Dallas McMillan's Glasgow Lawyers' Blog

In 2021, Alexander and Diana Darwall, Dartmoor’s sixth-largest landowners, brought a legal challenge against the Dartmoor National Park Authority over the right to wild camp on the moors. In 2023, the Dartmoor National Park Authority were successful in their appeal against the decision to ban wild camping on Dartmoor. However, in January 2024, the Darwalls further appealed to the Supreme Court.

In an age where almost everything we do can be shared online; the prominence of social media, ‘selfies’, and the content creators behind it all have undoubtedly created a new Internet Age. At the turn of the last decade, a new type of celebrity was emerging: the ‘Influencer’. Average men and women were taking to YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms to share reviews and tutorials of beauty related products. This quickly flourished into a billion-dollar industry, with social media propelling normal people into stardom and notoriety. The appeal of these figures appeared to stem from their relatability, compared to traditional celebrities like actors or musicians. Nonetheless, the influence these online figures have had on society at a cultural level is undeniable. With the evolution of this type of media, the expected beauty standards have also changed.

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 require an organisation's waste to be separated into paper, card, plastic, metals and glass for collection. For 'organisation' read – any body which is not a household.

A survivorship clause is something which you can put in your title deeds which provides that on the death of the first proprietor, the surviving proprietor, often  a spouse or a civil partner, will automatically inherit the predeceasing proprietor’s interest in the property.

2014 will see a number of changes to employment law in Britain. The dates for some of the changes have yet to be confirmed although most of the changes are expected to happen around the traditional date of early April.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is inviting views on the proposed definitions of those self-employed people who will continue to have duties under health and safety law.

There is a common belief that owners of private land cannot charge the public for parking on their property.

For those who follow the blogs of myself and my colleagues at Dallas McMillan, you will be aware that back in 2017 a new Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Band, called the Residential Nil Rate Band (RNRB), was introduced to offset against the Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill being incurred by a rising number of estates on death, fuelled to a significant extent by home ownership and increased house prices.

Dallas McMillan are delighted to announce that their two charity partners for 2019 are the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and the Good Morning Service.

The most recent Royal Institute Chartered Surveyors Residential Market Survey has suggested that Brexit is playing a role in “subdued market activity”.

Dallas McMillan’s Litigation team has been announced as one of the finalists for the award of Litigation Team Of The Year at the Law Awards Of Scotland 2018.

The award ceremony takes place at the Hilton on Glasgow on 29 November and everyone at the firm has their fingers crossed for team.

Welcome to Dallas McMillan's blog.

The Criminal Finances Act 2017 creates two new offences of corporate failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion (the offences).

A new Bill which is set to change the costs that people pay when going to court could help many more get access to justice. The potential expense of going to court is a significant deterrent for many people looking to pursue legal action in civil courts, even in cases where they have a legitimate and justified claim.

Once again, employment law is in the news  following the resignation of Mark Warburton from Rangers. There was initially some confusion regarding events, with Warburton and his team adamant they had not resigned from their position.

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal had handed down its decision in the much publicised Gay Cake case, more accurate known as Lee v McArthur, McArthur and Ashers Baking Company Ltd. The Court upheld the previous decision of the County Court ruling that Mr Lee was discriminated against after the bakers’ refusal to bake a cake that included the slogan “Support gay marriage”.

According to new medical candour guidelines, midwives, nurses and doctors will be required to make verbal apologies to patients following any medical mistakes.

An English NHS Trust has agreed to pay substantial compensation to the family of a patient who died after receiving substandard care at one of its hospitals, reports the Mirror.

There is unlikely to be a definitive answer any time soon on changes to protective awards which come under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

So we are the start of yet another a new year but I wonder how many of you have made a new year’s resolution and whether this includes finally getting round to making that will or power of attorney you have been thinking about but putting off for so long.  After all, we are not all quite as lucky as Sherlock! Or maybe you have been thinking about moving house but have been waiting for the right time.   
 
Whatever your requirements or motivation, be it providing for your  loved ones or ensuring that they can help you when needed or moving to that new home you have worked so very hard to achieve, good legal advice can be invaluable.