The law never stands still, and the way it applies to you and your organisation is constantly evolving. Our people are on top of these developments and can keep you up to date with some of the most interesting aspects of these changes. Check out our articles and updates for our perspective on issues that might affect you.
The Supreme Court in Spain recently ruled in favour of a mother who had disinherited two of her children because they had, on repeated occasions, accused her of "practising witchcraft". However, an ancient Scottish law prevents a parent from disinheriting a child and spouse.
A failed claim against Rod Stewart for use of a photograph as part of a video used at one of his concerts highlights the distinction between ownership of a physical copy of a photograph and the copyright in it.
Two years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the implications for the construction and fire safety of high-rise domestic buildings are still under review. New legislation is anticipated this year to introduce measures to strengthen fire safety in Scotland's high rise homes and public buildings, including the introduction of more stringent construction requirements and enhanced safety information records.
Housing issues are more topical than ever, featuring regularly in the media. In Scotland, private residential tenancies also created, partly to provide additional security of tenure to tenants. This includes the abolition of the no-fault procedure for seeking recovery of a property. A recent set of cases in England, relating to asylum seekers' housing rights, touches on important points regarding when landlords can gain entry to a property.
If the trigger for the sale or lease of a newly constructed development is its 'practical completion', just how complete does it actually have to be? A decision of the Technology and Construction Court, recently upheld by the English Court of Appeal, provides some helpful definition of a key but generally undefined term used in construction contracts.