Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines including new MSP's immigration status — Monday May 18

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots law and beyond includes debate over one new MSP's immigrations status as well as a Highland crime spree case.

Why is there a row about an MSP's immigration status?

Q Manivannan, originally from India, is on a student visa which is due to expire at the end of the year. That did not prevent the political novice from being elected on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list, the BBC reports.

Opponents believe Manivannan should not have been selected in the first place - while the Greens have accused critics of "disgusting" attacks on their new parliamentarian.

• Why is there a row about an MSP's immigration status? (BBC)

• MSPs sworn in for new term at Scottish Parliament (BBC)

• How Q Manivannan became an MSP despite having a temporary visa (Holyrood Magazine)

• Home Office urged to investigate new Green MSP Q Manivannan in UK on student visa (ITV News)

• [£] SNP veteran calls on Greens to withdraw MSP on student visa (Times)

• Tom Tugendhat: The ‘election’ of a foreign student is a travesty of democracy (Telegraph)

• Controversial Green MSP faces being booted out of UK just 3 DAYS into job (Sun)

• [£] Scottish Greens MSP issues statement amid speculation over visa status (National)

• [£] Green MSP may be unable to serve full term due to visa (Herald)

Burness Paull passes £100m in turnover as PEP jumps by a quarter

Leading Scottish firm Burness Paull has reported double-digit growth across all key metrics for the 2025-26 financial year, with revenue crossing the £100m mark for the first time as PEP has jumped by a quarter, reports Legal Business.

• Burness Paull passes £100m in turnover as PEP jumps by a quarter (Legal Business)

• Burness Paull breaks the £100m turnover barrier (The Lawyer)

• Burness Paull breaks through £100m turnover (Scottish Financial news)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across the UK and beyond:

• Law Society: New UK government bill risks weakening fight against economic crime (Scottish Legal News)

• Accountant who filed incorrect tax returns for Glasgow restaurateurs avoids jail (STV News)

• Scot among 12 most wanted fugitives with links to Spain (BBC News)

• [£] Major law firm reveals two Scottish hires from rival (Herald)

• Killer jailed for life for 'shocking and violent' murder of Alan Lawson (STV News)

• [£] How pimping websites are brazenly flouting the law against sex trafficking in Scotland (Scotsman)

• John Worboys is denied parole for second time (Guardian)

• Nigel Farage faces parliamentary watchdog probe over £5m gift (STV News)

• Entertaining Law - Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15m over use of her image on TV boxes (LinkedIn)

• [£] Crispin Odey settles sexual assault claims (Financial Times)

• Palestine Action trial lawyer wins appeal against contempt of court charge (Guardian)

• [£] Judges bristle at bid to alter work rules (Times)

• ‘We have the same monster’: three women brought down their rapist – this is what happened next (Guardian)

• Alex Murdaugh's murder conviction sensationally OVERTURNED: Disgraced legal scion faces retrial for killing wife and son after judges' bombshell ruling (Daily Mail)

• [£] Judicial watchdog backtracks on ‘bullying’ investigation (Times)

• [£] Litigation funder boasts of $100m profit despite court loss (Times)

• [£] Private equity backers slam ‘runaway’ legal costs from top law firms (Financial Times)

• Catholic Church site in Edinburgh to be sold after nearly 200 years (BBC News)

• Councillors grant more time to demolish Ironworks music venue (BBC News)