One firm moves its money to England, fearing a run on banks if UK splits apart The countdown to the Scottish referendum is on and Scottish law firms are feeling the pressure. The impending vote has already slowed commercial activity in Scotland in a big way and firms are having to think about their future […]
This week we publish our review of the reviews, which tallies the firms that have won places on the panels of 2014. There’s a pattern emerging. The larger companies, particularly those that are listed, will choose one or two magic circle firms (a GC might need to keep sweet with more than one, since they […]
Which firms are cutting it in this era of slimline rosters, and who are the GC new brooms making clean sweeps? The Lawyer can reveal all With in-house budgets tightening and law firms competing for fewer spots as external counsel to UK companies, the musical chairs-like scramble for places is fierce, frustrating and sometimes fruitless. […]
An IP crackdown is needed to safeguard and develop the £70bn contribution the creative industries make to the UK economy The UK boasts a proud history of artistic achievement, ranging from the output of great literary figures to the masterstrokes of painters and the ingenuity of generations of world-famous actors and directors. In recent decades […]
Emma Thomas’s crisis management skills, honed at Britvic and Woolworths, gave her the expertise to put HomeServe’s house in order after a mis-selling scandal HomeServe legal director Emma Thomas’s career has been shaped by the kind of external factors that have seen sectors flounder, markets collapse and companies fail. Perhaps more by accident than by […]
Move of the week Eversheds has hired corporate finance partner Alison Starr from Pinsent Masons. Starr has particular expertise in equity capital market transactions and advises corporates and investment banks in relation to M&A and takeovers, IPOs, public fundraisings, listing rules and compliance issues. Starr’s recent work includes advising Tyman on it$200m (£124m) US acquisition, together with its stock market […]
The SRA sees its latest reforms as defending access to justice, yet debate persists. Why is it so hard to solve a problem like PII? The SRA has submitted its latest recommendations for reform of its professional indemnity insurance (PII) rules and the minimum terms and conditions (MTCs) to the Legal Services Board (LSB) (see […]
Document management technology is changing quickly, adding complexity to the efficiency versus security debate Q: What are the biggest issues in relation to document production/management in law firms? Jennie Gubbins, senior partner, Trowers & Hamlins: Managing change internally, and building trust is paramount. Working alongside your PA/secretary on a daily basis means the secretary gets to […]
Third-party funding is gaining credibility and more firms are willing to get in on the provider act, developing the market further Q: Is take-up of third-party litigation funding growing and if so, why and for what kind of case? Robert Hickmott, partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan: Third-party funding has been available for a some time […]
The Irish legal scene is short of people after the downturn, with opportunities aplenty for lawyers with skills in the hot practice areas Ireland is once again a land of opportunity for lawyers looking for jobs as work picks up in Dublin, both cross-border and domestic. Firms are back on track in terms of recruitment, […]
Italian M&A activity has hit a rough patch, forcing law firms to look for alternative sources of revenue In July 2012 Italian lawyers from Orsingher Ortu watched in disbelief as three big deals all fell through in the space of a week. Mario Ortu, head of Orsingher Ortu’s corporate and M&A group, witnessed the effect […]
One firm moves its money to England, fearing a run on banks if UK splits apart The countdown to the Scottish referendum is on and Scottish law firms are feeling the pressure. The impending vote has already slowed commercial activity in Scotland in a big way and firms are having to think about their future […]