To mark this year’s Global 100 report, we gathered a group of senior figures at the top of Tower 42 to debate the big issues facing Big Law Alex Novarese, Legal Business: How are market conditions looking now? David Bickerton, Clifford Chance: Too early to tell. Clearly there was a pent-up demand leading up to …
Brexit-related woes aside, City firms in the second 50 enjoyed a bumper year When a firm depends on a signature practice area or specialism in certain sectors, a boom year can quickly turn bust during periods of economic turbulence. However, a number of the London-based practices and boutiques that occupy the second 50 of the …
Continue reading “The LB100: The second 50 – Sterling performances”
A buyers’ market for professional indemnity cannot hide law firms’ exposure to growing risks For a profession often accused of being overly obsessed with risk when advising clients, it is ironic that law firms are taking on uncharted levels of risk themselves.
Since merging with King & Wood Mallesons, legacy SJ Berwin has lurched from one disaster to the next. Can the firm recover? A dire 2015 brought matters to a head at the firm now known as King & Wood Mallesons (KWM). On a wet and windy evening on 22 March, 24 partners from legacy SJ …
Continue reading “Global 100: Branded – Inside the troubled takeover of SJ Berwin”
While 2015’s Global 100 showed signs of regained momentum, the intervening year saw some contenders come to a shuddering halt. Legal Business looks at the few setting the pace and those faltering in the global race. In the early hours of 24 June, the unthinkable happened. The UK had voted to leave the European Union …
Victoria Young and Kathryn McCann talk mergers, leaks and pay with Addleshaws’ no-nonsense head For a firm until recently associated with dithering, drift and under-performance, Addleshaw Goddard has been in decisive mode of late. Over the last two years the national player has assumed a more assertive style under the leadership of managing partner John …
While the advance of global law firms has stalled in recent years, high-quality independents have regained their purpose. Welcome to the Euro Elite, our first study of the advisers redefining the Continent’s legal market. ‘There’s economic value in the culture of a firm,’ says João Vieira de Almeida, managing partner of Portuguese firm Vieira de …
Continue reading “The Euro Elite top 25 – Wars of Independence”
The recent rise of the high-end boutique has redefined the legal industry. We chart the last 12 months for the UK’s leading speciality shops ‘I’ve always thought the future of the disputes market would be prosperous for two camps: very big, full-service firms and boutiques,’ says Royal Dutch Shell general counsel (GC) for global litigation …
Continue reading “Focal points – Law boutiques and the art of focus”
The biggest issue facing business for a generation looms on 23 June with the Brexit vote. We assembled a group of GCs to find out how they are managing the unmanageable. It is the business issue that has dominated headlines for months and represents for UK plc a potentially far more profound impact than any …
As a resurgent mid-tier asserts itself in the UK legal market, our LB100 debate brings together City players to talk tactics, threats and sharpening your focus. If the talking point of the UK legal market in recent years has been the sparkling performance of the City mid-tier, success is not leading to complacency. Bringing together …
Continue reading “The Legal Business 100 debate: No quarter asked”
