Leading GCs push law firms to improve diversity efforts

A group of 65 general counsel spanning major companies from the UK and Europe has collectively signed a letter urging law firms to improve their diversity efforts.
Continue reading “Significant matters – Spring 2019”

Leading GCs push law firms to improve diversity efforts

A group of 65 general counsel spanning major companies from the UK and Europe has collectively signed a letter urging law firms to improve their diversity efforts.
Continue reading “Significant matters – Spring 2019”

When Axiom announced in February its intentions to float, it was a seminal moment for New Law, with the pioneering flexible lawyering company established as the most prominent global brand in the sector. Back in 2013 one excited commentator forecast 2018 as the year Axiom would become the world’s largest legal provider (spoiler alert, it still wouldn’t make the Global 100).

Continue reading “Moment of truth: New Law champion Axiom unveils float plans but break up of its business raises doubts”

The often-cited but seldom-seen legal arrival of the Big Four has long passed into a professional joke, though renewed investment from the major accountancy groups in the last three years has given the debate fresh urgency. But, truly, something must have changed in the wind, as even that traditional hold-out, Deloitte, has signalled its intention to build a significant law presence. Continue reading “New Law meets Big Four – Has Deloitte got the conviction to match its free-thinking legal pitch?”

Building on sister publication Legal Business’ 2018 cover feature on the City’s star female deal counsel, The In-House Lawyer teamed up with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for a reception celebrating the strides made… and steps still to be taken. The 80 senior lawyers across in-house and private practice that gathered at The Ned in late November heard from a panel of general counsel and partners talking frankly about careers, life and changing aspirations.

Continue reading “The challenge of you”

We have at IHL Towers something of a reputation for being sceptical of the claims to fresh thinking surrounding much of New Law Land. One exception, though, has been Axiom, the pioneering outfit that pushed lawyering into the mainstream. Sure, Axiom’s message could be obscured by strangulated attempts to ape Silicon Valley speak, an odd trait given the straight-talking style of founder Mark Harris. But its growth rates and reputation for quality never made you doubt that the outfit was a cut well above most New Law lightweights. Continue reading “Innovation needs law firm champions as Axiom doubts emerge”

There can be few legal roles in the US of as much significance and substance as White House counsel. And when Beth Nolan jettisoned film school for law school, she had no idea her eventual career, including serving as White House counsel for President Bill Clinton – the first female to take on the role – would be almost the stuff films are made of.

Continue reading “No more firsts”

The proliferation of blockchain technology has led many sectors to re-examine traditional ways of doing business, even if the platform remains shrouded in the fog of confusion and hype. Nowhere is the potential more apparent, or the sector more traditional, than in the negotiation, creation and execution of contracts. If the blockchain evangelists are to be believed, the manner in which parties contract will be changing radically in the not-too-distant future. But while a number of high-profile success stories illustrate the potential of the technology, it is clear that there is a long way to go if it is to ever live up to the rhetoric.

Continue reading “Piecing it together”

In controlling and protecting their reputations, the internet and social media have made online information critical in determining how individuals and companies are perceived. The old phrase ‘bad news travels fast’ resonates in the modern age. Simultaneously, as the law tries to keep pace with technology through developments in defamation, privacy and data protection, reputation management has become embedded in corporate strategy. Continue reading “Perfect curveballs”

At our 2019 Enterprise GC summit in March, one of the set-piece debates united three veteran in-house counsel to reflect on their perspectives in facing a crisis… and how to get through it relatively unscathed.

Continue reading “The eye of the storm”

Hamish McNicol, The In-House Lawyer: What are the changes people have made in their business in the last 18 months that made the most impact?

Continue reading “We have the technology”

Simon Levine (SL), co-chief executive, DLA Piper: I had a bit of fun and looked at the article you wrote on me when I first started [as DLA Piper’s co-chief executive, published in our sister publication Legal Business in March 2015].

Continue reading “On this rock I build…”