Knowledge

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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).

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?   

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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