Powered by Lexis+®
Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Related legal acts
Key definition
Disputes definition

What does Disputes mean? In legal practice, disputes are disagreements giving rise to potential legal rights and remedies between parties, addressed through dispute resolution including litigation, arbitration and ADR such as mediation and negotiation. The term is descriptive rather than a defined statutory concept; the substantive rights and procedures arise from statute and common law. Typical features include identification of the cause of action, applicable limitation periods, choice of jurisdiction and forum, compliance with pre-action protocols or pre-action correspondence, disclosure/discovery, evidence, settlement, costs and enforcement. Usage is broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, though civil procedure differs: CPR in England...

Read More Right Arrow

Employment litigation in Scotland: civil court structure, jurisdiction, procedure, rights of audience, interim interdicts, dawn raids, industrial action and breach of contract essentials

Practice notes
imgtext

Scottish civil courts

Scottish civil courts, like those in England and Wales, can and do determine certain employment Disputes. Nevertheless, there are substantial differences between the civil court systems in Scotland and in England and Wales that practitioners must appreciate. This Practice Note sets out an overview of:

  • the most common orders sought by employment lawyers in Scottish civil courts
  • the structure of the Scottish civil court system
  • the jurisdiction and principal features of each relevant court
  • rights of audience
  • Rules of procedure
  • important points concerning:
    • Breach of contract claims in Scotland
    • injunctive (interlocutory) relief in Scotland
    • dawn raids in Scotland
    • industrial relations disputes in Scotland
    • equality of terms claims in Scotland

The aim of this Practice Note is to introduce the key elements of the Scottish civil court system for employment practitioners. It is not intended to, and does not, offer a complete treatment of every aspect and complexity of civil court procedure in Scotland. Practitioners outside Scotland should obtain advice from a Scottish practitioner in relation to litigation before the Scottish civil courts. Further materials on Scottish civil litigation are available. It should be read with applicable rules of procedure and further materials available on Scottish civil litigation...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.
Russell Bradley
Russell Bradley

Russell Bradley was admitted as an advocate on 1st June 2012. Prior to that, he was in private practice as a solicitor for over 20 years. In the latter 10 years, he worked exclusively in the employment field as partner and head of the Scottish employment team with the global law firm DLA Piper. His work covered the whole gamut of employment issues. He was accredited as a specialist in employment law by the Law Society of Scotland and has retained that exclusive focus on employment work in his years since coming to the Scottish Bar. In the four-year period from November 2020 he was a fee-paid employment judge in Scotland. He returned to practice in November 2024, resuming his rights to appear in the Scottish ET and EAT. His practice is primarily first instance in the employment tribunal where he is regularly and...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Read More Right Arrow

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Read More Right Arrow

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Read More Right Arrow

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...

Read More Right Arrow