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Seven social media influencers were sentenced in February 2026 in relation to their role in making unauthorised financial promotions in connection with an unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme. The combined following of the Instagram accounts of the individuals concerned was 4.5 million. Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, communicating unauthorised financial promotions is a criminal offence punishable upon conviction by a fine and/or up to 2 years’ imprisonment. Five fines were issued as part of the sentencing, ranging from £974 to £3,750. This recent case shows the importance of complying with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations and …

For many small enterprises, be it private business, charities or RSL’s, statutory sick pay reform is not landing in isolation. It is arriving on top of increased National Insurance, higher business rates, rising wage costs and ongoing uncertainty about growth. That context matters. When policymakers talk about employment rights, they often treat each reform as a standalone issue. Businesses experience them differently. They feel cumulative. Another cost. Another obligation. Another area where getting it wrong carries legal risk. Recent employer research shows that changes to statutory sick pay are expected to have the biggest impact of all the Employment Rights …

Protective measures to prevent international parental child abduction. If you are worried that your ex-partner may try to take your child out of the country without your consent, this can be an extremely frightening and overwhelming situation. However, there are legal steps that can be taken quickly to protect your child and prevent international parental child abduction. This article explains the warning signs to look out for and the protective measures and remedies available under Scots law. Warning Signs: You may experience a number of warning signs that your ex is planning to remove your child from Scotland without your …

BTO is pleased to welcome Donna Strong as a new Partner in the firm’s Real Estate team, based in its Glasgow office. This senior hire follows the appointment of Partner John Dunlop in the firm’s Edinburgh office last year, further strengthening BTO’s growing real estate capability. Donna brings over 20 years’ experience advising on all aspects of commercial real estate. She has an impressive track record of acting for developers, property investors, retailers and other occupiers, many of whom she has supported across the full property lifecycle. In addition, Donna has experience in acting for a number of banking institutions …

An incredible £800.50 raised for The House of Hope Scotland through our firm-wide bake sale! Across our Glasgow, Edinburgh and Helensburgh offices, the effort and enthusiasm were truly inspiring this week. A huge thank you to everyone who got involved — whether you spent time baking or simply getting a sugar high! And, a special thanks to Siobhan McQueen, Morgan Francis and Olivia Blenkinsop for your exceptional organisational skills. The atmosphere in the offices has been fantastic and, most importantly, the amount raised for this special charity, which supports those impacted by breast cancer, is a brilliant achievement and a real testament to the generosity and community …

Employers are frequently confronted with difficult situations when an employee goes absent without leave (AWOL), walks out during a dispute, or behaves in a way that appears to signal resignation but stops short of a clear statement. The instinctive reaction may be to treat the conduct as a resignation. However, UK employment law takes a cautious approach to ambiguity, and misinterpreting an employee’s conduct can expose employers to significant unfair dismissal risk. Understanding the legal framework is critical to making defensible decisions and avoiding costly tribunal claims. The Objective Approach to Ambiguous Words and Conduct When determining whether an employee …

In September 2025, in a landmark decision was published by the Court of Session in The Petition of AB and CD, [2025] CSOH 87, granting authority to adopt the child X under s29 of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007. The key and novel issue for determination in the case was whether they could be considered a “relevant” couple under section 29 of the Act, even though they had separated two years prior. The pair were successfully granted the legal right to adopt the child jointly – marking the first of its kind in Scotland. The judgement got us …

With Home Office compliance activity increasing and the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 introducing a tougher enforcement environment, technology employers face a growing compliance challenge with potentially significant operational and reputational consequences. All UK employers have a legal duty to prevent illegal working. The consequences of non‑compliance remain severe: civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker and, in the most serious cases, criminal prosecution carrying a potential five‑year prison sentence and unlimited fines. Technology businesses must ensure that right‑to‑work checks are carried out correctly and in line with current Home Office guidance. This applies to direct …