News
Some of the things that we have been involved in recently: lectures, articles, reported cases and more...
Consent and Forced Marriage
19th February 2021
Rachael Kelsey took part today at a Roundtable meeting chaired by The Rt Hon Baroness Butler-Sloss, organised by the National Commission on Forced Marriage UK. Read more
Rachael Kelsey takes part in Hague Conference Experts' Group on International Surrogacy
17th February 2021
Rachael Kelsey represented the IAFL at the Hague Conference on Private International Law meeting of the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy. From 15 to 17 February 2021, the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the eighth time. Read more
John West presents at Law Society of Scotland conference on Brexit
27th January 2021
John West presented at the Law Society of Scotland’s family law conference today on what family lawyers should be aware of as a result of Brexit following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. Read more
All Party Group on Surrogacy publishes report on Surrogacy Law reform
26th January 2021
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Surrogacy has this week published its report on Surrogacy Law reform, adding its voice to the calls for wholesale reform of UK Surrogacy Law, which is presently the subject of a joint project of the Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission of England… Read more
SKO Authors Contribute to Family Global Guide
13th January 2021
Rachael Kelsey and John West have contributed the Scottish Chapter to the 5th Edition of the Family Global Guide, published by Thomson Reuters, informally launched today. Read more
Divorce and Cohabitation Jurisdiction Changes
12th January 2021
Rachael Kelsey has written in Scottish Legal News today on the new law for jurisdiction in divorce and cohabitation claims, which came into force on 1st January 2021, following the end of the Brexit transition period. Read more
SKO only Scottish Lawyers ranked in Spears500
7th January 2021
SKO have again been recognised in the annual Spear's 500 directory of the top private client professionals focused on wealth management, law and advisory services for HNW and UHNW individuals. Read more
SKO Partner elected as President of European Chapter of IAFL
4th December 2020
Rachael Kelsey has been elected as President of the IAFL European Chapter. She is the first Scot to be elected to a leadership role in the invitation-only, organisation, which is now in its 35th year. Read more
SKO converts to LLP
1st December 2020
After twelve years as a limited company, the Directors of SKO are delighted to announce that SKO will convert to a limited liability partnership from 1st December 2020. The new structure more closely aligns with the collaborative way that SKO operates and the values that we share. Read more
SKO in Top 3 in The Times Best Law Firms
6th November 2020
The Times Best Law Firms 2021 Guide has ranked SKO has one of the top three firms in Scotland for family law. Read more
SKO retains place in Top Tier in Chambers with most named lawyers
22nd October 2020
We are delighted to not only retain our place in the top tier of Chambers this year but also to have five named lawyers, when no other practice in Scotland has more than three. Read more
Rachael Kelsey takes part in Hague Conference Experts' Group on International Surrogacy
19th October 2020
Rachael Kelsey represented the IAFL at the Hague Conference on Private International Law meeting of the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy. From 12 to 16 October 2020, the Experts’ Group on Parentage / Surrogacy met for the seventh time. Read more
SKO in Top Ten for Client Service
7th October 2020
We are delighted to have been selected as one of the Top Ten firms in Scotland for client service in the Edition of the Legal 500 published this month. Read more
SKO stays in the Top Tier in Legal 500 with only 'Hall of Fame' lawyer in Scotland
30th September 2020
We are delighted to have retained our place in the Top Tier of Family Law practitioners in Scotland in the new edition of the Legal 500.
The Guide recognises SKO as being ‘By far the best family team in Scotland, but they are more than that'. Read more
Rachael Kelsey speaks to Spear's about 'divorce tourism'
3rd August 2020
Rachael Kelsey spoke to Spear's Wealth Management about the recent Supreme Court case, Villiers v Villiers and her lack of enthusiasm for criticism of so-called, 'divorce tourism' or 'forum shopping'. You can read the article here. Read more