The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: New rules for land management and sale
The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 5 November 2025 and will now become law, bringing big changes to how land is managed, sold and...
Ageing wind farms: Navigating challenges and unlocking opportunities
A substantial number of Scottish wind farms are nearing the end of their intended operational life. This is evidenced by the recent approval to repower the initial phase of Windy...
Content creators should act swiftly to protect their assets
Content creators have been making headlines across all types of media following the launch of an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) at Westminster to represent UK creators and influencers. An APPG...
NDAs under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024: What employers need to know
The recent introduction of the Victim and Prisoners Act 2024 (VPA) has changed what can be covered by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and employee settlement agreements, containing confidentiality clauses. This new...
How the proposed ban on upwards only rent reviews could impact commercial leases in Scotland
The UK Government has proposed including a ban in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (the “Bill”) on upwards only rent reviews for new commercial leases in England and...
Cyber Attacks: A wake-up call for retail businesses
Recent outages affecting major global platforms hosted on Amazon Web Services serve as a stark reminder that cybersecurity incidents are a growing threat for modern retail businesses. News stories of...
Deconstructing Skilled Worker Visa changes: What they mean for the hospitality sector
Significant restrictions to the Skilled Worker visa route were implemented in July 2025, bringing major consequences to the hospitality sector, one of the largest sectors in the UK for employing...
Martyn’s Law: Guidance for venues, premises and event organisers
Businesses, including those in the retail sector, need to ready themselves for full implementation of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 expected in Spring 2027. This law will introduce...
Stephen McDonagh
It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our dear partner, Stephen McDonagh. Stephen had a remarkable life. Before he turned to law, he was a...
Finding common ground: INEOS FPS LTD v Scottish Environment Protection Agency
A recent decision of the Scottish Land Court highlights the court system’s overall aim in ensuring balance, proportionality and fairness in relationships between regulators and duty holders. The UK Emissions...
The dangers of late payment of commercial debts
Late payment of commercial debts remains a persistent issue in the UK, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Despite longstanding legal protections, many businesses continue to suffer from delayed payments...
Soft opt-in for charities: What the new email marketing rules mean for you
There’s good news for charities that would like to be able to contact more of their supporters and raise aware of their good causes. The rules on direct marketing by...
Americans buying a UK home – what are the UK tax considerations?
For Americans relocating to the UK, purchasing a main residence is a major milestone. While the UK offers a relatively stable property market and attractive lifestyle options, it is important...
Anderson Strathern Inquiries Unit lead named Lawyer of the Year
Our Partner Catriona Watt, co-leader of the firm’s Inquiries Unit has been named Lawyer of the Year at this year’s Scottish Legal Awards. Catriona picked up the title at the...
Anderson Strathern grows senior team with 12 new appointments
Our firm has recently announced the appointment of five partners and seven directors – strengthening our services across several growth areas. The three new recruits and nine internal promotions will...
Anderson Strathern partners named winners Scottish Women’s Awards
Two of our partners were among the winners of this year’s Scottish Women Awards. Catriona Watt and Sarah Phillips picked up the ‘Best Professional in Business’ title at the awards,...
Pet ownership and separation
The UK is a nation of pet lovers with approximately 51% of adults owning a pet. For many, pets are often considered cherished members of the family, and disputes over...
Data Protection and Intellectual Property disputes in Scotland: Opportunities arising from procedural differences
As the major data protection and intellectual property statutes apply to the whole of the UK, procedural distinctions between Scottish and English courts and differences in enforcement are perhaps the...
Financial separation on divorce: Scotland vs England
While Scotland and England are both part of the UK, their legal approaches to financial separation on divorce differ significantly. Understanding these differences is important for anyone facing cross-border family...
Insolvency update – onerous property and disclaiming in Scotland
The Insolvency Act 1986 applies UK-wide so surely there isn’t much difference between an English corporate insolvency and a Scottish corporate insolvency? Well, there is certainly considerable overlap between the...
Rural Webinar: Legal Updates for Rural Scotland
Join us on Wednesday the 29th of October for a focused online session hosted by our colleagues in our Rural and Private Client Teams. Expert speakers Karen Craig and Debbie...
Is the family farm at risk when you or one of your business partners walks down aisle?
Whilst the bride and groom may be focussed on floral arrangements, guest lists and trying to avoid the notorious blackening, other family members might be considering the impact of the...
Getting the most out of your Occupational Health referral: A practical guide for HR professionals
Occupational health (OH) referrals are crucial in effective people management. Whether you’re supporting an employee through a period of ill health, managing long-term absence, or navigating complex workplace adjustments, a...
Why getting the right advice on LBTT and ADS matters more than ever
Today saw Angela Rayner resign as Deputy Prime Minister following recent controversy surrounding alleged underpayment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), reigniting public and professional scrutiny of property tax compliance....
Employment Rights Bill – what’s changed?
The Employment Rights Bill continues to evolve, with the Government introducing a series of amendments that reshape key aspects of the legislation. What’s the headline? Employers have more time to...
Act now to get ahead of potential Inheritance Tax changes
With a projected £50 billion shortfall in public finances and a pledge not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT, speculation is mounting that Chancellor Rachel Reeves may turn...
Housing (Scotland) Bill: What rural landlords need to know at stage 2
The Housing (Scotland) Bill sets out a range of reforms intended to enhance rights for tenants and introduce new duties to prevent homelessness. This will inevitably impact landlords in the...
Tenants may be due tax refund for Scottish lease extensions
A recent decision by Scotland’s tax tribunal has overturned long-standing Revenue Scotland and HMRC guidance, opening the door for commercial property tenants to claim back tax they were wrongly told...
Crofting law reform – The Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill 2025
The Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill (“the Bill”) was introduced by the Scottish Government on 2 June 2025. It sets out proposed reforms to crofting legislation and the merger...
Inheritance tax reform – long-term residence in the UK
The UK Government’s decision to move from a domicile-based to a residence-based inheritance tax (IHT) regime with effect from 6 April 2025 marks a seismic change for British expatriates considering...