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CMS has been appointed to the UK legal panel for Unity Trust Bank, a specialist commercial lender to businesses and organisations that create positive community, economic and societal impact. The firm’s appointment commenced in September 2020 and follows a successful pitch led by James Horton

The re-introduction of Crown preference and the resulting change in the order of priority of creditors on insolvency was announced as part of the Autumn budget in 2018, way before anyone had heard of Covid-19, and was originally due to come into force on 6 April 2020. It was delayed until 1 December

Scottish property prices are continuing to rise year on year as the average selling price from August to October Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders rose by 7.9 per cent to reach £270,983.  According to ESPC, the Scottish property market remains 'exceptionally busy' as propertie

An "erosion" of the judicial review court process would have a "particularly stark impact" in Northern Ireland, lawyers have warned. In its submission to the Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL), set up by the UK government and led by Lord Faulks QC, the Law Society of Northern Ireland sa

On Tuesday 10 November, the Equality and Human Right Commission Scotland will host an international panel discussion exploring the use of Article 14 (Prohibition of Discrimination) in the caselaw of the European Court of Human Rights. The discussion will draw on the expertise of the European Network

Hundreds of criminal cases have been thrown into doubt after a secret affair between a prosecuting and defence lawyer came to light. Al Treacy resigned from his role as a city prosecutor in the US state of Washington this summer after his relationship with public defender Marne Whitney came to light

Christopher Stanley, litigation consultant at Belfast-based KRW LAW LLP, reviews a new textbook on public law. As an English lawyer practising in Ireland – north and south – on a range of issues including the legacy of the conflict and the mother and baby homes scandal, to ask to review

A couple from Falkirk has failed to appeal the grant of decrees for division and sale of their family home following the sequestration of the husband’s estate. Glyn Brooks and Martha Brooks, who were the first and second defenders respectively in the action by the Accountant in

Legal experts have highlighted their concerns with the Scottish government’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. Senior representatives of the Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, as well as Police Scotla

On this day 70 years ago, the European Convention on Human Rights was signed in Rome.

An expert group that includes police, fire and animal welfare representatives has called for the introduction of no fireworks zones and tighter restrictions on the purchase and use of fireworks. The independent Firework Review Group has submitted its final report to ministers, urging a fundamental s

Protests will no longer be exempted from Covid-19 restrictions in England under new lockdown rules taking effect from tomorrow. The new regulations do not explicitly ban protests, but do not include the explicit exemption found in earlier regulations, according to media reports.

The Scottish Land Commission has set out a series of proposals to the Scottish government on how regional land use partnerships could help Scotland its climate action and help support green economic recovery.

A reader has informed us of the retiral of Edinburgh solicitor and sole practitioner Magdalen A. Ogilvie. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, she obtained her LLB in 1972. She moved to Edinburgh around 1974 and joined Keir Moodie, Solicitors, becoming a partner in that firm for severa

Ledingham Chalmers is hosting a free webinar this month for professionals. If you’re in professional services — perhaps you’re an accountant, financial advisor, surveyor, consultant or solicitor — grab a coffee and join the firm for an informal chat about the issues that matt