We are delighted to invite you to join our in person Rural Disputes Conference, which will focus on resolving disputes affecting clients living, working and operating in the rural sector.
The headline on 19 March 2024 on BBC News confirmed what was feared: “Scotland’s climate target unreachable says watchdog”.
The ambitious target of 2030 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% was an announcement which was met with much fanfare and the Scottish Government was lauded for leading the way in its ambition to address climate change.
On 19 May 2023 sitting in the Technology and Construction Court, within the High Court of England and Wales, J Waksman handed down his judgement in James Waste Management LLP v Essex County Council.
The decision in question concerned whether a local authority had lawfully modified its contract with a waste management company under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCRs).
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the regulator for the UK audit industry, recently released the first update to the Corporate Governance Code (“the Code”) since 2018. The Code is applicable to all premium listed companies and is the UK's key benchmark for best corporate governance practice.
Companies House has announced that its fees will increase on 1 May. This short note sets out details of the new fees.
In the post-pandemic era and in challenging economic times, rural landowners and rural businesses may be considering diversifying their business in order to expand and grow.
We have seen rural properties starting to open up ancillary business operations such as farm shops, cafes, and restaurants, which may require the premises to obtain a Premises Licence under The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, in order to sell alcohol both on and off the premises.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have an integral role to play in Scotland’s race to reach net zero target. By storing renewable energy and releasing it to the grid when the power is needed most, BESS projects help to balance supply and demand, managing the unpredictability that comes from weather-dependent energy generation.
On 26 October 2023, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCT Act) received Royal Assent. Through a broad range of measures, it aims to strengthen the UK’s response to economic crime, prevent abuse of the UK economy, and support enterprise.
Major reforms to Scottish trust law have culminated in the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024, which received royal assent on 30 January 2024.
The reforms have yet to come into force, but their application to Scottish trusts (including pension schemes) is on the horizon. I had the pleasure of presenting to the joint meeting of the Pensions Management Institute and the Society of Pension Professionals on 7 March on these reforms and their application to Scottish pension schemes. Please find below a summary of the key points discussed.
Following on from a previous webinar series, A Psychology of Negotiation, this new four-part series explores three relatable stories and real life concepts which will improve the potential for you and your business to mitigate against the risks of health and safety failings and costly court proceedings.