Richard Susskind, one of the UK’s best-known experts on legal market technology and artificial intelligence (AI), has been appointed to a new position of special envoy for justice and AI to the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland KC. Susskind’s focus in this new role will be on helping the 56 Commonwealth countries use AI […]
Kirkland & Ellis is hiring a new partner from Clifford Chance, in a move that will grow its outsourcing and technology expertise in London. André Duminy joins Kirkland after nearly 25 years at Clifford Chance, where he is head of its London tech and digital group and co-head of the strategic sourcing and complex contracting […]
Four lawyers, who shifted from tech-focused Kemp Little to Deloitte Legal following the acquisition four years ago, have now reunited at Simmons & Simmons. Andrew Joint joined Simmons yesterday from Deloitte Legal, having previously been Kemp Little’s managing partner from 2017 until its acquisition. He joins fellow partner Calum Murray, who made the same move […]
BT has further shrunk its panel for the third review in a row having appointed a total of 11 firms to its roster. The panel will run for three years and includes 10 firms that have been reappointed from 2020. Those continuing their relationship with BT after the latest review are the likes of Allen […]
Fieldfisher is bolstering its German presence with a sizeable team from local firm SKW Schwartz and a handful of other hires, in an effort to expand its media, technology and IP offerings. The firm has hired eight lawyers from SKW Schwarz including partners Martin Diesbach, Elisabeth Noltenius and Julia Schafdecker, all of whom specialise in […]
The much-vaunted deal between Japanese conglomerate Softbank and British-based AI-chip innovator Graphcore comes at a pivotal time for the tech sector. The deal, understood to be valued at more than $500m, closed last week, shortly after the installation of a new Labour Government and when no definitive answer exists as to what AI regulation might […]
This week marked a year since the Supreme Court’s decision in Lloyd v Google in which a multibillion-pound data protection claim brought against the tech giant was thrown out. The immediate aftermath saw a long pipeline of data claims dropped in a flash. But 12 months on and claimant firms are anticipating a bounce-back. Here are […]
As individual lawyers are being named in the Commons over advice provided to oligarch clients, scrutiny around London’s role as a hub for privacy and libel disputes grows increasingly intense. Last month the Supreme Court decided to dismiss Bloomberg’s appeal against a claim brought over the misuse of private information. The case concerned an article […]
Technology has moved up the agenda in board rooms, with innovators now held in higher regard than before the crisis
The departure of four Taylor Wessing partners last week to Goodwin Procter not only leaves a hole in the firm’s life sciences practice, but prompts questions about its longer-term international TMT strategy in light of its talks with Wilson Sonsini.
From cryptocurrencies and blockchain, to regulation and litigation, tech and digital knowhow are changing the face of Switzerland’s financial and legal markets
Over the weekend, nearly two years of tussling for UK media giant Sky came to an end when Comcast’s £30bn bid trumped 21st Century Fox. But while magic circle firms maintain only they can act on big-ticket M&A, the variety of advisers on call was striking. Here’s what we learned.
This month, a line-up of tech specialists will gather for The Lawyer’s Business Leadership Summit 2018, a one-day event focused on the future of law firms in a tech-driven world. Among the panels hosted during the day, a discussion called “Skills of the future” will explore the abilities lawyers will need to thrive in a […]
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 […]
One year on from the day DLA Piper went down to a Russian cyber attack, its leadership recalls the firm’s fortnight of crisis – and how it survived.
The massive investment from big organisations into legal tech startups is just the beginning. They have to prove it’s worth it, Matilda Munro reports.
A new breed of legal professional could revolutionise the business. They have both tech and legal expertise, are fee-generating and on track for partner status
In the first of a series of articles, TLT introduces the Law Society’s recently updated Blockchain Guidance and the impact this new technology will have across our sectors.
Company A (a Greek company) provides music programmes – based on a specific repertoire and intended to function as background music – to retail stores and, more broadly, to commercial or workplaces. Such music is used as a background for the broadcasting of advertising messages that are heard in such commercial spaces on a daily […]
The Government’s much anticipated response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation has finally been released but those seeking clarity at this stage may be left scratching their heads. It appears to represent no more than an indication of the Government’s direction of travel under considerable media pressure to ensure that “something must be done” […]
Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie have positioned themselves as The New Lawyers – a breed that embrace innovation to give clients confidence in these volatile and uncertain times. In this context, the firm’s marketing function has committed to evolving their digital maturity, bringing strategies and tactics in line with the firm’s brand message. This […]
By Adam Solomon The New York Attorney General’s investigation has determined that the Bitfinex trading platform and the virtual currency, ‘tether’, have covered up the apparent loss of $850 million in co-mingled client and corporate funds. The Attorney General, Letitia James, said: “New York state has led the way in requiring virtual currency businesses to […]
By James Webb Despite 2018 being a very tough year for many in the food and drink industry, according to research compiled by Grant Thornton, M&A and private equity deal activity in the sector remained steady with a fall of just 2.8% compared to 2017. This is supported by our experience during the period where […]
Not every morality clause is created equal and the parties must consider what they hope to achieve when drafting the clause in order to ensure their reputation is protected. In November 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed a leave to appeal application on the application of a morality clause. Certain lessons can be pulled from […]
By Valentina Falicheva A notable trend since Bitcoin gained its popularity has been an incredible rise in the interest in the technology behind Bitcoin known as Blockchain, which is the “thing” which allows cryptocurrencies to function. Some statistics indicate that the global blockchain market is expected to be worth $20 billion in 2024! In this article, […]
By Robert Breedon, Tom Gray, Elwin Morgan Africa’s healthcare is in the midst of an innovation revolution that, as PwC say, “…is transforming Africa’s economic potential, creating new target markets and unprecedented consumer choice”. This innovation revolution is powered in part by traditional methods of funding human capital development in areas such as development and […]
18% of businesses say fines would put them at risk of insolvency Some 55% of UK small businesses are still not familiar with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) despite its introduction being now less than a year away…
…Head 80 of the General Scheme states that where a controller or processor is fined and does not appeal a decision to the Data Protection Commission, then the Commission will apply to the Circuit Court for confirmation of the fine. The Head goes on to state that the Circuit Court must then confirm the fine […]
The Romanian Senate adopted a draft law regarding the “electronic headquarters of economic operators” (the “Draft Law “). The Draft Law regulates the mandatory use by professionals of predefined electronic mailboxes (e-mails), as identification element and means of receiving correspondence. Similar legal provisions are already in force in certain countries in the CEE/SEE region, such […]
