Opinion

Carole Ford makes the case for fixed fees and greater pricing transparency in the solicitors' profession. Would you be more likely to seek advice from a solicitor if you knew what it was going to cost? Would more information about pricing improve access to justice? Is it possible to provide a fixed

Public law expert Lynda Towers provides a realistic overview of where we are on the path to Brexit. For some of us there is something comforting about putting together a list of things which need to be done and by when. There is then the satisfaction of ticking the items off as done and seeing the l

Matthew Stimson considers the ramifications of the Stage 1 Report on the Planning (Scotland) Bill. On 17 May 2018, the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee published its Stage 1 Report on the Planning (Scotland) Bill.

Andrew Foyle reflects on the significance of a recent Appeal Court judgment for future Simple Procedure claims. An Appeal Court judgment delivered last week by Sheriff Principal M M Stephen QC may have a significant impact on future Simple Procedure claims.

The face of UKCS contracting is changing, and rapidly so with the introduction of the Oil and Gas Authority in October 2016. Laura Petrie considers whether mutual indemnities remain beneficial to all parties. To set the scene, the 2016 Court of Appeal decision in Transocean Drilling UK Ltd v Provide

Four panellists from the Brexit and Family Law Group were invited to speak to MEPs and Permanent Representatives from the EU member states at the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday. The session, hosted by Catherine Bearder MEP and the Joint Brussels Office of the Law Societies, saw

Rebecca Barrass looks at the litigation surrounding the Glendoe Hydro-Electric Scheme In January 2009, energy giant SSE started operating the Glendoe Hydro-Electric Scheme. Opened officially by the Queen later that year, the scheme was cited as one of Scotland’s biggest civil engineering proje

Amanda Masson, partner in the family law team at Harper Macleod, writes on a first-of-its-kind Scottish court case on legal parenthood. A recent decision at Edinburgh Sheriff Court considered interesting issues about legal parenthood which it is anticipated will become more common as alternative fam

Andy Drane, partner at Davidson Chalmers, writes on new arrangements affect GPs and GP premises. In Scotland new General Medical Services and Section 17C Contracts for GPs came into force on 1st April 2018. These Contracts seek to implement the agreement reached between Scottish Government and the B

Garry Ferguson, member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers committee and partner at BTO Solicitors, writes on the new Civil Litigation Bill. On 1 May 2018, the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Bill. Its provisions will be brought i

Denise Laverty, associate solicitor and accredited family law specialist at BTO Solicitors, writes on calls for greater recognition of grandparents' rights. There have been a number of news reports in recent days commenting on MPs calling for the Government to ‘enshrine in law’ the right

Addi Speirs, partner in Addleshaw Goddard’s restructuring team, writes on the value of Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs). Footfall is in freefall on the high street, as internet savvy shoppers look elsewhere to ease the squeeze on their pockets.

Michael Upton, advocate at The Hastie Stable, writes on computer evidence in the Sheriff Court. In civil proceedings in the Sheriff Court, documents produced by a computer are inadmissible - absent compliance with specific rules of court about computer evidence. A laptop or desktop word-processor is

Caroline Kelly (pictured), partner and solicitor advocate at Thorntons, writes on the new legislation approved by MSPs on Tuesday. This week, on 1 May 2018, the Scottish Parliament passed the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Bill. The Bill is likely to have a phased imple

This week saw the publication of an evidence review, commissioned by the Scottish government, into methods of conveying information to jurors. Professor James Chalmers and Professor Fiona Leverick, who undertook the review, outline the details of its findings here. Why was this review needed? The an