The cost of recruiting foreign staff is about to get much higher
T S Eliot said that April is the cruellest month. And that is certainly true this year if employers need to recruit foreign nationals on skilled worker visas. From 4...
Cyber-security safeguarding: digital trends, threats and strategies
Are you aware of the cyber-security vulnerabilities that could jeopardise your business? Don’t fall victim to these potential exploits! In today’s hyper-connected world, cyber-threats are increasingly prevalent in the business...
Navigating the storm – Scotland’s licensed trade sector under pressure amidst ongoing challenges.
Scotland’s licensed trade sector faces a multitude of challenges, with the recent UK budget adding to the complexity. As the sector grapples with changing consumer behaviours, regulatory pressures, and economic...
Are you ready for the new employment rights from April 2024?
Are you ready for the changes for new employment rights from April 2024? New laws will take effect, which, along with other recent changes, continue to demonstrate a shift...
WorkWise: navigating workplace wellbeing, employer duties, AI and business growth
WorkWise – our inaugural employment conference, where we addressed the latest HR and people management issues. We shared best practices gained from Anderson Strathern‘s collective experience, while facilitating meaningful discussion...
I get knocked down, but I get up again – insolvency in the retail sector
Company insolvencies continue to rise with the Insolvency Service having revealed that 2023 saw the highest number registered since 1993. Last year saw a record number of retail businesses failing...
Recent judgement on service charges – What does this mean for tenants?
Retailers will be all too familiar with the term “service charge” and tenants will be accustomed to service charge clauses in leases. The important question is, do you fully understand...
Annual Charities Conference 2024
This year’s theme was “knowledge is power”. Our experts, Victoria Simpson, Gillian Harkness-McKinlay, and Barry Nichol teamed up with Martin Tyson, head of regulation at OSCR, and Katherine Jenkins, senior...
How should employers deal with allergies in the workplace?
When Vanessa Feltz made controversial comments about coeliac disease on This Morning, it soon became one of the top five most complained-about TV moments of 2023. The furious response revealed...
Real Housewives – Real Family (Law) Issues?
Judge as much as you like – I’m reality TV obsessed. Much to the dismay of my own friends and family, my favourite way to relax is usually watching diamond-clad-fifty-somethings...
Key legal issues for early-stage businesses
In a show of strength for the UK’s start-up environment, a recent report found that over 900,000 new companies were incorporated in the UK last year – a new record....
Did you commit to cohabiting this Valentine’s Day? Don’t forget about the practicalities!
Many couples will have exchanged some heartfelt gestures this Valentine’s Day: romantic dinners, thoughtful gifts, and perhaps even life-changing proposals. You may even be among those who took the leap...
Care with Flare – supporting your staff on World Bartender Day 2024
Bartenders are crucial to Scotland’s hospitality sector and with World Bartender Day on 24th February, Craig McCracken, an employment law specialist at Anderson Strathern, highlights some challenges bartenders face at...
Are you RCI-ready? Don’t miss the deadline!
The government transparency drive around property ownership will soon be backed up by criminal penalties as the “grace period” ends on 1 April 2024. Owners of land and tenants with...
What is a Crofter’s Right to Buy?
As a tenant crofter, you benefit from what is commonly referred to as “the right to buy”. But what does this actually mean, and what do you need to consider...
A timely reminder of what farmers and landowners should know about the new laws around livestock worrying
Scotland’s picturesque landscapes are home to thriving agricultural communities, where farmers and crofters raise livestock amid rolling hills and lush pastures. However, the idyllic scene can quickly turn grim when...
The Electronic Communications Code – Practical Considerations
The Electronic Communications Code (the Code), which governs UK law in relation to Telecommunication sites, came into force on 28 December 2017 and gave statutory powers to operators to install...
When it comes to baby loss, don’t forget about Dad
It’s estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss, either during pregnancy or birth. As progressive workplaces move towards a more open and supportive culture, the impact of...
Are workplaces ready to support neurodivergent employees?
In my work within the education sector, particularly with schools, I am seeing more cases involving young people diagnosed with neurodiverse conditions like autism, dyspraxia, ADHD and dyslexia. I have...
From farm to fork: product innovation, patents and R&D tax credits in the food production and service sector
This session benefitted businesses in the food production, distribution or service sectors, including the rural and farming sector, livestock veterinary, hospitality, retail, distilleries and food and drink service industries. Are...
Sexual misconduct – justice hanging in the balance?
The rise in sexual misconduct allegations in universities and colleges is concerning. However, it does not necessarily mean a rise in incidents. It may be a welcome statistic; it shows...
Anderson Strathern celebrates record-breaking year with over £46m in investment deals
Law firm Anderson Strathern has reported its most successful year ever for investment deals for the second year running, amid continued optimism in the Scottish investment market. Over the past...
Scottish Referrals Network CPD: Essential private client tips for 2024
Tax planning expert Alasdair Johnstone and Caroline Pringle, specialist in estate planning, covered the essential tips for private client practitioners in 2024. They discussed some of the upcoming deadlines, planning...
Club HR: Employment law update – what’s on the horizon for 2024?
This event is part of a series and is suitable for HR professionals or those with responsibility for managing staff. Our experts, Dawn Dickson and Clare McDairmant, discussed the prospective...
A Guide to the Community Right to Buy in Scotland
If you hadn’t previously heard of the Community Right to Buy, after STV’s recent series, Payback, it may well be on your radar. It’s a complex topic, so we’ve provided...
Building your cyber-security toolkit: trends, threats and response strategy
Do you know what to do if your company falls victim to a cyber-attack? Are your employees informed with the steps to take in the event of a data breach?...
Is the current approach to inheritance tax fair?
It has always been the role of the law to define what is meant by ‘fair.’ However, anyone scanning the news or social commentary will be unsurprised to hear that...
Don’t be fooled by common myths around separation and divorce
Family dramas, weddings, divorces and separations are the foundation of countless box-sets, books and films. Considering most of us know someone who has been through a domestic upheaval, it’s little...
New landlord requirements could have big implications for tourism
When the pandemic put the kibosh on international travel, Scottish tourism got a welcome boost. People who would normally have jetted off to Greece or Spain found themselves exploring the...
Diversification and Agricultural Tenancies – proposals for change make environmental impact a factor to be considered
Opening their gates to the public for fruit picking or, more commonly at this time of year, pumpkin picking has become a popular choice of diversification activity for many farmers....