GC2B: Turning uncertainty into high street success
Eleven GCs and legal counsel take part in a roundtable to discuss the future of the retail industry and how best to support businesses as they deal with the changing landscape
Tech pioneers: Neville Eisenberg’s second legal life
BCLP’s Neville Eisenberg talks about the firm’s new data-driven initiative that aims to boost efficiency and reduce costs, by offering a one-stop shop for high-volume work
Paul Hastings Roundtable: Transatlantic finance lawyers say convergence is here to stay
What is on the horizon for finance lawyers? That was the broad question being asked at a breakfast roundtable hosted by Paul Hastings and The Lawyer in October. With participants both from the lender and sponsor side present, the discussion ranged from current thinking on deal structures, to how finance lawyers in-house might configure their […]
The long read: Plenty of firms wanted a 2020 Vision, but did they stick to it?
The world and everything in it is going through a period of unprecedented change, which means it has never been more difficult to devise a five-year strategy. For firms nearing the end of their 2020 vision, how did they fare?
GC2B: Meeting the challenges of disaggregation
Ten GCs and legal counsel at a roundtable hosted by The Lawyer and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner discuss technology, alternative providers and what the future holds for in-house teams
Reed Smith’s ABS isn’t just ticking boxes: it will be a cultural gamble
After two years of bureaucratic work and internal regulatory checks, Reed Smith has finally obtained its ABS licence. However, the path presented what EMEA head Tamara Box ruefully describes as “a lot of boxes to tick” before getting to this point.
The magic circle has a race problem – and it isn’t getting better anytime soon
As Black History Month comes to an end, the issue of ethnic diversity will start to fade from the limelight. Yet data reveals serious and persistent problems around BAME participation in elite law firms. Despite creating initiatives and policies to address the gap – firms have a long way to go to tackle the ethnic […]
Roundtable: When technology and landowners fail to connect
In a recent roundtable, strong views were aired on the friction that arises between landowners and digital networks, with the role of lawyers firmly in the spotlight
How Latham muscled in on one of Slaughter and May’s oldest clients
The collapse of Thomas Cook last month took the 175-year-old holiday group away from two law firms that had been its loyal advisers for more than a decade; it is a road that has seen plenty of twists and turns. Slaughters’ relationship with the company goes back to at least 2007, when William Underhill, one […]
Tech Pioneers: How KPMG’s consulting arm is taking on private practice
An inquisitive, fact-finding approach has propelled Nicola Brooks into a role at a KPMG unit dedicated to helping in-house teams undergo digital transformation
The long read: What future for Hong Kong’s legal market?
For decades, Hong Kong has been at the centre of Western law firms’ strategies, with its long history as one of the world’s key financial centres. However, times have changed since the first firms set foot in the region.
Data dive: the firms hitting $1bn for the first time
The number of firms producing turnover of more than $1bn continues to rise, according to The Lawyer’s Global 200 report.
Case study: How Royal London rebooted its relationships with external firms
Royal London general counsel Fergus Speight tasked his team with hanging the legal function operating model. Solicitor Peter McCusker led the way, and collaborated with procurement to reboot relationships with external firms
How Simplyhealth’s GC transformed his in-house legal team
After joining insurance provider Simplyhealth in 2016, Jon Jansen-Alder, its general counsel and company secretary, embarked on a programme of transformation to align the legal team with the needs of the business
Case study: Southern Housing Group’s journey to a smoother legal function
Southern Housing Group is one of the oldest and largest housing associations in the country. This case study examines how its legal team tackled a series of claims and established smooth and collaborative working
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Election 2019: how the main parties’ housing policies stack up
Our housing crisis is a long-running, festering wound in the UK’s body politic, says Eversheds Sutherland’s Bruce Dear.
The lawyer of the future is O Shaped
As the legal industry continues to innovate and disrupt at pace, the profession itself remains static, relying on technical excellence to try to maintain its monopoly on providing legal advice to an ever more demanding customer base. While customer-centric law companies are maximising the benefits of technological and operational advances, the profession continues to train […]
Brown Rudnick’s gallant attempt to interest the City might finally work
Cast your minds back to 2013 when a Leeds-headquartered clothing retailer named Republic fell into administration. With all the present dramas of the high street, you might be thinking, so what? But the parties involved are pertinent to last week’s hires between DLA Piper and Brown Rudnick. It turns out the world of restructuring isn’t […]
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Bliss it is in this dawn to be alive: predictions for the next 10 years in the law
Since 2010, change has been gradual. Workplace cultures are largely more thoughtful and accepting than they were a decade ago, but the idea that the practice of law has been disrupted is laughable. Excuse me if I raise an eyebrow at managing partners getting excited about the elite consultancy model and diversity of professional experience […]
Judicial actions by MPs – trespassing beyond the law’s constitutional boundaries?
This article is part of an occasional series championing the rule of law.
Election 2019: the B…usiness election
Whoever wins the General Election will need to overcome being seen as ‘anti-business’. Both Labour and the Conservatives have serious work to do. The Conservative Party has always valued being perceived as the natural party of business and economic competence. While the Labour Party oversaw devaluations in the pound and could not stem the economic […]
Products or Presents? Can law firms monetise data?
Data is the new oil. The question facing law firms is whether they should sell it, give it away or use it to make themselves more efficient. How firms answer this question in the context of their market, as well as their effectiveness in matching investment to their strategic priorities, will be the difference between […]
Mentoring month: how we’ve had to adapt as a firm to supervise legal apprentices
Apprenticeships allow students to ‘earn while you learn’, but how do businesses adapt to accommodate new, younger, less scholarly employees?
When it comes to the US v UK battle, currency eats strategy for lunch
The dollar has made it economically viable for swathes of US firms to drift along in the City with unfocused, unsupported practices, writes Catrin Griffiths.
Black History Month: Curiosity shouldn’t kill the cat
Curiosity about the intricacies of being black should not be frowned upon, argues Trowers & Hamlins trainee Tara Smith.
“We will not keep silent”: Brick Court QC’s call to lawyers at Extinction Rebellion
Extinction Rebellion has been out in force this week, with members of the legal profession lending their support to the cause. This is what Brick Court’s Richard Lord QC had to say at the gathering outside the Royal Courts of Justice. We are standing in a place steeped in legal history, where for centuries notions […]
Global law firms may duck Hong Kong politics, but it won’t shelter them from the economics
Whenever law firm leaders tell you about the importance of ‘purpose’ to organisations, there is a mysterious gap when it comes to civil liberties. The Hong Kong protests against the proposed extradition law that could hand its citizens into mainland Chinese jurisdiction gave birth to a crisis that posed thorny questions to the business community. […]
CAYLUX – Combined legal advice for fund finance transactions
By James Heinicke The Cayman Islands and Luxembourg are two of the world’s leading investment funds jurisdictions and as fund structures become more bespoke it is increasingly common to see fund structures that include Cayman and Luxembourg fund vehicles. Those lending to funds formed in Cayman and/or Luxembourg may wonder why investment managers use these […]
Structuring family office investments using Jersey private funds
By Emily Haithwaite, Josephine Howe Group partner Emily Haithwaite and partner Josephine Howe discuss Jersey private funds and what structures may be most appropriate for family office structures. Their article first appeared in HFM Jersey 2019 Special Report. Wealth is increasing exponentially among some of the world’s richest families, many of which have their own […]
Employee payments by hand
By Başak Kartal Bektimur I. INTRODUCTION First of all, please be informed that the payment of employees’ salaries, premiums, bonuses, indemnities and other receivables bears legal consequences on various fields of law. We kindly represent the consequences of issuing the related payments by hand (in person); which may cause both administrative sanctions against the employer […]
The buzz in Serbia: Interview with Petar Mitrovic
“There are no major movements between firms, or any new firms popping up. There have been some movements, some partners leaving their law offices and moving to the private sector, but nothing worth writing home about “, says Partner* Petar Mitrovic about the Serbian legal market. Mitrovic carries the tune when it comes to the […]
FSMA authorized EMMI for provision and administration of EONIA under EU BMR
The Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) authorized the European Money Markets Institute on 11 November for the provision and administration of EONIA under Article 34 of the EU Benchmarks Regulation (EU BMR). “EMMI has provided the FSMA with comprehensive information attesting that all the necessary arrangements to meet the requirements in the EU […]
United States-Mexico-Canada agreement amendments
By Richard G. Dearden, Wendy J. Wagner, Hunter Fox On Dec. 10, 2019, Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico agreed to substantial amendments to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trade agreement that is slated to replace the long-standing North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canadian Deputy Prime Minister (former Foreign Affairs Minister) […]
Russia’s sovereign internet law comes into force
By Meldir Erbulekova Russia’s Law on Sovereign Internet, adopted in May 2019, came into force in November, amending an existing federal law on information, information technologies and the protection of information as well as a law on communications. The reasoning for adopting this law was to create a national network, which can operate independently in […]
Listing in London – A Discussion with mining journal
By Charles Bond Chris Cann: Hello and welcome to our London Stock Exchange special. My name is Chris Cann from Mining Journal. With me I have Charles Bond who is Partner and Head of Natural Resources with Gowling. I have Tom Attenborough who is Head of Business Development with the London Stock Exchange and Brad […]
Flexible generation and the UK funding landscape
By Gareth Baker John McNair: Hello I’m John McNair, Inspiratia’s Head of Content and welcome to another podcast from Inspiratia, this time on the topic of Flexible Generation and the UK Funding landscape. John: Flexible energy generation will play a crucial role in balancing a system with increasing amounts of intermittent renewable power. But the […]
Investing for the future, now: Delegation, sustainability and investor engagement
By Jason Coates, Suzanne Mortimer, Sarah Tate The Pensions Regulator has revised its 2017 guidance on investing for defined benefit pension schemes to take account of changes to the statutory environment. Trustees should ensure they are familiar with the new requirements set out in the Guidance, which includes changes taking effect this year. If your […]
Non-party cost orders: An inevitable consequence of funding litigation?
By Jonathon Milne, Sarah McLennan As has been widely reported, the litigation funding landscape in the Cayman Islands is changing to keep pace with the UK, Australia and other common law jurisdictions.1 The Caymanian judiciary acknowledge that provided adequate protections are in place, a funding arrangement can facilitate better access to justice and the Legislative […]
NAIC grants Bermuda reciprocal jurisdiction status, affecting (re)insurers’ requirements to post collateral
By Sophia Greaves, Charles G.R. Collis, Chris Garrod, Chiara T. Nannini The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has reaffirmed Bermuda as a Qualified Jurisdiction, ensuring continued efficiency in the cross-border operations of Bermuda (re)insurers in the US market. It has also designated the island a Reciprocal Jurisdiction effective from 1 January 2020, giving Bermuda […]