Current CPD Programme

 
CPD Programme - Apr. to June 2008

No.

Date

Title of Seminar and Speaker

1

17 Apr. 08

Drafting Wills in the Brave New World 
Ian Stubbs (Consultant, MacLay Murray & Spens LLP)
Much has changed with the Finance Act 2006, the Autumn 2007 pre-budget statement and of course the Civil Partnership Act 2005. Advice re new wills requires to be adjusted to take these changes on board. What advice requires to be given in regard to existing wills? Do trusts still have a role to play and have they been affected? What about young adults? It's now time to review the advice which you require to give.

TANQ

23 Apr. 08

TANQ Seminar - Mediation: how mediative techniques can help your clients – and you
David Semple (Catalyst Mediation)
An interactive evening with mediators who will seek to challenge some traditional approaches.

2

24 Apr. 08

Adults With Incapacity
Alan Eccles (Maclay Murray & Spens LLP)
Case law suggests that there is a "professional duty" to test the terms of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
This seminar will refresh on the key elements of incapacity law (powers of attorney, guardianship, intervention and others) and the court and on-going administrative procedures. The impact of new cases and new legislation will be explained and opportunities to use incapacity law to benefit clients and their families will be examined. The effect of incapacity law on other areas of practice will be included. Examples and solutions to common and not so common issues and traps will be considered in an attempt to satisfy the apparent high professional duty in this area.
Alan Eccles is a solicitor in Maclay Murray & Spens LLP's private client department. Alan successfully advised and appeared in one of the leading decisions in the area (M, Applicant) and writes the Scots Law Times' case commentaries for adults with incapacity law.

3

1 May 08

Sale and Purchase of Companies and Businesses
Graham Bell (Partner, Wright Johnston & Mackenzie LLP)
A review of key considerations when acting in the sale or purchase of a company or business - points that add value to the client
relationship and the quality of the end result from the client’s perspective. Graham Bell is a partner in the Corporate Group of
Wright Johnston & Mackenzie LLP.

4

8 May 08

Copyright and Related Rights: A Practical Perspective
Liam McMonagle (Dundas & Wilson LLP)

This talk will provide an overview of the current law of copyright in the UK looking at how this has been affected by recent legal and technological developments, particularly in relation to the Internet, and to the impact this has on creative and technology businesses as well as others who deal with them. A summary of current issues and developments, including an update on the ongoing implementation of the Gowers Review will be provided.
Liam McMonagle is an Associate in Dundas & Wilson's Technology Group, specialising in copyright and IT law. He advises a range of clients in the IT, financial services and media/ entertainment industries. Prior to joining Dundas & Wilson Liam worked in-house for news production company ITN.

5

15 May 08

Wealth Management
Fergus Muirhead (Director, VWM Consulting)

A seminar looking at the practical issues involved in advising people with capital to invest. The Seminar will examine two main issues. Firstly, how to determine which ‘tax wrappers’ are most suitable for individual clients to allow them to invest tax efficiently – i.e. onshore or offshore, pension or ISA – and to pass wealth on in a way that minimises potential Inheritance Tax? Secondly, how the underlying investments chosen and monitored, particularly with reference to a client’s attitude to risk? As part of this the seminar will look at how to manage and construct broad portfolios in volatile markets. Fergus Muirhead has been an IFA for 15 years and deals with a wide cross-section of private clients. As well as practicing as an IFA he also regularly comments on money and consumer issues in the Press and on Radio and TV.

6

22 May 08

Environmental Legal Risks
Gillian Schoular (Dundas & Wilson LLP)
Environmental law is an area of regulation that is growing at an almost alarming rate. This seminar will provide an introduction to the principal environmental legal risks affecting legal transactions, including contaminated land, regulatory requirements and transfers of liability. It will consider ways to assess and address those risks in practice, and how they can affect other aspects of the deal. Finally, we will consider the responsibilities and liabilities imposed on solicitors in this difficult area of law.
Gillian Scoular is an Associate in the Environment Group of Dundas & Wilson. She trained at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie and upon qualification worked as a commercial property and licensing solicitor before joining Dundas & Wilson over three years ago to specialise purely in environmental law. As part of the UK-wide D&W team Gillian advises on all aspects of UK and European environmental law and compliance issues, dealing with both public sector and private clients and providing environmental support to corporate, banking, infrastructure and commercial property transactions both north and south of the border.

7

29 May 08

Scottish Legal Complaints Commission: Update
Phillip Yelland (Director of Regulation, the Law Society of Scotland)
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission is likely to open its doors on 1 October this year. This will see a significant change in regulation for the legal profession, in that the Commission will be the gateway for all complaints and will have the responsibility for dealing with service complaints against solicitors. The Law Society of Scotland will remain the body responsible for dealing with conduct complaints.
The Director of Regulation at the Society, Philip Yelland, will update those attending on where the Commission is and the information which is flowing in relation to their processes, procedures and policies and will also talk about the Law Society’s revised role.

(Management Seminar)

8

5 June 08

Environmental Risk and the Conveyancing Process
John Turner (Regional Manager, Landmark Information Group)
This seminar will give a brief overview of the relevant legislation concerning contaminated land; the potential liabilities that could apply to property purchasers, tenants and other occupiers; give details of historical land use and the problems that can be left behind; and give examples of the products available and how these can assist the conveyancer involved in the transaction. It is aimed at all levels, from the trainee to the partner who has been involved in conveyancing all his working life.
The seminar is presented by John Turner, a solicitor with over 25 years experience in residential property matters, firstly in London and then Manchester, who was recently appointed Regional Manager for Scotland by Landmark Information Group, the UK's leading provider of desktop environmental and other searches to the legal profession.

TANQ

25 June 08

Forensic Medicine and the Law
Dr. John Clark

TANQ

24 Sept. 08

TANQ Seminar - Civil Courts Review
Michael Sheridan (Partner, Sheridans)
Work started on the civil courts review on 4th April 2007 and has generated an enormous amount of material and response from around the profession and beyond. Michael Sheridan shall explain the present position and identify some of the major issues which have arisen and explore the evidence for any signs as to how the courts may look in the future.

 

If you are a current member of the Royal Faculty the cost per seminar will be discounted to £50. If you are not a current member of the Royal Faculty the cost per seminar will be £70.

To book a place - fill in and submit the online booking form or print out the form and fax it back on 0141 332 4714. For further details please contact the Royal Faculty.