Legal Matters Scotland

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THE LAW
MSPs concerned over costing of children's justice legislation
Holyrood's Finance and Public Administration Committee has raised concerns about the lack of financial information provided by the Scottish Government to support plans for legislation to change the children's justice system. The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill proposes changes to the children's hearings system and several parts of the criminal justice system related to young people, but both COSLA and Social Work Scotland have raised concerns in relation to the reliability of estimated costs. Deputy convener Michael Marra has written to Sue Webber, convener of the committee scrutinising the children's justice reforms, asking for her committee to press the Scottish Government to "explain how it will learn lessons" from the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill "where similar issues regarding the lack of financial information and the need for further development of cost estimates arose".
INDUSTRY
Fossil fuel companies face financial risk from climate litigation
Climate litigation poses a financial risk to fossil fuel companies, according to a study by LSE's Grantham Research Institute. The study analysed 108 climate crisis lawsuits against 98 US and European companies between 2005 and 2021, finding that the filing of a new case or a court decision against a company reduced its expected value by an average of 0.41%. The stock market responded most strongly in the days after cases against carbon majors, cutting the relative value of those companies by an average of 0.57% after a case was filed and by 1.5% following an unfavourable judgment. The study's authors hope their work will encourage lenders, financial regulators and governments to consider the effect of climate litigation when making investment decisions. Legal experts told the Guardian they expect climate litigation to be a recurring theme in annual accounts as companies become subject to stricter disclosure rules.


Leading by Listening – Why hundreds of Law firms are working with Denovo

Denovo have seen a resurgence over the past few years, with hundreds of Scottish law firms turning to the Glasgow-based legal software provider to help them run their business more efficiently. Denovo’s Head of Marketing, Grant Yuill, has given his thoughts on why so many solicitors are choosing Denovo over other legal tech providers. The interview outlines Denovo’s ethos of truly listening to the issues lawyers face, while treating lawyers as the innovators. As well as touching on how the legal tech world is evolving.

Read more

 
PROPERTY
Glasgow social homes could become unaffordable
Glasgow City Council member Cllr Elaine McDougall has expressed concerns that social homes in the city could become unaffordable, with the city having "lost a number of community-based housing associations and a number of housing associations are taking over", with some of those larger housing associations having rents "way above the Scottish average". Housing convener Cllr Kenny McLean said the council is "mindful of that situation and we have issued statements of support to the community-based housing associations on that issue", but that it is not something the council can control.

 
STV
POLICING
Glasgow chosen as venue for Interpol general assembly
Glasgow has been named as the host of the 92nd Interpol General Assembly. More than 1,000 senior delegates, including heads of police, ministers and senior government officials will attend from 195 member countries. The event will take place at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow from 4 to 7 November next year. The general assembly is Interpol's highest governing body and the largest world gathering of senior law enforcement officials and ministers. "Glasgow has a global reputation for hosting major international events and hosting the Interpol General Assembly is yet another opportunity to add to that impressive list", said Angela Constance, Scotland's Justice Secretary. "The Scottish government will continue to work closely with partners in the UK government, law enforcement, local government and Police Scotland - which is already globally recognised for its work keeping the people of Scotland safe - as we welcome delegates from around the world to Glasgow."
Romanian workers found in overcrowded accommodation
A multi-agency day of action involving Perth and Kinross Council, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and sparked by trafficking concerns raised with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, has seen visits carried out at 23 properties, with a third found to be overcrowded. In one property, nine Romanian workers were found to be living in a two-bedroom property. Cllr Tom McEwan said: "Nobody should be living in cramped accommodation without basic amenities, and we will be speaking to landlords about their responsibilities to their tenants and the need to make sure their properties are being used safely."
CASES
Scottish Government faces legal challenge over fishing licences
A judge is considering claims that the Scottish Government is failing to protect the marine environment when granting licences for bottom-trawling, a fishing technique campaigners say is damaging the sea bed. Campaign group Open Seas has raised a petition for a judicial review involving a recent decision taken by Marine Scotland to vary a scallop fishing licence. The group argues that the decision failed to take full cognisance of a policy contained in Scotland's National Marine Plan which states the development and use of the marine environment “must comply with legal requirements for protected areas and protected species”. The Scottish Government disputes the claims. Until 1984, bottom-trawling was banned in all waters within three miles of shoreline, but the practice is now legal in this area, known as the inshore zone. Open Seas is campaigning for an updated version of the inshore limit to be brought in.
Pair charged after boy electrocuted in Edinburgh Waverley roof fall
A 20-year-old man and 18-year-old woman have been charged after a boy was electrocuted in a fall at Edinburgh Waverley railway station. The 16-year-old suffered serious injuries after falling from the roof on to overhead lines, near the entrance on Waverley Bridge. He remains in hospital in a stable condition after the incident on May 8th. 
Suspected US rapist given final chance in Scottish court
A suspected rapist wanted in the United States has been given a final chance to lodge reports with a Scottish court before a full extradition hearing next month. Nicholas Rossi appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court via video link yesterday in the long-running extradition battle, launched after US authorities in Utah accused the 35-year-old of sex offences. Rossi has claimed this is a case of false identity and said he is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight. But a sheriff in November ruled he is Nicholas Rossi.
FIRMS
Ewan McIntyre joins Davidson Chalmers Stewart
Davidson Chalmers Stewart has appointed the highly experienced dispute resolution solicitor Ewan McIntyre, who joins its Glasgow team as partner. With a career spanning more than three decades, Mr McIntrye has worked with major Scottish firms including Burness Paull and Morton Fraser where he was head of the firm’s litigation division and a member of its management board. More recently he has worked with Pinsent Masons Vario and Burges Salmon and has also served as General Counsel to brand protection and IP monitoring specialists SnapDragon Monitoring. He has been involved in a wide spectrum of dispute resolution issues over the course of his career working with clients across multiple sectors including energy, financial services, insurance, public sector and transport. He also brings extensive business development and team-building experience to his new role where he will support the further growth of Davidson Chalmers Stewart’s Glasgow operations. 
 


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