News

An independent review of how fish farms are regulated is underway in a move to make Scottish aquaculture legislation more effective. Professor Russel Griggs OBE has been appointed to lead the first phase of the review.

Macdonald Henderson has advised the Turnkey Group on the disposal of Turnkey Business Software (TBS) and Turnkey Infrastructure Solutions (TIS) to Kick ICT Group, led by technology entrepreneur Tom O’Hara. Founded in 2015, the deal is Kick’s sixth and seventh in six years as the bus

Balfour and Manson trainees took on Edinburgh's Seven Hills challenge on Saturday in aid of one of the firm's 2021 charity partners, Health in Mind Scotland. Health in Mind has been promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in Scotland since 1982.

Caritas Legal has been recognised for its commitment to the armed forces community by becoming the smallest business in the legal sector to receive the silver award under the Ministry of Defence’s employer recognition scheme. The scheme recognises employers who employ and support veterans, res

A woman who prominently accused the late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse has launched a lawsuit against Prince Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 years old. Virginia Giuffre, one of the most outspoken accusers of Mr Epstein, the disgraced American f

A man who suffered from a mental health condition and was charged with rape has failed in his challenge of a decision to desert the indictment against him under section 56(5) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 with a view to the Crown immediately serving a new one. Counsel for&n

Scots lawyers would like the 'not proven' verdict preserved whether Scotland adopts a two or three verdict system, a survey by the Law Society of Scotland has found. The survey – the majority of whose respondents were civil practitioners – asked about the need for change in the context o

The spectre of weekend courts has appeared yet again, despite total opposition from the legal profession. The pleas of lawyers have been ignored by the authorities, with courts due to sit during the COP26 summit to absorb the “anticipated surge” in cases.

Brodies LLP saw profits rise from £38.5m to £39m in the 12 months to 30 April 2021. The firm also reported revenue of £82.5m, up from £82m in the previous year while cash balances grew to £30.7m from £25.4m.

The regime on court orders determining with whom a child lives or spends time is changing, writes Alison Nicol. The factors which a Scottish court must consider when deciding with whom a child should live or otherwise spend time are changing to include the effect a court order might have on &ld

An increasing number of women are bringing cases to the Employment Tribunal which cite menopause as the reason for unfair dismissal and direct sex discrimination, The Guardian reports. New data show that there were five tribunals that detailed the claimant's menopause in 2018, six in 2019 and 16 in

Former advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union, Eleanor Sharpston QC, has given an account of her dismissal and her unsuccessful legal action challenging it. In a statement, she expressed sadness that the court had “failed to grasp the opportunity offered to it by the tw

A new offence of "pet abduction" is to be created to address the escalating problem of dognapping. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland QC MP's legislation will reflect the fact that stealing a pet can be cruel to the animal and traumatic to its owner.

The Scottish property market continued its upward trend during May, June, and July 2021, as buyers flocked to secure homes across Edinburgh, Lothians, Fife, and the Borders, ESPC reports. The average selling price rose to £275,623 – up 7.6 per cent on the same period in 2020.

Advocate Craig Murray, of Compass Chambers, is undertaking a solo English Channel swim between 14 and 25 August 2021 (weather and tides permitting) to raise money for Dreams Come True – a national charity which gives children with life-limiting conditions the opportunity to fulfil their d