The risk debate: Silver linings playbook

The risk debate: Silver linings playbook

The decade since the fall of Lehman has seen some dramatic changes to the profession, not least law firms’ risk teams. Ten years since Legal Business first collaborated with broker Marsh to create our annual risk management and professional indemnity survey, progress has been made but the threats to the key players within the industry …

The disputes funding debate: The value of everything

The disputes funding debate: The value of everything

Craig Arnott, Burford Capital: Litigation finance used to be perceived as a last-ditch resort for impecunious clients. That has transformed, largely because of cost pressure. It is just at the start of the change, especially on the corporate side and what possibilities there are for outsourcing. It seems a little crude, but it is an …

Unstoppable: The Risk Report

Unstoppable: The Risk Report

Our debut risk management and professional indemnity report with broker Marsh in February 2008 featured a timid segue into an unfamiliar topic. We suggested that neither were ‘glamorous subjects’, while observing that firms were ‘thinking harder than ever’ about how to mitigate risks. A necessary evil, if you will. The risk landscape portrayed then – …

Revolving Doors: Akin Gump and King & Spalding boost London benches while international lateral hiring continues apace

Revolving Doors: Akin Gump and King & Spalding boost London benches while international lateral hiring continues apace

In a week dominated by European and international partner hires, US firms Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and King & Spalding were among four firms to add to their London benches with strategic additions in project finance and white-collar crime respectively. After the coup of hiring former Financial Reporting Council (FRC) heavyweight Gareth Rees …

He took the high road: Brodies ushers in next generation as veteran leader Drummond steps down

He took the high road: Brodies ushers in next generation as veteran leader Drummond steps down

Hyperbole and cliché over the end of an era can be justifiably deployed this morning (5 January) with news that Brodies’ figurehead Bill Drummond is to step down in April after 20 years as managing partner of the Scottish firm he joined as a trainee in 1980. Drummond (pictured) will make way for current real …

US bonuses: Magic Circle follows Wall Street standard with bonus freeze as associate reward season comes round again

US bonuses: Magic Circle follows Wall Street standard with bonus freeze as associate reward season comes round again

Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance have kept top-level US associate bonuses static at $100,000 for the fourth consecutive year, in line with Wall Street giant Cravath, Swaine & Moore’s recent announcement. The Magic Circle firms are awarding year-end bonuses of $ 100,000 for 2009 and 2010 US associates and $90,000 for 2011 lawyers, A&O …

Big shoes to fill as Aviva UK Life GC Risam departs after six years

Big shoes to fill as Aviva UK Life GC Risam departs after six years

Widely cited for her role in making Aviva’s highly-regarded legal team a pacesetter for the in-house profession, heavyweight UK Life general counsel (GC) and company secretary Monica Risam has left the FTSE 100 insurer after six years. Risam  (pictured), who held positions including GC for Aviva Europe and GC for Aviva Group, has served as …

Global investigations: Nowhere to run

Global investigations: Nowhere to run

The first session of the afternoon tackled key aspects of global investigations from an in-house and external adviser perspective. Clifford Chance partner Judith Seddon began by looking at deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) and self-reporting. She posed the question: ‘How effective are DPAs in changing corporate behaviour? From a corporate-governance perspective, does the failure-to-prevent offence focus …

Could it be your year? Nominations open for the Legal Business Awards 2018

Could it be your year? Nominations open for the Legal Business Awards 2018

Now is the time to demonstrate how you have positioned yourself ahead of the pack: nominations are open for the most prestigious showcase of talent in the industry, the Legal Business Awards 2018. The event will take place on Thursday 18 April 2018 at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. You have until 24 November …