News

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has appointed Mairi Gougeon as the new minister for public health and sport, among a range of new appointments which she said come “at a crucial time for Scotland” as the nation faces a number of challenges. Ben Macpherson, who graduated in law from Ed

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has completed the transfer of ownership of the former Arbroath Sheriff Court building.  The transfer to Arbroath Community Courthouse Trust (ACCT) was arranged under the Community Empowerment Act. This was made on the condition that the full refu

As the Financial Conduct Authority investigation into the 2018 Carillion case concludes with the watchdog intending to take further action against its directors, Ramsay Hall details how the case is a salutary lesson for the industry. Interaction with health, safety and environmental regulators

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s banking and finance team has reported a busy 12 months. In the year to 31 October 2020, the team advised clients, including banks, funds, financial institutions, alternative lenders, public bodies, corporate borrowers and sponsors, on deals with a total value of more

Major changes to the way courts interpret the Human Rights Act are necessary so the legislation does more to protect people detained because of the expansion of police powers, a new study says. The right to liberty and security is enshrined in article 5 of the act and was intended to refer to arrest

Terra Firma Chambers’ licensing expert Scott Blair stars in the latest instalment of Lockdown Licensing: The Interview Series, a programme of webinars hosted by Scottish Licensing Law and Practice (SLLP) focusing on the challenges faced by the licensing trade during lockdown.

The leader of a drugs gang that supplied heroin and cocaine in the central belt has been told he must pay back the profit of his crimes. In October last year, Anthony O’Hare was jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to supplying drugs, directing others to commit serious crimes and money

A court in Germany has fined a University of Warwick historian €4,000 (£3,700) after she breached an injunction regarding claims that a concentration camp prisoner had had a lesbian affair with an SS guard. In April, Frankfurt regional court ruled that Dr Anna Hájková, assoc

A 12-year-old DJ who organised an illegal rave in his school bathrooms has been reprimanded. Cael Bell brought pro DJ equipment and lights to his underground party in the boys' bathroom at St Antony's Catholic College in Greater Manchester.

The High Court of Justiciary has allowed an appeal by an Edinburgh man against his conviction for culpable homicide after he argued that the trial judge had misdirected the jury in relation to the definition of the offence.  David Ditchburn was convicted of four charges in May 20

A new bill which would allow children to take public bodies to court for breaches of their rights by incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law should be extended to include private sector and voluntary organisations who deliver public services, acc

The Law Society of Scotland has said that small, high street law firms should not be hit with an economic crime levy. The Law Society is strongly opposed to the legal profession paying such a levy as solicitors are subject to stringent anti-money laundering requirements, but has stated that if it is

There have been unacceptable delays in sexual crime cases, HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland has warned. The head of the prosecution watchdog said the backlog of almost 30,000 cases is continuing to grow during the pandemic.

Proposed powers that would let HMRC force financial institutions to provide information regarding people's assets without their approval are "flawed", a House of Lords committee has said. In a new report, the Economics Affairs Committee criticised a proposal in the Finance Bill, which will beco

A legal action by more than 100 Scottish businesses against Clydesdale Bank over loans that were allegedly mis-sold will be heard in the English High Court, with Scots law applied to claims from businesses based in Scotland. The action, which involves some 500 businesses, is being brought against th