Lawyers 2019 - click here to discover this year's movers and shakers in the Scottish legal sector, seizing opportunities in an unpredictable political climate.

INSIDE:

5 Introduction While Brexit continues to inform the agenda, there is change afoot at many levels of the legal profession, from family to criminal law 

6-7 The legal landscape The politics surrounding European issues have dominated and the Scottish courts have had a historic influence on proceedings

8-9 The verdict The Legal 500’s assessment of the legal year with some of its commended firms

10 The Bar Gordon Jackson, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, draws on decades of experience to suggest improvements to the sentencing process

12-13 Solicitors Douglas Thomson explains the role of a historic professional body and how it is refining this to meet the needs of the 21st century

15-16 Employment Law The expansion of zero hours 

contracts and the gig economy continues to bring new challenges for already-busy lawyers in the HR space

18 Intellectual property Scotland has long had a strong culture of innovation – but the digital age brings increasing demands to protect our IP 

20-21 In-house lawyers The growing in-house community plays a vital role in the public and private secttors 

22 The Law Awards of Scotland 2019 A snapshot of the high-achieving firms and individuals shortlisted for this month’s prestigious Herald awards

26-27 Dispute resolution & litigation How the tech-driven phenomenon of crowdfunding is  democratising people’s access to justice via the courts 

28-29 Real estate Global investors are prepared to take  an optimistic long-term view of the commercial  property landscape in Scotland’s major cities 

30-31 Family law Society has changed and medical  procedures have advanced but is the law keeping up with the needs of potential parents and surrogacy?

32-33 Corporate law From energy through life sciences to tourism, a leading lawyer believes that there remains much positive activity in the corporate sector 

34-35 Review of the year A selection of headline stories on agenda setting issues throughout 2019 in the Herald’s Legal Focus by Margaret Taylor

36 Pro Bono Why this is a vital part of Scotland’s legal mix and a new, in-depth look across the profession that aims to close the gap in access to justice 

37-42 Lawyers rankings Scots lawyers and firms ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners