News & Legal Updates

One of the most combustible political issues of the day in England at present is the dispute between the Fire Brigades Union and the government over pensions and fitness tests for older firefighters. North of the Border (and in Wales and Northern Ireland) the issue has been dampened down as a result of new proposals … Continue reading "Judge hoses down claim by Strathclyde Fire Brigade over limits to ‘duty’"

A Power of Attorney is a legally binding document which appoints a person or persons to make financial and/or welfare decisions on behalf of the granter when they are no longer capable of making those decisions themselves. Whilst clients have no qualms in making or updating a Will, when it comes to “Powers of Attorney” … Continue reading "5 reasons why you should make a Power of Attorney whilst you are young, fit and able"

Politicians like to propose legislation which is intended to “send a message.” Such legislation is sometimes well-intentioned, and sometimes merely designed to generate a few approving headlines, but the rhetoric is always the same. The bill, when passed, will “send a message” that such-and-such a thing had better stop. The snag is that such proposals … Continue reading "Do Shoot the Messenger"

The use of trusts as a means of protecting assets from care costs is a popular “Sunday papers” topic.  However, much of what is written comes from an English perspective.  Those based in Scotland need to be careful, as Scotland has its own legal system with its own unique trust laws.  Nonetheless, people on both … Continue reading "Asset Protection: The use of trusts in Scotland"

Leading Scottish Law Firm Blackadders, has agreed merger terms with companies in Edinburgh and Perth, bringing the number of offices operated to six and further strengthening its position as one of the fastest-expanding law firms in Scotland. The larger of the two takeovers involves Condies, which is based in Tay Street in Perth city centre. … Continue reading "Blackadders expands the brand further with acquisitions in Edinburgh and Perth"

Those of us brought up with buses find it easy to understand why older folks reminisced so much about the old tramway network whenever you hear the gentle but clear bell sounded by Edinburgh’s new generation of trams. Edinburgh’s citizens are rapidly getting used to trams despite a few teething troubles in the first two … Continue reading "Just like Edinburgh trams, families in dispute CAN get back on track"

  Anyone entering a shop with the intention of buying a personal computer does not expect to find it costing around a quarter of a million pounds. But that’s exactly what happened to Aberdeen resident, Richard Durkin, following disagreement with PC World over a £1,500 credit agreement for a laptop. After a 16-year legal battle … Continue reading "The Quarter Million Pound Laptop – A Lesson in Consumer Litigation?"

“We are parents first and foremost, to two incredibly wonderful children and we ask for their and our space and privacy to be respected at this difficult time.” This statement is taken from the announcement made by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin of their separation after 11 years of marriage (for those who live on … Continue reading "“We are Parents First” – Yes but Actions Speak Louder than Words"

  [getty src=”171366937?et=Wk-jQQcnjUivFUhrJz5IAA&sig=E7h4EazXpEoPLOuSWdlTjYwp-4INTBDS9JJ06RZy3d8=” width=”507″ height=”407″] Over the years a number of our clients have complained to us about receiving letters demanding payment of debts which, if they existed at all, must have been incurred a long time ago.  A fairly common situation where this arises is where a debt collection company buys all the debts … Continue reading "When is it too late to demand payment of a debt?"

For much of the last century (and certainly for many years before the UK joined the European Union) successive governments were busily enacting health and safety regulations to protect employees working in offices, shops, and factories.   In all this time it was generally accepted that employers owe higher duties to their employees working on their … Continue reading "Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act"