Litigation Top 50: The five firms leading the way since 2013
Since 2013, the same five firms have occupied the top five positions in The Lawyer’s Litigation Top 50.
When politics and reputation meet: Mishcon has cemented its punchy brand in the Labour anti-Semitism dispute
Earlier this week, Mishcon became a public player in a toxic battle over anti-Semitism that is threatening to engulf the Labour Party.
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Wilson Sonsini has landed in London: “We’re here to complement, not compete”
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has arrived in London. The US firm revealed in June that it was to launch a office in the City to provide US access and support to UK-based technology and life sciences companies. It officially opened yesterday, based on Old Street in the heart of London’s technology community. The new shop will […]
Polo shirts and geeks: Inside Mishcon’s tech incubator
“We want to be at the forefront of law firm tech innovation,” says Mishcon’s chief technology officer Nick West
This year’s financials show how much Clifford Chance and A&O have played catch-up
It is a historical oddity of magic circle figures that there is always one firm that has an off year.
Litigation too bespoke to pin down on price? HSF didn’t think so
HSF has adapted the fixed fees approach used for transactional work to the much less predictable world of disputes
Pinsents and Everton FC: advice from a law firm, with no lawyers required
While the provision of legal advice is central to any law firm, many are branching out into other areas. One recent project taken on by Pinsent Masons for football club Everton was notable because it had little to no involvement from lawyers. Instead, it was managed from start to finish by the firm’s dedicated legal […]
DLA Piper’s offices overhaul: If you’re going open-plan for costs, you’re doing it wrong
DLA Piper’s recent office overhauls in Australia, Manchester and next London are not about cramming more people in.
It’s not about the kit. In tech and innovation, firms need to learn to speak fluent human
There will soon be a transfer market for law’s tech celebrities, and the internal opportunities are attractive.
My Pride Story: “Being gay is no big deal for me – thanks to the work of those who came before me”
Solicitor apprentice Hal Donovan gives his take on LGBT in law as one of the newest entrants to the profession.
The JLD column: The SRA needs a null hypothesis for SQE – and a Plan B
Avid Lawyer 2B readers will be well aware of the SRA’s plans to radically alter the process of qualifying as a solicitor via the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). For those less familiar with the topic, it can be summarised as follows: whereas the current formula for qualification can crudely be expressed as […]
I clinched a training contract only after ignoring my diversity
When I first started making training contract applications I concentrated heavily on my ‘diverse’ background. I realise now I was wrong to do so.
Six things to consider if you want to float your law firm
Nothing comes for free – before going for the IPO firms need to understand six key points.
Freshfields lockstep: the war for talent gets teeth
This is the first fissure revealing the implications for those of us who are not superstars; we’re not worth as much as we thought we were.
KPI: Make kindness a performance indicator
Should kindness be a significant measure of success for all leaders and all teams? asks LBC’s Paul Gilbert
2018 financials: Why the Clifford Chance Carillion deal is more important than Freshfields losing Higgins
Across the board, we’re hearing of splendid figures all round, with the mid-tier proving its worth once again.
Slaughters can’t grow all its own talent anymore – no wonder it has to bring in laterals
Warning: we must now confront the unthinkable. Slaughter and May lateral hires will start to be seen as the norm.
What we can expect from the SFO’s next director
As the non-announcement leaked out, there was much scratching of collective heads and asking, who is she? Because she isn’t One Of Us.
US lateral hires: Asda shows a payoff for Gibson Dunn’s competition push
A US firm displacing the mighty competition department at Slaughter and May, no less, has not gone unremarked by City partners.
Transatlantic tie-ups have slowed local growth for UK legacy firms
US-UK mergers can be divided into two waves: pre- and post-Hogan Lovells.
Global growth obsession: Six firms that are setting the trend
In 2016 Global 200 billings totalled $128.4bn – a 3 per cent increase on 2015’s $124.4bn. A large part of that growth is thanks to six ambitious firms.
Herbert Smith Freehills tops mammoth settlements in 2017
If settlements are conducted behind closed doors then they seldom achieve the attention and excitement of the cases that make it to trial, for the fact there is no binary winner or loser. That may have to change, because so far, three of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases for this year have settled.
The sad story of Cobbetts
As it emerges that eight former Cobbetts lawyers have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, we recall the story of an ambitious firm caught out by the recession.
Clifford Chance lances the boil with lockstep review
Clifford Chance partners have voted to extend the firm’s lockstep ladder once again this week. But who is going to benefit from this change?
LIA SocGen settlement: This saga is nowhere near over
As far as litigation is concerned, settlements are supposed to be the gentle way out. But in the case between the Libyan Investment Authority and Societe Generale, it has come to signify the end of one headache and the beginning of another.
How partner exits sparked Ashurst’s strategy u-turn
Last year Ashurst’s mounting partner exits signalled serious trouble within its ranks. But as firms prepare to release their year-end financials, the consensus is that the storm at Ashurst has calmed. Will it last?
M&A activity in Ireland valued at €70.9bn in first half of 2018
The first six months of 2018 have been notably buoyant for Ireland’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. Dealmakers were kept busy with a pipeline of transactions, in a continuation of the active market that was evident last year…
Retail Risk Report 2018: Digital disruption and regulatory changes
By Kerry Gwyther 2018 has been a particularly challenging year for retailers so far, combining tough trading conditions with digital disruption and major legal and regulatory changes. Our Retail Risk Report, now in its fourth year, is a single point of reference to help retailers understand the legal and regulatory changes taking place in 2018 […]
When can a force majeure clause in contracts be relied on?
By Tom George, Daniel Wood and Cathy Moore In times of economic and/or political uncertainty, parties to construction contracts may consider whether they have a right to rely on force majeure provisions as a justification for temporarily or permanently failing to perform substantive obligations. We review the recent decision in Seadrill Ghana Operations Ltd v Tullow Ghana […]
Blockchain roundtable: addressing the regulatory challenges of disruptive innovation
The Blockchain Research Institute (BRI) recently gathered nearly 70 global leaders in finance, law, government, academia and innovation for a special roundtable discussion that explored the challenges surrounding blockchain regulation. Usman Sheikh, Gowling WLG partner and National Head of the firm’s Blockchain & Smart Contract Group, co-led the forum with blockchain pioneer and co-founder of BRI Don Tapscott, […]
Sentencing Council publishes gross negligence manslaughter definitive sentencing guideline
The penalties imposed on individuals for fatal accidents in the workplace are set to increase after the Sentencing Council for England and Wales published its definitive sentencing guideline for gross negligence manslaughter. Walker Morris health and safety experts, Stuart Ponting and Robert Starr, consider the new guideline and the implications for employers and directors…
Energy Update – August 2018
This energy update includes the following white papers: CMA publishes final report on Heat Networks calling for new regulation The first National Infrastructure Assessment is published recommending growth in Green Energy NAO report on package recycling Update on Electric Vehicles Amendment Regulations 2018 – in force 24 July 2018 The Mayor of London’s Energy Efficiency […]
Will the revised NPPF lead to more affordable housing?
By Katherine Evans On 24 July 2018, the long-awaited revised NPPF was released. The omission of social rented homes from definition of affordable housing in Annex 2 of the draft revised NPPF has been addressed. Starter Homes are now included in the definition but secondary legislation is still required to set out financial eligibility for […]
Luxembourg publishes law on VAT grouping
As foreseen in our previous newsflash, the law on VAT grouping has officially been published, last Friday. The text – which provides for an entry into force on 31 July 2018 – modifies the general VAT Law. It now enables Luxembourg entities sharing financial, economic and organisational links to set up a VAT group, thus allowing them to […]
Reform of the Portuguese pricing and reimbursement system
By Edward J. Dougherty Following a recent reform in 2015, the Portuguese pricing and reimbursement system is sophisticated and comprehensive. Nevertheless, substantial discretion is allowed to the competent national authority, and this is the source of most challenges for innovators…
Companies should act on Luxembourg corporate law reforms before deadline
With less than a fortnight before the New Companies Act comes into force, companies should be urgently considering changes to articles of association or face being stuck under the constraints of the old regime, says Ogier partner Bertrand Geradin…
International franchisors expanding in the UAE
By Vanessa Delnaud The Middle East’s buzzing commercial platform is attracting more and more international businesses in a wide variety of sectors. The businessfriendly environment and the international consumer base make the franchise model especially attractive in the region. The franchising model is very popular in the UAE, in particular in the retail, food and beverage, […]
Competition in investment consultancy and fiduciary management markets to get boost
The Competition and Markets Authority (the “CMA”) has published its provisional findings (set out below) in its market investigation into investment consultancy and fiduciary management services to pension scheme trustees. Background to the proposal…