Opinion

Two recent decisions of the Sheriff Appeal Court provide further guidance on the approach to awarding legal expenses depending on the outcome in potentially fraudulent claims, writes Julie Fisher. In James Nelson v John Lewis Plc, the pursuer was on a nightshift, stacking shelves at Waitrose in Edin

We’re Scotland, so when it comes to major football tournaments we haven’t exactly been clocking up the air miles over the years, writes Robert Holland. However, under the stewardship of Scotland boss Steve Clarke, things have changed for the better. We reached Euro 2020 (actually he

Change is coming to rent reviews for traditional agricultural tenancies. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill which is at present going through the Scottish Parliament contains proposals to change the law in relation to how rent reviews are to be dealt with, writes Hamish Lean. Currently, rents are revie

Narcissists of minor repute, for whom notoriety is more achievable than fame, have bitten the hand that feeds them in their latest attack – on the UK's book festivals. David J Black adduces evidence of their hypocrisy, among other things. They never seem to bother with the detail or consider t

Spoiler alert, per Viscount Dunedin, in the House of Lords in 1931: trespass to moveables “in a Scottish Lawyer’s mouth is a perfectly unmeaning phrase”, writes Ewan Kennedy. I’m hoping that a case that started in Oban Sheriff Court nearly three years ago will spark the

Formal building contracts are a fundamental part of any construction project, specifying the contractual obligations on all parties, avoiding any ambiguities and the need for third-party interventions that can add to project costs and timescales, writes Ian McCann. The Joint Contracts Tribunal

John Stirling and Conner McConnell conclude their critique of housing legislation currently under consideration at Holyrood. See part one here. In our article “The unaddressed issue in residential tenancies” published in Scottish Legal News last month, we drew attention to a deficiency i

As Taylor Swift prepares to enchant the Murrayfield crowd with her talents this weekend, it is not just her reputation as a music superstar that draws attention, writes Steph Innes. Taylor Swift is a mastermind in safeguarding her empire, through a robust and well-defended intellectual property

A large percentage of law firms continue to ignore the complaints process and in doing so push up costs for everyone, writes Vicky Crichton.

Gillian Mawdsley looks at the inquest into the recent death of lawyer Vanessa Ford and what the profession should learn from the tragic case. Vanessa Ford's death on 23 September 2023 provides, if required, further evidence that legal professionals need to be supported regarding their mental health.

In recent weeks, the Isle of Man and Jersey have moved closer to enacting assisted dying laws. Scotland also proposed a bill for debate. The Netherlands, a country with almost three decades of practical and legal experience in this matter, allowed the assisted suicide of Zoraya ter Beek, a 29 y

Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week, with its theme being “Movement: moving more for our mental health”, writes Jodi Gordon. It has long been established that physical illness and injury can impact someone’s mental wellbeing. That link has only become clearer for me ove

David Morgan and Tom Richard reflect on the value of the water of life – whisky. With it being World Whisky Day, it’s worth reflecting on the importance of Scotch whisky, our national drink, to the Scottish economy. From large-scale global drinks producers to independent bottlers and Sco

The Housing (Scotland) Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 26 March sets out changes to rent controls, evictions and tenants’ rights, but it does not address a key issue in residential tenancies, write John Stirling and Conner McConnell. See part two here. Now that the private r

Following the FCA's recently published guidance on financial promotion through social media channels, Marianne Murnin and Steven Knox look at the intersection of financial services, social media, and influencer marketing, highlighting the regulatory and commercial considerations for firms navigating