After last year’s dramas, what lies ahead?

The UK faces Brexit and a potential second Scottish independence referendum
The UK faces Brexit and a potential second Scottish independence referendum
JANE BARLOW/PA

If 2016 was the rehearsal, then 2017 will be the real thing. So prepare for volatility across the UK. “With the world adjusting to Brexit and a Trump presidency — and the prospect of a second Scottish independence referendum lingering in the background — one thing remains certain for us and for our clients: it won’t be dull,” says Ewan Alexander, the head of the Pinsent Masons Edinburgh office. “Coping with uncertainty and adaptability will be the keys to success.”

Christine O’Neill, the chairman of Brodies, would prefer less uncertainty. “My first hope is that we — in the UK, but particularly in Scotland — get greater clarity about what we can expect from Brexit,” she says. “A self-confident and committed Scottish legal profession can