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A Scottish Green Party MSP today launched a consultation on her legislative proposal to designate protest free ‘buffer zones’ outside abortion clinics across the country. Gillian Mackay said that intimidation and harassment outside these healthcare facilities must end, and that legislati

Julian Assange should not be extradited from Britain to face espionage charges in the US, a Council of Europe commissioner has told Home Secretary Priti Patel. A court ruled last year that Mr Assange could be extradited despite claims he is a suicide risk and that handing him over to the US would br

An Edinburgh-based team from CMS has advised Aviva Investors on a refinancing of 12 NHS primary health and integrated care centres across the Kingston upon Hull area. Built as part of the NHS LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) Programme, Hull Citycare Limited’s portfolio of healthcare proj

Five new senators of the College of Justice have been installed at individual ceremonies in Parliament House, Edinburgh. Andrew Young QC, Jonathan Lake QC, Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC, John Scott QC and Michael Stuart QC, were installed in Court 1.

Blackadders LLP has announced that its managing partner, Johnston Clark, will stand down on 31 July. He will be succeeded by Emma Gray and Ryan McKay as joint managing partners, who will serve an initial three-year term. Congratulating his successors on their appointments, Mr Clark said: “Much

The UK Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by a man who along with his brother was convicted of aggravated burglary in County Down, Northern Ireland, against the decision of the sentencing judge to reduce the amount of his sentencing discount. Owen Maughan contended that the sentencing judge had n

Thieves have returned statues stolen from a 300-year-old Hindu temple after saying they were plagued by "scary dreams" afterwards. Police in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh said 14 precious idols were left outside a police station with an apologetic note less than a week after they were s

The Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture committee is to hold hearings to examine how devolved structures and conventions are working in the post-EU landscape. The evidence sessions will look at:

Harper Macleod has appointed five new partners, bringing the total number to 77. Two of the new partners joined as trainees. The promotions illustrate the firm’s growth and strength in its diverse service offering, particularly family law, private client, renewable energy and rural matters, an

The development of Covid-19 status, check-in and vaccine apps saw us generate more health data than ever before, but this was accompanied by concern over privacy and potential misuse of data. These experiences with Covid show just how important transparency and clarity on how information is used are

Senior associate and solicitor advocate Michael Collins has joined BTO Solicitors LLP’s property and professional liability team. Mr Collins trained with BTO, qualifying in 2009, and progressed through the ranks in the firm’s insurance litigation team until 2020. He has since spent two y

Gender Recognition Act reforms should not be rushed, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has told MSPs at Holyrood. The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to make it easier for trans people to change their legally recognised sex.

Scotland’s freedom of information (FOI) commissioner has told the Scottish government to take urgent action to rectify “significant and systemic” failures in the FOI system. Daren Fitzhenry said he found “a number of areas where performance and practice fell short” desp

The United Nations Security Council must renew its arms embargo on the territory of South Sudan amid the state’s failure to ensure accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and to protect survivors, witnesses and judicial actors, Amnesty International said today in a new repor

Katie Boyle has been promoted to chair of international human rights law at the University of Stirling. Professor Boyle leads on human rights research and teaching in the faculty of arts and humanities, including establishing an interdisciplinary masters programme together with Rowan Cruft, professo