Legal Matters Scotland

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INDUSTRY
Scotland's first female Lord Advocate receives honorary doctorate
Dame Elish Angiolini, Scotland's first female Lord Advocate and chairwoman of the independent inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Edinburgh Napier University. The Glasgow-born lawyer has made significant contributions to the Scottish criminal justice system, the legal profession, and vulnerable victims across the UK. Dame Elish held various important roles throughout her career, including being appointed as the regional procurator fiscal for Grampian and the Highlands and Islands, and later becoming the first non-political Solicitor General for Scotland. She served as Lord Advocate from 2006 to 2011 and has since overseen several notable public investigations. Professor Richard Whitecross, head of law at Edinburgh Napier University, praised Dame Elish's legacy and her commitment to modernisation in the criminal justice system.


Case Management Software Implementation: Key Requirements from Law Firms

Adopting comprehensive case management software can truly transform a legal business’ operations, but the success of such a transition will hinge on a harmonious partnership between the software provider and the law firm. Efficiency is key. Scott Napier, Denovo’s Software Implementation Lead, shares insights into the critical aspects of software implementation and what law firms can do to ensure a near seamless transition. Scott focuses on how successful software implementation requires a strategic blend of collaboration, communication, and proactive engagement from both the software provider and the law firm. By embracing these principles and leveraging the expertise of the provider, law firms can effectively navigate the transition from one software system to another. 

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THE LAW
Edinburgh child abuse survivor supports calls to abolish outdated legal rule
An Edinburgh child abuse survivor has expressed support for Scotland's chief prosecutor in abolishing an 87-year-old legal norm that "often denies abuse survivors the justice they deserve." It follows proposals last month to abolish a law requiring two independent sources of evidence to prove a crime. The 33-year-old Edinburgh abuse survivor suffered sexual abuse from her foster father and sibling 30 years ago. Her lawsuit against Edinburgh City Council was resolved, however, the Crown did not prosecute her personal charges due to a time gap between her testimony and that of other complainants. Scotland's top law officer has also urged a re-evaluation of the corroboration rule, stating that it is strongly in the interests of justice. A partner at Irwin Mitchell, who specialises in abuse claims, believes that amending this rule could mark a pivotal change in ensuring that the experiences of survivors are acknowledged and validated within the criminal justice system.


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DATA PRIVACY
UK data regulator 'should examine police cloud use'
Scottish biometrics commissioner Brian Plastow has called on the UK data regulator to investigate Police Scotland's cloud-based Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) for data protection compliance. His concern comes after Microsoft said it cannot guarantee the sovereignty of UK policing data hosted in the Azure public cloud. Plastow said that the Microsoft disclosure and subsequent criticism of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) long-awaited police cloud guidance had created ambiguity about police cloud deployments and warranted a formal probe.
CASES
Record numbers of legal claims filed against UK banks
UK banks are experiencing a surge in legal claims, with as many as three new cases filed every day at the High Court in London last year. This level of litigation is reminiscent of the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The report from law firm CMS highlights that payment fraud, customer defaults, and sanction disputes are the main factors driving these legal claims against financial services companies. The increase in legal action is a cause for concern for UK banks, as they face the challenge of dealing with these claims while maintaining their reputation and financial stability.

 
I
Driver with gun on lap led police on 120mph chase
A motorist who took 30 painkillers and drank a bottle of cherry brandy before leading police on a 120 mph chase has been jailed for 20 months. Christian Williams, who also had a gun in his lap during the chase, was described as carrying out the worst case of dangerous driving a sheriff had seen in 30 years. Williams was also disqualified from driving for four years and ten months. Officers tried to bring Williams, 37, to a halt with a stinger-type device but he continued trying to race away from them despite three tyres being blown out.
Four men deny stabbing tiler to death
Four men have denied killing East Renfrewshire tiler Anthony Ferns five years ago. Craig Colquhoun, 38, Joseph McCulloch, 49, Raymond Platt, 54, and Robert Park, 68, are accused of killing Mr Ferns in Thornliebank on 18 April 2019. Mr Ferns, 33, was repeatedly stabbed with a knife or similar instrument, according to the High Court in Glasgow. He died after driving his Audi A3 to his nearby home after being attacked. Before the trial, it was Police Scotland's lone unsolved murder since the eight-force model was replaced in 2013.
FIRMS
Dentons receives menopause accreditation
Dentons has been granted menopause accreditation as part of its efforts to attract and retain senior female talent. The firm is one of six law firms in the UK to receive the 'menopause friendly accreditation' from Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace. The firm's measures include a menopause policy, flexible working arrangements, and training.
ELECTION
Labour wins general election, with major gains from SNP
Labour has won the general election in a landslide, with Rishi Sunak conceding and congratulating Sir Keir Starmer as results show Labour on course for a majority of 170. A surge in support for Reform UK hit the Tory vote - Nigel Farage won his Clacton seat and the party's Richard Tice and Lee Anderson also won. Sir Robert Buckland, Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt and Sir Jacob-Rees Mogg are among the Tory big beasts to lose their seats. Other notable results so far are that George Galloway failed to retain the Rochdale seat he won at a by-election in February; Jeremy Corbyn has defeated his old party to retain his Islington North seat as an independent; the Green party’s co-leader Carla Denyer has been elected as MP for Bristol Central, in a major upset for Labour, while the SNP could left with just six MPs, down from the high of 48 the party achieved in 2019. The SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has retained his Aberdeen South seat but said he expects the party to be "beat well". Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross admits it has been a "historically bad night" for the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats are up 46 seats to 53 with 91 still left to be counted.
BREXIT
Could Labour choose US trade deal over closer ties with EU?
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard suggests in the Telegraph that an incoming Labour government could find it easier to forge a trade pact with the US than the EU. Top Labour figures met with Republican leaders on a trip to Washington in May and reportedly got on marvellously with both sides enthusiastic for a US-UK trade deal. Controversial issues attached to a US trade deal would remain - chlorinated chickens and the NHS – but succeeding where the Tories failed would be a big post-Brexit prize. The EU on the other hand is low-growth and politically tricky given Sir Keir Starmer’s red lines on rejoining the single market and bringing back freedom of movement. “The gravitational pull is diminishing,” says Evans-Pritchard. “Labour may not say it yet, but early actions suggest that it is already shaking off the European spell. We may get Global Britain after all.”
 


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