former sheriff Douglas J. Cusine. “In September 2020, supported by Crown Off
The centenary this year of the first Labour government will doubtless see the publication of a number of new books analysing a game-changing event. Robert Shiels reviews one of the first, by Scottish journalist David Torrance. In 1923 the immediate consequences of an inconclusive general election su
Even within the legal profession, to be elected to sit as judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is "beyond a dream", says Tim Eicke. Having taken up the post in 2016, he is currently the UK judge at the court.
Former sheriff Kevin Drummond KC expands on his solution to the problem of dealing with the Horizon cases. I am pleased that my letter in SLN has produced an informed response by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, by Lord Uist and by Fergus Ewing MSP amongst others. Of necessity and for economy, m
Will Cole considers some recent developments in ADR north and south of the border from a Scottish perspective, including the Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil, and the implications for commercial litigation in Scotland. Since the turn of the century, the courts in
Fiona Killen asks whether the Sewel convention is fit for purpose following years of constitutional rancour between Holyrood and Westminster. The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee (CEEACC) of the Scottish Parliament was busy last year, producing seven reports, one focusing
Connor Beaton delivers his verdict on French legal drama Anatomy of a Fall.
At the risk of sounding like a broken podcast, delays in getting fatal accident inquiries started are to me, a disgrace. As we know, some FAIs are mandatory; some are at the option of the Crown, but that distinction is irrelevant; there are delays in both categories. I am not alone in my concern. Th
I recently had the privilege of joining a webinar hosted by RoadPeace. RoadPeace provide information and support services to people bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes, writes Thomas Mitchell. The webinar’s panel consisted of Prof Sally Kyd, Head of Leicester Law School – an ex
Gillian Mawdsley writes about the Kindertransport ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day tomorrow. As another Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) approaches, the recent release of the film One Life allows for reflection on how child refugees were able to escape Nazi persecution. This resonates with this year
Robert Shiels commends a new biography of the comic genius who fell victim to the USA's post-war red scare. This attractively produced book, with many photographs, is a social, political and cultural history of a crucial period in the life of an influential 20th century figure, an original and indep
Vaunted legislation incorporating UNCRC into Scots law falls short of expectations, writes Professor Elaine E Sutherland. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 is something of a disappointment in the light of the ambitious plans that preceded it