MSHB

Organ Donation Week ran from 19th to 26th September this year with the objective of raising awareness surrounding organ donation and transplantation, but what does the law in Scotland say on this topic? The Legal Position The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Act 2019 came into effect on 26th March 2021 and brought Scotland’s position on orga

We are pleased to report our success in the EAT on behalf of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in the following case: Mr Michael Cowie and Others v Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: [2022] EAT 121 Employment Appeal Tribunal judgment of Mrs Justice Eady, on 11 August 2022. During the coronavirus pandemic, as a response to the need for a nu

Just today, economists at Citi, the American bank, have forecast that the rate of UK inflation will peak at 18.6% in January 2023. This has serious ramifications for business and individuals alike. With wages simply unable to keep pace with the soaring rate of inflation, individuals will have less disposable income to spend on new purchases and to

The recent Supreme Court decision in Harpur Trust v Brazel clarifies how holiday pay should be calculated for part year workers with irregular hours on permanent contracts. The Supreme Court recently decided a case on how holiday pay should be calculated for ‘part year’ workers, such as those who work term time within schools. This case has potenti

This month we waved a fond goodbye to Isabel Gallagher, the longest standing member of our Licensing Team, as she entered her retirement. Isabel joined the team in 1989 from North Ayrshire Council and has been an asset to the firm ever since. She will be sorely missed by clients and colleagues but will no doubt enjoy having some time to enjoy

Garden predators are taking root in the courts, as householders take action to fight off plant invaders that can be highly destructive and undermine property values. Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive, aggressive and fast-growing plant which can cause structural damage to buildings, with roots that can spread several metres. Proprietors are sta

When a property is being sold, the Title Deeds (the documents setting out legal ownership, boundaries, rights of access etc) will be examined by the purchaser’s solicitor. The purchaser’s solicitor will want to be satisfied that the seller can transfer valid title to the purchaser at settlement and that there are no defects with the title which may

The impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns has resulted in an unprecedented shift by employers towards adapting a more flexible working policy. Whilst many companies have now enacted formal hybrid working policies and appear to be moving away from the traditional office unit set up, Scottish commercial property has had its best first half

Marriage is always topical in our team but especially so as of late – no, we’re not talking about J.Lo and Ben – our very own Gabrielle tied the knot on 15 July 2022 (see picture)! The revelation however that J.Lo made the change to become Mrs Jennifer Affleck lead to a discussion on name changes in Scotland so we have put together a brief ‘how-to’

Last week, after securing her restricted practising certificate, our current Litigation and Family trainee solicitor, Anna Fox, made her first two court appearances. Anna appeared (virtually) at Paisley and Greenock Sheriff Courts. Anna kindly took the time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her first court appearance. What type of court

The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information of the Payer) Regulations 2017 introduced a requirement that trustees of trusts which have a tax liability (such as Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax etc) register specific information about their trust with HMRC - e.g. the names and da

Just in time for plastic free July, Scotland has become the first part of the UK to ban many single-use plastics.  The legislation, The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, came into force on 1 June 2022. The legislation makes it unlawful for businesses to commercially make and supply: cutlery (fo