Why Ocado, John Lewis and Schroders turned to legal ops for help
Legal operations managers from top UK companies explain what they do and how they are transforming their businesses
Tech Pioneers: How data mining can deliver a rich seam of work
Think your archive is just old paperwork left to gather dust? Think again. Scientists can turn it into treasure
The long read: Clydes has enjoyed a charmed decade of global expansion, but the UK may present unexpected headaches
Clyde & Co’s recent international growth has been nothing short of phenomenal. Now it is turning its attention back to the UK
Video: Implementing legal technology – the good, the bad and the ugly
How can legal tech drive efficiency? A panel of in-house experts discussed the issue at The Lawyer’s In-House Counsel as Business Partner event.
Macfarlanes and Slaughters: a test of M&A succession planning
There’s a shift occurring in the corporate teams of the UK’s most prominent public M&A shops. And for once, it’s got nothing to do with the US firms. Slaughter and May is to lose its golden boys of M&A – William Underhill and Nigel Boardman – at the end of this financial year, while it […]
TLT’s legal tech kit that can advise not just triage
An innovative solution from TLT and US tech group LegalSifter can slash lawyers’ BAU admin burden, but it can also do so much more
Squire Patton Boggs’ “Apple-style” tool for employment advice
The firm is rising to the challenge of providing accurate employment law information about the world’s hardest-to-reach jurisdictions
How AI saved the day on the SFO’s Rolls-Royce probe
The Serious Fraud Office has expanded its use of AI software to speed up investigation time and bring down costs, but its use is not without its challenges
Want some easy pickings in UK law? Insurance firms are juicy targets
Spare a thought for EC3. Clyde & Co and Kennedys may have expanded overseas, but you can’t buccaneer your way to domestic growth. One of the biggest questions facing insurance firms is how they can increase their share of a static market where panel reviews can determine major revenue streams. Virtually every senior figure predicts […]
What to watch out for in 2019: the gig economy meets the law
The gig economy is going to change career options in the top 100 law firms radically in the next 12 months, writes Matt Byrne.
The JLD blog: Age and PQE do not stop you reaching top roles in the profession
Laura Uberoi is a Council Member at the Law Society and, alongside Kayleigh Leonie, represents junior lawyers of 0-5 years PQE. In October Laura was elected as president of her local law society and in doing so became one of the youngest and most junior solicitor to ever hold such a role across the country. […]
MIPIM Asia: Eversheds’ head of real estate feels like an ant on Everest
I feel like a tranquillised hippo. My limbs weigh two tonnes and my brain’s too heavy for my head. It’s November and I have 3,000lb-ungulate jet lag, so I must be at MIPIM Asia. For readers who only know MIPIM Cannes, MIPIM Asia is Cannes’ more refined Hong Kongese cousin. Each year about 900 property […]
Justicetech: Where the innovation is going to happen – and where it won’t
Julia Salasky, CEO of CrowdJustice, the online crowdfunding platform for legal action, spoke at the Law Society’s Future of Law lecture.
In this adapted version she shares her experience using innovative technologies to connect lawyers and clients with funds to take legal action
Hogan Lovells’ adult viewing moment: embarrassing on so many levels
Red faces aplenty at Hogan Lovells last week when a partner was filmed enjoying adult material on his work computer during daytime hours. But not just because a partner spent valuable fee-earning time accessing sexual content; as a policy issue, it has raised questions about why internet controls were not consistent across the firm’s global network. Prior to the incident, Hogan Lovells’ internet controls varied across jurisdictions, […]
Access to justice: digitisation of the advice sector is the last hope
While firms are beginning to embrace the opportunities that tech can provide, the advice sector remains underfunded when it comes to digitisation.
Access to Justice: what more can City firms do?
City firms contribute an immense amount of work pro bono every year, which goes some way to plugging the justice gap. But should they be expected to?
Access to justice: A little more talk, please, from the City. Your silence is starting to be noticed
Fair dealings under the rule of law, from which the commercial legal sector has derived immense riches, is under threat.
The JLD blog: five pieces of advice for vacation schemes
A few weeks ago, I was asked by a paralegal at my firm whether or not they should apply be applying for vacation schemes or if they should go straight to the training contract applications. To be frank, it stumped me, as it’s something I’d not given much thought to since qualifying. It brought to […]
Why e-signatures should be the de facto standard for executing deals
By Richard Oliphant The market for legal services is highly competitive. The recent report by The Lawyer and Intapp (‘Navigating a new reality in the client-empowered’) revealed how law firms are investing heavily in ‘intelligent automation’ technologies and using data analytics to improve client service and stay ahead of the pack. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning […]
Black History Month: “There’s a pervasive misunderstanding of what diversity means for law firms”
Debevoise & Plimpton counsel Akima Paul Lambert discusses the opportunity that changed her life.
HighQ launches AI survey, aiming to sift through the hype
When it comes to artificial intelligence in the legal industry, the number of platform options are soaring with almost 70 companies focused on creating AI-enabled legal technology solutions, according to a LawGeex report. It’s also clear that firms and other businesses will want to evaluate and invest in multiple AI platforms to solve different problems, […]
Angola: The Mining Law Review
By João Afonso Fialho, Ângela Viana Angola is one of the greatest diamond producers in the world and has extensive reserves of valuable natural resources, notably diamonds, gold, iron ore, phosphates, copper, manganese, and many other mineral resources. Unfortunately, the civil war (1975–2002) had a tremendous impact on the mining industry, which was basically put […]
Benefits and perils of permanent health schemes in employment contracts
In the recent case of Awan v. ICTS UK Ltd [2018] 11WLUK 385 (Simler J, President) the EAT confirmed and strengthened previous decisions (Aspden v. Webbs Poultry [1996] IRLR 251, Briscoe v. Lubrizol Ltd[2002] IRLR 607, amongst others) To the effect that a term will be implied into contracts of employment that “once the employee has become entitled to […]
Canadian securities regulators concern on problematic promotional activities by issuers
By Brett A. Kagetsu, Denis G. Silva A recent announcement by Canadian securities regulators demonstrates their growing concern with biased promotional materials, and highlights the risks to issuers when engaging with prospective investors. The regulators state that they are seeing promotional activities by issuers that are either untrue or unbalanced to such a degree that […]
Imprisonment fears allayed for arbitrators and experts involved in UAE-Seated arbitrations
By Courtney Rothery, Robyn Waller Imprisonment fears have been allayed for arbitrators and party-appointed experts involved in UAE-seated arbitrations following the latest amendments to Article 257 of the UAE Penal Code. THE PREVIOUS WORDING OF ARTICLE 257 OF THE UAE PENAL CODE In October 2016 arbitrators and party-appointed experts involved in UAE-seated arbitrations (who may or may not […]
Law Commission consultation on leasehold enfranchisement reform
By Karl Anders, Zoe McLean-Wells The Law Commission has undertaken a “root and branch review” of all aspects of enfranchisement law and is consulting on detailed and wide-ranging proposals for reform. Housing Management & Litigation experts Karl Anders and Zoe McLean-Wells summarise some of the headline proposals and urge stakeholders to have their say before the extended […]
Busy lenders’ round-up: December 2018
By Deborah Sheldon Welcome to TLT’s busy lenders’ monthly round-up. Each month we summarise the latest news and developments in retail mortgage lending and regulation.
Financial Reporting Council has launched new code for the corporate governance
By Alice Gardner A new code for the corporate governance of large private companies has now been launched by the Financial Reporting Council. Known as the Wates Principles, the new code is made up of the following six principles: Purpose and leadership Board composition Director responsibilities Opportunity and risk Remuneration Stakeholder relationships and engagement
Slovenia: Right to be heard in dawn raid
By Urša Kranjc In October 2018 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) granted Produkcija Plus doo (Pro Plus) €52,500 in compensation after its right to be heard was violated in the proceedings relating to the fine imposed for obstructing the dawn raid. Facts Suspecting that Pro Plus was abusing its dominant position, the Competition Protection […]
Deadline for notification of AML officer appointments is 31 December
By Maree Martin The deadline for regulated funds to notify the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”) of their appointment of an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, Money Laundering Reporting Officer and Deputy Money Laundering Reporting Officer (together “AML Officers”) is 31 December 2018. The appointments were required to have been made by 30 September 2018. Unregulated funds are […]
Romania: Cybersecurity – Call for action for major companies in critical sectors
By Daniele Iàcona, Costin Sandu The first piece of EU-wide legislation on cybersecurity is expected to be transposed into Romanian law anytime now, bringing into play enhanced system security obligations for major companies in certain sectors, as well as fines of up to 5 % of non-compliant companies’ turnover. Romania is on its way to finalising the second […]
Hungary: HCA publishes digital consumer protection strategy
By András Nagy The Hungarian Competition Authority (HCA) recently published a strategy paper presenting its views on consumer protection in the digital age. The paper subtly indicates that the HCA will continue to follow the European Commission’s guidance in this regard. The paper highlights the measures which the HCA deems necessary to protect consumers and keep […]