Comment: Paradigm shift vs recession – responding to a sceptical reader

Posted on | Blogs |

We recently posted a comment piece addressing the issue of whether the forces impacting on the legal market represent a permanent structural shift or are just the result of a horrendous recession. Dry stuff that will leave the professional pulse unmoved for most, but still pretty fundamental to whether law firm leaders should start launching their …

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One year on: enjoying it so much I hope I don’t mess it up

Posted on | Comment |

‘So, are you enjoying it?’ I’ve lost count of the number of times I have been asked the question since joining Legal Business last February. The question makes me feel awkward because I’m not a positive person. I try to be but I know I’m not. But the honest answer as I pass the one-year …

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Ambition and culture – the key tests CC’s deal team must pass

Posted on | Comment |

First, the case for the defence. Given that private equity partners gossip like fishwives, you can be somewhat sceptical over the received wisdom that the latest in a line of significant departures from Clifford Chance (CC)’s buyout team represents a terminal decline. The firm retains a sizeable roster of partners, with 11 covering private equity …

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Comment: paradigm shift or just the mother of recessions? 2014 should answer the profession’s big question

Posted on | Blogs |

It’s been obvious that something fundamental happened to the world economy during 2008, ushering in the worst relative trading conditions since the 1930s. It is, likewise, demonstrable that this shift has had a material impact on the legal profession in terms of reduced growth prospects, changing corporate buying habits and pressure on the conventional model …

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DLA Piper, Slaughters and Vodafone shine in 2014 Legal Business Awards

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In what has proved the largest Legal Business Awards ever held, DLA Piper, Slaughter and May and Vodafone were last night (13 February) among the winners of major prizes in front of well over 1,000 guests. DLA Piper was named Law Firm of the Year, ahead of a shortlist including RPC, Holman Fenwick Willan, Mishcon de …

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Comment: Magna Carta, bribery and a bit of confusion – Global Law Summit starts the countdown

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It turns out that hundreds of years of legal history waits not even for Bob Crow so Thursday evening (6 February) saw an opening countdown to the planned Global Law Summit, the sort of Government-backed venture to celebrate the Magna Carta, English traditions of rule of law and the UK’s role as a legal services …

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Structural or cyclical change in the law? 2014 should answer the big question

Posted on | Comment |

It’s been obvious that something fundamental happened to the world economy during 2008, ushering in the worst relative trading conditions since the 1930s. It is, likewise, demonstrable that this shift has had a material impact on the legal profession in terms of reduced growth prospects, changing corporate buying habits and pressure on the conventional model …

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Rising Stars for 2014 – Introduction

Posted on | GC Powerlist - Rising Stars for 2014 |

Welcome to Legal Business’ second annual GC Power List, which follows up on our successful launch last year. While we already knew we wanted the Power List to be an ongoing strand for Legal Business and its sister title The In-House Lawyer, reflecting the growing clout of in-house lawyers, attentive readers will note a shift …

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Comment: A Legal Business take on the year – my favourite articles of 2013

Posted on | Blogs |

Since I joined Legal Business as editor-in-chief in February, our expanded editorial team has been striving to update our publication with a number of investments. Crucially we’ve aimed to improve our coverage in several regards, including more substantive reporting on issues affecting in-house counsel. Just as important has been efforts to give the title a …

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Comment: The New New Normal – a changing market beckons for 2014

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The last three years have drawn to a close heralding another 12 months much like those that went before: depressing. The eurozone flirting with break-up, fiscal woes holding back Western economies and a subdued legal market. Check, check and check. But drawing to the end of 2013, commercial lawyers are facing an outlook that is, …

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