News

Stephen Vallance discusses a law fair initiative that showcases the opportunities at high street firms.

British royal Meghan Markle has launched legal proceedings against the publishers of the Mail on Sunday alleging a breach of data protection laws. The matter relates to a private letter the Duchess of Sussex sent to her estranged father, which was published by the tabloid in February.

Anderson Strathern has marked a global first by becoming the first law firm to sign up for The World’s Big Sleep Out, launched in Edinburgh and across scores of international cities last month. The firm has committed to The World’s Big Sleep Out in conjunction with Meritas, the global ne

Solicitor W. James Smith has completed a 10k in aid of the Poverty Relief Project run by Glasgow Central Mosque.

The copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover used by the presiding judge in a landmark obscenity trial in the 1960s has been acquired by the University of Bristol. The annotated copy of the book was sold at auction to someone in the US last October but it was temporarily stopped from leaving the UK by the go

An auction selling off 25 supercars from the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president has accumulated €21.6 million. Swiss prosecutors seized the cars in 2016 when they initiated a corruption investigation against Obiang, likely heir of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled in Equato

A man accused of behaving in a “threatening and abusive manner” by shouting and swearing at his ex-wife has successfully challenged an attempt to prosecute him after a sheriff had previously deserted an identical complaint against the accused pro loco et tempore. The appellant appealed a

Scottish specialist criminal law firm MTM Defence Lawyers has announced the opening of a new London office to service its growing caseload from south of the border. The opening of the London office in Chancery Lane has been driven by increasing demand from London-based clients and law firms ref

Mixed-sex couples will be able to enter a civil partnership for the first time under new legislation introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish government consulted on two options for civil partnership in Scotland in 2018: scrapping civil partnership or making it available to mixed-sex coup

A new report from the International Bar Association (IBA) Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee and the World Bank claims that improving legal aid services is as important for economic growth as providing functioning hospitals, schools and roads. The report, A Tool for Justice: A Cost Benefit An

Private client specialist George Stevenson has joined Shepherd and Wedderburn as a consultant, bringing more than 40 years’ expertise across the spectrum of personal legal and tax matters to the firm and its clients. Mr Stevenson, who specialises in all aspects of estate and inheritance tax pl

Construction specialist Ross Taylor has joined Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP as partner. Mr Taylor, who has headed up Taylor Law in Dunfermline for the past 10 years, will be working as part of the firm’s construction team from today, specialising in contentious construction disputes.

UK law firm TLT has elected its first new managing partner in 19 years, with corporate head John Wood winning support from the firm's partnership. Mr Wood will replace the firm's long-standing managing partner David Pester who has decided to step down at the end of his sixth term in office. Mr Wood

Burges Salmon has appointed Stuart McMillan as a partner in its banking team in Edinburgh. Prior to joining Burges Salmon, Mr McMillan was a partner at DLA Piper in Scotland, based in its Edinburgh office. He advises a wide range of banks and borrowers in project finance (including PFI/PPP and renew

The Government Actuary has confirmed that the discount rate in Scotland remains unchanged at -0.75 per cent following the completion of his review. The rate takes effect from today. A report has been prepared in accordance with the Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Act