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23 May 2025

URS v BDW: UK Supreme Court confirms developer’s rights, to align with “purpose and policy of the BSA” to hold those responsible for building safety defects accountable

Contributors:
Leigh Herd, Frazer Meldrum

This week the UK Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling in the case of URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd, providing clarification on developers’ rights to recover remedial costs and the extended application of the Building Safety Act 2022.

23 May 2025

Key intellectual property case updates for the food and drink sector

Contributor: Carly Duckett

Our summary of five key intellectual property cases from the food and drink industry reported over the last 18 months, which distils the facts and outcomes from each case into helpful take aways and tips for businesses and individuals operating in the sector. 

21 May 2025

Top tips to protect against unexpected financial claims in hotel development projects

Contributors:
Lisa Ambrus, Nathaniel Buckingham

In the current financial climate, development projects are commencing under increasingly tight budgets, with contractors typically accepting less risk under much more restrictive scopes. In this article, we provide some top tips on how to protect against unexpected financial claims during development projects, and how to minimise the impact of such claims if they are made. 

15 May 2025

What is the Clean Industry Bonus?

Contributor: Gordon Downie

The Clean Industry Bonus is designed to drive new investment by offshore wind developers in clean energy manufacturing and highly skilled jobs within the UK’s industrial towns, cities, and net zero supply chains. In this article, Gordon Downie explores the details of the new funding scheme.First published in Business Scotland Magazine.

13 May 2025

Has Scotland’s offshore wind sector been blown off course?

Contributor: Colin Innes

Offshore wind faces global headwinds from supply chain woes to political indecision, but the UK – buoyed by new government momentum – remains committed to unlocking its full potential by 2030.First published in The Herald.

12 May 2025

New immigration White Paper: What to expect

Contributor: John Vassiliou

The government’s latest White Paper on immigration details key changes to sponsorship of foreign workers. This article spotlights the main changes and what businesses and individuals should do now to prepare.

12 May 2025

A win-win: the success of the Marine Recovery Fund is critical for offshore wind and biodiversity

Contributor: Emma Reid

The publication of the consultation for the establishment of the Marine Recovery Fund by the UK Government represents a major step forward in removing one of the key barriers to deployment of offshore wind in the UK. This article explains what the MRF is, its importance to the delivery of offshore wind, and what needs to happen next. First published in The Herald.

9 May 2025

Joint ventures in the clean energy sector: Top ten considerations

Contributor: Euan Small

In the first instalment of our series on joint ventures in the clean energy sector, Euan Small, Senior Solicitor in our corporate finance team, sets out the top ten considerations to keep in mind when forming a joint venture.

5 May 2025

Back to buy-in basics: insuring benefits

Contributor: Daniel Boynton

Our second instalment in our back to buy-in basics series provides some top tips for trustees when deciding the benefits to insure in a buy-in transaction. 

2 May 2025

Assessing and managing health and safety risks in the onshore wind sector

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

The onshore wind sector poses significant health and safety risks to workers. This article provides an overview of the duties and risks posed for employers in the industry, with tips on how to comply with regulations being provided.   First published in The Herald.

1 May 2025

Hey, WhatsApp! You owe me money! £250,000 demolition contract agreed over WhatsApp

Contributors:
Leigh Herd, Lindsay Robinson

In Jaevee Homes Limited v Mr Steve Fincham, a court found that WhatsApp messages constituted a valid construction contract and that invoices were valid payment notices. 

30 April 2025

Clean Power 2030 targets: Ambition despite headwinds

Contributor: Emma Moir

The recent publication of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan (CP30) highlighted the vital importance of the transition to clean power and the need for more offshore wind. This article discusses the challenges faced by Scotland’s offshore wind sector in meeting CP30 targets. First published in The Herald.

25 April 2025

Inaccurate personal data – what approach do the courts take and how do the principles of defamation law help?

Contributor: Ruairidh Leishman

In Pacini v Dow Jones & Co Inc, the court applied principles from defamation law to a data protection claim, to determine the meaning of allegedly incorrect personal data contained within two news articles. The case was the first to consider the single meaning of a statement as a preliminary issue in a claim solely based on data protection and the alleged inaccuracy of personal data.

24 April 2025

International Workers’ Day: How share plans empower employees globally

Contributor: Gavin Charlton

1 May 2025 marks International Workers’ Day, an annual celebration of the progresses made within the labour movement over the years. In light of this, Director Gavin Charlton and Trainee Taylor Foster explain how share plans can empower employees globally through aligning their interests with the company, raising engagement, and providing tax-effective financial rewards.

23 April 2025

Consultation response: refining the UK subsidy control regime

Contributor: Gordon Downie

This article reflects on the UK Government’s recent consultation with respect to refining the UK subsidy control regime, and highlighting the key changes that have been effected following a review by the Department for Business and Trade (the DBT).

17 April 2025

So you’re buying a rural property!

Contributor: Petra Grunenberg

You’ve submitted your offer, and it has been accepted but now your solicitor/paralegal will need to examine title – what is it they need to check that is different to buying a property in an urban area?   

17 April 2025

Wha’s like us? A guide to handling legal disputes in Scotland

Contributor: Thomas McFarlane

Scotland is often aligned with England and Wales when it comes to the law, but not always – it has a truly unique, hybrid legal system. This can make dealing with Scottish legal proceedings daunting, which is why we have created our Handling Disputes in Scotland video series. First featured in The Herald.

16 April 2025

A brave new world (of succession planning) following the October 2024 Budget?

Contributor: Petra Grunenberg

With the introduction of the new Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules in the October 2024 budget, succession planning is more important than ever in order to look out for future generations. 

8 April 2025

Challenge of navigating new IHT landscape

Contributors:
Justine McCluskey, Keith McLaren

We might have expected that five months, one consultation document and thousands of tractors driven through London later, the dust might have started to settle on changes to the IHT regime announced within the Autumn Budget. Unfortunately, it is very clear that few individuals feel sure-footed enough in navigating the new IHT landscape to make significant decisions. This article was originally published in The Business.

8 April 2025

Decarbonisation – one step forward, two steps back. How do we accelerate change?

Contributor: Clare Foster

One year on from the Climate Change Committee’s announcement that Scotland’s 2030 climate goals were “no longer credible”, and that there was no comprehensive strategy in place for Scotland to achieve net zero, we still await the updated Scottish Government Climate Change Plan. Clare Foster discusses what can be done to get back on track.This article was originally published in The Business.

7 April 2025

Employee loans: Increase in HMRC’s official rate of interest to 3.75%

Contributor: Gavin Charlton

From 6 April 2025, HMRC’s official rate of interest will increase. In this brief article, we will provide guidance for employers on which agreements will be affected and what they should look out for. 

7 April 2025

Will dynamic pricing be shown the red card?

Contributor: Jonathan Carey

The government’s public consultation on the resale of live events tickets closed for responses on 4 April. Against that backdrop, and with the use of dynamic pricing firmly in the regulatory spotlight, we explain what it all could mean for those hosting and selling tickets to sporting (and other) events.

4 April 2025

Turbulent times – CP30 and Scotland’s onshore wind future

Contributor: Craig Whelton

The recent Clean Power Action Plan 2030 (CP30) is intended to accelerate the delivery of clean energy ahead of the ambitious targets set by the UK, but will it ultimately support or limit future growth?Scottish onshore wind has a key role to play in ensuring the UK meets its clean energy targets. In this article, Partner Craig Whelton discusses how CP30 impacts the future of Scotland’s onshore wind sector.This article was originally published in The Herald.

3 April 2025

What will the regulation of litigation funding look like (Part I)

Contributor: Ben Pilbrow

With increasing calls for regulation in the litigation funding sector, it seems, more than ever, a foregone conclusion.