Legal Matters Scotland
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6th April 2022

A free early morning round up of news for legal professionals across Scotland.
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THE LAW
Ministers consult for Children's Care and Justice Bill
Potential legislative reforms to promote and advance the rights of all children and others who have suffered harm are the subject of a new consultation from the Scottish Government. The objectives of the proposals are to safeguard and support children towards positive outcomes and destinations, especially those who may need legal measures to secure their wellbeing and safety. There is a particular focus on children coming into contact with care and justice services, on further reducing the number of children in young offenders’ institutions and on reforming the approach to considering the placement of children in secure care. Among the policy aims are where support and formal intervention are needed, to ensure this is available through the age-appropriate children’s hearings system by raising the maximum age of referral to the Principal Reporter. The bill will also tackle the issue of safeguards and regulation for children placed in cross-border placements. Responses to the consultation are due by June 22nd.


 
INDUSTRY
Lawscot Foundation opens applications for aspiring solicitors
The Lawscot Foundation is now accepting applications for this year’s round of grants for academically talented students from less-advantaged backgrounds in Scotland to study law. Bursaries will be offered to aspiring solicitors who have an offer to start the LLB course at a Scottish university in the coming academic year, with applications being accepted until Friday June 10th. Successful applicants who would otherwise not be able to afford to attend university are provided with an annual grant of £2,500, mentoring, networking and work experience opportunities. Sponsors of the initiative include Pinsent Masons, Dickson Minto, Brodies, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Turcan Connell, Locktons, Burness Paull, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, and Addleshaw Goddard.

 
PROPERTY
Crest Nicholson and Persimmon to sign up to building safety pledge
Crest Nicholson and Persimmon have confirmed that they will sign up to the Government’s building safety pledge. After months of talks, developers, led by the Home Builders Federation, are understood to have reached agreement with housing secretary Michael Gove over their contribution to fix the nation’s dangerous cladding. A formal announcement from the Government is expected later this week, but it is believed that housebuilders have agreed to pay to remediate cladding issues at tower blocks they have built that are more than 11m high.
FIRMS
Macleod & MacCallum announces associate promotions
Macleod & MacCallum has announced the promotion of two of its solicitors to associate. Tomas Simpson and Aidan Grant both joined the firm as trainees in 2016 and have continued to progress there since qualifying in 2018. “The firm has a long and proud history of training young people, giving them solid career opportunities in law and other fields", commented Morag MacIntosh, chair of the firm's board. "Tomas and Aidan are in fact following in the footsteps of six of our current directors who began their legal careers as trainee solicitors with Macleod & MacCallum".
Partner and director head 19 Turcan Connell promotions
Turcan Connell has announced the promotion of a total of 19 lawyers, starting with the elevation to partner of tax and succession adviser Richard Douglas-Home, and the promotion of Simran Panesar-Saggu to legal director, with a specific business development role in the firm’s Glasgow office. Further promotions are: to senior associate, Vicky Brown, Debbie McIlwraith Cameron and Elaine Proudfoot; to associate, Hannah Duguid, Juliet Barker, Beth Evans, Graham Fisken and Matthew Hastings; and to senior solicitor, Hilary Busby, Moyra Diaz Limaco, Lauren McDonach, Alexander Middleton, Andrew Nicholson, Catherine Sloan, Callum Townend, Jamie McNish and David Smith.
Scot among 20 new Addleshaw partners
Addleshaw Goddard has named corporate lawyer Laura Falls as its newest partner in Scotland as part of a 20-strong partner promotion round across the firm, its largest ever. Ms Falls, who is based in the firm's Edinburgh office, joined in 2007 and specialises in mainstream M&A and private equity transactions. A key part of the Corporate team's growth, she also has a focus on private equity, in which Addleshaw has a large specialist team.


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CASES
Former SNP MP accused of embezzlement
Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry has gone on trial accused of embezzling more than £25,000 from two Scottish independence organisations. Ms McGarry, who represented Glasgow East, allegedly took the cash between April 2013 and August 2015. The ex-politician, 40, of the city's Clarkston, denied the two charges at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The first witness in the case is expected to be called to testify before the jury on Wednesday. Allan Macleod, defending, told the court: "She pleads not guilty to both charges on the indictment and the defence is ready for to proceed to trial." Prosecutor Alistair Mitchell said: "The Crown are also ready to proceed to trial."
Man faces Aberdeen murder charge after grandmother death
A man has appeared in court charged with murder after the death of a grandmother in Aberdeen. Sherry Bruce, 58, was found seriously injured at a property in Glenbervie Road on Sunday. She died at the scene. A 26-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment. Thai Hoang, known as Beaton, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court charged with murder and attempted murder. The 24-year-old made no plea and was remanded in custody.  


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POLICING
140 police stations closed in Scotland over past decade
The closure of 140 police stations and offices has happened in Scotland over the past decade, new figures reveal. The Scottish Police Federation said it was having a "detrimental impact" on policing in remote and rural areas. The research, by social affairs magazine 1919, found some staff were relocated to shared buildings including council headquarters. However, many building were closed and not replaced. Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) - which supports 1919 magazine - said many stations were in "a shocking state of repair". He cited a lack of investment and "simple neglect" towards the police estate as an issue for remaining stations, with some ending up in disrepair. It emerged last year that Police Scotland had made £28.5m after selling off 96 of its old properties. The former Strathclyde Police headquarters in Glasgow's Pitt Street raised £9.8m for the force while the former police training school in Chambers Street, Edinburgh, made £3.3m. A further 26 buildings were listed as being under offer, on the market, being prepared to go up for sale or for proposed community transfer. Since then, three other police stations have closed, with staff being relocated to council buildings in Aberdeen, Crieff and Alloa. Leases for 15 other police stations have also been terminated or transferred.
COVID
Scrap 'unnecessary' care home rules, say campaigners
Campaign group Care Home Relatives Scotland (CHRS) has called for "unnecessary" requirements for care home residents to isolate in their rooms if they test negative after coming into contact with a positive COVID-19 case to be dropped. Cathie Russell from the group said isolating residents "doesn't serve any practical purpose other than to make people feel upset and alone", and "isn't stopping Covid spreading in the homes because they can't stop people with dementia wandering about and the staff are still coming in and out".
 


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