News & Legal Updates

Since 2006, there has been legislation in Scotland which has prohibited smoking in public places.  This encompasses a wide variety of premises from bars and restaurants to public transportation vehicles.  The legislation also includes offices, factories and any non-domestic premises in which one or more people work.  Many employers will also have a separate no-smoking … Continue reading "Clearing the Air on Smoking Policies"

  In today’s densely populated world, neighbour’s interests often collide, and nothing causes more annoyance than when the neighbours spoil your quiet enjoyment of your property.  This can happen in many ways, the most common irritants being the noisy neighbour, the smelly neighbour, and the polluting neighbour.  Often these cases are usually about an escape … Continue reading "TANKED – when neighbours fall out!"

  “Injury to feelings” provides the most substantial part of an award in cases of discrimination, ie when someone is treated unfavourably because they hold one of the 8 protected characteristics (age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation – sorry Gingers, still no protection for you … Continue reading "A crescendo to Vento: Increases to employee awards in discrimination cases"

As I come to the halfway point of my training contract, this feels like a good time to reflect on the past year. To those applying for training contracts, or waiting for their first day of their traineeship to arrive, here are some things I wish I knew before I started my traineeship:

My colleague, Alastair Johnston, previously published an article where he discussed  Bruce Wayne’s abilities as a company director. His capabilities as a director certainly do not match his crime fighting skills. He spent recklessly on items that wouldn’t benefit the organisation and failed to inform other shareholders of his actions. So what are the duties … Continue reading "Bruce Wayne: 7 Superhero tips to being a Superhero Director"

Community support is one of the cornerstones of the Rural Sector in Scotland. In the current economic climate, it can be challenging on many fronts to progress in agricultural communities whether financially, physically or mentally. RSABI is an established charity which has helped those in Scottish rural industries for over 120 years in Scotland from … Continue reading "RSABI Great Glen Challenge"

Blackadders are delighted to announce that Laura McDowall has been accredited as a specialist in Incapacity and Mental Disability Law by the Law Society of Scotland. The accreditation system recognises lawyers with exceptional quality and skill that have developed specialist knowledge during their careers. Laura joins an elite group of solicitors after becoming only the … Continue reading "Laura McDowall accredited as specialist in Incapacity and Mental Disability Law"

Professionals working in the field of Child Law are more than likely to have heard of the expression “parental alienation”. For some years now this concept, which some classify as a “syndrome”, has been used to describe the steps taken by one parent to isolate, or ‘alienate’, the other parent from the lives of the … Continue reading "Solving the Problem of Being Alienated From Your Kids"

Bear Payne. This is the name the media and fans have been eagerly awaiting on following the much anticipated arrival of Cheryl and Liam Payne’s baby boy in March. I remember agonising over baby name books trying to decide what to name our children and Bear’s arrival brought me back to the time when I … Continue reading "‘Bear’ Necessities – Why New Parents Should Make A Will"

Craft brewing and craft distilling is becoming big business.  A recent report by UHY Hacker Young claimed the sector was going through a period of “explosive creativity” and a quick look around the region shows Tayside is not immune to this booming market.  Across the UK, craft breweries have hit a record high with 520 … Continue reading "Time to get crafty about brand names?"