From legal counsel to general counsel, Paul Mussenden has never looked back since joining speciality pharmaceuticals company BTG over 16 years ago. And with a PhD in molecular biology and microbial physiology, he can certainly be considered qualified for the job.
Revenues grew substantially for some independent Nordic firms in 2015 and dropped for others, according to this year’s The Lawyer Euro 100, but behind the mixed results is a seismic change in the major firms’ internal structures.
There is a fundamental problem with innovation in the legal market. As one general counsel pointed out at The Lawyer’s recent Business Leadership Summit, clients understand why technology is a priority to improve the efficiency for their advisers, but it’s not a selling point. After all, what do they get out of it?
Stephen Hester has been involved in more rescues and restructures than virtually any other FTSE executive, from Abbey National to British Land and from RBS to RSA. He talks to The Lawyer about the role of the legal adviser in a crisis situation.
What has changed for in-house lawyers 100 days after the Brexit vote?
The billion dollar club is growing. Five years ago just five firms grossed more than $2bn. Now 35 turn over $1bn (soon to be 36 when CMS, Nabarro and Olswang merge), and they are closing the gap fast. Some of their leaders were sitting around the table at The Lawyer’s first-ever Managing Partners’ Dinner.
Acursory glance at the headlines would deter anyone from investing in Ukraine. Those not in the know could be forgiven for believing the country is besieged by the Russian military, tangled in a complex web of red tape and bureaucracy, and plagued by corruption and bribery.
This week marks a first for The Lawyer, in which we are widening our coverage of legal business to the ultimate consumers of legal advice: the board.