News

On the 20th anniversary of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006, a coalition of animal protection organisations, lawyers and academics has called on the Scottish government to "urgently reset" how the law is interpreted and applied. A letter written by The Animal Law Foundation argues that the Act

An independent review of how UK government departments and civil servants interact with devolution should be carried out in order to improve the way Westminster works with governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to a new report from a Holyrood committee. The report from the Co

A man who violently assaulted his partner before setting fire to a block of flats in Perth and Kinross has been jailed. David Storie was found guilty of assaulting and choking the woman to the danger of her life following the attack at his home in Milnathort on 1 June 2024.

The UK's advertising watchdog has banned an AI app advert which gave "the impression that the app could be used to create nude images for sexual gratification". Saeta Tech Ltd t/a PixVideo – AI Video Maker said the app could not in fact be used to remove women's clothing from images without th

A public hearing into a controversial £54 million flood protection scheme for Musselburgh is to begin in September under the oversight of a senior legal figure. Paul Cackette has been appointed as reporter for the proceedings, which were called in by Scottish ministers after East Lothian counc

The Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill, which regulates high-risk cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers, has been passed by Holyrood. The bill requires procedures to be performed by, or alongside, certain healthcare professionals in a registered settin

Significant funding to fix building safety issues in Scotland will now be available thanks to new legislation. The Building Safety Levy Bill, which has been approved by Holyrood, will see a tax charged on the construction of certain new residential properties from April 2028.

A leading figure in rural law is the first lawyer in a century to be named president of the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association (SAAVA). Andrew Linehan, a partner at Edinburgh-based firm Murray Beith Murray, was elected to the role at SAAVA’s AGM yesterday.

A former educator whose surname is 'White' has been charged with dealing methamphetamine. Police in Clarksville, in the US state of Indiana, said officers searched the property of Alan Jay White, 59, on March 7, recovering 78 grams of suspected methamphetamine along with fake currency and drug parap

Gillespie Macandrew has announced the appointment of two new partners and 13 further promotions across its legal team.  Caitlin Keegan, from the firm’s residential property team, and Fraser Vandal, from the employment law team, have been promoted to partner.

An International Bar Association (IBA) global survey of 5,000 women working in the legal profession across 100 jurisdictions examining the experiences of women working in law has revealed persistent structural barriers to senior leadership, widespread burnout and ongoing gender inequality, despite g

Digby Brown has begun the process of succession as Fraser Oliver, chief executive of the firm, announces his plan to step down from the role. The firm has announced that Mark Gibson has been chosen as chief executive designate and will spend the next 12 months shadowing Mr Oliver to expand his under

At the High Court at Edinburgh yesterday, Judge Norman McFadyen KC sentenced Alexander Steven to an extended sentence of 18 years for the rape and assault with intent to rape of five different women in Dundee. In passing sentence, Judge McFadyen made the observations below. You have been found guilt

Total levels of property and violent crime have fallen by 42 per cent since 2008-09, according to the latest Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). The SCJS is a national survey of almost 5,000 people across Scotland which allows people to share their experiences and perceptions of crime, includi

A landmark EU court ruling on legal gender recognition "double underlines" the incompatibility of the UK Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland with EU law, meaning it cannot be implemented in Northern Ireland, our sister publication Irish Legal News has been told. The Court of Justice of the Eu