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The Global 100 2022
Overview: Playing a blinder
As predicted, the world’s leading firms had a banner year in 2021/22, defying cautious optimism soundbites from the c-suite. But with the war in Ukraine and the global recession starting to bite, how long before the bubble bursts?
Swiss Vereins: Capture the flag
Some view the Swiss Verein model as a bona fide catalyst of international expansion, while detractors see it as nothing more than a merger by the back door. Legal Business analyses the Global 100 firms using the divisive model and how their ambitions of planting flags are playing out
Slaughter and May – Keeping the magic alive
While Magic Circle peers have made protracted efforts to compete with US rivals domestically and abroad, Slaughter and May has stuck to what it knows. As pressure from across the Atlantic continues to escalate, do the City blue blood’s structural changes signal a welcome evolution or a scramble to catch up?
Switzerland: Another year, another challenge
After a healthy post-coronavirus rebound, Switzerland, much like the rest of Europe, is facing new geopolitical threats in 2022. The country’s ability to contend with these new setbacks will decide how it will fare into 2023
Iberia focus: New world order
The rise of the Big Four in Spain and the projected opening-up of the Portuguese market to multidisciplinary practices could irrevocably disrupt the legal ecosystem in Iberia. Can the traditional firms keep pace?
China: Lifting the lid on China’s Greater Bay Area legal opportunities
Legal Business’ first substantive foray into the China legal market finds much opportunity as the Greater Bay Area moves up the business agenda
The Client profile: Sharon Blackman, Citi
Citi’s managing director and general counsel Sharon Blackman discusses 18-hour days, hating her law degree and thriving in a crisis
Life During Law: Karen Seward
‘At the end of the deal we went to a bar and got absolutely rolling drunk. By the next morning, I had agreed to come to A&O.’
Leader: Much snootiness still remains, but the Vereins are actually fine
While Legal Business is not the type of publication to force a tenuous link in order to make a feature topical, isn’t it timely that our Global 100 analysis on law firms structured as Swiss Vereins coincides with the football World Cup of FIFA (also a Verein)?
Pritchard: A bonanza year for the Global 100 – is the table about to turn?
Just over half of the firms making up the Global 100 (51) last year generated revenues in excess of $1bn, now 64 firms make the cut.
Latham scores lead role in Man Utd’s potential sale as US outfits advise on Tom Ford deal
Latham & Watkins has had a busy November, picking up several multi-billion-dollar instructions across the sports, retail and telecoms sectors.
Musk’s Twitter takeover sparks legal feeding frenzy, but leaves more questions than answers
The initially hostile Twitter takeover pulled in some of the US’ premier law firms, but events since suggest that the legal proceedings may be only just beginning.
SRA defends year-long striking off process for Eversheds trainee convicted of sexual assault
After yet another galling sexual misconduct episode to blight the profession, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has come out swinging after accusations it was slow to act.
HSF, Davis Polk and Eversheds act on Made.com collapse as market expects FTX fallout
Partners from Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), Davis Polk and Eversheds Sutherland have secured advisory roles on the administration and £3.4m sale of online furniture retailer Made.com to Next.
In with the new: Big Law rings in the changes amid City leadership shake-up
For many law firms, the end of the year marks elections for various leadership positions. This year has been no exception, with DLA Piper, Osborne Clarke, TLT and Goodwin all voting in new management.
Womble Bond-BDB Pitmans: The data driving the national tie-up talks
The Legal 500’s Ben Wheway takes a look at the rationale behind the proposed merger and what a combined firm could look like
Verein check: how the big six global players have grown over ten years
The largest six Swiss verein firms have pursued varying expansion strategies over the past decade – Ben Wheway looks at what The Legal 500 data reveals
Size matters: which Global 100 firms have the most Legal 500 rankings?
Legal 500 data highlights the contrast between the laser-focused firms cleaning up in core markets and the wide footprint of the global giants
The Last Word: Matchday forecasts
Global 100 leaders and corporate stars give their prognosis on how the market will shape up in 2023