Opinion

Douglas Roberts, partner at Lindsays, discusses the economic benefits of employee-ownership in Scotland. By 2030, the Scottish Government hopes the country will be home to 500 employee-owned companies. It’s an ambitious target which requires sustained focus, but I’m in no doubt achieving

Cat MacLean, partner and head of dispute resolution at MBM Commercial, explores the judgment issued this morning in Sekers v Clydesdale [2021] CSOH 89. Online fraud has been on the rise for many years. The advent of lockdown and working from home has seen the volume of attacks increase by one third

Alan Meek, partner and head of Morton Fraser's restructuring and insolvency team, discusses the intricacies of limited liability. Limited liability is one of the fundamental concepts in our understanding of company law.

A piece in the FT yesterday on the Lugano Convention was one of the first that has looked at the family law consequences of the UK no longer being a party to the Convention (which provides agreed jurisdictional rules in cross border cases for civil and commercial matters, and provides for recogniti

As part of a two-page spread by The Sunday Post highlighting the need for a change of strategy in dealing with drug crime, Melissa Rutherford makes a heartfelt plea for radical reform. As a criminal defence solicitor primarily practising at Glasgow Sheriff Court, I see how devastating drug use is to

Carolyn Jackson looks at how the courts have dealt with medical evidence for which there is no record. When weighing up the evidential strength of medical records, lawyers often say that if it wasn’t written down, it didn’t happen. But simply because something has been written down at th

As offices around the country begin to reopen, employers must listen to the concerns of staff, writes Keith Anderson. The responsibility to create a safe environment within the office rests with those who lead the business, and it is incumbent upon them to listen to the concerns of their staff.

A Court of Session decision continues the trend of high awards of damages being made by the Scottish courts in fatal claims, writes Robyn Keay. The relatives of a young man who was fatally injured whilst operating a cherry picker have been awarded a total of £315,000 in damages in the Cou

Chris Horsley looks at measures contracting authorities may take in order to try to mitigate the current market pressures on resources. The ongoing squeeze on construction material supplies has been headline news in the industry.

Although there are many cogent reasons for everyone owning the same basic car, this is not the case in reality. The luxury car market is enormous. While for many, a personal contract purchase (PCP) is the only way they can afford a £50,000 car, what if you are in the position to spend £5

It is only a question of “when” the inevitable inquiry into the malicious prosecution scandal will be ordered. Suggestions have already been raised by the First Minister that it will have to be chaired by a judge from another jurisdiction. Some support for that position has been expresse

Gordon Downie details proposed reform of the consumer protection regime. In July, the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published a consultation document setting out proposals for sweeping reforms of the UK’S competition and consumer protection law and inviting resp

Immigration is in the news a lot right now, mostly stories about the UK government’s plans to reform the asylum system in response to small boats arriving on the English South Coast, writes Kelly Hardman. The government line is that they want to welcome refugees but expect them to enter t

Surely I must have learnt something. I started work as a trainee solicitor (or an 'articled clerk' as I was then known) in September 1990, qualifying as a solicitor two years later. It’s therefore over 30 years since I was first let loose on the unsuspecting public as a purveyor of legal advic

Malcolm Gunnyeon considers the domestic implications of a recent corporate emissions decision from the Netherlands. The recent landmark ruling by the Dutch courts against Royal Dutch Shell, one of the world’s biggest energy companies, is a stark warning to large emitters everywhere of the pote