BTO Solicitors LLP

BTO Solicitors LLP BTO Solicitors LLP is a modern, full service legal practice with strong roots in the Scottish business community. To find out more, visit www.bto.co.uk.

Employers: Are you ready for the Employment Rights Act 2025? The Act introduces some of the most significant workplace r...
09/09/2026

Employers: Are you ready for the Employment Rights Act 2025?

The Act introduces some of the most significant workplace reforms in a generation, with major changes to UK employment law expected to take effect in stages during 2026 and 2027.

To help organisations prepare, we are hosting two practical seminars:

📍 Edinburgh – 15 September 2026
📍 Glasgow – 16 September 2026

Led by BTO employment law specialists Amanda Buchanan and Dawn Robertson, the sessions will provide clear, practical guidance on what employers should be doing now to reduce risk, review contracts and policies and prepare managers for the changes ahead.

Topics will include:

• unfair dismissal reform
• changes to terms and conditions, including fire and rehire
• employment policies and contracts
• trade union and labour relations
• the duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment
• immigration implications arising from the reforms

The free seminar will also look at how employers can strengthen their position when defending claims and respond confidently to the evolving employment law landscape.

Register here:
Edinburgh, 15 September: https://lnkd.in/ekTR_MSU

Glasgow, 16 September: https://lnkd.in/eUps9qBk

New accredited specialism in fertility law and family creation launched in Scotland BTO is proud to have played a key ro...
09/09/2026

New accredited specialism in fertility law and family creation launched in Scotland

BTO is proud to have played a key role in the development of this important new legal specialism.

In particular, we are delighted that our Associate, Beverley Addison, has been elected as Convenor of the Law Society of Scotland’s Fertility Law and Family Creation Accreditation Panel, having been the requesting signatory of the application to the Law Society to introduce the specialism.

The new accredited specialism covers surrogacy, donor conception, assisted conception and the use of adoption as a means of family creation within the UK and abroad.

Beverley said: “Specialist advice around fertility law and family creation is increasingly in demand, and it’s a sought-after and complex area of practice. We regularly have clients who come to us seeking expert advice from an experienced practitioner.

“It’s vital that clients dealing with such personal and often complex matters have confidence in their solicitor to guide them, particularly as forthcoming reforms to surrogacy law are expected to increase the need for specialist practitioners. Now they will be able to find one who has been confirmed as a specialist by the Law Society of Scotland.”

BTO’s Family Law team already provides fertility law support for prospective parents, as well as consultancy advice for smaller firms without in-house expertise in this area.

To mark the launch of the new specialism, the team will host a Fertility Law & Family Creation Conference this November 2026, bringing together guest speakers and fellow professionals with an interest in fertility law, surrogacy and family creation. More details will follow soon.

We look forward to continuing our work in this important area of law and supporting clients as specialist advice around fertility law and family creation becomes increasingly important.

In the meantime, congratulations to Beverley and everyone involved in bringing this important accreditation to life.

Join us at Glasgow Tech Week for a thought-provoking panel discussion on managing cyber breach incidents.On Thursday 10 ...
04/09/2026

Join us at Glasgow Tech Week for a thought-provoking panel discussion on managing cyber breach incidents.

On Thursday 10 September 2026, BTO Solicitors and Quorum Cyber will bring together legal and cyber security expertise to explore the practical, legal and reputational considerations that arise in the aftermath of a cyber breach and the steps organisations can take to respond with clarity and confidence.

If this is an issue that matters to your organisation, we’d be delighted to welcome you.

9.00am: Registration, tea, coffee and breakfast rolls

9.30am – 10.30am: Panel discussion and networking

Location: The Collector's Hall, 266 George St, Glasgow G1 1QX

Register here: https://bto.co.uk/bto-events/managing-a-cyber-crisis/

Work experience with BTO’s Wills, Estates & Succession Planning team⚖️ Gaining practical insight is an important step fo...
02/09/2026

Work experience with BTO’s Wills, Estates & Succession Planning team

⚖️ Gaining practical insight is an important step for anyone considering a legal career.

In this latest blog, Ciaran O’Malley reflects on his work experience with BTO, sharing valuable insights into the legal work undertaken by the team and the practical learning opportunities gained throughout the placement.

đź“š From developing legal knowledge to gaining a better understanding of client-focused legal services, the experience offered a firsthand look at life within a busy private client practice.

Read his full blog here: https://ow.ly/S6n250ZIk49

BTO continues to invest in its growing talent poolToday marks an exciting milestone for BTO as we welcome 11 new trainee...
01/09/2026

BTO continues to invest in its growing talent pool

Today marks an exciting milestone for BTO as we welcome 11 new trainees to the firm, celebrate six of our trainees qualifying as newly qualified solicitors, and recognise the internal promotion of eight solicitors to senior solicitor.

Together, these appointments reflect the strength, depth and continued development of talent across BTO.

They also support our strategic growth across a broad range of legal services, including corporate, commercial real estate, dispute resolution, employment, regulatory and private client, helping us continue to meet the evolving business and legal needs of our growing roster of clients.

Caroline Carr, BTO’s Chair, said:

“We are proud to support the next generation of legal talent while recognising the skills, commitment and progression of colleagues across the firm.

Congratulations to all our new trainees (featured below), newly qualified and newly promoted senior solicitors. We look forward to seeing them continue to develop their careers with BTO.”

Right to Work Checks: What you need to know before 1 October 2026 ⏰ Employers should be preparing now for important chan...
24/08/2026

Right to Work Checks: What you need to know before 1 October 2026 ⏰

Employers should be preparing now for important changes to the UK right to work regime, coming into force on 1 October 2026.

Join Carolyn Bowie, Head of BTO's Immigration Law Practice, for a practical legal update which will explain what is changing, why the reforms matter for employers and wider labour supply arrangements, and what organisations should do now to prepare.

Carolyn will cover the:

➡️ key right to work checking routes
➡️ importance of retaining a statutory excuse
➡️ risks of non-compliance
➡️ practical steps businesses can take to review onboarding, supplier
➡️ management and compliance processes before the new rules take effect.

This webinar will be particularly relevant for HR teams, recruitment teams, managers, sponsor licence holders, procurement teams and organisations that engage contractors, subcontractors, temporary workers, agency labour, or platform-based workers.

đź“… Tuesday 01 September 2026
🕛 12:00 – 12:45
đź’» Microsoft Teams

REGISTER HERE: https://shorturl.at/iWy3w

Dog bite claims: Strict liability and willing acceptance of riskScotland’s strict liability regime can make keepers liab...
23/08/2026

Dog bite claims: Strict liability and willing acceptance of risk

Scotland’s strict liability regime can make keepers liable when a dog causes injury, but a pursuer’s knowledge may be relevant.

In Heskin v Reynolds & Mackerron, the court found that an experienced dog trainer had willingly accepted the risk after witnessing the dog’s aggressive behaviour and continuing the assessment.

The decision highlights the importance of evidence about what an injured person knew about the dog’s behaviour before an incident, including those who work with dogs.

Read more in Hannah Ridgway’s latest blog: https://tinyurl.com/2pe9596y

Just the two of us… and HMRC?Ricky Gervais’ recent comments about marrying his partner of 44 years to avoid a substantia...
21/08/2026

Just the two of us… and HMRC?

Ricky Gervais’ recent comments about marrying his partner of 44 years to avoid a substantial Inheritance Tax bill have brought an important issue into focus: the legal and financial benefits of marriage and civil partnership.

While many couples choose not to marry for personal reasons, unmarried partners do not benefit from the same Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax exemptions available to spouses and civil partners. This can leave surviving partners facing significant tax liabilities — and, in some cases, difficult financial decisions at an already challenging time.

In her latest blog, Katie Armstrong considers the practical tax planning points unmarried couples should be aware of, including the spousal exemption, Potentially Exempt Transfers, Capital Gains Tax and the transfer of unused Nil Rate Band allowances.

Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/ms9e8je4

When should a STEM business consider using a subsidiary?🧩 A subsidiary can help a growing STEM business separate higher-...
18/08/2026

When should a STEM business consider using a subsidiary?

🧩 A subsidiary can help a growing STEM business separate higher-risk activities, give a product its own commercial platform, attract project-specific investment or expand overseas.

It may also make a future sale simpler by keeping assets, contracts, staff and records within one entity.

However, separation is not absolute and the benefits must be weighed against governance, compliance and administrative costs. Clear commercial objectives, consistent implementation and legal and tax advice are essential. 🌱

Read more in Erin Findlay’s latest article here: https://ow.ly/fhhp50ZAX4O

New ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures: What employers need to knowđź’¬ The proposed Code place...
13/08/2026

New ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures: What employers need to know

đź’¬ The proposed Code places informal resolution at the centre of workplace procedures, asking employers to explain why concerns became formal.

Proposals cover suspension, mediation, accompaniment, lengthy grievances, AI and replacing “employee” with “worker”.

Employers should review policies, templates and manager training, recording why informal action was (or was not) appropriate. Non-compliance can increase tribunal compensation by up to 25%. đź“ť

The consultation closes on 23 September 2026.

Read more in Robert Dorrian and Morgan Francis' latest article here: https://ow.ly/v7Xh50Zzseg

Address

48 St Vincent Street
Glasgow
G25HS

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when BTO Solicitors LLP posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category