Public Law Update: The impact of decisions of the UK Supreme Court

LUNCH & LEARN: Public Law Update: The impact of decisions of the UK Supreme Court

CPD 30 minutes

PEAT Outcome - Relevant legal knowledge

OBJECTIVES

In this lunch and learn session, Alannah McGinley will examine the evolving impact of recent UK Supreme Court decisions in the field of public law. It will focus in particular on the judgments in Glasgow City Council v X and For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers.

Through these cases, the session will explore how the Court’s reasoning engages with key constitutional principles, including the separation of powers, the scope of devolved authority, and the protection of individual rights.

The discussion will consider both the legal outcomes and their broader implications for public bodies, legislative competence, and the dynamic between the UK and devolved governments.

PARTICIPANTS

This Zoom webinar will be of interest to legal professionals, academics, policy-makers, and civil society groups engaged in public and constitutional law. It offers a timely analysis of key UK Supreme Court decisions affecting devolved governance and individual rights, with insights relevant to lawyers, researchers, and those working in government or advocacy roles.

SPEAKER

Alannah McGinley, Advocate, Axiom Advocates.

Alannah has experience in a wide variety of civil matters. She has particular knowledge in the areas of commercial disputes, professional liability, public law and media law. As a solicitor in private practice, she specialised in professional negligence, representing a variety of professionals including solicitors, architects and accountants in complex and often high-value actions. Alannah has experience of litigating in the Commercial Court, the Outer and Inner Houses of the Court of Session and the Sheriff Courts, appearing frequently in the latter as a solicitor.

Prior to calling to the bar, Alannah was Law Clerk to the Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian. In that role, she assisted Inner House judges in appellate matters across civil law. In particular, Alannah worked on a number of high-profile cases concerning commercial disputes, public law, product liability and clinical negligence. During her time as Law Clerk she also acquired a knowledge of and interest in media law and contempt. This is something she further developed during her time devilling.

Alannah is a tutor in Civil Litigation on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Glasgow. She previously assisted in the arrangement of the terms of the Master Policy of Professional Indemnity Insurance whilst a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Insurance Committee.