News & Legal Updates

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"

As we enter another year, true to form, much space in our newspapers and magazines are taken up with two types of article – the latest diet/fitness fad and those revolving around the theme of “January is the top time for divorce”. Sadly this is not just hype, at least in terms of the latter; … Continue reading "Top Tips for Separation Couples"

This year is being characterised by one of the heaviest last minute Christmas shopping rushes in living memory. Now, most people are familiar with taking an unsatisfactory article back to a shop for a refund.  But what do you do if you ordered it online?  Often the website you used will have a procedure set … Continue reading "Advice on a Faulty or Late Christmas Item?"

The Great Tapestry of Scotland, the massive, 143-metre long embroidery project, which depicts the history of our country in 160 panels, caught the public imagination when it went on show in the Scottish Parliament during September, where it was viewed by almost 50,000 visitors. For those who missed the exhibition in the summer, The Great … Continue reading "New Additions to “Great Tapestry” go on show at The Annual Edinburgh Art Exhibition Sponsored by Blackadders"

Succession planning in respect of a farming business and the associated assets is no easy task. In most such businesses there is a close link and entanglement between family relationships and business. It is preferable, if possible, to have an open discussion about the future of the business, about the parents’ wishes and vision for … Continue reading "Succession Planning for the Farming and Rural Business"

Fit for purpose? Under the Sale of Goods Act, a buyer who requires goods for a particular purpose which is not the normal or obvious one, should obtain confirmation in writing from the seller that the article is suitable for that purpose. An example might be purchasing a set of power tools and intending to … Continue reading "How to Claim for Faulty Goods"

Many people in Edinburgh will have been following the recent news stories about possible corruption in the City Council’s building works department with mounting concern. The accusations concern the way in which the Statutory Notice system operates. To put it simply, if the council notices that a building is in need of repair, it serves … Continue reading "City of Edinburgh Statutory Notice Concerns"

A well-known and experienced lawyer, Emma Gray, has joined Blackadders as partner and head of the firm’s commercial property team. Emma joins the firm having trained and worked for the last 13 years with a pre-eminent Scottish commercial law firm. Dual qualified in Scottish and English law, Emma is an experienced all-round property practitioner with … Continue reading "Blackadders Announce New Partner as Head of Commercial Property"

Anyone who instructs a solicitor about a civil matter should do so knowing that the issue may conclude with a court appearance – and without any guarantee of success. In civil disputes the court is the ultimate arbiter.  Yes, courts are costly to operate and to the untrained eye might seem cumbersome and even somewhat … Continue reading "Out-of-court settlement – the best way forward?"

Whenever a spouse, particularly a wronged one, reaches the conclusion that their marriage has come to an end, invariably the instinct is to “get a good divorce lawyer”. The intention is to come out of a divorce as financially secure as possible – and, it must be said, to exact some revenge should the split … Continue reading "Focus on Resolution, not Revenge, Keeps Down the Cost of Divorce"