Legal news

Ministers open consultation to improve protected trust deeds
Measures proposed to confine use of PTDs to proper cases

House prices still rising, but transactions in reverse on latest figures
Scottish sales decline greater than rest of UK in September

£3,000 professional misconduct fine for Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh
No dishonesty, but disregard for rules in trust fund breaches

Thorntons posts double digit growth following acquisitions
Revenue up 13%, and profit more than 14%, in year to 31 May

Chris Harte given further term at Morton Fraser
Third term of three years for chief executive

Scots help form Association of Law Firm Merger Advisers
Glasgow accountants join seven other businesses in new group

Financial services partner joins Womble Bond Dickinson
Jonny Williams moves to Edinburgh office from Lloyds Bank

Scots drivers to face roadside drug driving tests from October
Ministers promise "zero tolerance" approach to eight prescribed drugs

TLT appoints two to Scottish real estate team
Legal director and solicitor appointments add experience

Thorntons appoints two Dundee partners
Loretta Maxfield and Robbie Francis promoted

Partner promotions bring female majority to Balfour+Manson
Three appointments result in 13 women out of 24

Society adds online version to mentor scheme
Platform allows mentors and mentees to choose own matches

Ministers open consultation on defamation law reform
Government acts on Scottish Law Commission proposals

Child in Scotland for medical reasons became habitually resident
Judge refuses father's petition under Child Abduction Act

Social security charter seeks to spell out Scottish practice
Ministers' blueprint laid before MSPs for approval

Fees review and Taylor review documents published by SCJC
Committee finds no clear evidence to support hourly rate rise

Three solicitors join as Gibson Kerr recruits to expand
Firm sees "significant growth" in family and personal law

Society names new Regulatory Committee chair
Business school lecturer Craig Cathcart to succeed Carole Ford

Mackinnons takes on practice of Iain Smith Solicitors
Aberdeen firms combine under Mackinnons name

Scottish Women's Rights Centre project listed in Knowledge Exchange Awards
Collaboration supports women affected by abuse

New chairman for Miller Samuel Hill Brown
Marie Macdonald to succeed Michael Samuel

Naomi Pryde to head DWF commercial litigation in Scotland
Society Council member joins from Dentons

Foxhunting law to be tightened up
Bill will put further controls on dogs, following Bonomy report

Inverness partner appointment for Harper Macleod
Fiona Neilson joins from Ledingham Chalmers