News

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission has appointed three law firms to its advisory and litigation panel following a competitive tender process. Brodies, Burness Paull, and Harper Macleod were appointed to the panel, which will provide legal services to the SLCC from 1 October 2026 for four years

BTO has appointed Alan Gilfillan, an experienced corporate lawyer and accredited charity law specialist, as a partner in its corporate team. Mr Gilfillan brings more than 15 years’ experience in corporate and charity law and is one of only seven lawyers in Scotland accredited by the Law Societ

The number of High Court venues will increase by four from January 2027. In addition to the current 10 venues, the High Court will now sit in Airdrie, Dunfermline, Edinburgh and Glasgow Sheriff Courts. The expansion will allow up 26 trials a day compared to 16 at the start of this decade. An additio

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a package of reforms designed to improve transparency, strengthen access to market-wide information and support confidence in UK equity markets. The package confirms the framework for a future equity consolidated tape, consults on targeted market s

Japanese police have arrested a 61-year-old musician accused of keeping his elderly neighbours awake for more than seven years by playing loud guitar music day and night. Kyoto resident Kazunori Yokoi allegedly blasted dozens of guitars and his radio at high volume from 2019 onwards – despite

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori has been granted permission to challenge the group's proscription as a terrorist organisation before the Supreme Court. Palestine Action was banned under terrorism legislation in July last year. Ms Ammori has challenged the decision, arguing that the ban is un

Following the announcement by Lord Reed that he will retire from the Supreme Court in January 2027, applications are now sought for the appointment of a justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.  The UK Supreme Court and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) hear a wide range

The House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs committee has launched a new inquiry into support for jurors in England and Wales, along with an accompanying call for evidence. The Courts and Tribunals Bill is currently making its way through Parliament. The committee wants to determine the current leve

A new paper published by the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry reveals the devastating impact the Horizon scandal had on communities across the UK.  The Communities Paper, the third in a series published as part of the inquiry’s listening project In Your Own Words, draws on over 300 written

Our weekly round-up of human rights stories from around the world. UN rights chief Turk wins second term despite US and Israeli opposition

The United Arab Emirates has launched what it says is the world's first fully integrated AI-powered judicial platform, designed to improve the efficiency of court proceedings while leaving final decisions in the hands of judges. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice president, deputy prime minist

eBay has agreed to pay almost $50 million to settle claims by a Massachusetts couple who said former employees targeted them with a bizarre harassment campaign involving live cockroaches and spiders, a funeral wreath and a bloody pig Halloween mask. David and Ina Steiner, founders of e-commerce news

Thorntons is boosting its senior specialist credentials with the appointment of Fiona Piper and Stephen Connolly as partners in its Glasgow office. Ms Piper brings more than 30 years of advising businesses on corporate and commercial work. Qualified in Scotland and England, she acts on behalf of fou

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has written to Justice Secretary Neil Gray raising concerns about human rights in Scotland's prisons and secure care settings following a critical report by the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee. The letter follows the publication on 2 July of a r

Brodies LLP has recorded its sixteenth consecutive year of growth, reporting revenue of £138.8 million for the financial year ending 30 April 2026, up 11 per cent from £125.3m the previous year. All the firm’s core practice areas: banking and finance, corporate and commercial, disp