Last Monday saw the release of the top 100 segment of this year’s UK 200, focusing on the growth of the UK’s biggest firms.
Our summary of the key findings – namely that UK-headquartered firms are less global than they think – was easily the most-read story of the week. It was followed up by a look at some of the ‘new model’ firms, including the Big Four accountants and their efforts to break into the UK legal market.
A focus on the international firms operating in the UK also made it to the top 10 stories as we confirmed Latham & Watkins’ place as the biggest global player in the London market.
Latham’s annual promotion round featured in the most-read list too. The firm made up four partners in London amid 25 promotions worldwide, increasing its numbers from last year.
A key trend in the market at the moment is the adoption of artificial intelligence and an interview with Berwin Leighton Paisner’s head of legal risk consultancy Matthew Whalley about how the firm is adopting the technology proved extremely popular with readers both on the website and through social media shares.
Data and technology has been in the headlines this week with a number of household names having security issues. Morrisons is facing a data breach claim by 2,000 of its employees, and DWF has picked up the mandate to represent the supermarket chain with Manchester firm JMW on the other side.
In other litigation news several major banks settled forex rigging claims with regulators last week, but a number of firms are gearing up to bring claims on behalf of victims.
Last week’s leadership interview with Debevoise & Plimpton’s London co-heads Peter Goldsmith QC and Richard Ward also pulled in the readers, as did the news that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has signed a £2.6m lease for a permanent base in Manchester.
The final story in the top 10 was the exclusive news of an unprecedented draw at Law Rocks, with Addleshaw Goddard and Coffin Mew’s performances splitting the judges at the legal rock’n’roll event.
The top 10 in full:
1. UK 200, The Top 100: You’re good, but you’re not quite global
2. UK 200: New Model Law and the ABS providers
3. BLP’s Whalley: Using AI for processing is just the beginning
4. Morrisons turns to DWF on data breach claim by 2,000 staff
5. Debevoise UK heads: “We don’t do easy, we’re not a conveyor belt”
6. Latham & Watkins ups London partner promotions in increased global round
7. Carnage as Addleshaws and Coffin Mew tie at Law Rocks
8. Freshfields signs £2.6m lease in Manchester’s One New Bailey
9. Barclays, HSBC and RBS face $900m forex rigging bill as firms gear up for raft of UK litigation
10. UK 200: Latham still number one international firm in London
