Law Society-v-Alastair McBean Blackwood

Edinburgh,  27 October 2025. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 14 August 2024 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland, Atria One, 144 Morrison Street, Edinburgh against Alastair McBean Blackwood, c/o HMP Castle Huntly, Longforgan, Nr. Dundee; Finds the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct singly and in cumulo in respect of his breaches of Rules 1, 3, 4, 6 and 9 of the Solicitors (Scotland) (Standard of Conduct) Practice Rules 2008 and Rules B1.2, B1.3, B1.4, B1.5, B1.7 and B1.9 of the Law Society of Scotland Practice Rules 2011, Rule 24 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Accounts etc Rules 2001 and Rule B6.23 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Accounts, etc Rules 2011; Orders that the name of the Respondent be Struck Off the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland; Makes no order for expenses; and Directs that publicity will be given to this decision and shall include the name of the Respondent together with details of all interlocutors and notes issued by the Tribunal during the course of proceedings.

Kenneth Paterson

Vice Chair

By Video conference, 16 October 2025; The Tribunal, having considered the oral submissions for the Complainers and the written submissions for the Respondent; Consents to hearing the Procedural Hearing in the absence of the Respondent under Rule 14(4) of the 2008 Rules; Allows the Complainers to withdraw their Minute of Amendment; Allows the Record to be Received late; Directs the Complainers to lodge and intimate a full Record to both the Tribunal office and the Respondent, including the Appendices attached to the Complaint, by 5pm today; and continues the case to the full Hearing previously set for 27 October 2025 and following days.

Catherine Hart

Vice Chair

By Video Conference, 28 August 2025. The Tribunal, having considered the submissions on behalf of the parties; Repels the objection of  the Complainers to the Respondent’s appointment of a lay representative; Allows the Answers lodged by the Respondent dated 14 July 2025 to be received late; Refuses to allow the Respondent’s Preliminary Pleas (attached to the Answers dated 14 July 2025) to be received on the basis that it had already repelled same at the virtual procedural hearing on 15 May 2025; Grants the Fiscal’s motion to amend the interlocutor dated 15 May 2025 to reflect the oral decision of the Tribunal in terms of Rule 49 of the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal Rules 2008, namely that the Respondent’s preliminary pleas were repelled; Allows the Respondent 3 weeks from this date for adjustment) and the Complainers 2 weeks thereafter to lodge any subsequent adjustments; Directs the Complainers to lodge a Record by 2 October 2025; Refuses the Respondent’s motion to dismiss the Complaint; Fixes a virtual procedural Hearing to take place on 15 October 2025 at 1pm; and Refuses the Respondent’s motion to hold the Hearing in private in hoc statu.

 Catherine Hart

Vice Chair

By Video Conference, 15 May 2025. Having heard submissions from all parties, the Tribunal:-

(1)   Refused the Respondent’s motion for a further continuation of the Procedural Hearing;

(2)   Repelled the Respondent’s Preliminary Plea in bar of trial and granted the Fiscal’s motion to fix a substantive hearing;

(3)   Fixed a 4 day substantive Hearing to take place in person with dates to be afterwards fixed;

(4)   Directed parties to lodge a List of Witnesses and core bundle of Productions no later than 28 days before the Hearing;

(5)   Directed parties to lodged a written Note of any evidence which is admitted or agreed no later than 14 days before the Hearing.

Catherine Hart

Vice Chair