News

A Chinese national who was identified as a victim of modern slavery but was initially refused discretionary leave to remain in the UK has successfully petitioned for a reduction of the decision. The petitioner, ZL, challenged the decision of the Home Secretary on the grounds that she had erred

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has been successful in defending a ‘leave to appeal’ case in the Inner House of the Court of Session. The complainer sought leave to appeal against the SLCC’s decision that his complaint was time-barred and ineligible for investigatio

Douglas Mill looks at the handling of the current crisis and its likely outcomes for the profession. I'll save you googling it. It was Daniel Defoe in 1772 writing about London in 1665. And here's another quote for you: "The people did not flee the city. Some shut themselves inside their homes, thin

Legal mental health charity LawCare has released data on all COVID-19 related contacts it has received to date for Mental Health Awareness Week. Forty-eight legal professionals have contacted the charity with issues related to COVID-19 since 10 March, making up over a third (37 per cent) of all cont

More than £60,000 is being invested by the Scottish government to provide additional support to women involved in prostitution during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will help nine organisations across Scotland increase their staffing and enable women involved in prostitution to access supp

Karyn McCluskey explains why the status quo on prison numbers cannot continue. The words you use matter. To give a random example, If I tell you to "stay alert" you might be a bit confused as to what you’re being asked to do. You might not necessarily assume I mean “stay at home as much

CMS has advised United Capital in its acquisition of Bellshill-headquartered central heating provider Saltire Facilities Management for an undisclosed sum. Saltire Facilities Management has more than 320 direct employees and is currently one of the UK’s largest central heating and electrical s

Roger Connon extols the benefits of remote working as it looks set to become the new norm. Remote working has come of age during the COVID-19 crisis and it will have a lasting impact on the way in which oil and gas lawyers conduct business. The pandemic has undoubtedly altered the mindset of corpora

An investigation has been launched into the removal of pews from a former Edinburgh church owned by a prominent ballet boss amid concerns that COVID-19 is providing cover for unauthorised work. The 192-year-old St Stephen's church building in the New Town has been owned since 2017 by Peter Schaufuss

A dispute concerning the terms of a guarantee agreement between a biogas company that instructed a contractor to build it an anaerobic digestion plant in Aberdeenshire and the contractor’s sub-contractor has been resolved in favour of neither party. Buchan Biogas Ltd contracted with Willi

Lindsays has announced that David Rose has joined its commercial property team as a partner from Dentons. Mr Rose has decades of experience at the forefront of the commercial property market in Scotland.

A member of the Faculty of Advocates has been appointed to a key role in the tribunals system in Scotland. Jacqueline Fordyce has become the country’s Registrar of the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber).

Despite the current uncertainty in the Scottish housing market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant drop in transactions, average prices are expected to remain stable, according to Rettie & Co. In its Spring 2020 forecast, the property specialist said transactions activity is likely

Frances Sim contrasts the opt-in and opt-out approaches to group proceedings. Class actions have been generating interest recently due to several high-profile actions, such as the ongoing emissions case brought against the Volkswagen Group. A decision is now eagerly awaited in Mastercard’s app

Alan McIntosh explains why it is "vital" that the amendments proposed by Jackie Baillie MSP to the latest coronavirus bill are implemented. The role of the Scottish government in this crisis is to protect its citizens, and as we move through this COVID-19 crisis and diverge from the rest of the