SPRING CONFERENCE in DUNDEE on MONDAY 17 MARCH 2014

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We are delighted to announce that our Spring 2014 Conference is to be held at Double Tree By Hilton, Kingsway West, Dundee DD52 5JT  on Monday 17 March. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us for a day of useful legal updates as part of our commitment to sharing the expertise and experience of our members with the wider legal community.

We are aware that practitioners appreciate high quality CPD at no cost, provided at a convenient venue and covering a wide variety of topics. Many of our regular instructing solicitors have practices which encompass several areas of law and in addition it is often interesting to hear a talk on a subject which may be outwith a practitioner’s core area.

The conference offers 5 hours of CPD, with lunch provided. Registration will take place from 9am to 9.30am with the final talk scheduled to finish at 4.15pm.

The programme is as follows:

Julianna Cartwright, Advocate: ‘Adults with Incapacity – case law update on guardianship and intervention orders’

Julianna’s talk will provide a case update. Additionally, it will cover: (i) guardianship/intervention orders, (ii) powers of guardians/interveners to testate on behalf of the Adult, (iii) cases where orders for an intervention under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 might still require to be sought even if there is a continuing financial and welfare guardianship order in place.

Adrian Stalker, Advocate: ‘Imposing Good Practice: Pre-Action Requirements in Mortgage Repossessions and Eviction Proceedings’

As a result of Part 1 of the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Act 2010, lenders are now required to meet certain pre-action requirements before raising proceedings for the repossession of residential property. More recently, very similar measures have been introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010, in relation to eviction actions on the ground of rent arrears raised by landlords in the social rented sector, such as housing associations and local authorities. Adrian’s talk will consider the primary and secondary legislation, and the Guidance, and discuss the effect of these measures on the proceedings to which they relate.

Sir Crispin Agnew QC: ‘Challenging Decisions – judicial review and statutory appeals’

The talk will discuss the principles involved in challenging decisions made by the Scottish Ministers, local authorities and other decision makers, whether by judicial review or statutory appeal. There will be a discussion of the types of decisions that can be challenged including planning, licensing, education, care or child protection, and housing decisions etc. EU and ECHR issues and protective expenses orders (PEOs) will be considered.

Isabella Ennis, Advocate: ‘Comparisons between financial provision under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 and the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006’

In this talk Isabella will outline the differences in remedies and financial outcomes between financial provision in the context of a divorce/dissolution action and a claim in terms of section 28 of the 2006 Act following upon cessation of cohabitation.

Bryan Heaney, Advocate: ‘Crime no longer pays: The law of confiscation, cash seizure and civil recovery’

Bryan will discuss the differences between the civil and criminal regimes. Additionally, it will cover (i) the burden and standard of proof, (ii) the concepts of “benefit” in criminal confiscation and “recoverable property” in civil recovery, (iii) taking instructions and preparing to defend, and (iv) the use of forensic accountancy evidence.

Colin Edward, Advocate: ‘A Discrimination Law Update’

Colin’s talk will provide a useful and concise update for practitioners on the latest developments and reported cases in discrimination law.

Gavin Anderson, Advocate: ‘White Collar Crime Update’

A review of recent developments in the commercial crime sphere, covering issues such as search warrants for commercial premises, disclosure of evidence and proposed changes to police procedure following the Carloway Review; there will also be discussion of sentencing trends affecting companies and directors, especially in relation to health and safety offences.

Scott McAlpine, Advocate: ‘A Review of Recent Decisions in Relation to Children’

The talk will provide a case law update. Additionally, it will cover permanence orders, Children’s Panel, Contempt, Hague Convention and private law contract/residence.

Please contact [email protected] to reserve a place.

We look forward to seeing you there!