News

Aberdein Considine has paid tribute to partner Fiona Wildgoose, who has passed away. The firm said: "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our partner, Fiona Wildgoose, on Friday 22nd March 2024.

A new analysis of Japan's unusual naming law has concluded that everyone in the country will share the name "Sato" in around 500 years' time. Japanese law requires married couples to both adopt one of their surnames, with nearly 95 per cent of women taking their husbands' name.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza as "famine is setting in". The UN court was asked by South Africa around a month ago to make further provisional measures in its case against Israel.

Thorntons is formally opening its new Inverness office, which is its first permanent home in the Highlands after operating from serviced office space since December 2023.

Burness Paull has elevated four lawyers to partner across energy, technology and real estate, important areas of strategic focus and success for the firm as it continues to invest in developing homegrown talent alongside ambitious lateral hiring. The newly appointed partners are Victoria Tweed (ener

Germany has become the first major European country to legalise cannabis for personal recreational use. Under a new law which came into force yesterday, adults may possess up to 50 grams of cannabis and three plants at home and carry up to 25 grams of cannabis in public.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has welcomed improvements to Law Society of Scotland investigation timescales since it made statutory recommendations last year. A report published by the SLCC in March 2023 showed that the majority of complaints investigations were taking longer than

Blackadders LLP has announced a raft of promotions across both its business services and private client teams in Scotland. Emma Sadler has been promoted to partner in the family law team. Ms Sadler advises on all aspects of family law including divorce, cohabitation, pre-nuptial agreements and issue

BTO Solicitors LLP has announced the appointment of Grant Hunter as managing partner and Caroline Carr as chair. Mr Hunter has headed the firm’s dispute resolution department for seven years and has served on BTO’s former executive board since 2018. He now assumes overall responsibility

The Herald has published an obituary for solicitor Norman Alexander Fyfe, who has passed away at the age of 69. "Norman, or Norrie, grew up in Kilmacolm with his brother George in the 1960s, his parents, Sandy and Mary, allowing him the freedom not many children enjoy today. With his friends Mike Ab

Applications are now open for the WS Society's Summer Law Scholarship programme 2024. Designed for law students to enhance their professional and personal development, this is a unique opportunity for participants to spend two weeks as a WS Summer Scholar with the resources of the Signet Library at

Candidates who want to commence devilling at the Faculty of Advocates next year can now apply for scholarships to help ease financial tensions during their training. There are four scholarship schemes and over 60 scholarships have been awarded during the past five years, totalling well over £3

A Holyrood committee is divided in its support for a pilot of juryless trials in rape cases. The pilot, which cannot take place without the participation of solicitors, would remove juries from rape cases due to a perception that conviction rates in such cases are artificially low compared to other

Views are being sought on whether Scotland should have a disability commissioner. The Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill has been introduced by Jeremy Balfour MSP and would establish the role of commissioner, who would be expected to promote and safeguard the rights of disabled people.

The University of Strathclyde has awarded Professor Peter Watson with an executive leadership award. Established in 2019 by Professor Sir Jim MacDonald, Principal and Vice Chancellor, the Strathclyde Executive Leadership Award (STELAR) acknowledges excellence in leadership across the university&rsqu