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The International Council for Commercial Arbitration is to return to Edinburgh to launch its Congress book in September, a year on from ICCA Edinburgh. The 21st edition of the ICCA Congress Series will be launched during the inaugural Edinburgh International Arbitration Festival, which will take pla

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Edison Lacaste. Mr Lacaste, a 45-year-old Filipino national, died in the early morning of 18 February 2021 after an accident on board FV Copious

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has prevented Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision over concerns the deal would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come. The final decision to

Two Crown appeals against a sheriff’s decision to sustain defence pleas of oppression by two prisoners charged with possessing an unauthorised SIM card within prison have been allowed by the Sheriff Appeal Court. Respondents Brandon Douglas and John Pow both argued that it was oppressive of th

Lawyers have reacted with dismay to plans to push ahead with a pilot of juryless trials in Scotland. The Scottish government announced the introduction of the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill to Holyrood yesterday.

The lifelong right to anonymity for complainers in sexual offence cases is to be enshrined in Scots law following a successful campaign by Glasgow Caledonian law students and lecturers. Justice Secretary Angela Constance praised the "tireless" work of the Campaign for Complainer Anonymity, led by Dr

British political parties must promise to better protect victims of forced migration and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in their general election manifestos, a coalition has said. The group has sent letters to the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the Scottish Nation

Thorntons has appointed Sajidha Iqbal as a new data protection officer in its Edinburgh office. As an accredited specialist in data protection, privacy and information security, Ms Iqbal brings over eight years of experience to the role.

Popstar Ed Sheeran has appeared in court over accusations he plagiarised Marvin Gaye's soul classic Let’s Get It On in his own song Thinking Out Loud. The plaintiffs in the case are the heirs of musician and producer Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the 1973 hit.

Legislation abolishing the 'not proven' verdict, reducing the size of juries and introducing a pilot for juryless trials has been introduced at the Parliament. The Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill will require justice agencies to "make efforts to reduce re-traumatisation of vict

Gilson Gray Financial Management (GGFM), the financial services arm of Gilson Gray, has acquired Cupar-based RS Robertson Financial Planning. RS Robertson Financial Planning was founded in the 1970s, with managing director Gordon Laing taking over in 2013. In recent years the firm has grown to becom

A prisoner who was imprisoned in 1996 for murdering a young man with a knife in Renfrew has successfully petitioned for a judicial review of a decision of the Parole Board for Scotland’s not to release him on licence. DD, the petitioner, was aged 16 when he was convicted in June 1996 and was s

Macdonald Henderson has announced the promotion of Ryan Macready to associate director in the firm’s corporate team. Since joining the team in October 2021, he has worked with a wide range of clients from small family businesses to multinational companies in respect of a variety of corporate a

Burges Salmon has advised global renewable energy company BayWa r.e. on its agreement to sell Dalquhandy wind farm to Greencoat UK Wind plc. Burges Salmon originally advised BayWa r.e. on the purchase of the same wind farm, which is a testament to the long-standing relationships that the firm foster

Two Aberdeenshire men have been sentenced after admitting using dogs to hunt wild hares. Steven McDonald, 38, from Inverurie, and Richard Hanratty, 29, from Bridge of Don, had previously pled guilty to wildlife offences at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.