Features

Andrew Foyle takes a look at litigation trends in the UK. Shoosmiths recently published its report on major trends in UK litigation. Drawing on feedback from 360 general counsel/senior-in-house lawyers working in businesses with a £100m+ turnover, I believe the report makes very significant re

It is just over three months since the merger between Morton Fraser and MacRoberts completed and the enlarged firm’s chief executive Chris Harte is pretty pleased with how things are going. Practice groups are getting to grips with their new capabilities and staff at Morton Fraser MacRoberts &

Dundee’s Citizen of the Year 2003, retired senior partner of Blackadders Solicitors and charitable trustee Norman “Norrie” Robertson has died peacefully, aged 94. Brought up in the Maryfield district of the city, Mr. Robertson attended Morgan Academy, then Morrisons Academy, Crieff

Dear Editor, It is surprising that Kenneth Norrie attacks alleged "mendacity" on the part of others ("Kenneth Norrie: New trans law? What new trans law?") while asserting that the Scottish government's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was "killed by a UK Secretary of State".

Robert Shiels uncovers the story of how our everyday truths came to be. This substantial and interesting book has a rather contrived title that suggests a military battle of sorts, although it narrates a crucial aspect of the history of ideas in the British context.

Professor Kenneth Norrie responds to a piece published earlier this week in Scottish Legal News, which he characterises as "mendacious". Monday’s Scottish Legal News carried a piece with the shockingly misleading heading “Plans for new trans law…”.

One of the most jaw-dropping aspects of the Post Office Horizon scandal and the merciless persecution of its victims was the unfettered power granted to a state-owned corporation which, in England at least, had the singular privilege of investigating itself and bringing private criminal prosecutions

Proposed Holyrood legislation aims to improve outcomes for children involved in the Scottish criminal justice system. However, there are concerns about the effect of the new law on freedom of expression and open justice, writes Baktosch Gillan. Safeguards to protect children and promote rehabil

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.

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