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Legal technology sponsored briefing: Cross-border e-discovery in an age of change

touching digital globe

 

Brian Stuart of FTI Consulting details the challenges facing legal teams and how they can be overcome

Technology in the legal industry has advanced to such a degree that the global e-discovery landscape today would be unrecognisable to a lawyer from five years ago. New licensing deals offered by the mature software vendors (eg ‘software as a service’ and cloud hosting) have made it attractive for law firms to bring e-discovery software in-house. With automation, e-discovery processes have become more scalable and repeatable. Market pressure will often draw clients to the cheapest vendor rather than the right partner for the circumstances. Whether it is e-discovery in support of a legal dispute, an internal investigation or a regulatory inquiry, conducting such an exercise across international borders brings added complexity. Continue reading “Legal technology sponsored briefing: Cross-border e-discovery in an age of change”

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Legal technology sponsored briefing: Like it or not, voice technology is changing the way we work

Voice recognition graphic

 

It is no secret speech recognition is a valuable channel to drive efficiency and advance your firm’s performance

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way people produce and access information. Speech recognition and the understanding of language by software are key to the future of information management. The voice technology market is changing fast, with people using speech-activated applications on a variety of devices, such as smartphones and tablets, not only to consume data but also to interact socially and professionally, and produce wealth. Continue reading “Legal technology sponsored briefing: Like it or not, voice technology is changing the way we work”

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Legal technology sponsored briefing: RPA in legal – be cynical of the hype and do not get left behind

Scott Littlehales

 

Scott Littlehales of Littlefish on the importance for law firms of investing in automation

Picture the theatre of high-profile legal cases that feature in the mainstream media and on television dramas, and you can see why law remains an attractive profession. Continue reading “Legal technology sponsored briefing: RPA in legal – be cynical of the hype and do not get left behind”

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Offshore disputes: Big fish, small pond

Carlyle, Tchenguiz and Crociani are cases repeatedly cited by the leading players in Jersey and Guernsey as shorthand for big disputes and big fees. These cases just keep on giving: all three are now subject to further appeals or related proceedings, prolonging their life in litigation terms. Elsewhere, the mood among local dispute resolution and insolvency lawyers is generally upbeat. Although less high-profile litigation might not deliver the big headlines, there is enough going on below the radar for revenues to remain healthy.

‘Insolvency-related disputes are still a significant source of work globally,’ says Jeremy Wessels, Mourant’s head of litigation and dispute resolution. ‘Other areas where we have seen increased activity include trust-related litigation, regulatory, debt restructuring, cross-border enforcement and go-private transactions.’ Mourant remains the biggest Channel Islands firm for disputes with 25 lawyers in Jersey (five partners and 20 other fee-earners) and 23 (six and 17 respectively) in Guernsey. Continue reading “Offshore disputes: Big fish, small pond”

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Gordon Dadds to become largest listed firm with £43m acquisition of Ince

Adrian Biles

Gordon Dadds is set to become the UK’s largest listed law firm by revenue after acquiring Ince & Co for an expected £43m.

An announcement to the London Stock Exchange today (29 October) confirmed Gordon Dadds had agreed to acquire all of Ince, including its international LLP. The new firm, to be called Ince Gordon Dadds, will jump into the UK top 40 with revenue of more than £110m, and have 100 partners across offices in nine countries. Continue reading “Gordon Dadds to become largest listed firm with £43m acquisition of Ince”

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London calling for Latham as it makes up nine partners in the City

latham ship illustration

Latham & Watkins has promoted 31 lawyers to partner across all five of its departments globally, with 29% of those getting the nod in London.

The promotion round, effective of January next year, sees a notable increase in associates making the cut in London, with just two being made up last year in the City. Globally the firm’s 31 promotions equal last year’s round, which saw New York receive the lion’s share of promotions. Continue reading “London calling for Latham as it makes up nine partners in the City”

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‘Fit like a glove’: Gordon Dadds brings Ince into the modern era, says leadership

Ince & Co

The lack of overlap between Gordon Dadds and Ince & Co made the tie-up an ‘overwhelmingly attractive proposition’, the firms’ leaders say.

Gordon Dadds will be become the UK’s largest listed law firm by revenue after an announcement this morning (29 October) confirmed its acquisition of Ince for an expected £43m. The new firm, to be called Ince Gordon Dadds, will jump into the UK top 40 with revenue of more than £110m, and have 100 partners across offices in nine countries. Continue reading “‘Fit like a glove’: Gordon Dadds brings Ince into the modern era, says leadership”

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Sponsored briefing: An asymmetric approach to litigation PR

Press conference graphic

Tim Maltin of Maltin PR on the importance of getting the balance right between winning the court case and winning over the public

King Pyrrhus of Epirus famously said: ‘If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.’ He was talking in 279 BC about the large number of soldiers he had lost in the Battle of Asculum, but today he could just as easily have been referring to the high cost of litigation, or the pitfalls of winning the legal battle inside the courtroom at the expense of losing the communications war outside it. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: An asymmetric approach to litigation PR”

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‘Legal catching up’: TLT launches £500k fund to improve tech and consulting lines

business operations

TLT has created a £500,000 investment fund to help test technology and other ideas more quickly before providing them to clients.

The initiative, called Future Law, is expected to generate revenue this year and will be led by digital sector head James Touzel. The firm has ring-fenced the fund as part of its budget for this year. Continue reading “‘Legal catching up’: TLT launches £500k fund to improve tech and consulting lines”

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EasyJet GC completes ITV round-trip for head of legal job

ITV has appointed easyJet group general counsel (GC) Kyla Mullins as its new head of legal, filling a role vacated by the experienced Andrew Garard in July.

Mullins returns to ITV having previously been its group legal director between 2000 and 2007. She also had spells as GC at EMI Music and energy company Mitie before joining budget airliner easyJet in 2015. Continue reading “EasyJet GC completes ITV round-trip for head of legal job”

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Baker McKenzie chair Rawlinson temporarily steps back due to ‘exhaustion’

Paul Rawlinson

Paul Rawlinson (pictured) has stepped back from his responsibilities as Baker McKenzie global chair due to a personal medical issue.

The firm’s executive committee announced to the partnership today (22 October) that Rawlinson will be taking a leave of absence based on the advice of his doctor and in response to exhaustion. Continue reading “Baker McKenzie chair Rawlinson temporarily steps back due to ‘exhaustion’”

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Time to shine: nominations open for the Legal Business Awards 2019

Could it be your year? Nominations are now open for the most prestigious showcase of talent in the industry, the Legal Business Awards 2019.

The event will take place on Thursday 28 March 2019 at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. You have until 16 November to provide submissions in any of the 25 categories open to teams or individuals. Continue reading “Time to shine: nominations open for the Legal Business Awards 2019”

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‘Don’t start a war you can’t win’: High Court throws out SRA’s Leigh Day misconduct appeal

Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA

The High Court has dismissed an appeal by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) which challenged the decision to exonerate Leigh Day of misconduct related to the Iraq War.

Last June, the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) cleared the firm and three of its lawyers accused of pursuing false damages claims of torture and murder made by Iraqi civilians against British troops in the region. The SRA appealed that decision. Continue reading “‘Don’t start a war you can’t win’: High Court throws out SRA’s Leigh Day misconduct appeal”

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Expectations high as Thomson Reuters and Slaughters ramp up legal tech incubator competition

Competition for access to legal tech start-ups is heating up as global multimedia giant Thomson Reuters and City blueblood Slaughter and May tool up for legal tech incubator launches early next year.

Thomson Reuters is accepting applications for its first dedicated legal tech incubator until the end of this month, with further details expected to be announced in December. The company is shifting its focus towards legal tech, having also hosted a fintech incubator in Zurich, following the sale its financial risk business earlier this year. Continue reading “Expectations high as Thomson Reuters and Slaughters ramp up legal tech incubator competition”

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World’s top-billing law firm Kirkland finally makes Paris debut with Linklaters corporate duo

Paris, France, Eiffel Tower

After years of internal debate Kirkland & Ellis is to launch in Paris with the hire of one of Linklaters’ key corporate partners.

In a market largely defined by star individuals, Vincent Ponsonnaille has quit the Magic Circle firm alongside fellow corporate partner Laurent Victor-Michel to spearhead the launch of Kirkland’s second outpost on the continent. Continue reading “World’s top-billing law firm Kirkland finally makes Paris debut with Linklaters corporate duo”

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Bakers launches low-cost hub in Florida… just after redundancy consultation with 300 City staff

Paul Rawlinson

Baker McKenzie has announced plans for its third low-cost centre two weeks after putting what is thought to be more than 300 City business staff under consultation in a global efficiency drive.

The firm’s new global hub in Tampa, Florida, will be operational in 2020 and create more than 300 roles – a similar headcount to the firm’s London professional and business services (PBS) staff put under review earlier this month. Continue reading “Bakers launches low-cost hub in Florida… just after redundancy consultation with 300 City staff”

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Further losses at Ince as Singapore head leaves for Stephenson Harwood in double exit

Ince & Co

Partners are departing at a rate of knots from Ince & Co ahead of its proposed Gordon Dadds merger, with a pair of veteran Singapore-based partners the latest set to join Stephenson Harwood.

Making the switch is Ince’s managing partner for the Singapore region, John Simpson, and regional finance team head, Martin Brown. Simpson is set to move on 1 May 2019, while Brown will join on 1 November 2018. Stephenson Harwood has taken three partners from Ince this week. Continue reading “Further losses at Ince as Singapore head leaves for Stephenson Harwood in double exit”