Legal Business

The Global 100 debate: Going hard and betting long

Nathalie Tidman, Legal Business: How have your businesses been performing over the last year? What have been the highlights?

Deborah Finkler, Slaughter and May: Remarkably well. I certainly think that we have all been holding our breath for the last two years for the downturn, which still has not entirely happened. The biggest issue we are facing is that we have a higher headcount than we had 18 months ago. You normally wait until things get difficult and then you think about how you are going to cope, but things are not difficult enough. One of the issues I have as a managing partner is persuading people that we need to be out pounding the pavements and getting more work, given that we never make people redundant.

Legal Business

Sponsor message: SSQ

Every year the GC Powerlist brings together long-standing and emerging talent leading some of the best in-house legal functions in the UK and across the globe. This year is no exception and we would like to congratulate all of those that have made it into the GC Powerlist for 2020.

This year is focused on those transforming legal services. This transformation is happening at a rapid pace driven by innovative, business-focused and brave leaders in-house who are pushing the needle across so many areas. They are not only revolutionising how in-house legal teams utilise technology and people more effectively and efficiently, they are also influencing the modernisation of law firms, demanding diversity, innovation and flexibility. Most importantly, by unleashing the true potential of a best-in-class legal function, they are ensuring that in-house legal functions are true business partners.