May
21
6:00 pm18:00

Scotland's Greatest Palace — A talk by Dr Godfrey Evans

THE TREASURES OF HAMILTON PALACE

Hamilton Palace in South Lanarkshire was once one of the premier country houses in the British Isles, replete with fabulous collections of outstanding works of art, furniture, and furnishings.

This fascinating talk will explain and illustrate how the Dukes of Hamilton — premier peers of Scotland — enlarged the palace and amassed their great collections to create one of Europe’s grandest, most ostentatious statements of power, wealth and taste. Beginning in the 16th century, leading authority Dr Godfrey Evans (Principal Curator of European Decorative Arts at National Museums Scotland) traces the architectural development of the palace down to the 19th, when extraordinary interior works of black marble, copious gilding, vibrant furnishing, and exotic ornamentation created a truly majestic whole.

The Virtual Hamilton Palace Trust’s project is to bring the palace alive online for scholars, researchers, and everyone to marvel at this lost magnificence.

Booking is required. The event is free to attend, however a voluntary donation can be made to support the work of the Trust.

Please note the event is held in the Upper Library which is only accessible by stairs.

Please contact 0131 220 3249 if you have any questions about the event or venue.

 
 

The WS Society (charity SC050987) in association with the Virtual Hamilton Palace Trust (charity SC034592).

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Oct
9
9:30 am09:30

STEP/WS Private Client Conference

Join us on 9 October for the WS annual joint conference with STEP for private client lawyers. The conference will be chaired by Susie Tweedie, Shepherd + Wedderburn.

2025 is a year of change – not only do we now have the Trust & Succession (Scotland) Act 2025 on the books, but we have a new government with a looming budget and a new Consultation on adults with incapacity.

This year the WS Society & STEP Scotland are excited to bring you another conference, looking at some of the key developments across the private client sector.

Speakers:

  • Susie Tweedie, Partner, Shepherd & Wedderburn (Conference Chair).

  • Roddy Macleod, Terra Firma Chambers.

  • Joe Slain, Turcan Connell

  • Alexa Payet, Michaelmores

  • Karin Shanks, PwC

  • Ben Roseff, PwC

  • John Martin, Fraser & Fraser

  • Morna Grandison, Law Society of Scotland

  • Fergus Colquhoun, Terra Firma Chambers

  • Alan Barr, Brodies


Sessions:

  • Assisted Dying. Discussion to include forfeiture issues

  • Tax Disputes

  • International probate

  • Judicial Factor Act

  • Key cases from 2024 - 2025

  • Alan Barr's annual Scottish/devolved tax round up

More information to come soon with ticket prices.

Tickets will be on sale soon.

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Apr
3
9:30 am09:30

CPD - WS CHARITIES CONFERENCE

The WS Society’s legal education programme begins on 3 April with the popular Charities Conference.  The event brings together charity lawyers, charity trustees and charity professionals to explore the latest themes in charity law, governance and policy.  Sessions will help empower your charity to stay compliant with OSCR and employment law, strengthen your finances, protect your data, and discover pathways to a sustainable future.

Speakers at the conference include Lorraine Davidson (Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Independent Schools) and Gair Brisbane (Partner, LGT Wealth Management). We will also hear from OSCR. The conference will be chaired by Gavin McEwan WS (Head of Charities, Turcan Connell). 

Speakers:

  • Gavin McEwan WS, conference chair

  • Lorraine Davidson, Scottish Council for Independent Schools

  • Charles Willis, OSCR

  • Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor, Morton Fraser MacRoberts

  • Keith Macpherson, Henderson Loggie

  • Gair Brisbane, LGT Wealth Management

    Sessions:

  • A candid discussion on current challenges and pathways forward.

  • An update from OSCR.

  • Employment law update.

  • Responding to financial pressures and staying a going concern.

  • Navigating and safeguarding your charity's data.

  • Building a sustainable future for your charity through prudent investment management.

Join us for this engaging and popular event. With thanks to conference sponsors, LGT Wealth Management.

Delegate rates:

  • Writer to the Signet: £120 plus VAT

  • Standard rate: £150 plus VAT

  • Student/Trainee solicitor: £80 plus VAT

All rates include lunch and refreshments at the Signet Library


CPD: 3 hours (Law Society of Scotland).


For more information, please contact Sophie Mills at smills@wssociety.co.uk, 0131 220 3249.

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Jun
7
9:00 am09:00

ALA/ WS Agricultural Law Conference

The ALA and the WS Society present their 27th Joint Annual Conference on Agriculture, which will be held at the Signet Library on Friday 7 June 2024.

 SPEAKERS AND TOPICS:

  • Heather Bruce, Turcan Connell - Conference Chair

  • Michael Upton, Advocate - Case Update

  • Anna Gardiner and Jackie McCreery, Scottish Land & Estates - Housing Reforms and Agricultural Properties

  • Dr Bob McIntosh, The Tenant Farming Commissioner - Tenant Farming Commissioner’s Update

  • Margi Campbell, Saffery - Tax and Agricultural Land: An Update

  • Emma Robertson, Shepherd + Wedderburn and Tom Oates, Oates Rural - Resumption and Relinquishment: Risks or Rewards?

  • Andrew Linehan, Murray Beith Murray - Agricultural Arbitrations in 2024: How, When and Why?

  • Tim Macdonald, Anderson Strathern - Time Limits and Deadlines under the Agricultural Holdings Legislation

  • Andy Macdonald, Savills - Scottish Agricultural Support Systems – You’re Either Winning or You’re Learning

6 hours CPD

Deadline for booking is 5pm on Friday, 24 May 2024

 The full conference time table is available here:

Rates

The event is open to all, with a preferential rate for ALA members and Writers to the Signet.

  • ALA members/Writers to the Signet: £228 (incl VAT)

  • Standard rate: £276 (incl VAT)


For further information please contact Mike Holland MRICS, Secretary & Adviser, Agricultural Law Association: mike.holland@ala.org.uk

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Jul
31
to 13 Aug

David Eustace – ‘THEREAFTER’

For the first time in Scotland, David Eustace will exhibit his sculpture work, including works in acrylic, steel and granite, as well as a print portfolio featuring David’s images of the statues of Père Lachaise cemetery, unseen to date, as a collective body of work entitled ‘THEREAFTER’.

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