Features

When he describes his arrival at the Scottish bar as being “a bit convoluted”, Ian Forrester KC really isn’t kidding. Having studied history and English and then law at the University of Glasgow, Forrester began his career with Maclay Murray & Spens in the mid-1960s with the or

Aberdein Considine trainee Sophie Reid gives us a taste of life as a trainee in four parts this week. As I sit down, morning coffee (vanilla, of course!) in hand, one of the solicitors in the team taps me on the shoulder. She tells me to grab my jacket, and laptop (with a notepad as back-up). She le

Historian Susie Deedigan reviews a new book on the Irish men and women who fought against Nazi occupation in Europe. Janie McCarthy, a teacher from Killarney and somewhat unlikely résistante, is the first in the cast of fascinating characters whose stories are skillfully woven together in Clo

With the end of Soviet Russia, there was little in the way of precedent or planning for the political class to follow in the move to a new society and economy. A socialist state does not plan for its own demise. There was in existence a system of public administration and legislation, but the moves

The ‘new’ Electronic Communications Code came into force at the end of 2017. It is a schedule to the Communications Act 2003. It governs telecoms masts and other ‘electronic communications apparatus’; specifically, relations between their operators and the owners or tenants o

As part of Major Trauma Awareness Week, Brenda Mitchell highlights the role of personal injury lawyers. Major trauma is defined as a serious injury that has the potential to cause long-term disability or death. Every year, thousands across the UK suffer major injuries in road traffic accidents (RTAs

Vice-Dean of Faculty, Tony Lenehan KC, responds to the latest endorsement by the Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian, of her plan for a pilot of juryless trials and points out that – experimental or not – the casualties will be real. I read with dismay the article in Saturday’s T

David J Black traces the highs and lows of the Edinburgh Festivals in the second part of his prolonged lament on their decline. Read the first here. The chemistry between the official Festival and the Fringe was, at times, diplomatically awkward, yet the relationship had benefits for both. With bril

Businesses across sectors have been advised to review their approach to dynamic pricing after the practice drew scrutiny in the context of Oasis’ reunion tour, writes Angelique Bret. A UK and Ireland tour next summer will mark the first time the band’s two most prominent members, br

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.