Scotland's government and legal establishment has been accused of continuing to drag its heels on reforms intended to open up the justice system and reduce the costs of litigation.
Sometimes, I am accused of dreaming, particularly after a “healthy” lunch. So the following scenario could be the result of an early afternoon siesta or a realistic aspiration to derive real commercial advantage from that well-known cure for insomnia, “risk management”.
The "Big Six" accountancy firms will be taking a much tougher line on banks' assessments of their own assets in the light of the dubious methods used by some banks to value sub-prime related derivatives.
The parent company of Ayr-based cashmere producer Alex Begg & Co has chosen to consolidate its activities in Scotland and has appointed Glasgow-based French Duncan as its auditors.
Law firm DLA Piper is hosting two seminars that will aim to provide a review of recent changes to employment law. The Glasgow event is to be held from 8.30am-10.00am on December 11, 2007 at the firm's offices at 249 West George Street. The Edinburgh event will take place at the same time on December 13, at the firm's Rutland Square offices. The seminars will explain how changes to employment law introduced during 2007 will affect business. DLA Piper's employment, pensions and benefits team will be on hand to share their collective expertise. For further information contact Kim Alexander on 0131 242 5526 or kim.alexander@dlapiper. com .
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) recently published the final report of its Market Participants Group. The report has been a year in the making and listed 15 recommendations designed to tackle the continuing dominance of the Big Four accountancy firms in the UK market.
Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is trying once more to claw back money from people with offshore bank accounts through the offer of a partial amnesty.
Catherine Burnet, an Edinburgh-based director at KPMG, was named accountant of the year at the annual Accountancy Age awards, with the judging panel praising her for having an "immense appetite for work".
ALEX McLAREN
Occupational fraud and abuse, the economic cancer that most businesses do not want to acknowledge, is now more prevalent that ever before.
Dundas & Wilson to hold seminar
Dundas & Wilson will hold a seminar on the funding of infrastructure projects later this month. The event will include an evaluation of the Scottish Futures Trust, the financing mechanism with which the SNP government wants to replace public-private partnerships.The seminar is called "Funding Scotland's Infrastructure - What the Future Holds", and Colin Boyd QC, pictured, will act as chairman. Other speakers include Sandy Rosie of the Scottish Government Financial Partnerships Unit, Dr Iain Docherty from the University of Glasgow, and Nathan Goode of Grant Thornton. Additional panel members will come from Dundas & Wilson, Barclays Bank, Canmore Partnership, Unison and Scottish Enterprise. The seminar will be held in the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh, from 4pm to 7pm on November 29. For information contact Shona Waddell at Dundas & Wilson. shona.waddell@dundas-wilson.com
Semple Fraser moving Glasgow office
Semple Fraser is moving its Glasgow office to 123 St Vincent Street, the former head office of insurer Scottish Mutual. The law firm will occupy 30,500 square feet on the seventh and eighth floors of the Morley-owned building from next July. It is taking over space currently occupied by HBOS and Aberdeen Asset Management. Paul Haniford, a Semple Fraser partner, said: "The firm is rapidly growing as we continue to capitalise on opportunities throughout the UK and it was, therefore, important that we found new premises that could accommodate us. The city centre location is ideal - right in the heart of Glasgow's buzzing business community with great social amenities and easy access to good transport links." The 123 St Vincent Street address is one of Glasgow's largest office buildings offering a high standard of office space. Other occupiers include Moneyquest, Pinsent Masons and Goodman Real Estate Investors. Meanwhile, Semple Fraser has hired Douglas Gourlay as a senior associate. Formerly with Dundas & Wilson, Gourlay joins the firm's banking and finance team.
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