Legal
Selling a business
Business successes are like fingerprints – no two are the same, and each involves a combination of broad patterns and individual qualities.
The similarities among trades, professions and services that make it are well-known: hard work, an understanding of one’s...
Government’s plans for employment law
By Samer Cheaitou, Solicitor
As you will no doubt be aware, the UK went to the polls on 4 July 2024, electing the first Labour Government in 14 years with a landslide majority of 174 seats. In the recent King’s...
Whistleblowing: when is a disclosure a protected qualifying disclosure for the purposes of the Whistleblowing legislation?
There are a number of conditions which must be satisfied before a communication will be considered a qualifying and protected disclosure for the purposes of the whistleblowing provisions of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996).
Firstly, what do we...
2024: The year of employment law changes
2024 was already shaping up to be a busy year for new employment law but with a general election in July, there could be even more legislative changes later in the year.
What key changes have occurred in employment law...
What happens if a director or shareholder loses capacity without a commercial PoA?
Power of Attorney (PoA) is the legal authorisation to represent or act on another’s behalf. While most people are somewhat familiar with domestic PoA, there are many situations where it is beneficial to appoint a PoA in a commercial...
Getting to grips with new holiday rules
In January this year, the UK government updated the Working Time Regulations to introduce new rules aimed at clarifying, and in some areas to changing, workers’ rights to take holidays and be paid for them. Below we look at some...
Preparing your organisation to deal with a crisis
Nobody likes to imagine the worst happening, and no business wants to think that it might have to face a crisis. Thankfully, most businesses will never have to deal with a major accident or other critical incident, but they...
Green freeports – what opportunities lie ahead?
Earlier this year, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport were successful in their bids to become Scotland’s first green freeports. While work is underway on each freeport’s business case, the private and public sectors should...
Public inquiries – is your reputation on the line?
In recent years, the number of public inquiries being established by the UK and Scottish Governments has increased. As a result, more organisations and individuals are impacted by inquiries and may expose themselves to reputational risk – sometimes by...
The powers of commercial Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney (PoA) is the legal authorisation for an individual to act on behalf of another. Most people have heard of domestic PoA, often appointed when an individual is elderly, disabled or unwell, requiring a trusted person to...
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme – what do businesses need to know?
In an effort to reduce waste levels in Scotland, the Scottish Government’s much talked-about Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is scheduled to go live in August 2023.
It will see a 20p deposit imposed on drinks sold in containers made from...
The business of divorce: divorcing your business partner
For some married couples, the prospect of owning and running a business together is a dream come true. Unfortunately, not every marriage is built to last, and all of a sudden this dream can come crumbling down, leaving a...
Group proceedings – what are the risks for Scottish businesses?
A recent report suggests that the number of class actions (or group proceedings as they are referred to in Scotland) raised against UK companies continues to increase.
Over the last year there has been a 10% increase in the number...
Public appointments in Scotland – roles, responsibilities and risks
During 2020 the process for appointing board members to Scottish public bodies was paused as a result of the pandemic. Statistics for 2021 are not yet available but it seems inevitable that the appointment process continued to be affected....
City status signals bright future for Dunfermline
As Dunfermline celebrates its recently bestowed city status, legal firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP believes it marks an exciting new chapter.
There is no doubt that being labelled a city is a sought-after accolade – there were 39 applicants...
Merger sees property expert return to Thorntons
Leading Scottish law firm, Thorntons, has strengthened its Dundee conveyancing team by merging with Kim Barclay Solicitors.
Founder Kim began her career at Thorntons, later launching her own successful residential property and will and executry practice – and two decades...
Harper Macleod commits to more Modern Apprentices
Law firm Harper Macleod aims to grow its number of Modern Apprentices as it congratulates its latest cohort of successful graduates coming through the programme.
There are currently 32 colleagues who are working towards, or have completed, their Modern Apprenticeships.
More...
Return of the Highlands’ leading business event
After a two year enforced postponement due to the Covid pandemic, Inverness Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of its flagship event in 2022.
The Highland Business Dinner will take place on Friday 20th May at the Drumossie Hotel,...
Succession planning secured as award-winning firm transitions to Employee Ownership Trust
An award-winning construction management training company has become the latest Scottish business to become an employee-owned enterprise – the ‘crowning achievement’ of its 35th anniversary celebrations.
With immediate effect, shares in Glasgow-based Esteem Training Limited previously owned by founder and...
Dealmaking and diversity double for leading law firm
Independent commercial law firm Burness Paull has been named Legal Advisor of the Year at the 2021 Scottish Business Insider Deals & Dealmakers Awards - and winner of a UK-wide diversity award for its work on raising awareness of...