If nothing else, it is safe to say Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP)’s not-very-convincing claim that management was not dead set on a US merger was stretching it. Because recent news that the firm is debating a union with Bryan Cave screams: ‘We really want a US merger!’ The talks come after last year having gone …
Continue reading “BLP’s US merger bid – a certain loss of confidence”
Navigant’s Tanya Gross asks how close are we to mainstream acceptance? Predictive coding helps tackle large document review exercises. It enables the reviewer to find key documents by training the technology to identify documents of interest (through an algorithm and selected criteria) rather than relying solely on manual human review decisions, which are often subjective. …
Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Adoption of predictive coding for legal document review”
The headline of the last lengthy piece Legal Business carried on Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer said it all: The Last Champions. While there is no doubt that the Magic Circle has faced huge challenges asserting itself since the banking crisis, for many Freshfields was the member of the club with the best prospect of securing its …
Continue reading “What ails Freshfields? Time is running out for ‘The Last Champions’”
Casting an eye over the results for the world’s 100 largest law firms, 2016/17 has been the definition of grinding out a result. Not a pretty result at that. The group as a whole hiked revenues 3% to $98.82bn, pretty much tracking the increase in lawyer numbers. In part due to the strength of the …
Continue reading “A grinding year for the Global 100 as US leaders assert dominance”
At the debate I recently attended on future of law-type stuff everything was proceeding to plan. Once the panel finished on artificial intelligence (AI), the law firm model and partners being useless, conversation turned to the Big Four. You know the gist: HERE THEY COME – GLOBAL – SLICK – WAY-AHEAD-OF-LAW-FIRMS. Of course, the case …
Continue reading “The Big Four – they’d have done it by now if they cared”
Navigant’s Tony Farrow describes how the particular risks of offshore oil and gas extraction present unique challenges for parties involved in construction projects Onshore and offshore basics In oil and gas extraction, both onshore and offshore-based facilities are dealing with the same process – namely the collection, initial processing, storage, and transfer of oil and …
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For months I’ve refrained from adding to the reams of pointless Brexit commentary given that until developments develop, not much can reasonably be said. But now article 50 has been triggered, there is a little more to work with. Actually, I could have taken a break from banging on about King & Wood Mallesons a …
Continue reading “Prepare for a bumpy Brexit ride and to be ignored”
Will this year’s Global London report chronicle the high watermark for the Square Mile as a global hub for foreign law firms? The possibility has to be considered with the article 50 notice about to be delivered as I type these words, representing the biggest threat to London’s position since the 1990s’ run-up to the …
Continue reading “Global London: Has the City reached the end of its curious post-Lehman boom?”
‘We will continue to hire lawyers we see as adding something. That continues to be the mantra: hire great lawyers and your practice will grow.’ Richard East, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan As our Global London report hits desks, the leadership at US law firms in the City weigh up the challenges ahead MISSION STATEMENT …
Navigant’s Peter Brooker on how London retains its leading position in international construction dispute resolution International construction disputes Whether for commercial litigation or arbitration, London has established a position as one of the leading centres for international construction dispute resolution. The UK Bar and judiciary are generally held in high regard around the world, upholding …
